MBA 2003-2005 CSUB Catalog

C A L I F O R N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y B A K E R S F I E L D

2003-2005 Catalog

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)

BPA Student Services Center

BDC-A Office Bldg, Room 123

(661) 664-2326

(661) 664-2438 (fax)

email: MBA@csub.edu

http://www.csub.edu/GradStudies/MBA.html

MBA Coordinator: Thomas P. Mishoe

BDC-A Office Bldg, Room 123

(661) 664-3099

email: tmishoe@csub.edu

MBA Director: Michael Bedell

BDC-A Office Bldg, Room 204

(661) 664-2312

email: mbedell@csub.edu

Faculty: M. Attaran, L. Bacon, H. Bidgoli,

R. Campbell, Y. Choi,

M. Doucet, T. Doucet,

M. Flanagan, R. Fletcher,

D. Harvey, B. McNamara,

B. Moscove, D. Olson, A. Phillips,

R. Pimentel, J. Ruiz, K. Shakoori,

J. Stark, J. Tarjan, M. Way,

G. Wood

Program Description

The Master of Business Administration degree offers critical preparation needed by working professionals for challenging careers in business. Competing in the complex, rapidly changing environment of business and public sectors requires having the knowledge, skills, and values that the MBA degree provides. The CSUB MBA program has recently been redesigned to take a more integrated approach to better prepare professionals for the ever-changing global market place.

Mission

The mission of the MBA program is to provide our region with an advanced business education which will foster a commitment to lifelong learning and facilitate the career growth of our graduates.

Values

The faculty and the students of the CSUB MBA program will work together to create an environment that is supportive of the highest standards of ethical behavior

Goals

Knowledge: Graduates should be able to analyze and evaluate the strategic, tactical and operational factors that influence or impact the organization.

Goal 1 – Strategic Factors: Analyze and evaluate the strategic factors that influences and impact the business environment.

Goal 2 – Tactical Factors: Analyze and evaluate the tactical factors that influence and impact the business environment and make choices based on reasoned arguments.

Goal 3 – Operational Factors: Analyze and evaluate the operational factors that influence and impact the business environment.

Skills: Upon completion of the program a graduate should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

Goal 4 – Communications: Proficiency in business communication.

Goal 5 – Analysis and Interpretation: Proficiency with quantitative analysis and decision tools.

All MBA courses are taught by full-time academically qualified (i.e., Ph.D. or other equivalent degrees) faculty, many who have wide business and international experience. The faculty remains current in their fields of study by actively engaging in research, consulting activity, and serving on local, regional, and national boards. The faculty brings a strong theoretical foundation, as well as relevant practical experience, to the classroom, making for a good blend in the students’ education.

Student Population

The CSUB MBA Program student population is primarily composed of working professionals, representing a variety of industries. There are also a number of international students representing a variety of countries. The student mix enriches learning by providing exposure to various industries, cultures, and international perspectives. The average MBA student enters the program with a 3.2/4.0 undergraduate GPA and a 520 GMAT score. There is approximately a 60/40 male/female ratio within the program. Half of the currently enrolled students are completing classes at a full-time pace. The Occidental Petroleum Graduate Research Lab and the BPA Graduate Students’ Association provide ample networking opportunities.

Facilities

CSUB’s M.B.A. students have their own facility – the brand new Occidental Petroleum Graduate Research Laboratory – to study, work in teams, or network. This facility serves as a resource center for the M.B.A. students by providing study space, individual and team computing facilities, and academic support resources. Students also have the benefit of a state-of-the-art library and computing resources to facilitate the development of the skills needed in an information-oriented world.

Accreditation

The CSUB M.B.A. program is the only program in its region accredited by The International Association for Management Education (AACSB). “AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management education.” (Source: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (600 Emerson Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, Missouri, 63141-6762 USA).

APPLICATION AND Admission

Application for admission to the MBA program is a two-step process: 1) apply for admission to the University as a post baccalaureate student for the MBA program; and 2) once admitted to the University the application is forwarded to the MBA Director for review for entry into the MBA program.

Admission Policy

The goal of the admission policy is the selection of those candidates who demonstrate high potential for academic and professional success. The applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a four-year college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association, score a minimum of 450 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and have a total index score of 1050 or more points. The index is based upon the grade point average (GPA A= 4.00) of all upper division work from their baccalaureate degree times 200 plus the GMAT score.

