M.B.A. Program

Interim Associate Dean and Director of the MBA Program

William Semos

Faculty

Adjunct Professor: Darryl Graver

Clinical Professor: Steven M. Mintz

Executive-in-Residence: Richard Stafford

Contact Information

Office Location: Conrad N. Hilton Center for Business; Room 233

Telephone: 310.338.1848

Fax: 310.338.2899

Introduction

The College of Business Administration offers the MBA degree with an option to earn a Graduate Certificate in International Business. In addition, two dual degree programs are available. Students may apply for separate admission to the Loyola Law School and earn the JD/MBA degree or apply to the Systems Engineering Leadership Program and earn an MBA and an MS in Systems Engineering. There are eight areas of emphasis in the MBA Program. The purpose, admission requirements, program requirements, and options are described in the pages that follow. The traditional MBA Program (MBA) addresses the educational demands of fully-employed persons who recognize the need to continue to build their careers, although full-time enrollment is an option. The Executive MBA (EMBA) is for the experienced business leader who aspires to executive level responsibility.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Loyola Marymount University MBA Program is to provide high quality graduate business education consistent with the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. The MBA Program fosters development of each student’s potential to create value, handle risk, and manage change to serve both business and society. The result is the development of ethical leaders possessing the knowledge and skills to effectively manage organizations in a diverse and global economy.

To accomplish its mission, the MBA Program utilizes faculty who regularly extend the boundaries of their discipline and simultaneously demonstrate in the classroom their ability to translate theory into practice. Although teaching styles and techniques vary, all focus on the current issues and technologies that are forming and shaping the many environments of business (political, social, legal, and ethical). Classes range from those that emphasize computer applications to those that delve into ethical concepts and humanistic management. The MBA curriculum is one of breadth first and specialization second. To that end, the basis of the Program is broad and integrating. Areas of specialization are built on this base. By specializing, students are able to focus some of their studies in a single area of emphasis. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to explore various aspects of global business. These include a full-fledged International MBA Program of studies and a unique overseas integrative experience. The high quality of the MBA Program is confirmed through its accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Admission Requirements

Eligibility for Admission: Applicants for admission to the Program leading to the degree of Master of Business Administration must have a Bachelor’s degree and an acceptable level of scholarship from an accredited institution of higher learning. The degree may be in any academic discipline.
Application: Applicants should apply and pay the application fee online at http://apply.embark.com/grad/lmu.
Transcripts: Two copies of official transcripts must be sent from each institution of collegiate rank attended by the applicant. Transcripts should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office directly by the other collegiate institution(s). All such transcripts become the property of Loyola Marymount University.
Graduate Management Admissions Test: All applicants must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
International Students: All international students (including those who have received their Bachelor’s degrees in the U.S.) from countries where English is not the primary language must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by obtaining a minimum score of 600 (250 computer-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International students who received their high school diploma from a U.S. secondary school do not have to take the TOEFL. Admitted students who pass the TOEFL requirement but are subsequently judged by the faculty to be deficient in English may be directed by the Associate Dean to obtain greater language proficiency by taking appropriate remedial courses in English composition or speech communications. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the Program. Each international student must also provide the Graduate Admissions Office with a certified statement of financial ability. GMAT scores must accompany applications from all students (U.S. or international) whose undergraduate degrees were earned outside the United States. A GMAT score of at least 550 is required for international students with Bachelor’s degrees from outside the U.S. Finally, all applicants with degrees earned outside the United States must have transcripts evaluated for equivalencies to U.S. degrees.
Official Evaluations: The MBA Office evaluates the potential candidacy of each applicant.
Applications are evaluated only after the following data is received by the Graduate Admissions Office:
1. application form and personal statement (plus appropriate fees)
2. official transcripts for all previous collegiate work
3. GMAT or GRE results
4. TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS (when applicable)
5. two letters of recommendation and
6. a current resume.
Entrance: Students may enter the program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer.
Attendance: Attendance in MBA classes are limited to individuals who have been admitted to the MBA Program and who are registered for the class. Auditing of classes by current students is prohibited.

