Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Description
The MBA is designed to accommodate the career needs of professionals across a wide variety of work organizations: business, health care, industrial, educational, and governmental. The program offers a personal academic approach to help you prepare for a rapidly evolving business world.
Your education is enhanced through personal contacts with our highly experienced faculty, many of whom serve as consultants in the private and public sectors. Our business alumni tell us that their Detroit Mercy experience made a significant impact on their professional development.
Distinctive Features
- Broad-based Integrative Management - The University of Detroit Mercy's MBA program is designed to enable students to draw on all perspectives of business to effectively solve multifaceted business problems. While the curriculum is divided into courses, the overall program stresses the integrative nature of management and the links between various courses and concepts. Students learn and apply knowledge across all disciplines.
- Program Themes - The MBA program focuses on four major themes: Global Competitiveness; Emerging Business Challenges; Organization Creation and Development; and Awareness of and Responsibility to Self and Others. Each of these themes provides a thread to connect the major elements of the curriculum.
- Global Perspectives are represented throughout the MBA curriculum. Detroit's position as a global city and the center of the world automotive industry provides numerous opportunities to draw on local resources for global perspectives. Typically, students from more than 20 countries, including nearby (Windsor) Canada, are enrolled in the College's programs each semester.
- Strong Ties to the Business Community - Detroit Mercy's graduate business programs have an excellent reputation in, and strong ties to, metropolitan Detroit's business community. Employees from more than 200 businesses and professional organizations have enrolled as degree candidates at Detroit Mercy. Many students take advantage of full- or part-time, career-related assignments available through Detroit Mercy's Cooperative Education and Career Center. Detroit Mercy has alumni in leadership roles in more than 60 countries around the globe.
- Quality and Convenience - Detroit Mercy's MBA degree program is designed to accommodate the career needs of professionals in a variety of work organizations. Depending upon academic background, it is possible to complete the degree requirements in one year on a full-time basis. A student faculty ratio of 15:1 assures small classes and individual attention. Faculty members often act as academic advisors to students and assist with research projects and career objectives. Classes are conveniently offered on our main campus with evening schedules. In addition to fall and winter semesters, two accelerated seven-week summer sessions are offered.
- Students at University of Detroit Mercy bring a wide variety of work experiences and academic and cultural diversity to the MBA program. The average age of our student body is approximately 30: approximately 35 percent of our students are women; 25 percent are minorities; 8 percent are international students. The average length of work experience is seven to eight years. Ninety-five percent of our students are working professionals who matriculate on a part-time basis.
- College of Business Administration faculty are highly qualified with superb academic and professional backgrounds. Many have lived, worked, and studied abroad bringing global perspectives to the classroom. Faculty accomplishments include consulting for Fortune 500 corporations, scholarly contributions to the business literature, and editing major academic journals. The faculty engages our MBA students to develop business skills, vision, and ethical perspectives necessary for leadership in today's complex business environment.
- Member of The Network of MBA Programs at Jesuit Colleges and Universities - The majority of Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States participate in the MBA Multilateral Agreement. This understanding provides students with unparalleled flexibility to transfer graduate credits and to complete their MBA degree at another Jesuit university in the event they relocate to another region of the country. For more information, visit: .
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Accreditation
The MBA program is fully accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Organized in 1916, AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. Detroit Mercy's MBA program is one of the oldest AACSB-accredited programs in the United States. In 2019, the program celebrated 70 years of accreditation by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
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Admission Requirements
The MBA program is open to students of high promise who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. No prior academic work in business is required. Admission decisions are based on undergraduate grade point average (GPA), work experience, post graduate studies, and recommendations, and GMAT (if needed).
Admission Materials
- A University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Application Form, with the application fee (waived for online applications);
- Official transcripts for all previous academic work;
- An official report with the scores earned on the GMAT (if needed);
- A resume;
- Letter of recommendation; and
- Any other information which the applicant feels is important to the admission decision.
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Degree Requirements
The basic requirements for University of Detroit Mercy's MBA program involve a 33 credit-hour structure which includes the following set of core courses and a set of post-core courses. Core courses serve as the heart of a common educational experience for all students who seek the MBA degree. Post-core requirements include an integrated capstone course, MBA 5900.
