Program overview

The master of business administration degree provides students with the capabilities for strategic and critical thinking needed for effective leadership in a global economy where creative management of both people and technology is vital. The curriculum begins with a solid grounding in the functional areas of business and combines that foundation with the flexibility that allows students to specialize in one or two areas of expertise. In the classroom, students learn the latest theories and concepts, and how they can be immediately applied to solve problems in the workplace.

The MBA program requires 72 quarter credit hours and consists of 18 courses, nine of which are devoted to core functional areas and nine available in concentration areas and as electives. All courses in the Saunders College carry four quarter credit hours.

Curriculum

All full-time students are required to complete Professional Skills Seminar I, II (0102-070, 071). These non-credit courses give students the skills to successfully complete their graduate degree and prepare them to obtain a job or co-op position. A background in statistics is required. All entering students will complete a statistics diagnostic test. If deficient they must use one of their electives to take Statistical Analysis for Decision Making (DEC-782).

Concentrations

Students have the option of choosing one or two concentration areas. A concentration is a sequence of four courses in a specialized area of business, thus giving students in-depth knowledge in a particular field.

Students with one concentration area will complete:

• Nine foundation courses
• Four courses in a concentration area
• Five electives, outside the selected concentration area (no more than four of these can be taken in any one discipline). Electives must be selected from approved Saunders College graduate courses or from graduate courses outside the Saunders College that are part of an approved MBA concentration.

Students with two concentration areas will complete:

• Nine foundation courses
• Four courses in a concentration area
• Four courses in a second concentration area (in a different discipline)
• One elective, outside the selected concentration areas

Notes:

• Students cannot complete more than two concentration areas.
• No course can be counted in more than one concentration.
• No more than four electives can be completed in any one discipline.
• Students taking two concentration areas must meet with an adviser.
• Finance is a five-course concentration.

Students select a concentration area and choose a four-course sequence in a particular area of specialization. Concentrations are available both through the Saunders College and from departments within RIT's other colleges.

Accounting

Designed for students planning to enter corporate accounting. This concentration is also an excellent complement to a concentration in finance or management information systems.

Digital marketing

One of the most significant forces to affect marketing since the emergence of mass media, the Internet has introduced a global electronic marketplace that has caused a dramatic shift in standard business practices. This has given rise to an enormous need to understand the implications of these shifts for strategic initiatives in marketing and advertising.

Entrepreneurship

The entrepreneurship concentration is designed to enable students to recognize and commercialize attractive business opportunities—either by new independent ventures or by established firms seeking growth or rejuvenation. It involves integrating all functions of business (strategy, marketing, innovation, finance, accounting, etc.) within one concerted value-creating initiative.

The concentration requires an applied entrepreneurial learning experience that may be satisfied through either the Field Experience in Business Consulting (0102-753) course or an approved commercialization project. These projects may involve students developing their own businesses or working with RIT incubator companies, local startup firms, or RIT multidisciplinary commercialization projects. Students interested in high-technology initiatives are encouraged to enroll in Technology Management (0102-742) as the fourth course in the concentration.

Environmentally sustainable management

With a goal of familiarizing students with environmentally sustainable business practices, this concentration is attractive to students with an overall interest in understanding how firms can manage social and political demands for more environmentally sustainable products and operations. It may be of particular interest to those students in industries with a significant environmental impact such as the automotive, chemical, energy, transportation, or agricultural industries, where environmental issues are central to operational and strategic decision making.

Finance

This concentration is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge in finance and allow students to choose courses appropriate for a career in investments or corporate finance. Students interested in investments will acquire advanced skills in securities evaluation and portfolio management. Those interested in corporate finance will acquire advanced skills in budgeting, planning, global financing and operations, and corporate risk management. Note: Finance is a five-course concentration.

International business

This concentration prepares graduates for today's global business environment. Large, medium, and small enterprises all operate globally: sourcing, producing, researching, and marketing worldwide. Suppliers and competitors are not only across the street, they are around the globe. To balance the needs of local, regional, and national communities and the benefits attained from global competition and cooperation requires an understanding of the international dimensions of business. Managers and professionals must be able to think, market, negotiate, and make decisions designed for the diversity, complexity, and dynamism that are the hallmarks of global business.

