Jon M. Huntsman School of Business

Executive Director: Kenneth C. Snyder
Location: Business 818
Phone: (435) 797-1387
E-mail: ken.snyder@usu.edu

Assistant Director: Katherine A. McConkie
Location: Business 309N
Phone: (435) 797-1773
E-mail: katherine.mcconkie@usu.edu

Staff Assistant: Lindi Brown
Location: Business 309
Phone: (435) 797-2360
E-mail: lindi.brown@usu.edu

FAX: (435) 797-2399
WWW: http://www.huntsman.usu.edu/mba/

Degree Offered: Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Graduate Specializations: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Manufacturing Management, Personal Financial Planning

Graduate Program

Objectives

The Huntsman MBA program is an interdepartmental program, administered by the Huntsman School of Business, which is designed to provide students with an understanding of analytical tools necessary for effective and efficient management in today’s complex business world. The MBA program is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The central focus of the MBA program in the Huntsman School is framed by strategic anchors in ethical leadership, global vision, entrepreneurship, and analytical rigor. Within this framework, the Huntsman School is committed to creating a branded academic experience within the broad context of the school’s commitment to the philosophy of operational excellence. A unique academic partnership with the Shingo Prize creates a dynamic opportunity for high-context public/private partnerships. See: http://www.shingoprize.org/

The central theme of the operational excellence philosophy is based upon a commitment to deeply imbed the principles and tools of continuous process improvement throughout all learning experiences. A focus on operational excellence, as it is reflected in business processes cultivating patterns of ethical leadership, strategic planning, and deployment, as well as through development of people, partners, and culture, is central to the mission of the MBA program. Full-time, on-campus MBA students participate in an international study tour, providing them with a powerful, transformative learning experience within the framework of global leadership and operational excellence. Students will critically analyze operational excellence in a variety of global communities at various stages of implementation. This experience is designed to broaden and challenge each student’s world view, while helping the student to explore leadership and operational excellence in new, interesting, and exciting ways.

Participants in the MBA experience will be empowered to reach a higher level of confidence in their application of  analytical tools and skill sets, increasing their level of sophistication in managing complex organizational dynamics. The result is the cultivation of managers with a principle-based philosophy of operational excellence, enabling them to add value to the organizations they lead from their first day on the job.

Admission Requirements

For consideration for admission to the MBA program, applicants must submit an application form and fee, all undergraduate transcripts, Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and three letters of recommendation from qualified professionals. TOEFL scores are required for international students whose native language is not English, with a minimum of 213 (computerized) or 79 (Internet) deemed acceptable. International students with a prior degree from a university in an English-speaking country are exempt from the TOEFL exam.

Students are expected to be admitted to the program as matriculated students before taking coursework leading to the degree.

Application Deadline for Fall Semester

No application will be considered until all required information arrives in the School of Graduate Studies at Utah State University. In addition, the student desiring to pursue an MBA degree must have been accepted as a matriculated student before he or she will be permitted to register for 6000-level courses that will be part of the student’s advanced program. Full-time business experience is also preferred, but not required. Students with or without an undergraduate degree in business may enter the MBA program. However, before the student may take advanced courses, basic competencies in business that have not been acquired through prior courses must be met. Before entering the program, each student must meet with an advisor to plan his or her course of study.

The full-time MBA program on USU’s main campus is a cohort program which starts every fall semester. Rolling admission to the on-campus program will begin on December 1 of each year for early applicants who have outstanding credentials in the areas of undergraduate GPA, GMAT/GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. Applications will be accepted until all seats in the cohort are filled, with preference given to early, qualified applicants. Additional reviews for admissions will be conducted on January 15, February 15, and March 15, with reviews in subsequent months (April, May, etc.) conducted as needed. Deadlines for admission to one of the part-time MBA programs offered by USU can be found on the MBA website at: http://www.huntsman.usu.edu/mba/

Degree Requirements

Students are held responsible for meeting requirements as outlined below. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all requirements and initiate the resolution of apparent inconsistencies.

Business Core

Students must have coursework which includes learning experiences in management-specific areas recommended by AACSB International for direct entry into the advanced program. The following courses satisfy these requirements: Financial Accounting (ACCT 2010 )—3 credits; Managerial Accounting (ACCT 2020 )—3 credits; Finance—(FIN 3400 )—3 credits; Marketing (MGT 3500 )—3 credits; Operations (MGT 3700 )—3 credits; Macroeconomics (ECN 1500 )—3 credits; Microeconomics (ECN 2010 )—3 credits; Business Law (MGT 2050 )—3 credits; Organizational Behavior (MGT 3110 )— 3 credits; Calculus Techniques (MATH 1100 )—3 credits; and Business Statistics (STAT 2300 )—3 credits. Students must meet with the advisor of the MBA program to determine if previously completed coursework meets these specifications.

