Business Administration

Master of Business Administration

The program leading to the Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Central Florida is designed to develop the student’s analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities to meet the challenges of leadership in professional management positions at present and in the changing world of the future.

The curriculum provides a challenging and creative learning environment in an intensive program of study that has a broad-based administrative emphasis. Recognizing that management methods of tomorrow may bear little resemblance to techniques in current use, the program emphasis is on sound general principles and decision-making techniques that provide a base for continued learning and professional development rather than upon business procedures which are subject to obsolescence.

The program can be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis on the Orlando Campus. For Brevard County residents, the program is available on a part-time basis in the evening with some foundation course work offered on UCF’s Brevard Campus in Cocoa, with the remaining foundation and all professional core course work taught by College of Business Administration faculty in Brevard County. The program is also offered on a part-time basis, evenings, at the UCF Building on the Daytona Beach Community College campus.

Degree Requirements

The foundation core is defined by the course requirements listed below, and its completion is a prerequisite to entering the professional core. Note that all or part of the foundation core requirements may be satisfied through advanced standing given in view of a student’s prior equivalent course work at the undergraduate or graduate level provided such course work has been satisfactorily completed at a regionally accredited college or university, preferably one accredited by the AACSB.

Foundation Core—28 Semester Hours
ACG 5005 Financial and Managerial Accounting Concepts (3 hours)
BUL 5125 Legal and Social Environment of Business (3 hours)
ECO 5005 Economic Concepts (3 hours)
ECO 5415 Statistics for Business and Economics (3 hours)
FIN 5405 Financial Concepts (3 hours)
ISM 5021 Introduction to Management Information Systems (3 hours)
MAC 2233 Concepts of Calculus (3 hours)
MAN 5050 Management Concepts (2 hours)
MAN 5501 Introduction to Production/Operations Management (2 hours)
MAR 5055 Marketing Concepts (3 hours)

The professional core consists of 24 credit hours of advanced course work that substantially extends and applies knowledge developed in the foundation core. In addition, through the selection of nine credit hours of approved electives, the student has the opportunity to develop some degree of emphasis in one of the following academic areas: accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing; or specialized areas of information systems, entrepreneurship, or international business.

Professional Core—24 Semester Hours
ACG 6425 Managerial Accounting Analysis (3 hours)
ECO 6115 Economic Analysis of the Firm (3 hours)
ECO 6416 Statistical Methods for Business Decisions (3 hours)
FIN 6406 Financial Analysis and Management (3 hours)
MAN 6245 Organizational Behavior and Development (3 hours)
MAN 6546 Quantitative Models for Business Decisions (3 hours)
MAN 6721 Business Policy and Responsibility (3 hours)
MAR 6816 Marketing Policy (3 hours)

Accounting undergraduate majors may not take ACG 6425, but must take an elective in any other business area.

Electives—9 Semester Hours
Electives may be taken in accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, or information systems management. One elective course may be taken outside the College of Business Administration with permission of the graduate program coordinator. The M.B.A. program does not require a thesis. Students may not take more than 9 total semester hours in Accounting or Tax courses in the M.B.A. degree.

M.B.A. Specializations

FIN 6475 Business Valuation (3 hours)
GEB 6115 Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
MAN 6299 Creative and Innovative Management (3 hours)
MAR 5941 Small Business Consulting (3 hours)

In addition, students may apply to take GEB 6946, the graduate Internship in Entrepreneurship, as a substitute for one of the three required courses in the specialization.

Finance
An M.B.A. specialization in finance requires a minimum of nine hours of restricted graduate electives chosen from the list below. Undergraduate finance majors must choose an additional restricted elective instead of taking FIN 6406 (one of the Professional Core courses).

