MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -- 2000-01 Catalog
College of Business
Graduate Management Programs,
Business Bldg. (03), Room 107
805 756-2637

Cal Poly's MBA program is designed to prepare students to enter successful management positions of high responsibility. The program is based on the recognition that future business leaders must function in an environment that places more emphasis on technology; is facing more globalization in markets and organizations; and is placing increased importance on societal factors such as pollution, equal rights, ethical behavior and corporate citizenship.

The primary objectives of the MBA program are to:

• Provide students with a broad-based understanding of fundamental concepts, principles and practices in multiple business disciplines;
• Instill in students an integrated understanding of business dynamics for effective responses to the changing global business environment;
• Help the students acquire skills in formulating, analyzing and implementing significant business decisions; and
• Develop in students the skills that are necessary to work with other people in effective organizations in a changing global environment.

Prerequisites

With the exception of prior background in quantitative analysis, there are no specific prerequisite courses for the MBA program. See the MBA curriculum for details.

Admission to the MBA Program is based upon:

Program of Study

The MBA is a two-year program of graduate work. The first year offers students an integrated understanding of concepts and tools of the various business disciplines. The courses offered contain material that is commonly referred to as the core of business knowledge. The first year provides a collaborative learning environment in which future business managers can acquire basic knowledge and skills in all business disciplines. Ethical and international business issues are specifically addressed in many courses.

The second year consists primarily of elective courses, based upon the belief that people learn best when their past experiences and training can be made an integral part of the learning process. Various course sequences are offered to allow students to specialize in particular fields. Students are also permitted to develop their own sequences of elective courses. The second-year electives are continually reviewed for currency and relevance. Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination (incorporated into GSB 562) is a requirement of the MBA program. As a policy, MBA students will not be permitted to take more than two classes at the 400 level.

MBA
 

MBA, SPECIALIZATION IN AGRIBUSINESS

This specialization is offered in conjunction with the Agribusiness Department, College of Agriculture. It requires the completion of six graduate courses taught by the Agribusiness Department. These courses are taken in lieu of electives in the MBA program. Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination is required. The MBA Agribusiness Specialization is designed for those interested in agribusiness management careers. Graduates will be prepared for large farm and ranch management as well as for positions in supporting agribusiness industries such as commodity marketing or food processing. 

ARCHITECTURAL MANAGEMENT TRACK

This program is available only to those students who are enrolled in Cal Poly's Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) program. Students may request permission to enroll in MBA courses during their fourth or fifth years of study. This request should be submitted to the College of Business by July 1 of the academic year that the student plans to begin taking MBA courses. Upon completion of the BArch degree, students are eligible to formally apply to the University for graduate student status in the MBA program. Students who fulfill all the requirements will first receive the BArch and then the MBA.

MBA, Architectural Management Track
 

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MANAGEMENT TRACK

This program is available only to those students who are enrolled in Cal Poly's Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program. Students may request permission to enroll in MBA courses during their fourth or fifth years of study. This request should be submitted to the College of Business by July 1 of the academic year that the student plans to begin taking MBA courses. Upon completion of the BArch degree, students are eligible to formally apply to the University for graduate student status in the MBA program. Students who fulfill all the requirements will first receive the BLA and then the MBA.

MBA, Landscape Architecture Management Track
 

The College of Business will permit students to elect up to 48 quarter units of non-GSB/BUS course work as part of the emphasis phase of the MBA program. This option offers graduate students who are pursuing MA or MS degrees in any of Cal Poly's Colleges to also pursue an MBA degree.

Admission/Acceptance to the Dual-Degree Option
Students must first be admitted to a specific graduate program at Cal Poly. Once admitted to a specific graduate program, the student then processes a "Change of Objectives" form that requires approval from the College that is offering the second degree. The College of Business will apply the same standards of Acceptance when evaluating "Change of Objectives" requests as are applied when evaluating Formal Admissions to the MBA program. A student that has been accepted to two graduate programs can earn both graduate degrees (MBA and MS or MA) at the same time.

Two Formal Study Plans
Two Formal Study Plans must be completed by dual-degree students. The Formal Study Plan for the MBA degree must include 48 GSB/BUS core units and 48 approved emphasis units. This Formal Study Plan must be approved by the College of Business Director of Graduate Programs. The MS or MA Formal Study Plan must be completed for the MS or MA degree and must be approved by the appropriate adviser for that program.