Four steps to success

Step 1: Review the MBA-Finance requirements.

Step 2: Review the available course offerings for upcoming semesters.

Step 3: Determine a plan that is compliant with the MBA-Finance requirements, works with available courses, and is within your abilities.  Regarding your abilities, carefully read corse descriptions and what is expected of you before you take the class.  If you are deficient in certain areas know that you will need to spend additional time on your own outside of class.  If you have any questions arrange an office visit or phone conversation with me.

Step 4: Document the compliant plan in the Advancement to Candidacy form and attach any Action Sheets necessary.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: Can I take MBA501 before my final semester?
  A: No (for the most part).  In the past, the MBA501 requirements were¹ stated as: “MBA 501 Culminating Experience Project in Business and Strategy (completion of all MBA core courses, advanced to candidacy, and final term of MBA program enrollment).”  I am in agreement with that perspective.  Apparently that has been recently changed to just “advanced to candidacy” without consultation of professors who teach MBA501.  I do not agree with the change nor a process absent of MBA501 faculty consultation.
  Nevertheless, it is my responsibility as MBA-Finance advisor to ensure that MBA-Finance graduates are well-prepared for finance roles.  To that aim, I exercise discretion over which Advancement to Candidacy plans I approve.  Heading into the Fall 2015 semester we have a confounded problem of class availability and schedule conflicts with MBA501.  The net effect is there are few advancement to candidacy plans I will consider to approve for the MBA-Finance concentration at the current time:
  • Plan 1
    Fall 2015: MBA221 and MBA264
    Spring 2016: MBA223 and MBA501
    MBA264, business intelligence, is very closely related to finance due to the course focus on data analytics.  Financial markets, business intelligence, and asset valuation are a solid combination that clearly prepares students for finance positions.  This is the best plan I have seen thus far.
  • Plan 2
    Fall 2015: MBA221 and MBA2xx
    Spring 2016: MBA223 and MBA501
    Approval of this plan depends on which MBA2xx course is selected, student interests, student reason for MBA2xx, prior MBA220 performance, and the MBA-Finance advisor opinion.

If these plans are unacceptable you will have to “Go General” or other concentration (see the last answer below).

• Q: Do I qualify for a MBA-Finance concentration if I take only one finance course in Elective Group A?
  A: No. You must take at least two finance elective courses in Group A.  See the MBA-Finance requirements Section B for details.  See Option 1 in the previous answer for a compliant Spring 2016 graduation plan.
• Q: When will MBA222 and MBA224 be offered?
  A: I wish I knew.  The Finance Area has yet to put in writing who will teach these courses and when.  Hopefully some names and dates will be assigned during our Finance Area meetings over the next few months.
• Q: If I can’t get the classes that I want, when I want, will you approve more than one non-finance course for elective Group A?
  A: No.  You can have at most one non-finance elective in Group A.  The other two Group A electives must be MBA-finance courses.  Again, reference the MBA-Finance requirements Section B.  In this scenario you have five options:
  1. Be patient.  Wait until the classes you want are offered.
  2. Don’t be so picky. Take whatever MBA-finance electives are available.  This may still require patience given scheduling conflicts with MBA501.
  3. Go General.  Take other MBA courses to qualify for MBA-General.  You must check with the MBA-General advisor to develop this plan.
  4. Go Healthcare (BAH).  Take other MBA courses to qualify for MBA-Healthcare.  You must check with the MBA-Healthcare advisor to develop this plan.
  5. Go Entrepreneurship (EGB).  Take other MBA courses to qualify for MBA-Entrepreneurship.  You must check with the MBA-Entrepreneurship advisor to develop this plan.

 Footnotes

[1]  and still are as of 2015.08.25 in MBA-Finance requirements Section D

Updated 2015.08.25 10:51AM