• An applicant whose preparatory education is principally in a language other than English must have a TOEFL score of 550 or higher (or 213 on the new conversion scale for the computer based TOEFL exam). Documentation must be in original form by the testing institution. Copes submitted by the applicant are not acceptable.

Applicants having an existing Masters degree, or other postgraduate work may be considered for waiver of the GMAT requirement at the sole discretion of the MBA Admissions Committee

In rare instances, the applicant who has taken the GMAT but does not meet requirements may be considered for admission. Also, those who have previously been denied admission may present new information to be reconsidered. In either case, the applicant must petition, in writing, the MBA Admissions Committee giving those reasons relevant to the situation that demonstrate the likelihood of success-the burden of proof is on the applicant.

Application Procedure

An MBA applicant must be submit the following items to the Admissions Office of the California State University, Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099.

1. A completed application and application fee;

2. Two official transcripts from each college or university attended (international students must submit foreign transcripts in the original language and an English copy);

3. An official GMAT score;

4. A resume;

5. Two letters of reference;

6. An official TOEFL Score (international applicant); and,

7. Submission of a financial declaration and supporting documentation (international applicant).

Advising

The School is dedicated to meeting the needs of our individual students. Please make an appointment with the MBA Coordinator to discuss your individual background, experience, goals, and objectives so that we may design a program of study that best meets your needs. Contact the MBA Coordinator in the BPA Student Services Center at (661) 664-2326 for an appointment.

The BPA Student Services Center will serve as the advising center for each MBA student. It is recommended that each student meet with the Graduate Coordinator during preregistration to enroll in next quarter’s classes and to discuss their progress in general.

Student Classifications

There are four possible student classifications as a post baccalaureate student at CSUB.

Post-baccalaureate - Unclassified – A student who has been admitted to the University, but not to the MBA program.

Conditionally Classified MBA Student – A student who is qualified for the MBA with GPA, GMAT, and TOEFL (if necessary) but needs to take foundation courses before taking 600 level courses.

Classified MBA Student – Students who have met all of the requirements for admission to the MBA, and have completed all foundation courses required.

Advancement to Candidacy – Students will be advanced to candidacy when all the program requirements have been completed.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The Master of Business Administration program is designed around a set of 600-level courses that treat each of the management functions in depth and broaden the student’s awareness of contemporary issues affecting business enterprises. Admitted students must have a working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications. Students are advised to achieve these competencies before beginning their MBA course work. The typical MBA candidate is expected to have a working knowledge of the fundamentals of business including management, quantitative decision-making, accounting, finance, and the current global business environment.

All graduate students are required to maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average in all graduate course work. Any course in which a student receives a grade lower than “C” cannot use that course towards the fulfillment of a degree requirement. Graduate courses may not be taken on a credit, no-credit basis.

Foundation Knowledge Competency Requirements

All MBA applicants will be expected to demonstrate competency in the following foundation knowledge areas. Competency can be established by any one of the following:

1. providing proof of appropriate coursework at the undergraduate level;

2. taking a foundation knowledge course as recommended by the MBA Coordinator;

3. passing a competency based exam.

For applicants with baccalaureate degrees not in business administration or those persons needing review,

courses are available.

It is incumbent upon the student to provide such evidence to the MBA Coordinator. Applicants should consult with the MBA Coordinator regarding which course(s) might be appropriate.

1. Business Communications-equivalent to one of the following communications classes (COMM 304, COMM 330; COMM 405; COMM 434; COMM 481); achievement of a GMAT Verbal score at or above the 60th percentile; or passage of the GWAR with

an appropriate score.

2. Quantitative Methods for Business Decision Making (equivalent to MGMT 301)

3. People In Organizations (equivalent to MGMT 300)

4. Marketing Essentials (equivalent of MKTG 300)

5. Principles of Financial Accounting (equivalent to ACCT 220)

6. Principles of Finance (equivalent to FIN 300)

7. Economic Theory (equivalent to ECON 500 or ECON 201/202)

8. Business Law/Ethics (equivalent to BA 370 or both ACCT 275 and BA 374)

Core Courses

In addition to the following required core courses, the candidate must complete an additional fifteen (15) units of approved graduate work. No more than seven (7) quarter units of Individual Graduate Study (BA 699) may be used to satisfy degree requirements. At least fifty-eight (58) units of approved 600-level graduate courses are required for the Master of Business Administration degree. All candidates for the degree must complete the following courses:

