Business Administration - General Management Concentration, MBA

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B-401, 713-221-8252
mba@uhd.edu

Program Description

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) was uniquely designed with corporations’ modern-day needs. Leaders, executives, and specialists from different companies directly contributed to the development of this program. In addition, all courses are team taught by a faculty and an industry expert. In addition to the General Management track, the program offers nine concentrations to allow students to customize the program to their career aspirations.

Accounting
Business Intelligence
Finance
Human Resources Management
International Business
Leadership
Project Management and Process Improvement
Sales Management and Business Development
Supply Chain Management

Program Learning Outcomes

LO1: The student will identify drivers of industry and organizational change and be able to predict the impact of change on organizational performance

LO2: The student will design, implement, evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of organizational strategies, making necessary amendments during this process

LO3: The student will apply concepts and decision models in financial accounting, statistics, organizational behavior, finance, economics, marketing, information systems management, and operations management to make business decisions

Each concentration has separate learning objectives specific to that field that are defined in the catalog entry for the associated graduate certificate.

Graduates of the UHD MBA with a General Management concentration will also meet the following learning outcomes:

The student will recognize the characteristics of situations requiring specific leadership styles and apply the appropriate style.
The student will identify similarities and differences among cultural environments that impact organizational activities
The student will identify and critically analyze salient legal and ethical responsibilities in business issues.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Successful applicants will demonstrate potential for success via the required materials. Applicants with degrees in non-business fields may be required to take leveling courses prior to beginning MBA course sequences.

GMAT is optional. Submit official GMAT score report within last five years or GMAT is waived for admissions into certificates (soft-start MBA) or under specific waiver conditions below.
- GMAT is waived as a requirement for any of the following:
  - Undergraduate Degree Holders: Have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 hours or an overall GPA of at least 3.0 at an accredited institution.
  - Advanced Degree Holders:  Have an earned graduate degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution (or U.S. licensure).

Admission Materials

Complete the UHD online graduate application.
A personal statement of approximately 250-500 words addressing why the applicant desires an MBA from UHD, as well as other circumstances the applicant desires to share with the admissions committee.
GMAT score less than 5 years old (unless waived under admissions requirements)
Professional resume documenting work experience that emphasizes personal and professional accomplishments and leadership experience.
Two recommendation forms from individuals acquainted with the applicant’s leadership capabilities.
For graduates of universities in a country where English is not the native language: minimum IBT TOEFL scores of 81 or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.
Payment of application fee.
Official transcript(s) from the institute where the applicant’s Bachelor’s degree was conferred as well as any advanced degrees (if applicable). All documents must be received from the degree/credit granting institution. Evaluations from foreign institutions must include the course by course evaluation with GPA indication.
Official transcripts should be submitted either electronically or by sealed mail from your prior institution to:

University of Houston - Downtown
Office of Graduate & International Admissions
One Main Street, Suite GSB 308
Houston, TX 77002

Admission Process

Applications are managed through the graduate admissions office. Once students have completed the application process, the Graduate Admissions office notifies the Graduate Programs Office in the Marilyn Davies College of Business that the student’s application package is ready for review. Applicant files are reviewed for completeness in the MDCOB Graduate Programs Office. The applicant files are then submitted to the MBA Admissions Committee for consideration. The committee assesses the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses and votes on the applicant’s admission. In the event of a tie, the Associate Dean of the MDCOB will provide the tie-breaking vote. The MBA Admissions Committee then informs the MDCOB Graduate Programs Office of the decision. In cases where the candidate meets auto-acceptance requirements (possesses an earned master’s degree and/or finished their undergraduate degree with a 3.50 GPA or higher in the last 60 hours of coursework) the committee review process is waived. All applicants seeking admission as an international student will undergo review through the MBA Admissions Committee. The MDCOB Graduate Programs Office will communicate the admission decision to the applicant. Accepted students will be given instructions on required leveling courses and new student orientation.

Admission Appeals

Appeal of an Admissions Decision For a student denied admission to a program, an appeal must be filed through the relevant Graduate Program Director, who confers with the Associate Dean of the MDCOB. The appeal form is located here: https://connect.uhd.edu/register/MDCOBGRADAPPEAL.

MBA Requirements

MBA classes are offered one night a week over eight weeks, generally one or two courses at a time. Students may complete the program in 1 - 2 years.

General Degree Requirements

Students who hold an undergraduate degree from an AACSB accredited program in a field of business administration may be deemed to be prepared for graduate study if the degree is not more than ten years old and if the core courses were completed with a grade of “C” (or equivalent) or higher. Students who hold an undergraduate degree in a field other than business administration or in business from a non-AACSB accredited program may be required to demonstrate preparation for graduate study in business. These students could be required to complete one or more 5000 level courses in order to gain the basic theoretical concepts and tools that are the foundations for graduate management study.

The 5000 level courses serve as prerequisites for the graduate business courses and may be required for students who did not take the equivalent courses as part of their baccalaureate program, have a degree in business from a non-AACSB accredited program, or for students with a baccalaureate degree from a non-U.S. university. For additional details, see the MDCOB Graduate Programs Handbook.

Core and Concentration Courses

The Master of Business Administration degree requires satisfactory completion of the required credit hours offered for the selected concentration by the College of Business. The required courses and concentrations are outlined below:

Core Courses

Total: (20 hours)

General Management Concentration Courses

Total: (14 hours)

Total: (34 hours)

Graduation is dependent upon successful completion of all required course work with a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.0 and successful completion of the Capstone Project.

Additional Requirements

Minimum Grade Point Average to remain in the MBA program

While enrolled in any graduate program, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Sections 3.4 and 3.5 of UHD Policy 03.A.07 (Academic Probation and Suspension) outline the procedures related to probation, suspension, and satisfactory progress for graduate students. A student whose cumulative graduate GPA drops below 3.0 is placed and probation and must maintain a 3.0 or higher semester GPA in each subsequent semester until the cumulative graduate GPA is raised to 3.0 or above.

A graduate student on probation who does not achieve a graduate program GPA of at least 3.0 in the subsequent term will be suspended from the university. After one year, a suspended student may apply for reinstatement, at the discretion of the Graduate Director or coordinator of the program. A graduate student who receives grades of “C” in 9 or more graduate semester hours is subject to dismissal. According to UHD’s Grading System policy (PS 03.A.04), below average work (grades of “D” or “F”) is not acceptable and constitutes grounds for a graduate student’s dismissal from the program. Please note that according to the university grading policy, “All credit hours attempted as part of a graduate degree will be calculated in the GPA.” Transferred grades, from other institutions, are not calculated in a graduate student’s GPA. Please note that a graduate program may have more stringent requirements on C grades or probation/suspension, so students should consult their program handbook or website for these more specific restrictions.

Transfer of Graduate Credits

A maximum of 6 credit hours may be transferred from another AACSB accredited university. A minimum grade of B is required for the course to transfer. All petitions for transfer credit must be submitted to the Marilyn Davies College of Business Graduate Admissions Committee at the time of application for the committee’s approval.

Attendance Policy

Students enrolled in the UHD MBA program are expected to attend all scheduled classes. These are hybrid courses that meet half the normal class time; therefore, absences can be detrimental to academic performance and should be avoided. However, working professionals occasionally may have unavoidable absences as a result of unexpected business travel or other emergencies. It is the students’ responsibility to inform professors of the nature of the absences at the earliest practical opportunity, preferably in advance. Students are responsible for all information and assignments from missed classes. In cases where absences reach a frequency that, in the professor’s opinion, make it unlikely that the student can successfully complete the course, withdrawal from class will be recommended.