Management and leadership

Managers need to combine effective leadership with analytical reasoning. The management and leadership concentration provides students with the leadership skills needed to be successful managers in business, nonprofit, and public organizations. Students will develop the essential analytical and decision-making skills for today's rapidly changing world. They will learn why change is difficult, when to initiate change, and how to introduce and manage change in the workplace. These courses also will prepare students for the demands of managing people and projects.

Managment information systems

Services are playing an increasing role in many economies and information technology is a critical element in supporting, managing and innovating services. The managing service systems concentration provides students with interdisciplinary perspectives on the concepts of service delivery and management, and the role of information technology in the design, management, delivery and evaluation of services required to improve and innovate in service-focused organizations. The concentration prepares students for diverse careers in IT-intensive service organizations and industries, such as health care, information technology, and financial services. Students taking this concentration are encouraged to focus on a specific industry, such as health care, information technology, or financial services.

Marketing

The overall process of entering markets, creating value for customers, and developing profit for the firm are the fundamental challenges for today's marketing manager. Effective marketing must consider the target audience, along with the changing business environment and competitive pressures of technological and global challenges. These marketing basics apply to governmental agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and profit-making firms.

Marketing research

How do you identify your customers' needs and wants, and respond with the most profitable product or service? Marketing research analysts take a leading role in identifying and defining marketing problems. Relying on communication as well as analytical and conceptual skills, a market researcher can evaluate the market, generate product ideas, refine the delivery process, monitor marketing performance, and improve the company's profitability. Increasing numbers of specialized research firms add more opportunities to the traditional marketing profession.

Operations management

This concentration is designed to enhance the student's understanding of manufacturing and service functions as they exist in modern business. In addition to courses covering project management, quality control, and improvement and manufacturing strategy, electives allow students the ability to broaden their knowledge base.

Product commercialization

This concentration is targeted to students who are interested in developing expertise in managing the marketing-related activities required to move new products and services through the preliminary business stages to a successful launch. The commercialization of new corporate offerings is increasingly important as product life cycles get shorter.

Quality and applied statistics

This concentration is for those students who would like to study the technical aspect of managing quality, i.e., statistical quality control. Students will gain an understanding of the basics of statistical process control, quality improvement, acceptance sampling, and off-line quality control techniques such as the design of experiments.

Quality and organizational improvement

This concentration is designed for students who would like to learn more about the organizational and managerial (i.e., "soft") aspects of quality. The courses offered help students lead organizational change and manage quality improvement projects.

Technology management

In a constantly changing environment, the ability of an organization to innovate and renew itself is critical if it is to survive and prosper. Technology managers, who typically are responsible for the innovation and application of new technology, are central to the long-term strategy and success of their companies. To manage these processes well, managers need to understand both business and technological perspectives. Co-op or internship experience in high-technology settings may be helpful to students pursuing a specialty in technology management.

Additional concentrations

In addition to the business-related concentrations, several additional concentrations are available to MBA students from outside the Saunders College. Customized concentrations are also available and require the approval of a graduate adviser. To register for courses in the following concentrations, students must see a graduate adviser.

Communication and media technologies

Communication, and the technologies for message creation and dissemination, is at the center of dramatic economic, social, and cultural changes occurring as a result of technological development and global connectedness. This concentration, offered by the College of Liberal Arts, prepares students for careers as communication experts in commerce, industry, education, entertainment, government, and the not-for-profit sector.

Health systems administration

This concentration is specifically designed for those students who are employed in the health care environment. Offered by the College of Applied Science and Technology, courses introduce up-to-date, industry-relevant content that is continually developed in response to the changing health care environment. All courses in this concentration are offered online.

Human resource development

The field of human resource development has grown in both size and importance over the past decade, leading to a high demand for educated and skilled human resource professionals. This concentration, offered by the College of Applied Science and Technology, provides education in training, and career and organizational development.

Industrial and systems engineering management

Organizations need individuals who possess a blend of technical and business skills, as well as the integrated systems perspective needed to commercialize complex products and services. This concentration, offered by the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, may be significantly interdisciplinary.

