MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – 2005-07 Catalog
Orfalea College of Business
Graduate Programs,
Business Bldg. (03), Room 409
805 756-2637

Programs of Study/Specializations Available:
MBA – General Management Specialization
MBA – Agribusiness Specialization
MBA – Graphic Communication Document Systems Management Specialization
MBA – Architectural Management Track
MBA – Landscape Architectural Management Track

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. Cal Poly’s MBA programs are 60 to 64 units in length, depending on specialization, and consist of required courses and advanced elective courses.

The primary objectives of the MBA programs are to:

provide students with a broad-based understanding of fundamental concepts, principles and practices in multiple business disciplines

instill in students an understanding of business dynamics for effective responses to the changing global business environment

help students acquire skills in formulating, analyzing and implementing significant business decisions

develop in students the skills that are necessary to work with other people in effective domestic and/or multinational organizations in an ethical and socially responsible manner

Prerequisites

Students are required to possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program. The MBA program is specifically designed to provide the essential business knowledge to students without prior business background. Therefore, no specific prerequisite courses are required.

Admission/Acceptance Requirements

Admission to the MBA programs is based upon:

successful completion of an accredited undergraduate program of study

prior academic performance with particular emphasis placed on the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units)

achievement on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

prior work experience (desirable).

Culminating Experience

In order to satisfy the culminating experience requirement, students must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination at the end of GSB 562 or GSB 567. Other courses and/or options may be available, but must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The MBA – General Management

This program allows students to take electives of particular interest that fit their specific needs or career objectives. The program consists of 36-quarter-units of required courses with the remaining elective units selected from a focused group of advanced courses.

MBA Common Required Courses (36)
GSB 511 Accounting for Managers	4
GSB 512 Quantitative Analysis	4
GSB 513 Organization Behavior	4
GSB 523 Managerial Economics	4
GSB 524 Marketing Management	4
GSB 531 Managerial Finance	4
GSB 533 Aggregate Economic Analysis & Policy	4
GSB 534 Production and Operations Mgmt	4
GSB 562 Seminar in General Mgmt & Strategy or GSB 567 Adv Sem International Business Mgmt or other approved culminating experience	4
Advisor approved electives One elective must satisfy the Orfalea College of Business’ international course requirement	24
	___ 60

MBA – Specialization In Agribusiness

This specialization is offered in conjunction with the Agribusiness Department in the College of Agriculture. The program 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.

MBA Common Required Courses (36)
GSB 511 Accounting for Managers	4
GSB 512 Quantitative Analysis	4
GSB 513 Organization Behavior	4
GSB 523 Managerial Economics	4
GSB 524 Marketing Management	4
GSB 531 Managerial Finance	4
GSB 533 Aggregate Economic Analysis & Policy	4
GSB 534 Production and Operations Mgmt	4
GSB 562 Seminar in General Mgmt & Strategy or GSB 567 Adv Sem International Business Mgmt or other approved culminating experience	4
Specialization Required Courses (20)
AGB 514 Agribusiness Managerial Leadership	4
AGB 539 Graduate Internship in Agriculture	4
AGB 543 Agribusiness Policy/Program Analysis	4
AGB 554 Food System Marketing	4
AGB 555 Technological and Economic Change in Agribusiness	4
Advisor approved electives One elective must satisfy the Orfalea College of Business’ international course requirement	8
	___ 64

MBA – Graphic Communication Document Systems Management Specialization

This specialization is offered in conjunction with the Graphic Communication Department in the College of Liberal Arts, and is designed for those interested in graphic communication-related management careers. The program, focused on document systems management, contains a strong research component, including research assignments relevant to an individual company and the document industry as a whole. Students participate in research and development projects for the Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly.

MBA Common Required Courses (36)
GSB 511 Accounting for Managers	4
GSB 512 Quantitative Analysis	4
GSB 513 Organization Behavior	4
GSB 523 Managerial Economics	4
GSB 524 Marketing Management	4
GSB 531 Managerial Finance	4
GSB 533 Aggregate Economic Analysis & Policy	4
GSB 534 Production and Operations Mgmt	4
GSB 562 Seminar in General Mgmt & Strategy or GSB 567 Adv Sem International Business Mgmt or other approved culminating experience	4
Specialization Required Courses (16)
GRC 595 Internship/Co-Op Experiential Education	8
GRC 500 Special Problems in GRC	8
Advisor approved electives One elective must satisfy the Orfalea College of Business’ international course requirement	12
	___ 64

MBA, Architectural Management Track

This program is available only to those students who are enrolled in Cal Poly's Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) program. During the fifth/final year of the architecture program, students may request permission to enroll in MBA courses. The request, along with all supporting documents, must be submitted to the Orfalea College of Business – Graduate Programs Office. Permission to participate in the courses is competitive and based upon the student’s previous academic performance and GMAT results.

Upon completion of the BArch degree, students are eligible to formally apply to the University for admission to the MBA program. Students who fulfill all the requirements first receive the BArch and then the MBA.

MBA Common Required Courses (36)
GSB 511 Accounting for Managers	4
GSB 512 Quantitative Analysis	4
GSB 513 Organization Behavior	4
GSB 523 Managerial Economics	4
GSB 524 Marketing Management	4
GSB 531 Managerial Finance	4
GSB 533 Aggregate Economic Analysis & Policy	4
GSB 534 Production and Operations Mgmt	4
GSB 562 Seminar in General Mgmt & Strategy or GSB 567 Adv Sem International Business Mgmt or other approved culminating experience	4
Advisor approved electives One elective must satisfy the Orfalea College of Business’ international course requirement	24
	___ 60

MBA, Landscape Architecture Management Track

This program is available only to those students who are currently enrolled in Cal Poly's Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program. During the fifth/final year of the landscape architecture program, students may request permission to enroll in MBA courses. The request, along with all supporting documents, must be submitted to the Orfalea College of Business – Graduate Programs Office. Permission to participate in the courses is competitive and based upon the student’s previous academic performance and GMAT/GRE results.

Upon completion of the BLA degree, students are eligible to formally apply to the University for admission to the MBA program. Students who fulfill all the requirements first receive the BLA and then the MBA.

MBA Common Required Courses (36)
GSB 511 Accounting for Managers	4
GSB 512 Quantitative Analysis	4
GSB 513 Organization Behavior	4
GSB 523 Managerial Economics	4
GSB 524 Marketing Management	4
GSB 531 Managerial Finance	4
GSB 533 Aggregate Economic Analysis & Policy	4
GSB 534 Production and Operations Mgmt	4
GSB 562 Seminar in General Mgmt & Strategy or GSB 567 Adv Sem International Business Mgmt or other approved culminating experience	4
Advisor approved electives One elective must satisfy the Orfalea College of Business’ international course requirement	24
	___ 60

Option to Concurrently Pursue MBA & Another Master’s Degree

The Orfalea College of Business will permit students to develop an individualized program of study that incorporates the required elements of two distinct Cal Poly graduate degree programs. 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.

To participate in this option, students must apply to, meet the qualifications for, and be accepted into each program separately. Students must first apply for formal admission to one specific Cal Poly graduate program such as the MBA program. After enrollment in a specific graduate program, the student must apply to, meet the qualifications for, and be accepted into the second program. The two degrees must be awarded in different quarters.

Depending upon the combination of degrees pursued, students may be permitted to substitute courses in the other graduate degree program for similar courses in the MBA program, thereby reducing the overall number of units. Such substitutions must be approved in advance by the OCOB Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and generally are limited to a maximum of three courses.