FIN 6314 Management of Financial Institutions (3 hours)
FIN 6326 Commercial Bank Management (3 hours)
FIN 6425 Asset Management and Financial Decisions (3 hours)
FIN 6475 Business Valuation (3 hours)
FIN 6506 Analysis of Investment Opportunities (3 hours)
FIN 6507 Seminar in Investments (3 hours)
FIN 6627 International Financial Management (3 hours)

Human Resources Management
An M.B.A. specialization in human resources management requires MAN 6305 Human Resources Management (3 hours), MAN 6311 Advanced Topics in Human Resources Management (3 hours), and three hours of restricted graduate electives chosen from those listed below:

MAN 6285 Change Management (3 hours)
MAN 6385 Strategic Human Resource Management (3 hours)
MAN 6395 Management Development and Coaching (3 hours)
MAN 6448 Conflict Resolution and Negotiation (3 hours)

International Business
An M.B.A. specialization in international business requires six hours of restricted graduate electives in addition to GEB 6365 International Business Environment (3 hours). Students may take their six hours from the following courses.

ACG 6255 International and Multinational Accounting (3 hours)
ECO 6705 Seminar in International Economics (3 hours)
FIN 6627 International Financial Management (3 hours)
INR 6007 Seminar in International Politics (3 hours)

Management Information Systems
An M.B.A. specialization in management information systems requires a minimum of nine hours selected from the courses listed below. Other approved ISM 6000-level courses may be substituted with the approval of the Department Chair.

ISM 6121 Advanced Systems Analysis and Design (3 hours)
ISM 6155 Advanced Database Administration (3 hours)
ISM 6305 Information Resource Management (3 hours)
ISM 6345 Seminar in Management Information Systems (3 hours)
ISM 6347 Expert Systems for Business Applications (3 hours)
ISM 6XXX Management of Telecommunications (3 hours)

Marketing
Students seeking a specialization in marketing must be enrolled in the M.B.A. program. A specialization in marketing requires a minimum of nine hours of graduate electives in addition to MAR 6816 Marketing Policy (3 hours). Students may take their nine hours of elective courses in marketing from the following courses.

MAR 6077 Contemporary Marketing Problems (3 hours)
MAR 6406 Sales Management and Control (3 hours)
MAR 6456 Advanced Industrial Marketing Management (3 hours)
MAR 6616 Marketing Research Methods (3 hours)
MAR 6845 Services Marketing (3 hours)

Minimum Hours Required for M.B.A.—33-63 Semester Hours

Executive MBA Program

The Executive MBA Program offered by the University of Central Florida is designed to prepare executives and managers for the challenges they will face as they continue their career progression to positions of top leadership. The skills they develop and refine during this program will help them to achieve their full career potential and become an increasingly valuable organizational member.

The EMBA program is comprised of eleven courses and two off-campus residencies. The courses, delivered in the executive classroom at the Executive Development Center in the College of Business Administration, are designed to expose participants to new methods, concepts, and tools that will enhance their business and leadership skills. Innovative teaching methodologies such as team-based projects, interdisciplinary case studies, simulations, debating-the-issues activities, and self-assessment exercises are used to enhance the learning experience.

Each of the off-campus residencies is designed for very specific purposes. The first residency, at the beginning of the program, prepares participants for the academic and intellectual challenges of the EMBA faculty. The mid-program residency provides participants a rejuvenating change of pace and includes special sessions and guest speakers from around the country.

Residency I—Kick-Off Retreat

Session I
Economic Analysis of the Firm (ECO 6115)
Statistical Methods for Business Decisions (ECO 6416)

Session II
Managerial Accounting Analysis (ACG 6425)
Information Resources Management (ISM 6305)

Session III
Financial Analysis and Management (FIN 6406)
Marketing Policy (MAR 6816)

Residency II—Mid-Program Retreat

Session IV
Organizational Behavior and Development (MAN 6245)
International Business Environment (GEB 6365)

Session V
Creative and Innovative Management (MAN 6299)
Business Policy and Responsibility (MAN 6721)
Contemporary Strategic Issues (GEB 6918)

NOTE: The EMBA curriculum is constantly being revised and improved to reflect the demands and expectations of the business community, and courses and subjects may be different for future classes.

