for California State University, Fresno.
Graduate Business Program
The Craig School of Business
ROBERT C. HILL, Director
Peters Business Building, Room 183
559.278.2107
http://www.craig.csufresno.edu/mba/
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Master of Business Administration for Executives (M.B.A.)
Master of Science in Accountancy (M.S.)
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree program is designed
to provide professional education for managers of business, agriculture,
education, government, and nonprofit organizations. The M.B.A. program offers
elective area courses in special areas of professional practice, such as
agribusiness, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, human resouce
management, international business, management information system, and marketing.
We are committed to developing one of the top applied M.B.A. Programs in
the nation. As a result, your studies will be complemented by numerous opportunities
to solve real world business problems through internships and team consulting
projects.
Admission. The program is open to college graduates without regard
to the area of undergraduate study. Applicants are expected to show intellectual
promise to do well in the program, and upon graduation, to perform effectively
as professional managers. Applicants must submit the following to be considered
for admission into the traditional M.B.A. program:
- a completed California State University, Fresno Graduate Application form
- a completed M.B.A. Program Application form
- complete university or college transcripts
- official record of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The
GMAT requirement may be waived based on a recommendation by the school's
Graduate Committee to the graduate director that the candidate has substantial
work experience (minimum of 10 years) and significant managerial or professional
experience (minimum of three years) and has successfully completed and
individual interview. The terms "managerial or professional experience"
are defined as follows:
Managerial Experience: experience in work in which the primary duty includes overall responsibility for an enterprise, subdivision, department, or similar independent or quasi-independent organization. Duties typically includes such things as hiring and firing personnel, planning, discretion and judgment, and organizing and controlling work that substantially affects a major aspect of the organization's operations. Individuals with this level of responsibility usually have titles such as "manager," "director," "vice-present," "president," "Chief information officer," "chief financial officer," "chief operating officer," or "chief executive officer."
Professional Experience: experience in work that requires advanced knowledge acquired by a prolonged course of specialized study and involved work that is predominately intellectual and varied in character. Examples would include medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, lawyers, and certified public accountants.
M.B.A. Degree Requirements
The M.B.A. is awarded to students upon completion of requirements in
three groups of courses. These groups are generally completed in sequence.
Students may not take Group II or Group III courses prior to the semester
they complete their Group I requirements without permission from the graduate
business director.
Group I
The following five courses or equivalent knowledge are required of non-business
majors, business majors from non-Association to Advance Collegiate Schools
of Business, International (AACSB) business schools, or students who graduated
from an AACSB Program more than seven years ago: MBA 200, 201, 203, 204,
and 205. Some or all of Group I requirements may be waived on the basis
of an evaluation of previous coursework.
Equivalent knowledge may be demonstrated through examinations offered
two times each year (before the beginning of fall and spring semesters).
Group II (18 units)
These courses develop the core managerial skills for the M.B.A. candidate.
Course topics include leadership and organizational behavior, management
information systems, financial management, managerial accounting, marketing
management, and the regulatory and ethical environment of business.
--- MBA 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, and 215 ---
Group III (18 units)
These courses allow the student to integrate the knowledge from Group
I and II and specialize in specific subject areas. Students will select
one of the following areas consisting of required and elective courses including
MBA 279 and a culminating experience: agribusiness, entrepreneurship, finance,
general management, human resource management, international business, management
information systems, and marketing.
--- Areas and Culminating Experience ---
Select one of the following elective areas
Agribusiness
Required (9 units): AGBS 210, 250, 279
Electives (3 units): Choose from AGBS 230, 240, or 260
Culminating experience (6 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and 3 units from
Group III
or MBA 299 (Thesis) and MBA 216
Entrepreneurship
Required (9 units): MBA 270, 274, 279
Culminating experience (9 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and MBA 272,
and 273
or MBA 299 (Thesis), MBA 216, and MBA 272 or 273 as determined by the M.B.A.
director or his/her designee
Finance
Required (6 units): MBA 230 and 279
Electives (6 units): Choose from MBA 231, 232, 233, 234, 289T (with permission
from the M.B.A. director)
Culminating experience (6 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and 3 units from
Group III
or MBA 299 (Thesis) and MBA 216
General Management
Required (3 units): MBA 279
Electives (9 units): Choose from MBA 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 289T (with
permission from the M.B.A. director)
Culminating experience (6 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and 3 units from
Group III
or MBA 299 (Thesis) and MBA 216
Human Resource Management
Required (12 units): MBA 240, 242, 243, 279
Culminating experience (6 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and 3 units from
MBA 244, 245, 246, 247 or MBA 299 (Thesis) and MBA 216
International Business
Required (3 units): MBA 279
Electives (9 units): Choose from AGBS 240; MBA 231, 251, 261, 289T (with
permission from the M.B.A. director)
Culminating experience (6 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and 3 units from
Group III
or MBA 299 (Thesis) and MBA 216
Management Information Systems
Required (3 units): MBA 279
Electives (9 units): Choose from MBA 250, 251, 252, 253, 289T (with permission
from the M.B.A. director)
Culminating experience (6 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and 3 units from
Group III
or MBA 299 (Thesis) and MBA 216
Marketing Management
Required (3 units): MBA 279
Electives (9 units): Choose MBA 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 289T (with permission
from the M.B.A. director)
Culminating experience (6 units): Choose MBA 298 (Project) and 3 units from
Group III or MBA 299 (Thesis) and MBA 216
Total (36 units)
Note: The university's graduate-level writing proficiency requirement is fulfilled by passing the writing component of MBA 210.
__________
* Required course in elective area.