1. ACCT 620 Accounting for Decision Making (5)

2. FIN 600 Seminar in Financial Management and Policy (5)

3. MGMT 600 Seminar in Organizational Theory and Design (5)

4. MGMT 602 Seminar in Operations and Technology Management (5)

5. MGMT 690 Seminar in Strategic Management (5)

6. MIS 610 Seminar in Information Systems Management (5)

7. MKTG 600 Seminar in Marketing Management (5)

8. MGMT 605 Managerial Skills (5)

9. MBA 690 Master’s Culminating Project (3)

Elective Courses

1. ACCT 677 Selected Topics in Accounting (5)

2. ACCT 699 Individual Graduate Study in Accounting (1-5)

3. FIN 620 Seminar in Investments (5)

4. FIN 680 Seminar in Real Estate Investments (5)

5. FIN 685 Seminar in International Financial Management (5)

6. FIN 677 Selected Topics in Finance (5)

7. FIN 699 Individual Graduate Study in Finance (1-5)

8. MGMT 604 Advanced Organizational Behavior (5)

9. MGMT 610 Seminar in Human Resource Management (5)

10. MGMT 650 Seminar in Global Operations Management (5)

11. MGMT 655 Seminar in Statistical Analysis (5)

12. MGMT 680 e-Business: Challenges and Opportunities (5)

13. MGMT 677 Selected Topics in Management (5)

14. MGMT 699 Individual Graduate Study in Management (1-5)

15. MIS 630 Applied Decision Support and Expert Systems (5)

16. MIS 677 Selected Topics in MIS (5)

17. MIS 699 Individual Graduate Study MIS (1-5)

18. MKTG 601 Seminar in Consumer Behavior (5)

19. MKTG 602 Seminar in Advertising and Public Relations Strategy (5)

20. MKTG 604 Seminar in Services Marketing (5)

21. MKTG 610 Seminar in Global Marketing (5)

22. MKTG 640 Change, Innovation, and Creativity (5)

23. MKTG 677 Selected Topics in Marketing (5)

24. MKTG 699 Individual Graduate Study Marketing (1-5)

25. PPA 618 Health Services Planning and Policy (5)

26. PPA 689 Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care (5)

Course Descriptions

(Accounting)

ACCT 620 Accounting for Decision Making and Control (5)

Examines how accounting information is used in managerial decision-making and control. The course stresses how to use rather than how to prepare accounting reports. Topics to be covered include: basic cost concepts, cost volume profit relationships, product costing, differential analysis, strategic product pricing, cost allocation, budgeting and the evaluation of financial performance. This course is designed for MBA and MPA students who have not had ACCT 303 Cost Accounting or its equivalent. Prerequisite: completion of all required MBA 500-level courses or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to students who have taken ACCT 303 Managerial Accounting or its equivalent.

ACCT 677 Selected Topics in Accounting (5)

Special topic courses provide each department with the opportunity to present an in-depth study of a selected subject not covered in regular courses. When offered, prerequisites and course requirements will be announced for each course. Each department will determine applicability toward the concentration.

ACCT 699 Individual Graduate Study in Accounting (1-5)

Individual study is offered to give the student experience in planning and outlining a course of study on the student’s own initiative under departmental supervision. Independent study should deal with a special interest not covered in a regular course or with the exploration in greater depth of a subject presented in a regular course. Instructor consent is required. No more than 5 quarter units may be used to satisfy degree requirements. (May not be substituted for any required graduate seminar).

Course Descriptions

(Business Administration)

BA 690 Master’s Culminating Project (3)

The culminating project provides an opportunity for each student to utilize and demonstrate the tools and understanding he or she has developed during the program. Through a comprehensive interactive competitive simulation, each student will manage a firm in competition with other student-managed firms. At the completion of the simulation, each student will produce a historical account of the firm’s performance via an annual report, an account of how the firm responds to its key stakeholder groups via a social audit, and a strategic plan for the future via a business plan. Each student is expected to demonstrate mastery of the essential tools of the business disciplines and an understanding of markets and the external environment. Students will not be permitted to register for this course until final quarter of graduate studies.

Course Descriptions

(Finance)

FIN 600 Seminar in Financial Management and Policy (5)

Formulation of financial policies for obtaining and using financial resources for the purpose of value creation. Heavy emphasis is placed on the analysis of real-world cases that focus on the decisions confronting the financial manager. Statistical analysis, financial analysis, and advanced spreadsheet applications are required. Students will be challenged with both theoretical and practical problems in the following areas: performance analysis, long-term planning, working capital management, capital budgeting, long-term financing, acquisitions, and international financial management. Student presentations are required.