Proficiency Prerequisites

All students admitted to the MBA Program must be proficient in English composition, business mathematics, and computer applications. Successful completion of a college-level course in business math or intermediate algebra is required.

Waivers

Only core courses may be considered for waivers. Waivers are granted by the MBA Director after an evaluation of the student’s academic transcripts. Waivers will only be granted during a student’s first semester of enrollment. Previously-taken courses that are used to waive core courses must cover equivalent material and have been taken in academic programs that concluded less than 5 years prior to MBA Program enrollment. The accreditation level of the school at which equivalent courses were taken determines the necessary grade for waiver acceptability. For example, an LMU core course may be waived for a student who has taken an equivalent course at an AACSB International accredited school if the student achieved a grade of A or B, or at a regionally accredited U.S. school if the grade earned was an A. Courses equivalent to the LMU core that were taken at schools outside the United States or at non-accredited schools or non-traditional schools are not acceptable for waiver.

Challenge Exams

Challenge Exams are only available for the core courses, MBAA 601 -MBAA 609 . Students who feel that they are sufficiently grounded in the content of a core course by virtue of their work experience or academic study may consider taking the Challenge Exam. Challenge Exams must be taken during the first semester of the student’s enrollment in the MBA Program. Students must fill out a waiver examination request form (available in the MBA Office) and pay the exam fee. Further instructions will be given at that time.

Attendance and Residence

Students are expected to be continuously enrolled in the MBA Program. A leave of absence may be granted for up to one year, at the discretion of the MBA Program Director and Registrar. If a student needs to request a leave of absence, the student must contact the MBA Coordinator to initiate the process. Individuals who remain on leave for more than two years must formally reapply for admission. Readmission is based on the admission criteria and the curriculum that are in effect at the time of the resumption of classes.

Between 10 and 20 classes are required for the MBA degree, depending on waivers and choice of integrative option.

Student Registration and Counseling

Registration must be completed each semester during the dates specified in the University Calendar.

Newly-admitted students meet with the MBA Coordinator prior to their first formal registration. The student’s previous academic experience is evaluated and core course waivers may be granted. All students receive a formal Program outline and a list of waived classes during that meeting.

In subsequent semesters, students are required to obtain course approval for registration by the MBA Coordinator or her designee. Each student takes responsibility for following the individual curriculum plan initially outlined by the MBA Coordinator. Enrolling in other courses may result in those credits not applying toward the degree.

Students are encouraged to meet informally with faculty in their areas of interest for general and career guidance.

MBA Program Policies

Academic Advising

The MBA Coordinator will serve as Academic Advisor for all MBA students and will meet with students periodically to assist in navigating through the Program curriculum.

Students must be advised by the MBA Coordinator who will assist in selecting classes each semester. Advisor Holds are placed on student records and will not be removed until the student has been advised.

Registration takes place exclusively online by accessing the PROWL system. Click on the Student Resources tab to get to the Registration menu.

Academic Probation and Disqualification

Please review the LMU Honor Code for definitions of academic dishonesty and detailed information on the Honor Code process.

Conditions for Academic Probation

Any MBA student who, in any semester, fails to earn a “B” (3.0) average or whose cumulative grade point average in the MBA Program falls below a “B” (3.0) will be placed on academic probation.

Conditions for Disqualification

A student already on probation who has less than a “B” (3.0) grade point average for the semester and who has not achieved a “B” (3.0) grade point average in the MBA Program is subject to disqualification from the Program. This decision will be made after review of the student’s academic coursework by the Program Director.

Please also note that a student can receive no more than two grades below B- throughout their Program. Should the student earn a third grade below B-, the student will be given one opportunity to retake that class the following semester (assuming the student does not also have two semesters on probation). The student may not enroll in other classes concurrently with the repeated course. If the student does not earn at least a B- when retaking the class, the student will be disqualified.

Disqualification terminates a student’s relationship with the University. A disqualified student may not register in any division or session of the University, and is denied all privileges of the University, including all organizations or activities in any way connected with it.

