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:
- Core courses: 8 courses (24 units)
- Concentration or focus area: 3 courses (9 units)
- Graduate Business Seminar: 1 course (3 semester hours)
Degree Requirements
Foundation Courses
0-21 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 500A | Accounting Fundamentals | 3 |
| BUS 500B | Economics for Decision-Making | 3 |
| BUS 500C | Quantitative and Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| BUS 500D | Business Finance | 3 |
| BUS 500E | Business Management | 3 |
| BUS 500F | Business Marketing | 3 |
| BUS 500J | Business Communications | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |
Core Courses
24 semester hours
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 503 | Accounting Information for Decision-Making | 3 |
| BUS 510 | Management of Information Technology | 3 |
| BUS 525 | Economics of the Firm | 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 | 24 | |
Culminating Activity
3 semester hours
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 596 | Graduate Business Seminar | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
Concentrations/Electives for the MBA and MBA, Experienced Professionals
In addition to the concentrations listed below, students may pursue any of the concentrations listed under the M.S. Management and Leadership or complete 9 semester hours of electives from 500-level BUS courses other than foundation courses. Units do not double count in the Core and the Concentration.
Accounting Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| 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 534 | Entrepreneurial Finance | |
BUS 536 | International Financial Management | |
BUS 538 | Financial Strategy & Policy | |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Note: BUS 530 Financial Management 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 511 | Management Support Systems 1 | |
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 | |
- 1
Currently not being offered.
International Business Concentration
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of three of the following: | 9 | |
BUS 516 | E-Business | |
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 562 | New Product Management | |
BUS 563 | Marketing Channels/Distribution | |
BUS 564 | Marketing Intelligence | |
BUS 565I | Internet Marketing | |
BUS 566 | International Marketing Management | |
BUS 567 | The Management & Marketing of Services | |
BUS 568 | Marketing Communications | |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BUS 576 | Supply Chain Management & Strategy | 3 |
| BUS 577 | Compliance Issues in Supply Chains | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| 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 | |