Program Overview
The MBA program is designed to meet the needs of students preparing for positions in upper management in business and related organizations. The program offers students advanced study in the various functional areas of business, emphasizing teaming, communication, problem solving, research, computer technology, case studies, and project-based instruction. The program is flexible in allowing students to select an area of concentration reflective of their interest. Areas of concentration include Finance, Health Care Administration (HCA), Information Management, and International Business.
Program Outline
To receive the MBA degree, the student must complete the following 21-hour MBA core courses plus 9 hours of electives with a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Students with a non-business undergraduate degree are required to take prerequisite courses prior to enrollment in the MBA core courses. Some or all of the MBA prerequisite courses may be waived by the MBA Director.
MBA Prerequisite courses (12 credit hours)
- ACCT 2310 Principles of Accounting I
- ECON 2321 Microeconomics
- FINA 3330 Managerial Finance
- CISA 2330 Business Statistics
MBA core courses (21 credit hours)
- MBA 6301 Information Technology for Managers
- MBA 6302 Accounting for Management Decisions [Note 1]
- MBA 6305 Financial Decision Making
- MBA 6308 Marketing Strategy
- MBA 6320 Strategic Management
- MBA 6325 Organizational Behavior
- MBA 6330 Operations and Supply Chain Management
MBA elective courses (9 credit hours)
- MBA 5324 Fundamentals of Risk and Insurance
- MBA 5331 Bank Management
- MBA 5332 Investments
- MBA 5333 International Finance
- MBA 5334 Financial Derivatives
- MBA 5345 Governance of the Sustainable Organization
- MBA 5376 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Finance
- MBA 6303 Managerial Economics
- MBA 6306 Legal Environment of Business for Managers [Note 2]
- MBA 6307 Entrepreneurship: The Act of Wealth Creation
- MBA 6349 Management of Small and Family-Owned Businesses
- MBA 6390 Special Problems
- MBA 6V82 Internship (variable credit: 1-3 credit hours) [Note 3]
- ACCT 5322 Advanced Business Law for Accountants [Note 2]
- ACCT 5323 Employment Law [Note 2]
- ACCT 6309 Tax Research and Planning
- ACCT 6310 Seminar in Accounting Theory
- ACCT 6317 Seminar in Auditing
- ACCT 6319 Corporations & Shareholder Taxation
- ACCT 6320 Seminar in Accounting Information Systems
- ACCT 6329 Partnership & S-Corporation Taxation
- ACCT 6339 Estate Planning
- ACCT 6340 Seminar in Case Studies in Accounting
- ACCT 6350 Seminar in Accounting Leadership
- ACCT 6383 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for Preparers [Note 3]
- CISA 5320 Critical Thinking in Data Analytics
- CISA 5330 Prescriptive Analytics
- CISA 5355 Project Management Leadership
- CISA 5360 Principles of Information Security
- CISA 5380 Business Intelligence and Data Visualization
- CISA 5381 Data Mining and Applied Analytics
- CISA 6325 Predictive Analytics
- CISA 6335 Python for Data Analytics
- CISA 6340 Simulation and Modeling in Data Analytics
- CISA 6355 Information Technology Project Management
- CISA 6364 SQL for Data Analytics
- CISA 6365 Data Management
- CISA 6370 Applied Data Analytics Project
- CISA 6V82 Internship in Data Analytics [Note 3]
Note 1
Undergraduate accounting majors may choose to substitute approved classes from the Master of Accountancy program (as listed above) for MBA 6302.
Note 2
MBA students may use only one law class as an elective. Law classes include MBA 6306, ACCT 5322, and ACCT 5323.
Note 3
MBA students may earn a maximum of 3 hours in experience-based courses. These courses include MBA 6V82, CISA 6V82, and ACCT 6383.
