Academic Catalog Spring 2019

MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GRADUATE PROGRAM

The MBA degree will require 15 credit hours of core courses, and culminate with a six-hour action research practicum. The MBA program requires 36 credit hours that in- clude a common core of 15 credit hours, with an additional 15 credit hours in each spe- cialization, except Finance. Courses are offered as 8-week sessions. The curriculum builds upon the foundation of competencies attained by the undergraduate student and expands pedagogical knowledge, leadership skills, and business acumen to increase overall business outcomes and performance. The program has two official starts, fall and spring. Students admitted during these start times will attend a 1.5-day orientation seminar at the beginning of each semester. This time will be spent on: 1) orientation of courses and eLearning plat- form; 2) teaching/learning interactions that are best achieved by on-site participation; and 3) activities that promote graduate culture and collegiality. A key differentiator of the MBA program is the six credit hours of practicum experience, which is achieved through project- based activities. Integration of practicums is designed with the student’s faculty advisor and/or work supervisor or if the student is unemployed with a local business or hospital/ clinic facility. Essential Competencies of a Master’s Business Administration and Industry-based Core Competencies align with the Criteria for Evaluation of Business programs by Ameri- can Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and BC policies and proce- dures for online learning. Current Bluefield College students majoring in Business Administration could elect to participate in a 5-Year BS/MBA program option. Students would select a five-year pro- gram leading to the appropriate bachelor’s degree and a Master in Business Administration in Leadership, Healthcare Management or Finance, spring semester of the junior year. Stu- dents would need a 3.0 overall GPA, 3.5 GPA in business courses, and successful comple- tion of all general education courses, 79 credit hours that includes BUS 3013 Management, BUS 3023 Marketing, BUS 3513 Business Finance, and BUS 3223 Business Communica- tions before completing 95 credit hours. Students accepted into the program will complete BUS 5303 Management Theory and Leadership, BUS 5343 Marketing Management, and one of the following: BUS 5393 Financial Management or BUS 5373 Managerial Eco- nomics, or an elective in either spring of junior or their senior year which will count no more than nine credit hours toward the master’s degree. Students will complete 127 under- graduate credit hours and 36 graduate credit hours to receive the combined B.S./Master’s in Business Administration. Academic Standing for the MBA Program Consistent with the academic policies of Bluefield College, satisfactory academic standing for the MBA program will be determined by completion of six graduate semester hours or greater per term with no grade below a B. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4 point scale. Grading, grade appeals, and grade changes will be consistent with the institution’s existing academic policies and can be found in the Bluefield College Academic Catalog. Transfer Credits Bluefield College School of Business (BC SOB) will review student requests for trans- fercredit of core business classes on a case by case basis, and at the recommendation of

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