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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2016-2017 
    
American University Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Business Administration (MBA): Full-time


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Offered by the Kogod School of Business , the goal of the full-time MBA program is to develop practical business managers able to succeed in the complex arena of global organizations. Specifically, students will:

  • Develop a solid foundation in each of the functional areas of business, including accounting and financial analysis, production and marketing of goods and services, management of people and organizations, and information and technology management.
  • Understand critical interrelationships and linkages necessary for developing global business strategy, including strategies and operational issues, functional disciplines, and “hard” and “soft” skills.
  • Appreciate the environment in which business operates, including economic, legal, ethical, and societal dimensions.

In addition, each student is expected to:

  • Demonstrate professional competence in oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Develop competency in the use of productivity tools and software to improve the quality and efficiency of decision making.
  • Understand the nature of group dynamics and lead diverse work teams.

The full-time MBA program contains within its required curriculum the business perspectives and core areas required by AACSB.

The full-time MBA program is delivered on-campus and prepares students for managerial careers through teaching functional business knowledge, applied learning through experiential projects, skill-building in analytics, and a global practicum. The program increases understanding of the interrelationships of private and public institutions, building critical knowledge and leadership skills to tackle today’s business challenges.

Admission to the Program


In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must have earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a satisfactory grade point average and a satisfactory score on the GMAT or the GRE.  Applicants who meet certain criteria may apply for a GMAT/GRE waiver; please visit http://www.american.edu/kogod/admissions/ for more information. In addition, applicants must also have completed two undergraduate courses, one in micro and one in macro economics (or the graduate equivalent), prior to entering the program. Applicants whose first language is not English must have a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Students are admitted into the full-time MBA program in the fall semester only and complete the degree in four semesters. The summer semester between the first and second year is open for full-time internship opportunities.

Degree Requirements


  • 49 credit hours of approved graduate coursework that includes required courses comprised of business core courses, a capstone course, global practicum, advanced professional skills, and electives.
  • Capstone experience: KSB-613 Strategic Decision Making (3) .
  • Orientation requirement: All students are required to participate in the Full-time MBA Orientation prior to the start of the program.

Course Requirements


Capstone (3 credit hours)


Global Practicum (2 credit hours)


Electives (12 credit hours)


In addition to the required courses, students complete 12 credit hours of approved graduate elective credit hours. Students may choose courses designated to augment a consulting focus or may select other approved graduate level courses at the Kogod School of Business or by other academic units at American University.

Business Administration (MBA) and Juris Doctor (JD)


In this dual degree program, graduates receive an MBA through the Kogod School of Business (KSB) and a JD through the Washington College of Law (WCL). Neither degree will be awarded until all requirements for both degrees are completed.

Admission to the Program


Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Kogod School of Business and Washington College of Law before being admitted to the program. In addition, applicants must also have completed two undergraduate courses, one in micro and one in macro economics (or the graduate equivalent), prior to entering the program. However, students who have been admitted to the Washington College of Law will not be required to take the GMAT. Ideally, application to the dual degree program should be made during the admissions process to WCL, but must be made no later than the end of the WCL JD 1L year. Applicants are considered and admitted for the fall semester only.

MBA Degree Requirements


  • 32 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, including business core courses, a capstone course, and a graduate business elective.
  • Capstone experience: KSB-613 Strategic Decision Making (3) .
  • Orientation requirement: All students are required to participate in the Full-Time MBA Orientation prior to the start of the program.

Course Requirements


JD Degree Requirements


  • 86 credit hours of approved coursework.
    • Up to 6 credit hours required for the JD degree may be taken through the Kogod School of Business subject to the review and approval of the Washington College of Law and the Kogod School of Business.

Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Laws (LLM) in International Legal Studies


In this dual degree program, graduates receive an MBA from the Kogod School of Business (KSB) and an LLM from the Washington College of Law (WCL). Neither degree will be awarded until all requirements for both degrees are completed.

Admission to the Program


Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Kogod School of Business and Washington College of Law before being admitted to the program. Students must have completed their law degree at a US law school accredited by the American Bar Association or at a foreign law school with equivalent standards. Admission to the MBA requires an interview, a separate personal statement, and additional letters of recommendation. In addition, applicants must also have completed two undergraduate courses, one in micro and one in macro economics (or the graduate equivalent), prior to entering the program.

MBA Degree Requirements


  • 32 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, including business core courses, a capstone course, and a graduate business elective.
  • Capstone experience: KSB-613 Strategic Decision Making (3) .
  • Orientation requirement: All students are required to participate in the Full-Time MBA Orientation prior to the start of the program.

Course Requirements


LLM Degree Requirements


  • 16 credit hours including two research papers; LAW-580 Introduction to American Legal Institutions (for students with civil law backgrounds); English for Lawyers (for students who need extra practice with English); no internship credit may be applied toward the LLM.

SIS MA/MS and MBA


A dual master’s degree program is offered by the School of International Service  and Kogod School of Business .

Admission to the Program


Applications are submitted to both SIS and Kogod. Students must be admitted separately to each program. While students are encouraged to apply for admission to both programs simultaneously, students can apply to the second program after admission and matriculation in the first program. Students must be admitted to the second program and begin their studies prior to conferral of the degree from the first program. Applicants to the MBA program must also have completed two undergraduate courses, one in micro and one in macro economics (or the graduate equivalent), prior to entering the program.

The full-time MBA is a cohorted two-year program. During the first year of the MBA students complete 26 or 29 credit hours in Kogod, and during the second year of the MBA students, including the MBA capstone in the spring semester. Sequencing and timing of SIS coursework depends on the chosen program. Generally, dual degree students begin their academic programs at Kogod, but this is not required. The dual degree between SIS and Kogod may not be completed in conjunction with any other dual degrees at AU.

SIS Degree Requirements


  • Dual degree students may count up to 9 credit hours from their Kogod degree requirements toward their SIS degree requirements with approval of the SIS program director. This typically includes the 6 credit hour methodology requirement and the 3 credit hour elective. Students must otherwise complete all requirements as listed for the SIS graduate degree. The SIS MA degrees are built around a multidisciplinary curriculum focused on preparing students for a wide variety of careers in global service, including public, private, and non-profit semesters. MA/MBA students can specialize in areas at SIS that include international development, security,  global governance, conflict resolution, global environmental policy, regional studies, U.S. foreign policy, and public diplomacy. Students select a specialized concentration that allows them to tailor their studies to their individual interests. See relevant SIS degree requirements for more information.

MBA Degree Requirements


  • 32 credit hours of approved graduate coursework that includes required business core courses, capstone course, and an electives course.
  • Capstone experience: KSB-613 Strategic Decision Making (3) .
  • All students are required to participate in the full-time MBA orientation prior to the start of the program.
  • The MBA degree will be conferred no earlier than the semester in which the SIS graduate degree is completed.

Course Requirements


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