Concentrations allow students in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program to focus their studies on specific business disciplines. Courses in the concentration may include required core courses in the same discipline. However, units do not double count in the core and concentration. At the time of graduation, the completion of a concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript and on his/her diploma. Multiple concentrations are also possible.
In addition to the concentrations below, MBA students may also pursue any of the concentrations offered through our Master of Science in Leadership and Management program.
Students should notify their academic advisor of their interest in completing a concentration as early as possible in their degree program as this allows them to assist them in course planning. All concentrations must be declared when a student applies for advanced standing (i.e. graduation), if not before.
Concentrations
| Accounting | Learn to effectively use internal accounting data to plan operations, control activities, and make sound business decisions. |
| Finance | Issues include information analysis, strategic analysis of investment and portfolios, investment banking, entrepreneurial finance, financial management, and ethical issues of investment policy and strategy. |
| Information Technology | Advanced study of the management of information systems/information technology (IS/IT) in organizations is presented so that you can use both theory and practice to solve business problems, increase productivity, and capitalize on competitive advantage opportunities. |
| International Business | This concentration leads to an understanding of strategic factors that managers face in multinational firms, including: level of national and international competition, host government policies, competitive position and strategic intent, level of technology, resource allocations, cultural diversity and ethical aspects. |
| Management and Leadership | After bottom line numbers are projected and reviewed, managers must step up and implement programs that are designed to achieve the goals of the company or organization. This concentration helps you broaden your understanding of what it means to be a manager and leader within your organization. |
| Marketing | How do you create a successful marketing plan in the 21st century? What is the best way to reach consumers? Consumer behavior, product management, internet marketing, communications, and more will be explored to help you define innovative marketing strategies that succeed in a global environment. |
| Supply Chain Management | Competitively driven global businesses are swiftly capitalizing on the value of forging strong corporate alliances with suppliers and customers to synchronize their supply chains. This concentration allows you to capture supply chain issues from both strategic and operational perspectives. |
| Health Services Management | Learn about the impact of the healthcare delivery system. Topics include legislative initiatives, financial reimbursement systems, technological advances, and other pressures that continue to change and refocus the healthcare delivery system. |
Degree Requirements
Foundation Courses
0-12 semester hours
The foundation courses a student must fulfill are determined by the Program Director’s review of the student’s undergraduate coursework and professional experience. If foundation courses are needed, they should be among the first courses taken.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 600A | Accounting & Finance | 3 |
| BUS 600B | Economics | 3 |
| BUS 600C | Statistics | 3 |
| BUS 500J | Business Communications | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Core Courses
21 semester hours
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 503 | Accounting Information for Decision-Making | 3 |
| BUS 510 | Management of Information Technology | 3 |
| BUS 530 | Financial Management | 3 |
| BUS 551 | Seminar in Organization Theory & Behavior | 3 |
| BUS 560 | Seminar in Marketing Management | 3 |
| BUS 575 | Analysis of Business Operations | 3 |
| BUS 581 | Managing in a Global Economy | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |
Culminating Activity
3 semester hours
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 596 | Graduate Business Seminar | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
Concentrations/Electives for the MBA
Students will take a total of 12 semester hours for concentrations/electives. In addition to the concentrations listed below, students may pursue any of the concentrations listed under the MS Management and Leadership and take one more elective course if needed. Alternatively, students may complete 12 semester hours of electives from 500-level BUS courses other than foundation courses. Units do not double count in the Core and the Concentration.
Note: Students who choose a 9 semester hour concentration are required to take an additional 3 semester hour elective course.
Accounting Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 501 | Corporate Accounting and Reporting I | 3 |
| BUS 502 | Corporate Accounting and Reporting II | 3 |
| Select a minimum of one of the following: | 3 | |
BUS 505 | Accounting for Specialized Entities | |
BUS 506 | Auditing Standards & Practices | |
BUS 508I | Federal Taxation Concepts and Practices - Individual | |
BUS 509 | Cost Accounting | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Finance Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of three of the following: | 9 | |
BUS 531 | Investment and Portfolio Analysis | |
BUS 532 | Management of Financial Institutions | |
BUS 533 | Investment Banking | |
BUS 536 | International Financial Management | |
FIN 531 | Theory of Finance | |
FIN 532 | Derivatives | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Note: BUS 530 Financial Management is a prerequisite to all Finance courses.
Information Technology Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of three of the following: | 9 | |
BUS 512 | Integrated Data Management | |
BUS 515 | Systems Planning and Implementation | |
BUS 516 | E-Business | |
BUS 517 | Cyberlaw | |
BUS 565I | Internet Marketing | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
International Business Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of three of the following: | 9 | |
BUS 516 | E-Business | |
BUS 525 | Economics of the Firm | |
BUS 528 | Contemporary Issues in International Trade | |
BUS 536 | International Financial Management | |
BUS 566 | International Marketing Management | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Management and Leadership Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MGMT 522 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| BUS 586 | Leadership in the Future | 3 |
| Additional BUS or MGMT Elective Course | 3 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Marketing Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of three of the following: | 9 | |
BUS 561 | Seminar in Consumer Behavior | |
BUS 564 | Marketing Intelligence | |
BUS 565I | Internet Marketing | |
BUS 566 | International Marketing Management | |
BUS 567 | The Management & Marketing of Services | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Note: BUS 560 Seminar in Marketing Management is a prerequisite to all Marketing elective courses.
Supply Chain Management Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 572 | Supply Chain Analytics | 3 |
| BUS 576 | Supply Chain Management & Strategy | 3 |
| Select a minimum of one of the following: | 3 | |
BUS 516 | E-Business | |
BUS 558 | Project Management | |
BUS 563 | Marketing Channels/Distribution | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Health Services Management Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSM 501 | Current Trends and Issues in Health Services | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
HSM 540 | Legal Issues in Health Service Organizations | |
HSM 545 | Foundations of Public Health | |
HSM 547 | Public Health Policy | |
HSM 562 | Human Resource Management in Health Service Organizations | |
HSM 571 | Management of Clinical and Financial Information | |
HSM 598 | Field Work/Internship | |
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Adding a Concentration after Graduating
The University recognizes that job requirements and career plans change over time. These changes may require the need for additional education. Students who complete an MBA through La Verne may return at a later date to add a new or a second concentration to their transcript. Your academic advisor can explain this process and any time limits that may apply.
Note: Financial aid funds are not available to students pursuing a concentration after a degree has been posted.