The M.B.A. degree program develops the skills of management, the tools of problem solving, the capacity for decision-making, and knowledge about formal organizations and their economic environment. The program prepares graduates for leadership positions in a variety of managerial and organizational settings. The course of study requires no background in formal business education. Over two-thirds of the students in the program enter with no previous business course work.

The program of study leading to the M.B.A. degree will vary, depending upon the background and interests of the student. The degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a set of foundation proficiencies and a graduate program of 36 semester hours, 27 semester hours of which constitute a core curriculum required of all students and 9 semester hours from a group of electives.

The M.B.A. program is offered in both day and evening time periods. Entry into the program may be accommodated during any semester. The total M.B.A. program can be completed in 16 to 24 months if the student's work situation will allow completion of three courses per semester. Full time students can complete the program in 12 to 16 months.

In addition to the general University requirements found on p. 53, students seeking the M.B.A. degree in business must meet the following admissions and degree requirements.

Admission
Admission shall be granted to individuals who show high potential for success in postgraduate studies based on a review of several indicators: academic achievement as an upper-division undergraduate student (GPA); performance on the GMAT, minimum acceptable score of 450; a record of appropriate employment at increasing levels of responsibility; and leadership experience as demonstrated on resume and two letters of recommendation. In this determination, primary consideration will be given to the applicant's academic record and scores on the GMAT.

The credentials of applicants who do not meet minimums for these criteria are reviewed further to determine if other factors are sufficient to warrant admission. Only students who have been fully admitted to candidacy in the M.B.A. program will be permitted to enroll in the required courses of the M.B.A. degree.

Application and Counseling
Inquiries should be addressed to the director of the M.B.A. program. The director or deputy will assist in all matters of application, admission, degree planning, and graduation. All students planning to enter the M.B.A. program must meet with a counselor to develop and file a degree plan. Copies of the transcripts describing prior academic work and results of the GMAT should be submitted at the time of application. The program is administered by the M.B.A. committee, which consists of the dean and the chairpersons of finance and economics, accounting, management/management information systems, and marketing.

Foundation Proficiencies
Admission to candidacy in the M.B.A. program is gained by demonstrating proficiency in the areas of accounting, business communications, economics, finance, management, management information systems, marketing, and statistics. These proficiencies may be gained by completion of the following group of UWF courses:

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