Graduate Faculty
Brenda D. Bradford, M.A., Associate Professor of Business Administration, Dean of Business and Diversity Initiatives
Lisa Bushur, CPA, M.Acc., Assistant Professor of Accounting and Business Administration
Brian Jackson, M.B.A, Instructor of Business Administration
Karen Kannenberg, D.Mgt., Associate Professor of Accounting and Business Administration; Director of MBA Program
Stephanie Kontrim-Baumann, M.B.A., Assistant Professor of Marketing and Business Administration
Mission Statement
In accordance with the mission statement of Missouri Baptist University, the Business Division seeks to provide a personalized academic program, based on a Christian, liberal arts, worldview that is applicable to the business world of today. The program is designed to produce motivated graduates equipped with practical and current business skills, ethical social and business attitudes, and ideals based on Christian precepts.
Overview
The Master of Business Administration program is intended for “middle managers” who have basic experience in small business or corporate settings. Although the curriculum is designed to accommodate students without a specific background in management or business administration, students will be expected to perform at a graduate level in these courses. While there are no prerequisite business courses required for admission to the program, some students may be advised to complete specific undergraduate courses before enrolling in some of the graduate courses. For example, some students may be advised to take a basic accounting course prior to enrolling in ACCT 503 - Managerial Accounting . While there are no prerequisite business courses required, students must complete the MBA Core courses in a carefully designed sequence before enrolling in electives or the culminating capstone course. The Capstone Project provides students with the opportunity to synthesize what they have learned in the classroom and incorporate it into a project related to their own work situation to demonstrate their level of skill, knowledge, and applicability within that context.
Online Program
Students in the online program may take up to two courses (six credit hours) of traditional courses and students in the traditional program may take up to two courses (six credit hours) of online courses. If a student has taken the maximum amount of courses in their program, and the advisor determines that the student needs to take additional courses, the student must present a written appeal to the Business Division Chair to request a waiver to exceed the limit as set in the program. If a waiver is granted, the student will only be allowed to take two additional three-credit hour online courses for the traditional program, or two additional three-credit hour traditional courses for the online program. The Business Division Chair will consult with the Vice President for Graduate Studies.
Students must take BUSN 583 - Capstone Project in the program in which they are enrolled. Students in the online program must take the course online and students in the traditional program must take the course on campus. A request for an exception to this policy must be accompanied by a letter from the student to the Division Chair, and support of the student’s advisor. The Division Chair will consult with the Vice President for Graduate Studies.
Students who desire to change their program from the online MBA to the traditional MBA, or vice versa, must complete and submit a Change of Program Request Form to their MBA Advisor. This can only be done once through the duration of the student’s program. Should permission be granted, the student’s advisor will facilitate the change.
Summary of the Master’s Degree Process
To earn the MBA degree, a student must complete each of the following steps:
- The student must develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor.
- The student must complete all coursework included in the plan of study.
- The student must complete a capstone project.
- The student must take the ETS Exit Exam that will be given upon completion of the capstone course.
- An Application for Graduation, signed by the student, Graduate Advisor, and Vice President for Graduate Studies, must be filed with the Graduate Office and the Records Office in the semester prior to the term in which the student intends to graduate.
- Students must pay the required graduation fee. Students are encouraged to participate in the graduation ceremony scheduled the first Tuesday evening after the last Saturday in April of each academic year. Students must notify the Vice President for Graduate Studies and the Director of Records if they choose not to participate. Students must pay the graduation fee whether they attend commencement or not.
- All graduate students must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in order to graduate from the program.
Transfer Students/Transfer Credit
Transfer credits must have been earned within the seven (7) years prior to entry into the Graduate Studies Program. Transfer credits must be approved by the Graduate Advisor and the Division Chair or Program Director and must have grades of “A,” or “B.” Courses that are not deemed suitable for graduate business electives or core class substitution, or were not earned from an accredited university or college, will not be approved. Students may not take courses from other graduate programs while enrolled at Missouri Baptist without written approval from the Vice President for Graduate Studies.
Students entering the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program may transfer up to six (6) graduate credits into the Missouri Baptist University Graduate Studies Program from another regionally accredited college or university. The total hours transferred to Missouri Baptist, including courses from other programs while enrolled, may not exceed six (6) hours. Students must complete at least thirty (30) hours of credit, including BUSN 583 - Capstone Project , at Missouri Baptist University.
The University only recognizes institutions accredited by the current edition of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education published by the CHEA and the American Council on Education.
Directed Studies
Courses in the Master of Business Administration program are not available by directed study, as specified in the course description.
Capstone Project
All students seeking the Master of Business Administration degree are required to take BUSN 583 - Capstone Project in which they will be required to complete a research project. This course may not be taken until the student has completed all of the Core Requirements for the MBA degree. The student must also be within six hours of completing all requirements for the degree. Students are required to earn a grade of B or better in this course. The capstone project course must be completed through Missouri Baptist University.
Exit Examination
MBA students are required to take the ETS exit examination during the final semester of their program and after completion of the capstone course. This exam will be scheduled by the Coordinator of Testing and administered by the Business Division Chair or a designated substitute. Exit exams are required to graduate.
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