Areas of Concentration
[1] Finance
Students that plan to receive an MBA degree with a concentration in Finance must complete the following 30-hour program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher:
MBA core courses (21 credit hours)
- MBA 6301 Information Technology for Managers (formerly Decision Modeling in Information Systems)
- MBA 6302 Accounting for Management Decisions
- MBA 6305 Financial Decision Making
- MBA 6308 Marketing Strategy
- MBA 6320 Strategic Management
- MBA 6325 Organizational Behavior
- MBA 6330 Operations and Supply Chain Management
MBA electives (9 credit hours selected from the following courses)
- MBA 5324 Fundamentals of Risk and Insurance
- MBA 5331 Bank Management
- MBA 5332 Investments
- MBA 5333 International Finance
- MBA 5334 Financial Derivatives
- MBA 5376 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Finance
[2] Health Care Administration
Students that plan to receive an MBA degree with a concentration in Health Care Administration (HCA) must complete the following 30-hour program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher:
MBA (HCA) core courses (24 credit hours)
- MBA 6301 Information Technology for Managers
- MBA 6302 Accounting For Management Decisions
- MBA 6305 Financial Decision Making
- MBA 6308 Marketing Strategy
- MBA 6320 Strategic Management
- MBA 6325 Organizational Behavior
- MBA 6330 Operations and Supply Chain Management
- HLTH 5370 Administration of Health Programs (formerly H ED 5370)
Electives (6 credit hours selected from the following courses)
- NUTR 5321 Nutritional Services Administration (formerly FACS 5321)
- HLTH 5303 Environmental Health Problems (formerly H ED 5303)
- HLTH 5320 Health Promotion Interventions (formerly H ED 5320)
- HLTH 5343 Health Strategies for Multicultural Populations (formerly H ED 5343)
- HLTH 6350 Contemporary Health Problems (formerly H ED 6350)
- HLTH 6379 Research in Health Sciences (formerly H SC 6379)
[3] Information Management
A candidate for the MBA with a concentration in Information Management will complete seven core MBA courses (21 hours) and three electives (9 hours) in the concentration.
MBA Core Courses (21 hours required)
- MBA 6301 Information Technology for Managers
- MBA 6302 Accounting For Management Decisions
- MBA 6305 Financial Decision Making
- MBA 6308 Marketing Strategy
- MBA 6320 Strategic Management
- MBA 6325 Organizational Behavior
- MBA 6330 Operations and Supply Chain Management
Electives (9 hours required)
- CISA 5320 Critical Thinking in Data Analytics
- CISA 5330 Prescriptive Analytics
- CISA 5355 Project Management Leadership
- CISA 5360 Principles of Information Security
- CISA 5380 Business Intelligence and Data Visualization
- CISA 5381 Data Mining and Applied Analytics
- CISA 6325 Predictive Analytics
- CISA 6335 Python for Data Analytics
- CISA 6355 Information Technology Project Management
- CISA 6364 SQL for Data Analytics
- CISA 6365 Data Management
- CISA 6370 Applied Data Analytics Project
- CISA 6V82 Internship in Data Analytics
[4] International Business
Students who plan to receive an MBA degree with a concentration in International Business must complete the 30-hour MBA courses and six hours of additional requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The additional requirements include six hours of elective credit at the graduate level in international business, international culture, or undergraduate foreign language, or complete an internship with a business. Electives must be approved by the MBA Director and be taken abroad.
University of Central Arkansas
Overview:
University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is a public university located in Conway, Arkansas. It boasts a rich 115-year tradition of excellence and is committed to providing an innovative and collaborative education within a culture of student support and success.
