MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – 2003-05 Catalog
Orfalea College of Business
Graduate Management Programs,
Business Bldg. (03), Room 107
805 756-2637

Programs in:
Master of Business Administration
MBA, Specialization in Agribusiness
MBA, Architectural Management Track
MBA, Landscape Architecture Management Track
Other MBA/MS or MA/Dual Degree Options

General Characteristics

Cal Poly's MBA programs are designed to prepare students to enter successful management positions in industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations. The programs give graduates a broad management background plus a career-oriented emphasis. This dual focus is accomplished by dividing the programs into two phases: A core phase and an emphasis phase. Cal Poly's MBA programs are 96–99-quarter-unit programs. The core phase has 48 quarter units of GSB/BUS/AGB courses. The emphasis phase consists of 48 to 51 quarter units of approved focused courses.

During the core phase, students acquire knowledge of functional business management areas, including accounting, economics, finance, government and society, information systems, international business, management science, marketing, organization behavior, production and operations management, statistics, and strategy. Integration is a major theme during the spring quarters of both the first and second years of the program.

The mission of the core phase is to develop the functional knowledge and integrative system thinking capabilities of program participants.

The objectives of the MBA core phase are to:

   Cover the business functional areas in depth,

   Integrate the functional areas,

   Cover international/global issues and concepts at the general management level and at a specific functional level, and

   Provide a comprehensive integration of business management concepts at an enterprise level.

The emphasis phase consists of approved courses that develop depth in an area of study that is consistent with the student's career objectives. The area of study that the MBA student chooses to emphasize can be completed within the Orfalea College of Business, or by pursuing an approved program of study in other Cal Poly colleges. Graduate level emphasis areas that include other than GSB, BUS, or AGB courses can lead to dual degrees: an MBA and an MS or MA.

Admission/Acceptance Requirements

Acceptance to the MBA programs is based upon:

   Successful completion of an accredited undergraduate program of study,

   Prior academic performance with particular 90 quarter units (or equivalent),

   Achievement on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and

   Prior work experience.

Programs of Study:

The General MBA

The general MBA program consists of a 48-quarter-unit core and an emphasis phase that is developed by selecting a focused group of advanced courses. Most of the emphasis phase courses will be offered by the Orfalea College of Business.

Core Phase (48)

 

GSB 510 The General Manager I

12

GSB 512 Quan. Analysis (or approved substitute)

4

GSB 520 The General Manager II

12

GSB 530 The General Manager III

8

GSB 540 The General Manager IV

8

Elective selected from:
GSB 567, 569, 578, 587; BUS 410, 427, 446;
ECON 401; or AGB 563

4

Emphasis Phase (48)

 

Approved electives

48

 

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96

Certain limitations. As a policy, MBA students:

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 offered by the Agribusiness Department. The MBA with Specialization in Agribusiness 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.

Core Phase (48)

 

GSB 510 The General Manager I

12

GSB 512 Quan Analysis (or approved substitute)

4

GSB 520 The General Manager II

12

GSB 530 The General Manager III

8

GSB 540 The General Manager IV

8

AGB 563 Internatl Ag Trade: Cases and Theory

4

Specialization/Emphasis Phase (48)

 

AG 539 Grad Internship in Agriculture

4

AGB 514 Agribusiness Managerial Leadership and Communication

4

AGB 543 Agribusiness Policy and Program Anal.

4

AGB 554 Food System Marketing

4

AGB 555 Technological and Economic Change in Agribusiness

4

Approved electives

28

 

___
96

MBA, 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 and fifth years of study.  This request should be submitted to the College of Business as soon as possible and no later than 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.

Core Phase (48)

 

GSB 510 The General Manager I

12

GSB 512 Quantitative Analysis (or approved substitute)

4

GSB 520 The General Manager II

12

GSB 530 The General Manager III

8

GSB 540 The General Manager IV

8

Elective selected from:
GSB 567, 569, 578, 587; BUS 410, 427, 446;
ECON 401; or AGB 563

4

Emphasis Phase (51)

 

ARCH 521 Graduate Architectural Design Project or advisor approved elective

5,5,5

Approved electives

36

Electives must include one approved internationally based course

 

 

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99

MBA, Landscape Architecture Management Track

This program is available only to 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 and fifth years of study.  This request should be submitted to the Orfalea College of Business as soon as possible and no later than July 1 of the academic year that the student plans to begin taking MBA courses.  Upon completion of the BLA 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.

Core Phase (48)

 

GSB 510 The General Manager I

12

GSB 512 Quan Analysis (or approved substitute)

4

GSB 520 The General Manager II

12

GSB 530 The General Manager III

8

GSB 540 The General Manager IV

8

Elective selected from:
GSB 567, 569, 578, 587; BUS 410, 427, 446;
ECON 401; or AGB 563

4

Emphasis Phase (51)

 

LA 464 Senior Seminar

1,1,1

LA 454, 455, 456 LA Design Studio

4,4,4

Approved electives

36

Electives must include one approved internationally based course

 

 

___
99

Other MBA/MS or MA/Dual Degree Options

The Orfalea College of Business will permit students to elect up to 48 approved quarter units of non-GSB/BUS/AGB course-work as part of the emphasis phase of the MBA program.  This option offers graduate students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue an MBA degree in the Orfalea College of Business and an MA or MS degree in one of Cal Poly's other colleges.

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

Dual-Graduate-Degree Application Process.  Acceptance into both the MBA and MS or MA programs is a prerequisite to pursuing a dual-graduate-degree option. Students applying for admission to the EMP apply simultaneously for admission to both the Orfalea College of Business MBA program and to the College of Engineering MS in Engineering program. Students pursuing a non-EMP dual-graduate-degree option must first apply for formal admission to one specific Cal Poly graduate program such as the MBA. After admittance into a specific graduate program, the student must process a "Postbaccalaureate Change of Objective" form for acceptance into the second graduate program. Students who have been accepted into two graduate programs can earn both graduate degrees (MBA and MS or MA) at the same time.

The Orfalea College of Business will apply the same criteria to all applicants who apply for acceptance to the MBA program, whether the application is through the formal Cal Poly admission process or through the Postbaccalaureate Change of Objective process.