Accelerated Business Core

The Accelerated Business Core (ABC) at Utah State University is an intensive, 10-week (summer) course of study specifically designed for nonbusiness undergraduate degree holders who wish to pursue graduate degrees in business. The ABC provides an exposure to the core business functional areas to build an understanding of the context in which business decisions are made. Passing the ABC will satisfy most prerequisite business course requirements to begin advanced study in the Huntsman MBA program. The ABC consists of seven modules (13.5 credits), which are viewed as separate courses. Students can take one or more of these classes: Financial and Managerial Accounting (ACCT 6010 )—3 credits; Corporate Finance (FIN 6410 )—1.5 credits; Marketing (MGT 6510 )—1.5 credits; Production (MGT 6710 )—1.5 credits; Fundamentals of Economics (ECN 6050 )—3 credits; Management (MGT 6055 )—1.5 credits; and Legal and Ethical Environment of Business (MGT 6075 )—1.5 credits.

Advanced Program Courses (33 credits)

The advanced program courses, along with electives, consist of 33 credits. Students must complete the advanced program course requirements. In addition, students may choose to select among several specializations, which are described below. A specialization requires the student to complete additional courses beyond the 33 credits.

Students must complete the following seven courses: ACCT 6350 ; FIN 6420 ; and MGT 6320 , MGT 6500 , MGT 6520 , MGT 6720 , MGT 6890 . Additionally, students must complete one course each in information systems (e.g., MIS 6510 ); research methods (e.g., BUS 6860 ); and quantitative analysis (e.g., MGT 6740  or ECN 6310 ). Students will also take a 3-credit field studies course that will provide consulation to companies.

Specializations (12 credits)

Students may select a specialization in one of several areas listed below. Classes taken as part of the MBA advanced program courses cannot be used as part of a specialization. One course in each specialization will be designated as research intensive to meet the research methods requirement.

Entrepreneurship

This specialization consists of MGT 6410 , MGT 6430 , MGT 6470 , and an approved elective.

Human Resource Management

This specialization requires students to complete MGT 6690  and to select any three of the following courses: MGT 6550 , MGT 6620 , MGT 6630 , MGT 6640 , MGT 6670 , and MGT 6760 .

Manufacturing Management

This specialization is currently undergoing revision.

Personal Financial Planning

This specialization consists of PFP 6060 , PFP 6070 , and PFP 6080 . Students must also complete, or have previously completed, the following courses: PFP 3460  or FIN 4460 , and ACCT 3410 . This specialization satisfies requirements to sit for the national Certified Financial Planner (CFP) examination.

Financial Assistance

Graduate assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships are available to outstanding on-campus students and are awarded on a competitive basis. Students who apply by March 1 will be considered for financial awards, which generally range between $1,600 and $4,500 for nine months. A recipient of a graduate assistantship is usually eligible for a waiver of the out-of-state portion of his or her tuition.

MBA Association (MBAA)

The MBA Association (MBAA) provides USU students with an opportunity to enhance their professional and academic skills while building their resumes. Club members focus on career attainment and benefit from a forum for networking with faculty, alumni, and employers. The MBAA also works to increase awareness of the USU MBA program and assists the USU Huntsman School of Business in developing an effective curriculum for the MBA program.

Master of Business Administration Faculty

Professors
Kenneth R. Bartkus, Accelerated Business Core, marketing techniques
Drew Dahl, Accelerated Business Core, corporate finance essentials
Christopher Fawson, applied econometrics
L. Dwight Israelsen, applied econometrics
Richard L. Jenson, advanced accounting information systems
I. Richard Johnson, accounting theory and research
Vijay R. Kannan, operations management, Accelerated Business Core, essentials of operation management
J. Robert Malko, financial problems, managerial economics
Glenn M. McEvoy, managing individuals and groups
David H. Olsen, information systems for business, applied business research
Clifford R. Skousen, accounting strategies for achieving profit goals
David B. Stephens, global business strategy

Associate Professors
J. Brian Atwater, operations management, decision making in operations management
Katherine M. Chudoba, applied business research
Steven H. Hanks, global business strategy
Austin Kwag, financial decision making
Alan A. Stephens, financial problems, financial decision making

Assistant Professors
Alison Cook, managing individuals and groups
Daniel Holland, management principles
Christopher J. Skousen, Accelerated Business Core, financial and managerial accounting

Executive-in-Residence/Principal Lecturers
Chester Brough, Accelerated Business Core, fundamentals of business law
Randy Cook, leadership and operational excellence
Ronald S. Godfrey, leadership and operational excellence
R. Troy Oldham, marketing strategy
Jack W. Peterson, financial auditing
Dale G. Siler, tax research and procedures
Kenneth C. Snyder, marketing strategy
Alan P. Warnick, managing individuals and groups