Services Offered:
UCA offers a wide range of services to its students, including:
Academic Advising:
Provides guidance and support for academic planning and course selection.Accessibility Resources and Services:
Offers accommodations and support for students with disabilities.Bear Card:
A multi-purpose card used for access to campus facilities, meal plans, and more.Bookstore:
Provides textbooks, course materials, and merchandise.Campus Safety:
Ensures a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, and staff.Career Services:
Assists students with career exploration, job search, and internship opportunities.Disability Resource Center:
Provides support and accommodations for students with disabilities.Financial Aid:
Offers various financial aid programs and scholarships to help students fund their education.Food Services:
Provides dining options on campus.Housing & Residence Life:
Offers on-campus housing options and residence life programs.Information Technology:
Provides technical support and resources for students.Library:
Offers a vast collection of books, journals, and digital resources.Student Health:
Provides healthcare services to students.Student Organizations:
Offers a wide variety of student organizations for students to join and engage in extracurricular activities.Veterans Services:
Provides support and resources for veteran students.Student Life and Campus Experience:
UCA offers a vibrant campus life with numerous opportunities for students to get involved and make connections. Students can:
Join over 150 Recognized Student Organizations:
Catering to diverse interests and passions.Participate in various events and activities:
From sporting events to cultural performances.Live in on-campus housing:
With various residence halls and living learning communities.Enjoy recreational facilities:
Including a campus recreation center.Volunteer in the community:
Through service-learning opportunities.Key Reasons to Study There:
UCA Commitment:
A groundbreaking program offering a debt-free pathway for tuition and fees for incoming Arkansas freshmen with household income of $100k or less.Small class sizes:
Allowing for personalized attention from faculty.Engaging programs:
Providing hands-on learning experiences and internships.Supportive community:
Fostering a sense of belonging and success.Strong academic reputation:
With a focus on research and experiential learning.Academic Programs:
UCA offers a wide range of academic programs across five colleges:
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences:
Includes programs in art, history, literature, and more.Business:
Offers programs in accounting, finance, marketing, and more.Education:
Provides programs for aspiring teachers and educators.Health & Behavioral Sciences:
Includes programs in nursing, psychology, and more.Science and Engineering:
Offers programs in biology, chemistry, computer science, and more.Other:
UCA has a 14 to 1 student to faculty ratio.
The average ACT score for first-time undergraduate students is 22.4.
UCA offers over 141 academic programs and certificates.
UCA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UCA is classified as a Community Engagement Institution by the Carnegie Foundation.
In addition to the Graduate School admission requirements, the Master of Business Administration requires the following:
- Score of at least 500 on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or the equivalent GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score or a minimum score of 110 on the aptitude portion of the Chinese National Postgraduate Entrance Examination (NPEE) for Management and Economics majors.
- Program
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.70, or 3.00 in last 60 credit hours.
- A written Statement of Purpose of 750 words or less describing reasons why the prospective student wishes to pursue the MBA degree.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation.
- A current professional résumé.
- International students must meet the Graduate School’s English proficiency standards.
Note: Students who do not meet the minimum GMAT of 500 or the equivalent GRE score or the minimum NPEE score, or minimum GPA requirements may be admitted on a conditional basis. Conditional admission will depend on undergraduate performance, GMAT/GRE score, other relevant measures of scholastic performance, a record of successful employment at increasing levels of responsibility, and recommendations. Conditionally admitted students must obtain a 3.00 GPA in the first nine (9) hours of coursework towards the degree. After this point, the conditional status will be removed.
Note also: Applicants to the MBA program are generally required to supply GMAT or GRE scores as part of their application process. The following persons, however, may be exempt from taking the GMAT or GRE:
- Applicants who hold a terminal degree (e.g., PhD, MD, JD, DDS, EdD) from an accredited* program or institution (including UCA).
- Applicants who hold a master’s degree from an accredited* program or institution (including UCA).
- Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in business from an accredited* program or institution (including UCA) with an overall GPA of 3.20 or higher (or 3.20 or higher in the last 60 hours).
- Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree outside of business from an accredited* program or institution with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher (or 3.20 or higher in the last 60 hours) and have completed the four prerequisite courses required for admission to the program (accounting, economics, statistics, and finance).
- Applicants who have completed and passed all parts of the CPA exam (must submit official copy of license from any state or, if not licensed, proof of successful completion of all four parts of the exam).
* “Accredited” may refer to business programs accredited by AACSB or EQUIS or institutions accredited by an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (or other appropriate accrediting agency as determined by the UCA Graduate School and the UCA MBA Director).
Applicants for admission to the MBA program must submit a completed application packet that includes a completed application form; official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended; official GMAT, GRE, or NPEE scores; statement of purpose; résumé; and two letters of recommendation to the Graduate School by the following dates:
Fall Semester: August 1
Spring Semester: December 1
Summer Semester: May 1
