Program Target

This Professional MBA program is most suited to working professionals who seek the ability to complete advanced managerial study in 18 months, who have at least four years of work experience, and who have employer support for undertaking an advanced degree in a lock-step (cohort) program.  The 25 students in the first cohort have committed to completing the entire program from October 2006 to March 2008.  Prospective students must be able to meet on Thursday nights in one or more metro-Detroit locations.  Individuals who currently possess an undergraduate degree in business will be most prepared to begin the program; those with other undergraduate degrees and business credits will be good candidates, but will be asked to meet prerequisite standards.

Program Description

The program will consist of nine core business courses, providing solid grounding in the business functions.  These eight-week courses will be supplemented with concentrated two- and three-week topical sessions surrounding the theme, "The Value-Driven Organization."  Representative topics will include voice of the customer, corporate and social responsibility, leadership, negotiations, improvement processes with emphasis on Six Sigma, and shareholder wealth maximization.  In addition, students will complete an applied project, based on an actual work-place problem derived from each student's work situation.  Employer endorsement of this project will be mandatory.  The thirty-credit-hour program will consist of:

• Core Courses:  18 credits, 9 courses, each 2 credits and 4 weeks in length
• The Value-Driven Organization:  9 credits, 3 courses, each 3 credits and 5 weeks in length
• Project:  4 credits, unique to student's work-place

Core Courses

MBA 619 - ACCOUNTING INFORMATION FOR MANAGERS
Investigates the central role accounting systems play in managerial evaluation, control, and planning.

MBA 629 - MANAGING BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
A study of organization culture and behavior which emphasizes the importance of and need for influencing individual and small-group behavior in contemporary organizational settings.

MBA 639 - QUANTITATIVE APPLICATIONS FOR MANAGERS
The application of quantitative methods to managerial decisions. Applications include optimization, modeling, and simulation, and focus on using the computer to support decision making.

MBA 649 - MARKETING MANAGEMENT
Dynamic nature and managerial aspects of marketing. Formulation of analytical decisions concerning marketing strategy.

MBA 659 - MANAGING IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY
Covers challenges of globalization of product-and factor-markets, managing subsidiaries and influencing affiliates in diverse cultures, in industrialized and emerging economies.

MBA 669 - FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING
This course provides a framework for the analysis of the investment and financing decisions of the firm and an understanding of how to apply finance theory to practical situations

MBA 679 - ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR MANAGERS
Application of economics and statistics to business decisions. Integration of theory with issues from Business Week and The Wall Street Journal. Development of business regression models.

MBA 689 - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Focuses on developing competitive business strategies through a process of analyzing environments, establishing and implementing strategies, and evaluating results.

Concentration:  The Value-Driven Organization

The concentration for the Professional MBA will be focused on the theme, "The Value-Driven Organization."  Essentially, it will be composed of both processes and metrics related to several factors that drive value for an organization, such as
• Voice of the customer
• Corporate governance and social responsibility
• Process improvement, including Six Sigma

The Project

Students will complete an applied project as they progress through the program, developing a proposal, methods for analysis, and strategies for implementation.  In order to begin the project early in the program, students will be asked to bring to the admissions process an idea for their project.  The project should be work-place based and have the support of the employer.  Early in the program students will be matched with an appropriate faculty advisor who will offer guidance and oversee the project.

MBA 699 - THE MBA PROJECT (4 credit hours)
The capstone experience where skills and competencies are applied to actual business problems. Students develop cross-functional business solutions with the guidance of a faculty supervisor.

Prerequisites

Foundation requirements (prerequisites) are satisfied with course work earned either before or after admission to the Professional MBA program.  Students must show sufficient coursework in accounting, business communications, quantitative methods and statistics, economics, legal and social environment of business, management, production/operations management, marketing, and finance.  In addition, students must show evidence of computer literacy with a working knowledge of advanced business computer applications in spreadsheet, database, and presentation graphics.

Specific foundation course requirements will depend on the student's prior education.  Individuals with an undergraduate business degree from an accredited institution will likely waive most, if not all, foundation courses.  In selected areas, students may satisfy prerequisite knowledge by passing a qualifying examination.  Upon application, students will be notified of their status regarding prerequisite satisfaction.

Schedule