Business Administration, M.B.A. Program
Program Description
The M.B.A. program supports students’ career advancement by preparing them for positions of leadership in an increasingly diverse and globally competitive economy. The program is centered on the rigorous knowledge of the basic functional areas of business, an appreciation of management challenges in a global context, and opportunities to develop students’ interpersonal and executive leadership skills. It also enables students to deepen and broaden their knowledge and skills through elective courses in an area of concentration. The program offers a range of formats to cater to the needs of full and part time students and students seeking an executive style MBA.
Career Opportunities
There is a strong growth in opportunities for management careers in both the general and the functional areas represented in the program’s concentrations. The MBA program prepares graduates with strong foundation in general management knowledge and skills and gives them an extra edge in concentration areas that are growing in demand. Among the strong careers for those with MBA include Financial Manager, Health Services Manager, High-End Management Consultant, Human Resources Manager, Investment Banker, Investment Fund Manager, Marketing Manager, Marketing Researcher, Sales Manager, Operations and Supply Chain Manager, and Upper Management and Executive Leadership. The growing career opportunities for Finance, Marketing, HR, Operations, and Strategy validate the strength and the value of the Cal State East Bay MBA program.
Admission
The M.B.A. is open to students who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Each applicant is evaluated on the basis of past academic performance as reflected in undergraduate grade point average and subsequent coursework; and results of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) in verbal, quantitative, and the “Index Score” that involves the total GMAT score, Index Score = (Upper Division GPA x 200) + Total GMAT]. Admission to the program is selective. The average GPA and GMAT score of applicants admitted to the program varies from year to year. For last year’s admitted students profile, please visit the CBE Graduate Student Success and Services Office. GRE score, if provided, is accepted in place of GMAT. GMAT may be waived for applicants with five years or more work experience. Online General Business and Global Innovators concentrations apply through Continuing Education: https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/
Proficiencies
All Conditionally Classified M.B.A. students must fulfill the MCC-UDEAN-GRADIR- Graduation Requirement in Writing Proficiency [GRADUATE](GDRP)(GRAD) (UWSR) to achieve “Classified Graduate” status. The Writing Skills Requirement could be met as an undergraduate or graduate student at one of the CSU system campuses, with a score of 4.5 or better on the GMAT essay, by passing the Writing Skills Test (WST) or through coursework. Information about the Writing Skills Test and the courses can be found on the Testing Office website. The Website contains information on test dates, registration procedures and fees. Further information can be obtained from the Testing Office. If students have not satisfied the UWSR before they begin their graduate work, they must either take the WST or enroll in a first tier course by the end of their first semester in the program.
The MBA program is designed to provide essential business knowledge to students without assuming prior business background. Therefore no specific prerequisite courses are required, but proficiency in math and statistics is expected.
Student Standing and Progress Toward the Degree
There are three categories of student status which reflect student progress toward the degree: “Conditionally Classified Graduate,” “Classified Graduate,” and “Advancement to Candidacy.
- Students achieve “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status when they have been admitted to the MBA degree program, but have not yet completed the University Writing Skills Requirement.
- Students achieve “Classified Graduate” status when they have satisfactorily completed the University Writing Skills Requirement.
- Students are Advanced to Candidacy when they have completed the 42 semester units meeting the following criteria:
- All have a course grade of “C” or better.
- Complete a minimum of 30 units in residence after admission to the program.
- Have a combined 3.0 grade point average (minimum) in all units taken to satisfy the requirements of the student’s degree program.
- Have no more than 12 units for extension and/or transfer credit (any extension and/or transfer credit must be approved by the Program Director) and/or coursework taken in “Unclassified Post-baccalaureate” status.
- All units earned within the five years immediately preceding the completion of the requirements for the degree.
- Have completed a satisfactory program of study as determined by the College of Business and Economics and the university.
To be eligible for the M.B.A. a student must have been Advanced to Candidacy (see Graduate Information chapter of the catalog)
Note: Students who fail to maintain progress by falling below a 3.0 GPA in their graduate courses for two or more consecutive semesters will be academically disqualified from the university.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an M.B.A. from Cal State East Bay will be able to:
- Identify global business opportunities, analyze global business challenges, and develop business strategies.
- Demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills.
- Apply advanced written communication skills.
- Apply advanced oral communication skills.
- Demonstrate cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity in their interpersonal and group communication.
- Perform quantitative analyses and apply advanced technological tools to solve complex business problems.
- Analyze and integrate knowledge across disciplines to make managerial decisions to reach solutions to complex business problems.
- Recognize and analyze ethical issues in decision making.
Business Administration Degree Requirements (42 units)
Core Courses
The following 27 core and capstone units are required for all M.B.A. students:
Concentrations
Students must select one (1) of the following 12-unit concentrations:
Other Graduate & Post-Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the University requirements for graduation as described throughout this catalog. These include the 70% unit residence requirement; the five-year rule on currency of subject matter; the minimum number of units in 600-level courses; the “C” minimum grade for each graduate course; the 3.00 cumulative grade point average; and the University Writing Skills Requirement, if applicable.
Note: For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see Graduate Policies or call the Testing Office at (510) 885-3661.