Change of Program or Emphasis

A student who wishes to change a program before completing a degree must submit a new application form to the Graduate Admission Office. A student who wishes to transfer from one emphasis to another before completing a degree must request an approval by the MBA Coordinator.

Course Loads

Fully-employed MBA students should take no more than six semester hours in the Fall or Spring semester unless they have permission from their advisor. All other students may take a maximum of 12 semester hours unless they receive permission from their advisor. During the Summer session, fully-employed students should take no more than three semester hours each term.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat a course previously taken at LMU in a subsequent term one time only, including any withdrawals; the prior occurrence is excluded from the cumulative grade point average but remains on the transcript. Please note that although the GPA for that term will change accordingly, the academic status of the previous term will not change.

A student who earns an F in a class or receives a third grade below a B- will be required to repeat that course. The student will only be allowed to enroll in the repeated course and will not be allowed to take additional classes in that semester.

A student who receives an F in any course must repeat that course before being able to take additional classes.

Grade Appeals

A student who wishes to appeal a grade should first contact his or her faculty member. If a student wishes to appeal the faculty member’s decision after the grade posting, he or she must submit a written request within three weeks to the Chair, Program Director, or Dean of the student’s college. If the appeal process cannot be resolved, an impartial three-person faculty panel will be assigned by the Dean of the respective College to review the request. The panel will individually interview the faculty person and the student. After the interviews, review, and discussion, the panel will submit a formal decision to the Dean of the College, whose decision will be final.

Incomplete Grades

“I” (Incomplete) indicates that the student’s work is incomplete. The student must remove the “I” within one year of receiving it. For students in the MBA Program who elect to do the Integrative Project, the time limit is one year. In those cases, the IP (Work in Progress) code is used. If an Incomplete has not been removed after the specified period of time, the Incomplete grade will automatically change to a “W” (Withdrawal). Students who wish to retake the course must pay regular tuition for the repeated course.

When a professor has granted an “I,” it is the student’s responsibility to arrange a deferred grade. The professor submits a “Deferred Grade Form” with the final grade to the Office of the Registrar. Incompletes which are not removed within the time limit given are computed as “I.” A student with two Incompletes will be blocked from registration.

Any graduate student who in a given term receives a grade of I (Incomplete) for a course and who subsequently completes the course will receive a grade that is retroactive to the term when the student first registered for the course with all the impact it entails on the student’s academic standing.

Independent Study

Independent Studies classes must be sponsored by a full-time faculty member and approved by the MBA Program Director. Independent Studies can only be invoked twice during a student’s MBA program.

There are time constraints associated with an Independent Studies course. The approval process for Independent Studies must be completed during the semester prior to the one during which the student expects to enroll in the course.

All questions about Independent Studies should be directed to the MBA Coordinator. The MBA Coordinator is the arbiter of the process facilitating Independent Studies.

Jesuit Network

Jesuit Transfer Network

Students from schools that are parties to the Multilateral Agreement may complete their degree requirements at another Agreement School, subject to the admission standards of the receiving school.

LMU MBA students who have completed more than half of their degree requirements may take courses that apply towards their LMU degree requirements at another Jesuit-affiliated school and still receive their degree from LMU, assuming that they take the courses approved by the LMU MBA Coordinator and earn at least a B in each course.

Those students who have completed less than half of their degree requirements at LMU may transfer to another Jesuit-affiliated school, assuming they meet the receiving school’s admission standards, and receive credit for some or all LMU coursework to apply towards the degree requirement at the receiving school. The receiving school determines the transfer credits they will accept.

LMU will only accept courses towards the degree with grades of B or better.

Students who transfer to LMU from other Jesuit MBA programs are required to maintain the standards of graduate students at LMU and are governed by the guidelines established within the University Bulletin. For more information, visit http://mba.lmu.edu/about/jesuittransfer.htm.

Students who transfer in from other Jesuit MBA Programs but will be receiving their degree from their original school are considered Visiting Students (non-degree). The MBA Program admits these students on a space available basis.

International Study Classes

Students may take no more than one (1) MBA international study class offered by another Jesuit institution.