Core Courses
- ACC 5200 Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
- MBA 5200 Modeling, Analytics, and Operation Decisions (3 credits)
- MBA 5210 Personal Development, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (3 credits)
- MBA 5220 Strategic Financial Management (3 credits)
- MBA 5240 Marketing Management and Planning (3 credits)
- MBA 5250 Teamwork and Shared Leadership: Enhancing the Creative Process in Organizations (3 credits)
- MBA 5260 Systems and Technology (3 credits)
Post Core Courses
- MBA 5900 Strategic Management and Innovation in a Global Economy (3 credits)
- Advanced Electives* (9 credits)
* The nine hours of advanced electives (beyond foundation and core) are aimed at providing an elective route for all MBA students. Core electives shall consist of selecting three (elective) courses from the following:
ACC 5300 – ACC 5950
BTM 5000 – 5999 (excluding BTM 5500)
MBA 5270– MBA 5990 (excluding MBA 5900)
MBA Students may petition the director of Graduate Business Programs and assistant dean to take a maximum of one elective course outside of the College of Business Administration. Students should consult dual degree and certificate options within the graduate business programs as it pertains to possible electives.Such an elective route may be utilized by the student in the following ways:
- To seek a mixture of advanced electives which the student desires as a means of enhancing specific career objectives, or
- To seek a concentration in which the student desires to focus post-core electives within a specific field (beyond foundation and core courses), or
- To seek a Certificate in Ethical Leadership and Change Management, or
- To seek a Certificate in Finance, or
- To seek a Certificate in Health Services Administration, or
- To seek a Certificate in Business Turnaround Management.
- To seek a Certificate in Forensic Accounting.
Foundation Courses
Foundation requirements include a set of courses designed for those applicants who have had no exposure or limited exposure to business courses in their academic background and/or limited work experience. These courses, up to a maximum of 12 credit hours, may be required to guarantee preparedness for the program's core and post-core requirements.
- ACC 5100 Corporate Financial Accounting (3 credits)
- MBA 5100 Legal Issues in Organizational Strategy (3 credits)
- MBA 5120 Data Analysis for Decision Making (3 credits)
- MBA 5180 Fundamentals of Financial Management (3 credits)
Each applicant's program requirements are determined immediately following the admission decision. Foundation requirements may be waived, in any number, depending upon the applicant's academic background. The mere fact that a student has completed coursework in one or more particular disciplines or had extensive work experience does not imply that any waiver will be granted. Prior academic work must be of sufficient quantity and quality as to satisfy the specific criteria established. Each student's specific requirements are determined individually with the objective of ensuring the overall quality of that student's degree program.
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Admission Status
Conditional Entry Status
Applicants whose admission materials do not lead to regular acceptance into the program may be considered for conditional entry status. Conditional entry status is restricted to a narrow margin of applicants and usually requires a personal interview.
Guest Student Status
Individuals currently enrolled in another AACSB accredited MBA program may obtain Guest Student Status at the University of Detroit Mercy for a limited number of courses by providing a statement of good standing from their school's dean or program director, or by applying for Guest Student Status using a Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate School form (MIGS). The MIGS application can be obtained in the Graduate Business Programs Office.
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Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available to selected students enrolled in any graduate business program. A graduate assistantship is conferred upon a student with the understanding that the student will be assigned to a discipline or program to assist in research, tutoring or general activities. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available each semester. A graduate assistant works 7.5 hours per week in exchange for a one-course tuition waiver. Application forms for a graduate assistantship are available in the Graduate Business Programs Office.
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Program Characteristics
Several important aspects of the MBA program should be noted. These include policies regarding grade point averages, class scheduling, and advising.
Cumulative Grade Point Average
Students in the MBA program are required to achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for final completion of the degree requirements and graduation.
Academic Standing
While an individual may be admitted into the MBA program on a regular-acceptance basis, it is possible that the individual's eventual cumulative GPA may fall below a 3.0 in any particular term. When this situation occurs, the student automatically is placed on "Academic Probation". This status dictates that the student's cumulative GPA must continue to improve in each consecutive term thereafter until the cumulative GPA reaches 3.0 and is then sustained at that level or higher. If, after being placed on Academic Probation, the student's cumulative GPA does not improve in each subsequent term, the student will be academically dismissed.
Class Scheduling
MBA classes are scheduled in the evening and online. MBA classes are currently offered on the McNichols Campus and downtown Riverfront Campus. Evening classes begin at 6:40 p.m., Monday through Thursday for Term I and Term II on the McNichols Campus and evening classes begin at 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday for Term I and Term II on the downtown Riverfront Campus. Terms are 15 weeks in length. Each summer session is seven weeks in length. Summer I commences in May. Summer II begins in late June. Downtown Riverfront Campus summer schedule overlaps both end of McNichols Summer I and start of McNichols Summer II.
