You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Master of Business Administration for Executives (M.B.A.)
Master of Science in Accountancy (M.S.)
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:
The M.B.A. is awarded to students upon completion of requirements in
three groups of courses. These groups generally are 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 Electives (12 units)
These courses allow the student to integrate the knowledge from Group
I and II. Students may take any 12 units from MBA 230-274, or other approved
electives.
Group III Required Courses (6 units)
These courses represent the culminating experience and include MBA 279
(Policy and Strategy) and either MBA 298 (Management Project) or MBA 299
(Thesis).
Note: Students may focus their area of study by choosing their electives from one of the following subject areas: Entrepreneurship (MBA 270, 272, 273, 274), International Business (MBA 231, 251, 261), Finance (MBA 230, 231, 232, 233, 234), General Management (MBA 230, 240, 250, 260, 270), Human Resource Management (MBA 240, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247), Management Information Systems (MBA 250, 251, 252, 253), and Marketing (MBA 260, 261, 262, 263, 264).
The university's graduate-level writing proficiency requirement is fulfilled by passing the writing component of MBA 210.
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 one of the limited schools in Central California that are 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:
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 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 Graduate Programs 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.
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:
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 a 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 four 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, 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 six 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 4A, 4B, 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)
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