Description
For a brief description of the program, application requirements and contact information, view the graduate program summary.
Area Committee: Professors Gordon Karels (chair), Gentry, Luthans, Smith
School/Departments Cooperating: Accountancy, Finance, Management, and Marketing
The Business Interdepartmental Area Graduate Committee makes recommendations to the UNL Dean of Graduate Studies regarding the admission of students for study leading to the degree programs. The department offers an MA, MBA, MBA/JD, MBA/MARC (Master of Architecture), MPA, and the PhD program. These programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Applicants for the various advanced degree programs offered by the Business Interdepartmental Area must hold a baccalaureate degree, or be in the process of completing a degree, from an accredited college or university and are expected to have a satisfactory scholastic average. In addition, they must have a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and present three letters of recommendation regarding their capacity for graduate study. Information regarding the GMAT may be obtained at mba.com. PhD students who wish to be considered for fellowships or assistantships during the academic year should begin the application process by December 1. MBA students need to be admitted by March 1 in order to be fully considered. Fellowships and assistantships are only available to full-time students in the on-campus program.
Applicants for admission to the masters programs (MA, MS, MPA), other than MBA programs, are normally graduates of an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited institution. Students who are not graduates of an AACSB accredited college or school of business are usually required to complete several courses to satisfy the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), which consists of a combination of undergraduate and graduate courses. Students who hold a bachelors degree in business administration or who have previously completed undergraduate course work in these areas may be able to have some CBK courses waived. In addition, students are expected to have completed a course in calculus and to have satisfied the written and oral communication requirements of the department. Transcripts will be reviewed at the time of admission to determine any entrance deficiencies.
NOTE: No student on nondegree status may take graduate courses in the business area without prior specific written approval of the chair of the Graduate Committee.
Master of Business Administration
For a brief description of the program, application requirements and contact information, view the graduate program summary.
The MBA program is designed to provide students with broad exposure to business administration and its functional areas. Those who have little or no previous course work in business will find the MBA program beneficial. Students from areas such as the humanities, sciences, engineering, social sciences, journalism, education, agriculture, and architecture choose the MBA program. Students interested in the MBA program may register as a full-time or part-time student. On-campus courses are offered during the fall, spring and summer sessions.
The MBA program is also available on-line. This on-line delivery, along with the modular scheduling, allows today’s working professional the opportunity to participate in an internationally recognized program without any career interruptions. If travel, job or family obligations prevent you from attending traditional on-campus classes, the flexibility of on-line classes brings the UNL MBA to you--on your schedule.
For additional information on the Distance MBA program, contact:
Kerri Hiatt
Distance MBA Program Coordinator and Advisor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
402-472-9033, Voice
402-472-5997, Fax
khiatt3@unl.edu
http://mba.unl.edu
The College of Business offers several joint and cooperative MBA programs:
- An MBA program with a specialization in agribusiness is offered in cooperation with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
- The MBA/JD program is a joint program offered by the Business Interdepartmental Area and the Law College. Students interested in pursuing a career in corporate law, general law practice, government regulations, business management, or other business-related fields may pursue this program.
- The MBA/M.Arch architecture program is offered by the business interdepartmental areas and the College of Architecture. The program is based on the increased need for architects to be well versed in business practices. Students can complete this program in a three-year sequence.
Students seeking the MBA degree will normally complete 48 hours of graduate credit. A student who has no previous course work in business administration may want to complete some of the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) requirements, but the prerequisites are calculus, statistics, and computer proficiency. Students who hold a bachelors degree in business may be allowed to waive some of the MBA core classes. This determination will be made upon admission.
The graduate core consists of the following 18 hours of course work: GRBA 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, and 815.
The cross-functional requirements include GRBA 851, 852, 853, and 896 or 898. GRBA 853 is to be taken in the student’s final semester in the program.
The breadth requirements include an additional 9 hours from three of the five interdepartmental business areas--accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and management. At least 6 of the 9 hours must be graduate-only courses (*800 or 900).
An additional 9 hours of elective courses are required. These courses may be selected in the areas of the interdepartmental programs. Alternatively, these courses may be taken outside of the College of Business Administration with advisor approval. At least one course must be graduate-only (*800 or 900).
MBA students admitted with limited professional work experience must complete an internship. Students may receive elective credit for their internship in GRBA 890 as part of their program. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be earned from two separate internship experiences.