Full-Time and Part-Time Student Status
An individual may undertake the MBA program on either a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time student status usually involves a nine or above credit-hour course load in Terms I and II. Part-time student status usually entails a 1-8.5 credit hour load in Terms I and II.
Residence and Time Requirements
Students who have not completed their required certificate program within two years may be subject to re-evaluation and additional coursework. Students not enrolled for more than four consecutive terms will be required to re-apply for admission.
International Students
International students should consult with the International Services Office.
Advising
The director of Graduate Business Programs serves as general academic advisor for all students entering the MBA program. When appropriate, specific advising matters may be referred to the advisor in a particular academic discipline.
The Thesis Plan
An MBA student may elect, with approval of the director of Graduate Business Programs, to write a master's thesis for the equivalent of six credit hours. These credits are applied to the student's electives. A thesis advisor will be selected from the full-time faculty. Guidelines are available in the Graduate Business Programs Office.
Student Responsibilities
Students in the College of Business Administration are responsible and accountable for knowledge of the requirements and procedures set forth by the College and University. Administrators, advisors, and faculty are available to assist students by explaining the various requirements and procedures for each program. However, the ultimate responsibility for compliance rests with the student.
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Center for Career & Professional Development
Through its Center for Career & Professional Development, University of Detroit Mercy offers a professional practice program for MBA candidates. After completing the appropriate credit hours in the MBA program, students are eligible for a career-related professional practice assignment. The professional practice model is based on traditional co-op, providing students with the opportunity to select either full-time assignments, alternating semesters of work with study, or part-time assignments, with parallel semesters of work and study. A minimum of two assignments is required, with three assignments being the maximum a student may complete. The professional practice program model combines the success of traditional co-op with the new demands for graduate student programming. The professional practice coordinator, upon the recommendation of the director of Graduate Business Programs, accepts students into the program.
Upon placement, students are required to enroll in ADM 5950, 5960, or 5970. Grades are based on the evaluation of the employer, a written professional practice training report and a progress interview with the student's professional practice coordinator. Please refer to the Professional Practice Handbook, available in the Center for Career & Professional Development for additional requirements.
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Honor Societies
Beta Gamma Sigma
Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, an international scholastic honor society for graduates in the field of business and management, is the highest international scholastic honor that a student in a school of business or management can achieve. Eligibility for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma places a student in a very select group and is conferred for a lifetime status. Beta Gamma Sigma chapters are only chartered in those business schools which are accredited by the AACSB International.
Beta Alpha Psi
Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for Financial Information students and professionals. This membership is one of the highest scholastic honors that accounting and finance students can attain. As the premier professional accounting and business information fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence and complements members' formal education by providing interaction between students, faculty and professionals, and fosters lifelong growth, service and ethical conduct. Beta Alpha Psi chapters may be chartered only in those schools of business and management accredited by AACSB International.
Alpha Iota Delta
Alpha Iota Delta is the international honor society confers distinction for academic excellence in the decision sciences and information systems; promotes the infusion of the functional and behavioral areas of administration with tools, concepts and methodologies of the decision sciences and information systems; and promotes professional fellowship among students, faculty, administration and practitioners. The lifetime membership is by invitation, reflecting exceptional academic achievement and, perhaps, outstanding campus leadership and service.
Global Jesuit Business Student Association
The purposes of the GJBSA Honor Society are to confer distinction for academic excellence upon students attending Jesuit business schools and to encourage their pursuit of lifelong education; to acknowledge and promote a spirit of community involvement among its members; to promote and encourage ethical and socially responsible business practices among its members and in the global business community; and to act as a catalyst for the advancement of business thought and theory.
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Program Contact Information
Graduate Admissions Counselor: Theresa Carson
- Telephone: 313-993-3309 or (800) 635-5020
- Fax: 313-993-1673
- Email: theresa.carson@udmercy.edu
Director of Graduate Business Programs: Dr. Omid Sabbaghi
- Telephone: 313-993-1172
- Fax: 313-993-1673
- Email: omid.sabbaghi@udmercy.edu
Coordinator of Student Services: Carrol Parris
- Telephone: 313-993-1203
- Fax: 313-993-1673
- Email: carrol.parris@udmercy.edu