Executive MBA in Health Services Administration

In this rapidly changing and highly competitive environment, current and relevant knowledge will become one of the few sustainable competitive advantages for heath care managers. Those who wish to succeed in this dynamic environment will need to master new tools and techniques and gain new competencies. This program is specifically designed for proven health care professionals who seek to achieve their career potential. In today’s competitive environment, corporate leaders and senior executives increasingly understand that those who shape the future of their organizations are those who accept the challenge of continuing their education.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have a minimum of five years of increasingly responsible and relevant health care industry experience
• Possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a SACS accredited college or university
• Submit a Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score minimum of 500 from a test taken within the past five years and a grade point average of 3.0
• Participate in a personal interview with the faculty
• Submit a completed application with an essay detailing the student’s goals as a result of this program

The program requires 17 consecutive months to complete. This time is divided into five academic sessions of six weekends each and two off-campus four-day residencies. The schedule is carefully structured to avoid any holiday conflicts.

Residency I—Kick-Off Retreat

Session I
Economic Analysis of the Firm (ECO 6115)
Statistical Methods for Business Decisions (ECO 6416)

Session II
Managerial Accounting Analysis (ACG 6425)
Information Resources Management (ISM 6305)

Session III
Financial Analysis and Management (FIN 6406)
Marketing Policy (MAR 6816)

Residency II—Mid-Program Retreat

Session IV
Organizational Behavior and Development (MAN 6245)
Health Care Management I (HSA 6107)

Session V
Strategic Planning (MAN 6721)
Issues and Trends in the Health Care Industry (HSC 6636)
Health Care Finance (PHC 6160)

NOTE: The EMBA in Health Services Administration is constantly being revised and improved to reflect the demands and expectations of the health care community. The courses and subjects may be different for future classes.

The next EMBA-HSA program begins January 2001, with graduation occurring 17 months later in May of the following year.

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

The objective of the doctoral program in Business Administration is to prepare students for academic careers in higher education and management careers in profit and nonprofit organizations. Success in the program is judged by the student’s understanding of the issues and methodologies essential to the advancement of knowledge. Doctoral work is based on the achievement of academic and research competencies, rather than a specific number of courses. A student who participates in a doctoral program of study is expected to strive for the knowledge and skills necessary to develop excellence in teaching and to conduct quality research, and should at all times maintain the highest ideals of academic integrity and scholarship.

Application Deadline

* Students applying for financial assistance should apply by February 1.

Admissions

All required application documents including application, official transcripts, and GMAT test scores must be received in the Office of Graduate Studies (AD 144) by the university’s deadline, May 15. Consideration for financial assistance will begin for applications received by February 1.

Degree Requirements

Area and Range of Semester Hours Required
Preparation and Courses:
   MBA degree or equivalent1 —30 hours
   Major—12-21 hours
   Minor/Support Area—6-9 hours
   Research Tools2 —12-15 hours
   Teaching3—0-3 hours
Candidacy Examination4
Dissertation5—24 hours

Total Semester Hours Required— 84-96 hours

1. Each track may specify different requirements for this category. Consult the doctoral graduate program coordinator for a specific major.
2. All doctoral students are required to take two applied statistics courses. Other research tool courses will be specified by the track.
3. Each track will require some education related to teaching. It may take the form of classes, noncredit seminars, mentoring, or a teaching requirement. Consult the doctoral graduate program coordinator for a specific major.
4. The student must successfully complete a comprehensive Candidacy Examination. This examination has written and oral parts, and covers the candidate’s program of study. Students are admitted to candidacy after satisfying all general degree requirements, passing the comprehensive exam, and fulfilling the residency requirement.
5. The student must successfully defend a written dissertation proposal in an oral examination conducted by the student’s advisory/dissertation committee. The final defense of the successful dissertation will require a final oral examination that concentrates on, but is not limited to, the student’s dissertation defense.

