Nov 23, 2024  
2013-2014 APU Catalog 
    
2013-2014 APU Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Business Administration, M.B.A.


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The following are the degree objectives for the Master of Business Administration. Upon completion of the degree students will have:

  • Gained an appreciation of the local, domestic, and global environments as they relate to business management
  • Enhanced their business judgment and identified sound management methods including the ability to think critically and strategically
  • Attained an understanding of, and ability to appropriately leverage interpersonal relationships and team work
  • Developed analytical expertise and functional frameworks drawn from a broad range of managerial skills including accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, and law
  • Acquired an ability to incorporate appropriate quantitative and qualitative data, including an appreciation for the value and costs of obtaining data, into management decisions
  • Established outstanding, multi-method communication skills
  • Recognized the value of effective and ethical leadership so they can lead themselves, others, and organizations

Admissions

The general requirements for admission to graduate studies at APU are found at the beginning of the section describing graduate programs. In addition, there are several specific requirements for the MBA program and the MBA/HSA program as follows:

  1. Resume. Submit a current resume.
  2. Letters of Recommendation. Submit three current letters of recommendation, using the Recommendation Forms in the admissions packet.
  3. All applicants to the MBA programs will be required to be approved by a departmental admissions committee after completing a personal (either in-person or web-based) interview.
  4. Official Transcripts. Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions. General graduate admission standards for APU are a 3.0 or better for completed baccalaureate work.
  5. Essay. Please submit a 500-800 word essay addressing your personal and professional goals as they relate to your motivation to obtain an MBA or a MBA with a concentration in Health Services Administration.
  6. Application Deadline. Application deadline: August 1 for Fall semester, December 1 for Spring semester, and April 1 for Summer semester.

Admissions decisions are generally based on academic records of undergraduate, upper division, and graduate work, or alternative indicators of success including innovative leadership or accomplishments in a career field, civic activity, or professional achievement.

Prerequisites

Students are adequately prepared for MBA entry if they have a bachelor’s degree in business or a related discipline which includes courses in accounting, finance, economics, and management, with math competency through algebra and statistics. The faculty encourages students with a wide variety of undergraduate experiences to apply for admission. Students with non-business majors are welcome. If, however, a student’s undergraduate transcript does not demonstrate adequate preparation in mathematics and business, the student may be admitted and required to take prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses do not count toward the MBA MBA/HSA, or MBAICT degrees. Students may also demonstrate that they have acquired prerequisite knowledge through work experience or self-study.

MBA Course Format 

The format for courses (except Summer MBA Core courses – see below for details) is:

  • 6 weeks of one 2.5-hour class/week: webcast or archived recording
  • Asynchronous readings, discussions, exercises
  • 3 full days in class (one course will run Saturday-Monday, the second Tuesday-Thursday, with the final course Friday-Sunday). Courses will alternate days of week each year, so no student will be required to take Tuesday - Thursday off more than once.
  • 2 weeks to complete course projects asynchronously.

The Summer trimester MBA core courses are structured differently:

  • MBA 664 starts on a Thursday evening, continues for the following full weekend, and finishes on the Sunday following.
  • MBA 618 meets Monday-Wednesday
  • MBA 624 meets Thursday-Saturday

The days for MBA 618 and 624 will alternate from one year to the next (to accommodate students who have difficulty scheduling 3 days off from work). 

 MBA Degree Requirements

Thesis Option


Students may choose the Thesis Option to complete electives.  MBA electives are replaced by these two courses:

Minimum Graduation Credit Hour Requirement: 36


MBA students may take up to six (6) credits of upper division undergraduate course work in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements. The student’s advisor and Program Director must approve the courses in advance of enrollment

MBA with Concentration in Finance


For those interested in finance, the MBA with a Concentration in Finance provides the breadth of the MBA with the depth required for a career in finance. It also offers the opportunity to further learn about securities, portfolio management, bonds, and investment theory, and to gain hands-on experience managing the Student Fund. Requirements for admission are the same as those for the MBA program.

   Concentration Degree Requirements (36 credits)

MBA with Concentration in Health Services Administration


Health Services Administration is a concentration within the MBA Program at APU. This program builds foundational, analytical, and integrated knowledge of the health service industry. The program is aimed at current and future managers and administrators in organizations involved with providing health services, major customers of health service providers, and entities involved with developing and implementing health service policies. The program is based on solid business fundamentals with applications to a variety of health service settings, including the private sector (both for profit and not-for-profit), the public sector (local, state, and federal), and Native health service providers. Courses are scheduled to accommodate the needs of working professionals and can be completed in two years based upon a sustained enrollment in 2 courses per semester (including summers and/or shorter block courses).

The following are the degree objectives for Health Services Administration:

  • Learn the business of health services such that its strategies and growth are soundly based in effective leadership and other business practices
  • Enhance skills in critical thinking, ethics, and information literacy leading to better leadership decisions
  • Contribute to the community of health services administration in Alaska while mastering business management skills
  • Apply knowledge of systems to health services in Alaska, relating it to the national and global markets as a business, and to demographics as a provider of care to individuals
  • Investigate technology options that increase the health services administrator’s ability to provide services locally while simultaneously participating in national initiatives of information interoperability and security

   Concentration Degree Requirements (36 credits)

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