Business Administration MBA Online
Total Units Required: 30-36
The online MBA program offers an accredited MBA degree that accommodates students who desire a business graduate degree in an online, asynchronous environment. Courses are offered in a non-traditional schedule including six-, five-, and three-week courses that will fit a busy lifestyle. The online MBA combines the rigor and intensity of a high-caliber business graduate degree while being flexible enough to work within your schedule. The online MBA can help you reach your personal, professional, and academic goals from the comfort of your home.
The online MBA program enhances students' communication, teamwork, problem-solving, business and leadership knowledge and skills, and prepares students to be effective and ethical decision-makers and leaders within their organizations. The program prepares students to advance their careers, switch to a new career path, and become thoughtful, responsible managers. To accomplish this, students can pursue a general MBA or an MBA with either a health services administration or project management specialization. The program is designed for those with undergraduate degrees in any major.
More information about College of Business programs, with helpful advising information for first-year and transfer students, is available by contacting
Business Student Advising and Services
Glenn Hall 321
530-898-4480
Email: mba@csuchico.edu
Requirements for the Master of Business Administration
Completion of all requirements as established by the College of Business Graduate Committee, the online MBA program director, and Graduate Studies to include:
- Completion of an approved program consisting of at least 30 units of coursework.
- At least 24 units must be 600-level.
- Not more than nine units of Independent Study (697), Directed Internship (689), and Master's Thesis (699); not more than six units of Master's Thesis (699).
- The culminating activity requirement for all MBA options is met by the successful completion of BADM 693.
- Approval by the College of Business Graduate Committee and the Graduate Council on behalf of the faculty of the University.
Online MBA Coursework
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| ACCT 615 | Accounting for Managers | 3 |
| BADM 693 | Seminar in Strategic Management and Administrative Policy 1 | 3 |
| BSIS 610 | Business Analytics | 3 |
| MGMT 635 | Seminar in Management | 3 |
| MGMT 647 | Seminar in Leadership, Global Ethics, and Corporate Social Responsibility | 3 |
| MKTG 673 | Seminar in Strategic Marketing | 3 |
| OSCM 607 | Operations Planning and Execution | 3 |
| Options | 9-15 | |
| Total Units | 30-36 | |
- 1
-
BADM 693 is to be taken as part of the last nine units, or during the last semester of the graduate program.
General Online MBA Requirements: 9 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BADM 679 | Competitive Business Simulation | 3 |
| BCOM 504 | Communication for Personal and Professional Success | 1.5 |
| FINA 655 | Seminar in Financial Management | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1.5 | |
| Advanced Excel Analysis and Reporting | ||
| ERP/SAP Knowledge and Applications for Managers | ||
| Customer Relationship Management: Concepts and Applications | ||
| Total Units | 9 | |
The Option in Health Services Administration: 15 units
The health services administration option provides students with the in-demand skills and knowledge enabling graduates to help organizations plan, direct, and manage medical and health services. Graduates from the program will have management and leadership opportunities in hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, physician offices, outpatient care centers, insurance companies, managed care organizations, rehabilitation facilities, pharmaceutical companies, government, and as clinical managers overseeing a specific department such as surgery, physical therapy or nursing. MBA students should declare the health services administration option with Business Student Advising. Students who pursue this option must meet the MBA prerequisite requirements. Students following this option abide by the same policies guiding the MBA degree. In addition to the 21 units of required MBA courses, students in the health services administration option must complete an additional 15 units. The MBA with a health services option is a 36-unit degree.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHHA 631 | Healthcare Delivery and Payment Systems | 3 |
| PHHA 633 | Healthcare Financial Management | 3 |
| PHHA 634 | Healthcare Quality Management | 3 |
| PHHA/POLS 635 | Healthcare Policy | 1.5 |
| PHHA/POLS 638 | Healthcare Law | 1.5 |
| PHHA 695 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Total Units | 15 | |
The Option in Project Management: 13.5 units
The project management option provides the in-demand skills, and knowledge required to succeed as a project manager in any organization. Students who select this specialization learn how to efficiently and effectively initiate, plan, manage, and monitor projects while optimizing organizational goals. Online MBA students should declare the project management option with Business Student Advising. Students who pursue this option must meet the MBA prerequisite requirements. Students following this option abide by the same policies guiding the MBA degree. In addition to the 21 units of required Online MBA core courses, students in the project management option must complete an additional 13.5 units.
Requirements for the MBA with an Option in Project Management
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BCOM 504 | Communication for Personal and Professional Success | 1.5 |
| FINA 655 | Seminar in Financial Management | 3 |
| MGMT 644 | Seminar in Project Management | 3 |
| MGMT 645 | Teamwork, Negotiation, and Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| MGMT 646 | Optimizing Project Goals and Outcomes | 3 |
| Total Units | 13.5 | |
Graduate Grading Requirements
All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study - 697, Comprehensive Examination - 696, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 697, 696, 699P, 699T and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the University that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.
Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all coursework taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all coursework taken at California State University, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program.
Students whose grade point average falls below 3.0 will be put on academic notice and after one additional semester without improvement may be disqualified from the program.
Continuous enrollment is required. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of 30 percent of the units counted toward the degree requirements may be special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework. This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Professional & Continuing Education. Correspondence courses and UC Extension coursework are not acceptable for transfer.
Graduate Time Limit
All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See Master's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements.
Graduate Requirement in Writing Proficiency
Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement. All MBA students will be required to demonstrate their writing competency. Writing proficiency for the MBA must be demonstrated through successful completion of MGMT 647.
Prerequisites to Graduate Study in Business
Enrollment in graduate (600-level) MBA courses presupposes completion of the following courses with a grade of C or higher:
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 201 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 202 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ECON 103 | Principles of Microeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| FINA 307 | Survey of Finance | 3 |
| MATH 108 | Statistics of Business and Economics | 3 |
| MKTG 305 | Survey of Marketing | 3 |
The prerequisite courses can often be substituted with equivalent courses from other universities. For more information about substitutions, students should contact Business Student Advising or the online MBA program director.
Students with a non-business baccalaureate are encouraged to consider pursuing an MBA.
Students without an undergraduate business degree have a choice to take the six prerequisites as campus-based courses, or can fulfill the ECON 103, FINA 307, MATH 105/MATH 108, and MKTG 305 requirements by enrolling in an approved, online, self-paced set of modules. Details about fulfilling these four prerequisite courses with the self-paced modules are available on the online MBA Program website or by contacting Business Student Advising or the online MBA Director. ACCT 201 and ACCT 202 must be taken as credit-bearing courses, either at Chico State or at another institution.
Business Student Advising and the online MBA program director will determine whether unmet prerequisites remain, and how to best fulfill the prerequisite requirements.
There are two basic ways to complete the prerequisites. Students who meet entrance requirements but lack the prerequisites may be admitted as "conditionally classified" in the MBA program while they take the necessary prerequisite courses. Alternatively, students may choose to complete most or all of the prerequisites, here or elsewhere, prior to admission to the program. Consult Business Student Advising or the online MBA program director to determine which option will best meet your needs and which prerequisites you may have already completed.
Courses completed that are equivalent to the listed prerequisites (ACCT 201, ACCT 202, ECON 103, FINA 307, MATH 108, MKTG 305, or equivalents), must be less than 10 years old and students should have earned a C or higher in the course. Prerequisite equivalents completed 10 or more years ago, or where a grade lower than a C was earned, may need to be retaken. In a rare exception, some dated prerequisites may be waived if the applicant has extensive and current knowledge in a relevant area. For example, the program may waive the two accounting prerequisites for someone who was an accounting major and has been actively working in accounting.
Required Academic Leveling Courses
All admitted students are required to complete a series of academic leveling courses. The leveling courses ensure that students have the basic knowledge necessary prior to enrolling in 600-level courses. The academic leveling courses are fulfilled through a series of self-paced, online modules. Details about the academic leveling courses are available on the online MBA Program website website or from Business Student Advising.
For students without an undergraduate business degree, the leveling courses can simultaneously fulfill some of the prerequisite requirements and the academic leveling requirement.
Waiver of the academic leveling requirement
Students may waive the leveling requirement if they have completed all the required prerequisite courses within the prior two years and earned a C or higher in each course. Waiver of prerequisites and the leveling requirement is subject to approval by Business Student Advising or the online MBA program director.
Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status
- Satisfactory grade point average as specified in Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Admission Requirements.
- Approval by the department and Graduate Studies.
The goal of the Graduate Admission Committee is to select candidates who will become effective managers in private and public organizations. Accordingly, applicants are evaluated on intellectual ability, demonstrated managerial ability and potential, and personal characteristics conducive to academic and professional success, such as maturity, motivation, interpersonal skills, leadership, and breadth of experience.
In its deliberations, the Admissions Committee looks for responsible academic performance and for qualities of personal development which promise career success. Specifically, the Committee reviews- The motivation to pursue graduate study in business and the potential to achieve a management position as evidenced in a written statement of purpose;
- Collegiate-level scholastic achievements (the entire undergraduate record, with particular emphasis on junior and senior years, and graduate record, if any, is examined for content and course grades.);
- The personal characteristics of the candidate which are conducive to academic and professional success, such as maturity, motivation, interpersonal skills, leadership, and breadth of experience, as reported in the applicant's resume, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
The Admission Committee will operate in a manner consistent with and supportive of the ideals and goals of equal access and equal opportunity.
Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status
Students must satisfy the prerequisites for graduate study in business identified above.
Advancement to Candidacy
In addition to any requirements listed above:
- Classified graduate standing and completion at the University of at least nine units of the proposed graduate program.
- Development of an approved program in consultation with Business Student Advising or the online MBA program director.