Accounting Track

Accounting Major Concentration— 16 Semester Hours
ACG 7157 Seminar in Financial Accounting Research (3 hours)
ACG 7887 Accounting Research Forum (4 hours) (Workshop, 1 hour credit per semester)
ACG 7915 Directed Research in Accounting (3 hours)
Two other seminars from the following:
ACG 7399 Seminar in Behavioral Accounting Research (3 hours)
ACG 7699 Seminar in Auditing Research (3 hours)
TAX 7066 Seminar in Doctoral Tax Research (3 hours)

Minor/Support Area— 9 Semester Hours
Students must select a minimum of nine hours in a unified area approved by the student’s doctoral study advisory committee. Each student’s program of study is individually tailored to accommodate student interests whenever possible, and this course work may be developed from offerings in the following disciplines with the advice and consent of the respective departments and advisory committee:

Computer Science	Marketing
Economics	Mathematics
Engineering	Political Science
Finance	Psychology
Management	Sociology
	Statistics

Research Tools— 15 Semester Hours
The research tools requirement is intended to ensure a thorough exposure to research methods. All candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge of mainframe and personal computers. Knowledge and use of available databases and software are also expected. The required course work must include two of the following (a total of 6 semester credit hours):

FIN 7807 Corporate Finance Theory (3 hours)
GEB 7910 Research Methods in Business (3 hours)
QMB 7565 Applied Statistical Business Decision Models (3 hours)

The remaining nine semester hours (in addition to the minor concentration) typically are selected from offerings in the following disciplines:

Computer Science	Mathematics
Economics	Psychology
Engineering	Sociology
Management Science	Statistics

Candidacy Examination
The student must successfully complete a comprehensive Candidacy Examination. This examination has written and oral parts, and covers the candidate’s program of study. Students are admitted to candidacy after satisfying all general degree requirements, passing the comprehensive examination, fulfilling the residency requirement, and successfully defending a written dissertation proposal in an oral examination conducted by the student’s advisory/dissertation committee.

Dissertation— 24 Semester Hours

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.— 85 Semester Hours

Final Defense
The successful completion of a final oral examination is required. This examination concentrates on, but is not limited to, the student’s dissertation defense.

Finance Track

Finance Major Concentration—12 Semester Hours
FIN 7807 Corporate Finance Theory (3 hours)
FIN 7813 Seminar in Financial Markets and Institutions (3 hours)
FIN 7816 Investment Theory (3 hours)
FIN 7930 Seminar in Finance (3 hours)

Minor/Support Area—6 Semester Hours
ECO 7116 Microeconomic Theory (3 hours)
ECO 7205 Macroeconomic Theory (3 hours)

Research Tools—12 Semester Hours
ECO 7433 Econometrics (3 hours)
ECO 7424 Applied Models I (3 hours)
ECO 7425 Applied Models II (3 hours)
ECO 7428 Time Series (3 hours)

Teaching Requirement—0-3 Semester Hours
The requirements for the teaching component of the doctoral degree will be developed with the doctoral graduate program coordinator based on the student’s experience.

Candidacy Examination
The student must successfully complete a comprehensive Candidacy Examination. This examination has written and oral parts, and covers the candidate’s program of study. Students are admitted to candidacy after satisfying all general degree requirements, passing the comprehensive examination, fulfilling the residency requirement, and successfully defending a written dissertation proposal in an oral examination conducted by the student’s advisory/dissertation committee.

Dissertation—24 Semester Hours

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—84 Semester Hours

Final Defense
The successful completion of a final oral examination is required. This examination concentrates on, but is not limited to, the student’s dissertation defense.

Management Track

Management Major Concentration—21 Semester Hours
Students must select a major concentration from Management with a 21 hour minimum.
MAN 7275 Organizational Behavior (3 hours)
MAN 7207 Organization Theory (3 hours)
MAN 7776 Business-level Strategic Management (3 hours) OR
MAN 7777 Corporate-level Strategic Management (3 hours)
MAN 7900 Directed Readings in Management (to be determined by the student’s doctoral study advisory committee) (3 hours; taken two times for a total of 6 hours)

In addition, two courses from the following are required:

