Business Administration, MBA
Program
Director: Tianning Li, Ph.D.; li@hood.edu; 301-696-3688
The goal of the MBA curriculum is to provide students with a comprehensive professional education that prepares them for responsible leadership and management positions in business and public service. Students take a creative and innovative approach to solve complex problems in today’s global business environment by integrating business theory and practical application. The importance of making both socially and ethically responsible decisions in today’s business world is stressed. In addition to the versatility of a broad business education, the program empowers students to think entrepreneurially and become thought leaders in reshaping, re-imagining and reinventing modern business.
The program is designed for full and part-time students who wish to complete their MBA by taking classes in the evening (with the option for some weekend courses in an accelerated format). Students who majored in business administration at the undergraduate level may complete the program in as few as 36 credit hours. Teaching methods used include lectures, discussions and case studies. Strong faculty and student involvement and interaction in and out of the classroom are designed to improve students’ leadership, team-building, critical-thinking and communication skills.
The MBA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), whose mission is to promote “continuous improvement and recognize excellence in the accreditation of business education programs around the world.”
At Hood, it is not business, as usual. The MBA program is designed to be personally enriching and professionally rewarding.
Application Requirements
Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.
Students applying for the MBA program must complete an essay of 250 words or less that includes background experience and future goals. Students whose cumulative GPA from their conferring institution is below 3.0 must also submit a résumé and two letters of recommendation, which can be emailed to the Graduate School at gofurther@hood.edu.
For additional admission information, see Graduate Admission.
NOTE: Course substitutions are not permitted. A student may be exempted from these requirements by petition to the program director. The petition must be in writing and, if approved, written evidence of the exemption must be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar by the program director. The exemption is made a part of the student’s record. When a course is formally exempted, another course must be taken. Exemption from a course does not constitute credit towards the MBA degree.
Program Requirements
Foundation Courses
Five foundation courses (15 credit hours) are designed to provide a background for students who did not take courses in business administration at the undergraduate level. Students who have completed appropriate undergraduate coursework may be exempted from foundation courses. Students who have taken appropriate undergraduate coursework over an extended period (5 years or longer) may be required to take foundation courses. The MBA director will make the decision on a case-by-case basis. It is expected that students meet the foundation requirements before they enroll in core requirements. Any exceptions to this must be approved by the MBA director. Any foundation courses required are in addition to the 36 (thirty-six) credits required for program completion.
Core Requirements
Ten core courses (Thirty credit hours) provide a common body of knowledge and are required of all students in the MBA program. These courses provide a solid foundation in the functional areas of business, such as finance, marketing, and accounting and expose students to the environmental factors affecting business operations. Included in the core is a capstone course, MGMT 590 Strategy and Competitive Advantage, which is taken by MBA students in their final semester of study after all other core courses have been completed. Students must meet the prerequisite requirements before enrolling in a class. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the academic adviser.
| ECON 560 | Managerial Economics | 3.0 |
| MGMT 560 | Leadership & Organizational Behavior | 3.0 |
| MGMT 561 | Financial Management | 3.0 |
| MGMT 562 | Financial & Managerial Accounting | 3.0 |
| MGMT 563 | Marketing Management | 3.0 |
| MGMT 564 | Production & Operations Management | 3.0 |
| MGMT 565 | International Management | 3.0 |
| MGMT 566 | Information Management & Technology | 3.0 |
| MGMT 567 | Organizational Sustainability | 3.0 |
| MGMT 590 | Strategy & Competitive Advantage | 3.0 |
Focus Area Courses
Students are required to complete two elective courses (six credits). Students may elect to take courses in one focus area (accounting, data analytics, finance, human resource management, information systems, marketing or public management) or may take courses from two different focus areas to receive a general management MBA. No substitutions are allowed with regard to any focus area courses. Courses may count for requirements in two focus areas, but the credits can only count toward one. Six credits are required for each focus area. No more than two focus areas may be pursued within the MBA degree.
Accounting Focus Area
Data Analytics-STEM Focus Area
| ITMG 516 | Introduction to Data Analytics and Business Data Mining | 3.0 |
| | and | |
| CSIT 512 | Elements of Computer Programming | 3.0 |
| | or | |
| ITMG 526 | Practical Approach to Data Analytics | 3.0 |
Finance Focus Area
Human Resource Management Focus Area
| MGMT 582 | Negotiation & Conflict Resolution | 3.0 |
| MGMT 585 | Human Resource Management | 3.0 |
Information Systems-STEM Focus Area
Students may select courses in Information Systems by selecting two graduate computer science courses with the consent of their adviser and the director of the Computer Science program.
Marketing Focus Area
Public Management Focus Area