FIN 620 Seminar in Investments (5)

Discussion and analysis of security investments. Emphasis directed toward understanding financial investment theories and concepts from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Topics include: securities markets, risk and return, portfolio theory, asset pricing theory, valuation, fundamental analysis, and portfolio management. Case analysis, statistical analysis, and other computer applications are required.

FIN 677 Selected Topics in Finance (5)

FIN 680 Seminar in Real Estate Investments (5)

Investigates methods of analyzing real estate investments. Includes an examination of appraisal methods, capitalization approaches, and cash flow models. Consideration is also given to legal, tax, and financing issues. Specific project analysis techniques are part of the course, i.e., analysis of residential properties, commercial properties and shopping centers. A term project and oral presentation are required along with computer applications.

FIN 685 Seminar in International Financial Management (5)

Looks at the international financial environment, including balance of payments, the international monetary system, foreign exchange and financial markets. Specific topics include managing foreign exchange exposure, domestic versus foreign financing, cash management, political risk, and international legal constraints. A term project and oral presentation will be a part of the course.

FIN 699 Individual Graduate Study in Finance (1-5)

Course Descriptions

(Management)

MGMT 600 Seminar in Organizational Theory and Design (5)

A study of the theories and research that explain why business organizations operate the way they do. A social systems perspective is presented that views the business organization’s external environment and structure as critical determinants of organizational effectiveness. Key department-level and organizational-level variables and models are studied with the goal of developing an understanding of the patterns and relationships among organizational dimensions such as strategy, goals, size, technology, and external environment. The case method is used extensively to develop skill in diagnosing and solving organizational design problems.

MGMT 602 Seminar in Operations and Technology Management (5)

An examination of principles related to effective utilization of factors of production in manufacturing and non-manufacturing systems. This course uses extensive readings and case studies to define and analyze problems of productivity improvement, production planning, inventory management, quality control, system design and implementation from the operating manager’s perspective. Issues in management of technology-based organizations, capacity planning, scheduling, facilities design, operations strategy in services, and supply chain management will also be explored.

MGMT 604 Advanced Organizational Behavior (5)

This course provides a review and extension of the basic theoretical and conceptual framework necessary for making sense out of behavior in organizations. The emphasis is on applying theory and concept to management, particularly in business organizations. Topics include: individual differences, perception, learning, motivation, group dynamics, communication, leadership, conflict management, organizational structure, organizational culture, and change management. Application is made through case studies, analysis of video clips, and through group and classroom discussions.

MGMT 605 Managerial Skills (5)

This course focuses on developing and enhancing managerial skills that are of major importance for current and future career survival and success. Specific skill areas include: self-management, communication, decision-making, motivation, delegation, team management, diversity management, negotiation, organizational politics, and change management. The course is primarily experiential in nature with skill assessments, exercises, role-plays, case studies, and group discussion activities being the primary learning tools. Relevant literature from the behavioral sciences will provide a knowledge base for skill development.

MGMT 610 Seminar in Human Resource Management (5)

Traditional human resource management functions such as selection, compensation and training are analyzed from a strategic perspective. Topic areas include strategies for: human resource acquisition and placement, maximizing human resource productivity, maintaining human resources, dealing with unions, and strategic separation of human resources.

MGMT 650 Seminar in Global Operations Management (5)

This course introduces students to a conceptual framework which will help them recognize and meet international operations management challenges. It studies issues relating to global sourcing and logistics, and manufacturing competencies of different nations. Topic areas include: strategic planning for global competitiveness, managing global facilities, managing global supply chains, improving operations performance, world class manufacturing, building a strategic alliance, coordinating international manufacturing and technology, and overcoming the limits to global operations project.

MGMT 655 Seminar in Statistical Analysis (5)

The issues and methods involved in conducting business research will be explored. Students will collect data that will then be analyzed by utilizing a variety of statistical techniques via computer. Bivariate, multivariate and nonparametric techniques will be covered. A strong emphasis will be placed on the use of statistics to aid in managerial decision-making. Examples of actual business research will be reviewed.

MGMT 677 Selected Topics in Management (5)

MGMT 680 e-Business: Challenges and Opportunities (5)

This course provides students with a conceptual framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities that face e-Business systems. The course is cross-functional, decision focused, and strategic in its orientation. Different types of e-Business applications are analyzed based on web site reviews and case studies. The course includes a practicum in which teams of students build a prototype e-Business system. Specific topics covered include the integration of supply chain management and e-Business, e-procurement, selling-chain management, enterprise resource planning, collaborative computing technologies, virtual team management, considerations for hardware and software development and/or purchasing, controlling e-Business cost, quality, and risks, and the legal and social environment of e-Business.

