Curriculum

La Verne’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) provides a strong foundation in the main areas of business administration, as well as a broad exposure to contemporary management skills. Emphasis is on the development of competencies necessary to manage in a critical, rational and effective manner within today’s complex global environment.

The program does not require substantial work experience and is not limited to students with undergraduate degrees in business. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in other fields also are welcome.

The foundation courses are designed to assist students without a previous business education. Specifically designed courses in accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing and statistics provide students with any needed prerequisite knowledge and tools necessary to study the field of business at the graduate level. If required, these courses should be among the first ones completed in the program. Determination of needed prerequisite knowledge will be based on a review of each student’s unique combination of undergraduate coursework and any relevant work experience.

The core courses develop a solid understanding of the role of the professional manager within organizations, and the responsibilities held within the firm and society in our global economy. The program’s concentrations allow students to develop a professional focus or a specialization that is most relevant to their career goals.

Students can select a set of courses or a concentration that addresses each student’s individual career needs. Courses can be selected from any of the scheduled elective graduate business courses (500-level BUS listing, other than foundation courses, or from courses in other disciplines) with the approval of the student’s academic advisor.

Students who possess the prerequisite business knowledge may complete the program with a total of 36 units (or 12 courses). The Career MBA Program consists of:

  1. Core courses: 8 courses (24 units)
  2. Concentration or focus area: 3 courses (9 units)
  3. Graduate Business Seminar: 1 course (3 semester hours)

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.

BUS 600AAccounting & Finance3
BUS 600BEconomics3
BUS 600CStatistics3
BUS 500JBusiness Communications3
Total Semester Hours12

Core Courses

21 semester hours

BUS 503Accounting Information for Decision-Making3
BUS 510Management of Information Technology3
BUS 530Financial Management3
BUS 551Seminar in Organization Theory & Behavior3
BUS 560Seminar in Marketing Management3
BUS 575Analysis of Business Operations3
BUS 581Managing in a Global Economy3
Total Semester Hours21

Culminating Activity

3 semester hours

BUS 596Graduate Business Seminar3
Total Semester Hours3

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

BUS 501Corporate Accounting and Reporting I3
BUS 502Corporate Accounting and Reporting II3
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 Hours9

Finance Concentration

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 Hours9

Note: BUS 530 Financial Management is a prerequisite to all Finance courses.

Information Technology Concentration

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 Hours9

International Business Concentration

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 Hours9

Management and Leadership Concentration

MGMT 522Human Resource Management3
BUS 586Leadership in the Future3
Additional BUS or MGMT Elective Course3
Total Semester Hours9

Marketing Concentration

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 Hours9

Note: BUS 560 Seminar in Marketing Management is a prerequisite to all Marketing elective courses.

Supply Chain Management Concentration

BUS 572Supply Chain Analytics3
BUS 576Supply Chain Management & Strategy3
Select a minimum of one of the following:3
BUS 516
E-Business
BUS 558
Project Management
BUS 563
Marketing Channels/Distribution
Total Semester Hours9

Health Services Management Concentration

HSM 501Current Trends and Issues in Health Services3
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 Hours12