Master of Business Administration

The MBA program is a professional-level graduate degree for students who have completed a bachelor's degree in virtually any discipline. This degree is ideally suited for individuals needing advanced training in various business subjects such as accounting, marketing, economics, statistics, human resource management, and quantitative skills. Students lacking an undergraduate background in business will find an opportunity to enroll in foundation business and management courses through NAU.

MBA Program Outcomes
MBA students will:

• Demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge of accounting, marketing, management information systems, organizational behavior, finance, economics, operations management, and quantitative analysis.
• Demonstrate the ability to collect and analyze information and data in order to formulate analytically sound decisions and understand their likely consequences.
• Demonstrate the verbal and written communication skills required of executive-level employees.
• Identify and manage ethical issues and multicultural diversity issues.
• Evaluate the actions of an organization operating in the global business environment.
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize technology in multiple ways to achieve project and/or organizational goals.
• Demonstrate leadership ability and team-building skills through such arenas as class projects and involvement in student, community or professional organizations.

Program Requirements
The Master of Business Administration degree provided by National American University consists of three requirements: foundation courses, graduate core courses, and elective courses. In addition, online students are required to complete two executive seminar sessions as part of their core course requirement.

The MBA degree may be earned under a non-thesis or a thesis plan. Under the non-thesis option, the student must satisfy 31.5 hours of foundation courses, 40.5 hours of graduate-level core courses, and 13.5 hours of electives. Under the thesis plan, the student must satisfy the 31.5 hours of foundation courses, 40.5 hours of graduate-level core courses, 4.5 hours of electives, and nine (9) hours of thesis.

An in-depth analysis of a case, accomplished in Policy and Strategy, is designed to integrate the MBA core areas and is required in both the non-thesis and thesis plans to satisfy the university's requirement for a comprehensive program assessment.

Foundation Requirements
Foundation courses are offered online. These courses cannot be used to fulfill the 54 hours of MBA core and elective courses, and the student must be admitted to the MBA program before enrolling in the graduate-level foundation courses. Foundation courses are not included in the cumulative grade point average or the credits-earned calculations. Grades earned in foundation courses are designated by a # sign as follows: A#, B#, C#, F#, W# or I#.

The following National American University courses fulfill the foundation requirements:

The foundation requirements may also be met in the following ways:

• The equivalent undergraduate courses or graduate courses may be taken at a regionally-accredited two- or four-year college or university, or from an international higher education institution approved by an appropriate national ministry of education or recognized country equivalent, and
• The student has earned a C or higher in the course(s), or
• The student may attempt and successfully complete CLEP or DANTES examinations, or
• The student may submit an experiential learning portfolio for approval.

The MBA program requires that students be proficient in the use of computers and of application software. Students are encouraged to discuss their level of computer proficiency with their academic advisor prior to starting the program.

MBA Core Courses
It is not necessary that all foundation courses be completed prior to enrolling in graduate courses. However, certain foundation courses must be completed prior to enrolling in individual graduate core classes. The relationships of the foundation courses to the core graduate courses are as follows:

MBA Elective and Emphasis Options
In order to meet the MBA program requirements, students must complete a minimum of three elective courses as a part of their program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a program of study that outlines the core and elective courses that the student will complete. Final approval of each program of study is the responsibility of the dean of graduate studies.

Generalist
Students who select the generalist MBA without an emphasis area will work with their academic advisor to select 13.5 hours of elective credit that best match their professional interests. These electives can be selected from any graduate courses not included in the MBA core courses, provided that the student meets any individual course prerequisites.

Health Care Administration Emphasis
Students who select this option must complete the alternate MBA core courses for the health care administration emphasis along with the following elective courses:

Human Resource Management Emphasis
Students who select this option will pursue the standard MBA curriculum with a three-course emphasis in human resource management by completing three of the following courses:

Management Emphasis
Students who select this option will pursue the standard MBA curriculum with a three-course emphasis in the area of management. Completion of this emphasis focuses the student’s preparation in order to pursue or expand a career in management. To complete this emphasis the student must complete three of the following electives:

International Business Emphasis
Students who select this option will pursue the standard MBA curriculum with a three-course emphasis in the area of international business. Completion of this emphasis focuses the student’s preparation in order to pursue or expand a career in the global business environment. To complete this emphasis, the student must complete the following electives:

Thesis Option
Students who select the thesis option must complete both thesis courses and one additional elective course.