MGMT 690 Seminar in Strategic Management (5)

The subject of this course is competitive behavior and the “strategy” of business firms. Competition is defined to be the effort to create and retain economic value within an environment of interdependence among competing firms. Strategic behavior is the effort of a firm as a coherent objective-seeking entity to create economic value within a competitive environment. An understanding of strategic behavior requires a close examination of 1) business objectives, 2) firm structural interdependence, and 3) value creation within the structure of competitive interdependence. Prerequisites: FIN 600, MGMT 600, and MKTG 600.

MGMT 699 Individual Graduate Study in Management (1-5)

Course Descriptions

(Management Information Systems)

MIS 610 Seminar in Information Systems Management (5)

This course introduces MBA candidates to information systems in organizations from a management perspective. Managerial and strategic uses of information systems, information technology that underlies these systems, and ways such systems are developed and managed are explored. Emphasis is placed on evaluation of systems for support of individual and group decision-making and collaborative work, expert systems and other knowledge-based systems and their applications. The course will cover methods and tools for information systems design, development, implementation, and maintenance. New state-of-the-art tools and models in information systems, decision support systems/expert systems, and their practical applications will also be explored.

MIS 630 Applied Decision Support and Expert Systems (5)

This course will provide an overview of decision support (DSS) and expert systems (ES) with specific focus on their conceptual models; the inter-relationship between DSS and ES, and their architectures. Specifically, this course will focus on the use of decision support technologies for future executives. A variety of scenarios related to the future of decision support and expert systems technologies will be examined. New technologies from the growing field of applied artificial intelligence (AI) will also be explored. Finally, students will design and implement small-scale decision support and executive information systems using commercial software.

MIS 677 Selected Topics in MIS (5)

MIS 699 Individual Graduate Study in MIS (1-5)

Course Descriptions

(Marketing)

MKTG 600 Seminar in Marketing Management (5)

Development of marketing strategy for the organization and design of integrated product-service, promotion, and distribution programs utilizing systems analysis. Intensive analysis of management’s marketing problems, including market analyses, pricing, channels of distribution, promotion, competition, product strategies, and marketing research. Applications are emphasized to include research, quantitative, and business analytical techniques through the development of case and project assignments.

MKTG 601 Seminar in Consumer Behavior (5)

Intensive analysis of behavioral science concepts, theories, and current empirical research in buyer behavior. Research orientation requires developing an understanding of statistical tests and research designs currently employed in buyer behavior. Equal emphasis on developing creative marketing strategy and programs on the basis of such research. Prerequisite: MKTG 600 or permission of instructor.

MKTG 602 Seminar in Advertising and Public Relations Strategy (5)

Development of communications strategy necessary to fulfill the objectives of the marketing program through intensive analyses of situational and primary information, target market(s), creative objective(s), media selection and scheduling, sales promotion, public relations, budgeting and program evaluation. Includes qualitative, statistical, financial, and computer applications. The course integrates theory with case analyses and the development of a comprehensive marketing communications plan. Prerequisite: MKTG 600 or permission of the instructor.

MKTG 604 Seminar in Services Marketing (5)

An investigation into and analysis of the complexities and unique aspects of marketing services contrasted to the marketing of tangibles. Special attention will be given to creating effective customer service, demand management, and quality control. The case study method will be utilized.

MKTG 610 Seminar in Global Marketing (5)

A study of current global marketing status in industrialized, newly industrialized (NICS) countries, emerging democracies, and the developing world in a dynamic environment of changing communication technologies. Discussion of research techniques one should use in selecting the countries, entry strategies, and developing the right marketing mix and strategies to meet the needs of the countries selected. Marketing management techniques to be used keeping in mind the degree of literacy, economic, legal, political, and socioeconomic environmental variables. Developing and implementing global marketing strategies during the 21st century in an environment in which the countries around the world are grouping into trading blocks like the European Economic Community and NAFTA. Extensive use of library resources, case studies, and empirical research projects.

MKTG 640 Change, Innovation, and Creativity (5)

This is a skills based course for creating and managing change to create competitive advantage. Topics include creativity, the change process, and tools for discovering customers’ articulated and unarticulated needs.

MKTG 677 Selected Topics in Marketing (5)

MKTG 699 Individual Graduate Study Marketing (1-5)