Master of Business Administration (MBA)
The MBA is an integrated graduate program focused on broad business knowledge based on values of sustainability and stakeholder focus. Students master essential technical skills through the Value Chain of Business courses gain in-depth understanding of the broad context of business in the Foundations of Competitiveness courses, and begin to develop leadership skills and perspectives through the Leadership Foundations courses. In addition, students will specialize in either Applied Skills (designed for full-time students) or Advanced Leadership (designed for part-time students) courses. A highlight of the MBA program is the International Experience, which requires that all MBA students participate in either a 10-14 day study abroad program or a Portland Metro-based business experience during their MBA experience.
The MBA is designed to accommodate students with business and non-business undergraduate degrees and is best suited for those who have gained at least two years of industry experience prior to their admission date--although early career students are accepted into the full-time cohort based on academic success in undergraduate studies and readiness for a graduate business experience.
Students may elect to complete the MBA program in either the full-time or part-time evening format. Students are expected to progress through the program with their assigned cohort and follow the schedule of core courses. Both full-time and part-time students are required to complete 54 required (core) credits plus a minimum of 6 credits of electives. Elective courses and certificate classes are primarily offered during the evenings or online.
The goal of the MBA program is to develop skilled managers and highly effective leaders. This program seeks to produce future business leaders with a commitment to social, economic and environmental stewardship. The core coursework in the MBA program is grouped into three segments for a total of 54 credits: Foundations of Competitiveness, The Value Chain of Business, and Leadership Foundations.
In addition, students will complete a minimum of 6 additional elective credits from one of the following pillars:
- Applied Skills: This pillar is designed primarily for students in the full-time cohort, although part-time students can opt to follow one of the Applied Skills Pathways.
- Advanced Leadership: This pillar is designed exclusively for students in the part-time cohort.
All students will complete the MBA Capstone as their culminating experience.
Foundations of Competitiveness (18 credits)
These courses provide the student with a deepened understanding of the global and competitive challenges facing businesses today.
The Value Chain of Business (24 credits)
The value chain segment builds an integrated foundation of coursework and provides in-depth knowledge in applied skills related to accounting, finance, management, marketing, and operations.
Leadership Foundations (8 credits)
| BA 521 | Leadership Assessment and Development | 2 |
| BA 524 | Leadership Immersion | 1 |
| | | |
| BA 526 | MBA International Experience | 5 |
| | or | |
| BA 527 | MBA Domestic Business Experience | 2 |
Student must complete an additional 3 elective credits from the list below if they choose to complete
BA 527.
MBA Capstone
All students are required to complete a 4-credit MBA Capstone, a team-based consulting project with a regional organization, to be completed over two terms.
| BA 525 | Capstone Consulting Project | 1 |
Advanced Leadership or Applied Skills
In addition to the core (required) classes in the three pillars outlined above, MBA students will choose electives in either the Advanced Leadership or Applied Skills sections.
Advanced Leadership
Students will complete
BA 531, plus an additional 4 credits from the following list:
| BA 522 | Communications for Leaders | 1 |
| BA 523 | Executive Perspectives on Leadership | 1 |
| BA 550 | Special Topics in Advanced Leadership | 1-4 |
| Mgmt 517 | Negotiations for Managers | 2 |
| Mgmt 533 | Alliances and Acquisitions | 4 |
Applied Skills
Students following the Applied Skills path will complete a minimum of 6-credits from one of the following Graduate Certificate options, or the Finance Option.
Finance Option
The Finance option offered in conjunction with the MBA creates an opportunity to earn an MBA in Finance degree and develop a skillset to prepare students for careers in corporate finance and investing. Students must complete 10 required credits and 10 credits of electives from the approved Finance option elective list.
Required Courses:
Elective Courses:
Immersive Experience
A highlight of our program is the Immersive Experience (IE) required for all MBA students. The primary goal of the IE is to provide a first-hand experience of the opportunities and challenges of competing in a global marketplace. The IE is also designed to enhance cultural knowledge and build additional leadership competency. The IE requires either a 10- to 14-day immersion in a foreign country (BA 526) or a locally-based domestic business experience (BA 527) which may be available to students who petition for an approved exception to the international travel requirement. Students who complete the domestic experience must complete an additional 3 credits of electives in order to meet the program requirements. Students must complete at least their first year of the MBA core curriculum before participating in the IE or the domestic business experience.
Waiver Policy
Students may be eligible for waiver of some required courses in the MBA program. A waiver is based upon the student holding an undergraduate degree (earned within the previous seven years), an active license in the specific discipline for which the waiver is sought, or in the case of BTA 519 a Graduate Certificate in HR Analytics or Business Intelligence and Analytics. Specifically, the following courses may be considered for waiver: Actg 511, Actg 513, Fin 515, Fin 516, Fin 517, ISQA 511, BTA 519 and Mgmt 512. A student can waive a maximum of 13 credit hours from the courses above only, thus reducing the required number of hours in the degree program. Students must apply for waivers during the summer prior to entering the program.