Information technology

Corporations are aware of the cost savings and performance improvement possible when information technology is applied in a systematic manner, improving organizational information flow, employee learning, and business performance. Information technology includes a mixture of computers and multipurpose devices, information media, and communication technology. Students may choose from the following areas of specialization: Web programming/multimedia, software project management, programming, and telecommunications. This concentration is offered by the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Print media

Leadership and management in the print media industry require an understanding of the cutting-edge technology and emerging markets to articulate a corporate vision that encompasses new opportunities and directions. This concentration, offered by the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, is designed to provide a solid technical background in cross-media digital workflow processes and a keen understanding of the issues and trends in the print media industry.

Public policy

Formulating public policy and understanding its impact are critical, whether you work in government, not-for-profit, or the private sector. This concentration, offered by the College of Liberal Arts, gives students the skills to effectively formulate public policy and evaluate its impact, particularly as related to science and technology issues. The courses focus on policy formation, implementation, and analysis.

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MBA program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution,
• Have a working knowledge of algebra and statistics,
• Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work,
• Submit scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (GMAT preferred for international applicants and those applying for scholarships),
• Submit a personal statement,
• Submit a current resume, and
• Complete a graduate application.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores of 580 (paper-based), or 92 (Internet-based) are required. Scores from the International English Testing Language System (IELTS) are accepted in place of the TOEFL exam. The minimum acceptable score is 7.0. The TOEFL or IELTS requirement is waived for native speakers of English and for those submitting transcripts and diplomas from accredited American institutions. For additional information on the IELTS, visit www.ielts.org.

Applications are accepted for all four academic quarters. Most full-time students begin their program of study in the fall. Students may complete their studies on a full or part-time basis.

Completed applications for admission should be on file in the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services at least four weeks prior to registration for the next academic quarter for students from the United States, and up to 10 weeks prior for international students applying for student visas.

Additional information

Nonmatriculated status

Students with strong undergraduate records are permitted to take two graduate courses on a nonmatriculated basis. To become a matriculated student and admitted formally to the MBA program, the regular admissions process should be followed. Graduate credits earned as a nonmatriculated student may be applied to the student's degree program.

Academic standards

Graduate students must maintain a grade of B (3.0) or better for all courses. Grades of all repeated MBA courses will be counted in the GPA computation. The policy on probation and suspension is explained in the Registration and Degree Requirements section of this bulletin.

Maximum time limit

University policy requires that graduate programs be completed within seven years of the student's initial registration for courses in the program.

Orientation

All new students are required to attend an orientation session prior to beginning their studies. Course selection, career planning, program planning, and academic advising are discussed during orientation.

Waiver policy/transfer credit

The MBA normally requires 72 quarter credit hours, however, students may be able to waive up to six MBA foundation courses. Prior academic preparation must be from an institution accredited by AACSB International and the course work must be equivalent to MBA foundation courses. Prior course work must be completed within the last five years, with a grade of B (3.0) or better. Foundation courses may be waived either outright or through an examination.

A maximum of 12 quarter credit hours may be awarded as transfer credit from other graduate programs. The courses must be relevant to the MBA program, taken within the last five years at an institution accredited by AACSB International, and the student must have earned a grade of B or better.

Credits for waiver, transfer, or undergraduate courses are not counted in the GPA computation. Students must apply for transfer/waiver credit.

Placement

Preparation for professional placement begins early in the student's program with the completion of Professional Skills Seminar II (0102-071). The Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services offers individualized career counseling, provides critical job leads, coordinates employers' annual campus recruiting visits, maintains an extensive online job listing, and sponsors two annual career fairs.

Cooperative education

Cooperative education in the MBA program is optional. Co-op experience affords students the opportunity to obtain a paid position for three to six months and gain valuable work experience. Academic credit is not granted, but formal recording of the co-op experience is made on the student's transcript. Students in good academic standing are eligible for co-op after completing the foundation courses, Professional Skills Seminar I and II (0102-070, 071), and a substantial portion of their concentration courses. They also must attend a series of co-op and career services workshops. RIT does not guarantee co-op placements.

Deferment

Accepted students can defer enrollment for up to one year. After one year, a new application must be submitted and will be re-evaluated based on the most current admission standards.