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MBA Program Description

The Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business is committed to providing high quality educational programs that assist individuals in their preparation to become leaders within an international business environment. The principle goal of the MBA degree program is to provide students with knowledge, skills, and competencies critical in today’s organizations — a global perspective, communication proficiency, functional knowledge across business disciplines, leadership and teamwork skills, strategic thinking, and informed, ethical decision making. The program is premised on the notion that education is “value-added” for both the individuals who are pursuing the degree as well as for organizations that support them in their quest for higher education. Today all business is global, and the MBA degree program emphasizes the global nature of the organizational environment.

Students bring knowledge and experience of their own work environment to bear on the educational process, enriching the learning experience for everyone. Graduates of the program attain increased confidence in their ability to identify problems and implement solutions, either individually or as creative members of business teams. Today’s managers need broad organizational understanding to successfully plan and discharge their areas of authority and responsibility. They need to know how to motivate, lead, and work with people to accomplish organizational and personal objectives. The program is applicable for managers and leaders working in entrepreneurial enterprises, corporations, and governmental agencies regardless of their undergraduate studies. Classroom discussions, seminars, and integrated case study situations prove especially valuable to managers whose formal undergraduate education was highly specialized.

The advantages of the Shenandoah University MBA program include:

• Professional career education
• Sequential program with all courses offered at least once a year
• Individual instruction and small classes
• Evening and weekend classes
• Choice of two convenient locations
• No need to relocate job, family, or home
• Provides additional hours to fulfill the CPA licensure requirement

Master of Business Administration Program

The entire MBA program with foundational courses consists of 16 courses. For students with the appropriate undergraduate preparation, the four foundational courses may be waived. The remaining 12 courses are required. The waiving of courses is determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business. All MBA students are required to have laptop computers through the Shenandoah University Technology Program.

Foundation Requirements – Four Courses

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACCT 501	Financial Accounting (May be waived if the student has completed the equivalent of Principles of Accounting I and II)	3
BUS 501	Introduction to Management and Marketing (May be waived if the student has completed the equivalent of Principles of Management and Principles of Marketing)	3
ECN 501	Economic Concepts and Policies (May be waived if the student has completed the equivalent of Principles of Macroeconomics and Principles of Microeconomics)	3
MIS 511	Statistical Analysis and Forecasting (May be waived if the student has completed the equivalent of Statistics and Data Analysis, and Quantitative Methods)	3
Total 12

Core Curriculum – Twelve Courses

ACCT 511	Accounting for Decision Making and Control	3
BAFI 517	Financial Management	3
ECN 517	Business in the Global Economy I	3
ECN 519	Business in the Global Economy II	3
MGT 513	OrganizationalStructure and Behavior	3
MGT 529	Operations and Supply Chain Management	3
MGT 531	Human Resource Management, Employment Law and Ethics	3
MIS 514	Decision Sciences and MIS	3
MKT 511	Marketing Theory and Practice	3
MGT 611	Management, Policy Formulation and Systems Analysis	3
Electives (2)		6
Total 36

Electives may be taken in all functional areas of graduate study offered by the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business. Students may request to take other graduate courses offered within the university; however, permission of the director of the MBA program is required to take elective course work outside of the business school.

Certificate in Health Care Management
John Proe, Professor of Management and Health Care Administration
Henkel Hall, Room 227, (540) 665-3492 jproe@su.edu

Upon the successful completion of the required 12 credit hours, students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program will also be eligible to receive the Certificate of Health Care Management. The four-course certificate consists of two courses included in the core requirements of the MBA program and two electives in Health Care Management courses. This certificate can be completed simultaneously with the MBA degree or as a stand alone certificate program.

Course	Title	Credit Hours
MGT 513	Organizational Structure and Behavior
MGT 531	Human Resource Management, Employment Law and Ethics
MGT 525	Current Issues in Health Care Management
MGT 527	Health Care Management
Total 12

Certificate in Information Systems and Computer Technology
Robert Bonometti, Professor of Information Systems and Computer Technology
Henkel Hall, Room 213, (540) 545-7272 Rbonomet@su.edu

Upon the successful completion of the required 12 credit hours, students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program will also be eligible to receive the Certificate in Information Systems and Computer Technology. The four-course certificate consists of two courses included in the core requirements of the MBA program and two electives in information systems and computer technology courses. Two of these courses will satisfy the elective requirements of the MBA program; however, to complete the Certificate, students will be required to take one additional course beyond the requirements of the MBA program. This certificate can be incorporated into the MBA degree program or completed as a stand alone certificate program.

Course	Title	CreditHours
MIS 511	Statistical Analysis and Forecasting(May be waived if the student has completed the Equivalent of Statistics and Data Analysis, and Quantitative Methods)	3
MIS 514	Decision Sciences and MIS	3
And two of the following four courses		6
MIS 515	Data Communications and Networking
MIS 521	Database Systems
MIS 523	Multimedia Systems
MIS 525	Multimedia Systems
Total 12

Admission Process

The minimum requirement for admission to the MBA program at Shenandoah University is a bachelor’s degree in any field of study from a regionally or, in the case of international students, nationally accredited institution. Students applying from non-accredited institutions will be required to demonstrate that their academic preparation is equivalent to that obtained from an accredited institution. Other factors involved in the admission decision include one’s professional attainment, potential for growth, cumulative grade point average in undergraduate and graduate studies, and results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a completed Graduate Application for Admission with the required $30 fee.

International students are required to submit the International Application for Admission with the required $30 fee.