M.B.A. Program for Executives. The on-campus M.B.A. program for executives is administered by the Craig M.B.A. program in the Craig School of Business and is an alternative path for the Master's in Business Administration. The program is one of about 150 in the Untied States designed especially to meet the needs of mid-career executives and the only one in Central California that is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Students in the program are required to have a minimum of ten years of work experience and three years of significant managerial or professional experience to ensure a wealth of practical knowledge is brought to the classrooms' discussions.
In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master's degree as set forth by the university's Division of Graduate Studies, students must complete the 36-unit program by taking predetermined courses in a predetermined pattern over a 17-month period. No transfer courses and no substitute classes are accepted.
To be considered, candidates must have the following:
- A minimum of 10 years of business experience, at least three years of which involves significant managerial or professional responsibility
- A completed application form, with the applicant's sponsor's signature
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 in the last 60 units of education
- A bachelor's degree (official undergraduate transcripts)
- A current resume and a cover letter stating why the applicant is interested in this program
- A personal statement that includes a statement of job responsibilities
- Two letters of recommendation (one from a senior member of the sponsoring organization)
- Recommendation of leadership potential by a panel of distinguished faculty
- A nonrefundable application fee of $55 made payable to California State University, Fresno.
Students accepted for the on-campus M.B.A. program for executives are fully matriculated in the university and meet all university requirements as established by the Division of Graduate Studies. (Please see the Division of Graduate Studies section of the university's General Catalog for detailed information on admissions, advancement, and graduation requirements.) For the convenience of students, however, courses are scheduled in a modular fashion on Fridays and Saturdays rather than the traditional semester time frame. The fee structure is also unique to the program and unrelated to the usual California State University, Fresno fee schedule. Students should contact the Craig M.B.A. office or review the M.B.A. program Web site at http://www.craig.csufresno.edu/mba for a program description, admission requirements, courses, calendar/class schedules, and fee summary.
The official program for all students in any one cycle, or cohort, is identical. (All students are in the "General Management" elective area.) Advancement to candidacy requires passing the writing requirement component of MBA 210 and at least 9 units with at least a 3.0 grade point average.
Master of Science in Accountancy
The Master of Science program in Accountancy is designed to prepare graduates for success in the professional field of accountancy. Goals include the preparation and qualification of graduates for professional certification in the field, as well as preparation of graduates for success in their careers well after achieving certification, to enable graduates to become leaders in the profession. The program provides a curriculum that completes the coverage of the content material for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Further, the program provides students with an opportunity to earn a M.S. in Accountancy while meeting the additional educational requirements of 150 units for the preferred pathway of California's CPA licensure requirements. The M.S. in Accountancy program also enhances preparation for other professional certifications such as that for a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). The program provides a high quality educational experience promoting the development of requisite skills and tools for success in the profession well after certification. .
Admission. The program is open to college graduates without regard to the area of undergraduate study. Applicants are expected to show intellectual promise to do well in the program, and, upon graduation, to perform effectively as professional accountants. Applicants must submit the following to be considered for admission:
- a completed California State University Graduate Application Form, online through CSU Mentor (www.csumentor.edu),
- a completed M.S. in Accountancy program application form,
- complete university or college transcripts,
- official record of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and
- a description of work experience.
Admission to the graduate program in accountancy is based upon the evaluation of a student's capacity to successfully complete master's level work. Multiple criteria are used to assess an applicant's qualifications including coursework completed, grades, test scores, and personal statement. While many applicants meet the minimum admission requirements for the university, a limited number of positions are available, and some applicants meeting minimum admission requirements may not be offered admission.
To attain classified standing at the time of admission, an applicant must have received within the last seven years a bachelor's degree with an emphasis in accounting from an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) business school. Applicants who do not meet the requirements above may be admitted to Conditionally Classified standing in order to complete the following prerequisites :
Pre-M.S. in Accountancy Business Courses: The following five M.B.A. Group I courses are required of non-business majors, business majors from non-AACSB business schools, or students who graduated from an AACSB Program more than seven years ago: MBA 200, 201, 203, 204, and 205. Some or all of Group I requirements may be waived on the basis of evaluation of previous coursework or equivalent knowledge. .
Pre-M.S. in Accountancy Accounting Courses: The following four accounting courses are required of nonaccountancy majors (i.e., students without a bachelor's degree with an emphasis in accounting), accountancy majors from non-AACSB business schools, or accountancy majors who graduated from an AACSB Program more than seven years ago: ACCT 120A, 120B, 132, and 162. Some or all of these courses may be waived on the basis of evaluation of previous coursework or equivalent knowledge.
Approved coursework up to a maximum of 10 units of the 30 units required for the M.S. can be taken concurrently with prerequisite courses by a student with conditionally classified standing.
To attain classified standing from conditionally classified standing, a student must complete the remaining prerequisite courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all coursework taken toward the M.S. in Accountancy.
Graduate Level Writing Competence California State University, Fresno requires that students have graduate level writing abilities before being advanced to candidacy for the M.S. in Accountancy. The Graduate Writing Skills requirement for the M.S. in Accountancy program is met by passing a designated writing component from one of the four core MSA courses. Please see the program's Graduate Writing Requirement Policy for details on designating a writing component from a core MSA course and for more information.
(See also Graduate Studies)
Master of Science Degree Requirements -
Accountancy Major
The Master of Science requires a minimum of 30 units after the completion of the baccalaureate degree according to the criteria below. Undergraduate courses used toward fully classified status may not be used toward the master's degree.
Core MSA courses (16 units)
MSA 220, 222, 224, 226
Select MBA courses (6 units)
Two courses from MBA Group II or III, excluding MBA 213 and MBA 215
Approved electives (8 units)
Culminating experience (Comprehensive Exam) (0 units)
Total (30 units)
Business Graduate Courses