ISM 7029 Doctoral Seminar in MIS (3 hours)
MAN 7776 Business-level Strategic Management (if not taken to satisfy one of the requirements listed above) (3 hours)
MAN 7777 Corporate-level Strategic Management (if not taken to satisfy one of the requirements listed above) (3 hours)
MAN 7939 Special Topics Seminar: Human Resources Management (3 hours)
Other management electives as they are developed for the program

Minor/Support Area—6 Semester Hours
Students may select a minimum of six hours, typically within a unified area, approved by the student’s doctoral study advisory committee. Each student’s program of study is individually tailored to accommodate student interests whenever possible, and this course work may be developed from offerings in the following or other disciplines with the advice and consent of the respective departments and advisory committee:

Accounting	Marketing
Communication	Psychology
Economics	Sociology
Finance	Statistics

Research Tools—12 Semester Hours
The research tools requirement is intended to ensure a thorough exposure to research methods. All candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge of statistical methods as well as usage of statistical packages, including design, analysis, and interpretation of results.

ECO 7424 Applied Models I (3 hours)
ECO 7425 Applied Models II (3 hours)

An additional 6 hours of research tools courses must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Examples of courses that will satisfy this requirement include GEB 7910, STA 5205, PSY 6216, PSY 6217, PSY 6308, and ECO 6424.

Teaching Requirement
Students are required to teach a minimum of 3 semester hours of class instruction under the direct supervision of a faculty member. As appropriate, students will also be required to attend teaching development workshops and seminars.

Candidacy Examination
The student must successfully complete a comprehensive Candidacy Examination. This examination has written and oral segments covering the candidate’s program of study. Students are also subject to examination within the minor concentration. Students are admitted to candidacy after satisfying all general degree requirements, passing comprehensive examination requirements, and fulfilling the residency requirement.

Dissertation—24 Semester Hours

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—93 Semester Hours

Final Defense
The successful completion of a final oral examination is required. This examination concentrates on, but is not limited to, the student’s dissertation defense.

Marketing Track

Marketing Major Concentration—12 Semester Hours
MAR 7575 Seminar in Consumer Behavior (3 hours)
MAR 7638 Seminar in Marketing Theory, Scaling, and Measurement (3 hours)
MAR 7666 Seminar in Marketing Models (3 hours)
MAR 7807 Seminar in Marketing Strategy (3 hours)

Minor/Support Area—6 Semester Hours
Advanced Research Concentration:
MAR 7919 Doctoral Research

The Marketing doctoral curriculum requires advanced work in an area of concentration. This work will be done after the student is admitted to candidacy. The minimum number of hours required is six. The purpose of this advanced work is to allow students to focus on an area of interest, which optimally will be the focal area and/or the catalyst for the dissertation research. Students may repeat the course for credit and may take multiple 3-hour courses simultaneously within a semester. Prior to taking MAR 7919 students are required to have completed the four marketing doctoral major concentration courses and the marketing comprehensive examination. Likely topical areas are:

Advanced Marketing Strategy
Advanced Consumer Behavior
International Marketing
Business to Business Marketing
Behavioral Models in Sales Force Management

Research Tools—15 Semester Hours
ECO 6424 Econometrics (3 hours)
ECO 7424 Applied Models I (3 hours)
ECO 7425 Applied Models II (3 hours)

Teaching Requirement—3 Semester Hours
The requirements for the teaching component of the doctoral degree will be developed with the doctoral graduate program coordinator based on the student’s experience.

Candidacy Examination
The student must successfully complete a comprehensive Candidacy Examination. This examination has written and oral segments, covering the candidate’s program of study. Students are also subject to examination within the minor concentration. Students are admitted to candidacy after satisfying all general degree requirements, passing comprehensive exam requirements, fulfilling the residency requirement, and successfully defending a written dissertation proposal in an oral examination conducted by the student’s advisory/dissertation committee.

Dissertation—24 Semester Hours

Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—90 Semester Hours

Final Defense
The successful completion of a final oral examination is required. This examination concentrates on, but is not limited to, the student’s dissertation defense.

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