Applicants are required to provide official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores are required for entry or continuation in the MBA program. Applicants should make every effort to provide GMAT scores with their application for admission. If scores are unavailable, a conditional acceptance can be made; however, test scores must be submitted prior to beginning the 36 credit hour core program. Students who have taken the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) may have the GMAT requirement waived by submitting those scores in lieu of GMAT scores. Students who hold a graduate degree in another field may have the GMAT requirement waived.

Applicants are required to provide two letters of recommendation from former professors or business colleagues who can attest to the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue graduate study in business administration. FORMS>

Applicants are required to provide a brief narrative (2 or 3 pages) of one’s career, professional development and professional goals as they relate to the completion of the Master of Business Administration degree. In addition, the applicant must submit a detailed resume.

As soon as the graduate application and all required documents have been received, an interview with the director of the MBA program (or his designate) is arranged, after which the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Byrd School of Business makes the definitive recommendation on admission. The committee indicates which foundational courses are required, as well as which graduate courses, if any, may be accepted in transfer. The decision of the committee is communicated to the applicant by the Office of Admissions.

International Applicants

In addition to the requirements listed above, international students must complete the Personal and Financial Information Form that is part of the International Student Application for Admission. English language proficiency is required of all students whose native language is not English. English language proficiency can be demonstrated in the following ways: By successfully completing two years of full-time study in a post-secondary educational institution where English is the language of instruction; by achieving a score of 550 or higher on the Sakai Institute of Study Abroad test (SISA); or by achieving a TOEFL score of 550 or higher on the paper-based exam or a score of 213 of higher on the computer-based exam; or by achieving a 6.0 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). International applicants must make every effort to provide TOEFL, SISA and/or IELTS scores with their application for admission. International applicants who do not provide a TOEFL, SISA or IELTS score with their application can be given a conditional acceptance, but they will be required to take a paper-based TOEFL exam at Shenandoah University before enrolling for courses. Depending on the TOEFL score received, international students may be required to successfully complete English as a Second Language courses with a reduced number of MBA courses.

Transfer Credit
A maximum of six credit hours may be transferred for credit from another institution. Transfer credit will be awarded only when all of the following conditions are met:

1. The requested credit is an equivalent graduate level course.
2. The student was enrolled in a graduate course at an AACSB- International accredited institution.
3. The student received an “A” or “B” in the course.
4. The course content is compatible with the MBA program at Shenandoah University. The student shall be responsible for providing a detailed description of the course (i.e., syllabus or catalog entry). Final determination of credit will be made by the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business.
5. The course was taken within the last three years.

Degree Requirements

The following requirements must be met for the Master of Business Administration degree:

1. Successfully complete the outlined program (36 credit hours excluding any required foundation courses) as identified by the student’s advisor. Not more than six credit hours of course work graded “C” may be included in the outlined program.
2. Attain at least a 3.0 grade point average in total work attempted in the MBA program. A student who receives a grade of “F” may be asked to withdraw from the program.
3. To promote the “team” approach, participants are encouraged to stay with their original group for the core courses. Exceptions are handled by the student’s advisor.
4. Complete all degree requirements within five calendar years of initial registration of the outlined program. Students who take more than two years to complete the program and have had graduate credit transferred from another institution may have that transfer credit removed if it falls outside of the five-year time frame for the completion of the degree.

Graduation

The graduation application can be obtained from, and must be returned to, the Registrar’s Office by the application deadline.

Course Load

Upon enrolling in the MBA program, the student meets with the academic advisor to develop a plan of study for the completion of the degree program. Part-time students normally take two courses per academic term, while full-time students take three courses. Other course options will be considered; however, any variation from the stated program will require permission of the MBA director. In order to move from part-time status to full-time status, the student must apply for full-time status and have the written permission of the director of the MBA program.
Schedule of Classes

Classes are held four nights a week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The academic year consists of three 14-week academic terms consisting of 14 consecutive class sessions. A part-time student generally attends classes two nights per week, while full-time students attend three or four nights per week.

In addition, the MBA program is offered in a weekend format at the Northern Virginia Campus located in Leesburg. This is a 16-month program consisting of three courses per academic term, not including any required foundational courses. Classes meet on alternating weekends from 6:00-10:00 p.m. on Fridays and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Current Tuition Costs

Current tuition fees are available at the Student Accounts Web site

Financial Aid

Shenandoah University offers several types of financial aid to its graduate students. This financial aid includes:

Virginia Tuition Assistance Grants
Federal Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized)
Graduate Assistantships
Tuition Fellowships (Part-time graduate students only)

Virginia Tuition Assistance Grants (VTAG) are non-need based grants awarded to full-time students from Virginia, and are good for two years of graduate study in business programs. An application is required and may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid. The application deadline is July 31 preceding the academic year of study.
William D. Ford Direct Loans are categorized as either “subsidized” or “non-subsidized.” Subsidized Direct Loans are need-based. A student must demonstrate financial need to be eligible. The federal government “subsidizes” or pays the interest on the loan while the student is in school and during the student’s grace period. If, after undergoing a need analysis, the student is determined to have no financial need, he or she may borrow under the “unsubsidized” program. With a “non-subsidized” loan, the borrower either pays the interest while in school or has the interest capitalized. Interest rates are variable and capped at nine percent. Students must be at least “half-time” to borrow under the Direct Loan Program.

Graduate Assistantships are available to full-time students and may cover up to nine credits of graduate tuition plus a stipend. Contact the director of the MBA program for more information.

For more information about the financial aid programs offered at Shenandoah University, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (540) 665-4538.

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