MBA students may structure the electives and breadth requirements into a specialization. A specialization is made up of 9 hours, 6 of which must be graduate-only (*800 or 900) in an area of business. Please see an MBA advisor for more information.
According to the policies of the Graduate College and the business interdepartmental area faculty, candidates for the MBA are required to take a final written, comprehensive examination. This exam will be administered in GRBA 853, which should be taken during a student’s final semester in the program.
In addition to the MBA application and admission requirements listed above, students interested in the MBA/JD program must also submit Law College application materials and be admitted to the law program. Because the Law College only admits first-year students in the fall semester, application materials must be received by March 1 in order to be considered for the following academic year. For further information on the program, please contact the Assistant Dean, College of Law, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Master of Professional Accountancy
For a brief description of the program, application requirements and contact information, view the
graduate program summary.
The mission of the School of Accountancy is to provide quality teaching, research, and service and to maintain a leadership role in accounting education. The objective of the master of professional accountancy program is to provide candidates with greater breadth and depth in accounting education, and related subjects and skills, than is possible in a baccalaureate program in preparation for careers as professional accountants.
Students interested in a career in accounting should consider the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) degree. This degree may be earned by students pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at UNL or by students who have already completed an undergraduate degree. Because admission and enrollment in the MPA program involves specific requirements that differ from those of other business programs, students interested in this degree should contact the MPA adviser, Dr. Jim Brown, prior to enrolling in course work: jbrown2@unl.edu or 402-472-2320.
The MPA/JD program is a joint program offered by the School of Accountancy and the College of Law. Students interested in a career in taxation or other law/accounting-related fields may pursue this program.
Admission and enrollment in this program has some very specific deadlines which differ from those described above. It is very important for students interested in this program to consult with the Director of the MPA program, prior to applying for admission.
Applicants for admission to the MPA program are normally either enrolled in the bachelors degree program in business administration at UNL (provisional status) or are graduates of an accredited institution (full graduate standing).
Applicants must have a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), submit three letters of recommendation for graduate study, and (if a graduate of another institution) provide one copy of an official transcript covering all collegiate work completed. At the time of admission, transcripts are reviewed to determine if any deficiencies must be completed to satisfy accreditation standards (as established by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business).
The MPA program is generally pursued by those students who are in the process of completing their bachelors degree in business administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It is recommended that students apply to this program during the first semester of their senior year. Students from other departments and institutions interested in this program may apply for admission during their senior year or after completion of the bachelors degree.
In addition to satisfying the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) requirements and other general requirements as set forth by the Business Interdepartmental Area and the Graduate College, students may also be required to complete undergraduate accounting prerequisite courses. These courses include ACCT 201, 202, 308, 309, 313, and 314. Students admitted to the program while enrolled in the bachelors degree in business administration at UNL will complete a minimum of 156 hours of semester credit--with 36 of these hours taken in graduate-level courses. A minimum of 20 hours of credit must be earned in graduate-only course work (courses with no 400-level counterpart). Fifteen hours of graduate-only course work must be completed in accounting. Students who have not previously completed an administrative policy course will be required to take GRBA 853, Strategic Management and Business Policy. During the final semester of the program, students will be required to pass an oral comprehensive examination.
A complete listing of the requirements for the MPA Program are available from the Director of the MPA Program.
In addition to the MPA application and admission requirements listed above, students interested in the MPA/JD program must also submit College of Law application materials and be admitted to the law program. Since the College of Law only admits first-year students in the fall semester, application materials must be received by March 1 in order to be considered for the following academic year. For further information on the program, contact the Assistant Dean, College of Law, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy
To qualify for admission to either program, students must normally have graduated from an accredited institution with a degree in business administration. Students applying to the MA program who are not graduates of an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited college or school of business administration will be required to complete the Common Body of Knowledge courses.
The Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) consists of the following classes: BLAW 371 or 372 (Legal Environment); ACCT 201 and 202 (Principles) or 306; ECON 211 and 212 (Principles) or 210, ECON 215 or STAT 218 (Statistics); FINA 361 (Finance); MRKT 341 (Marketing); MNGT 360 (Managing Behavior in Organizations); and MNGT 331 (Operations and Resources Management). In addition, students are expected to have completed a course in calculus (MATH 104 or 106) and show computer proficiency (BSAD 150) and oral and written communication skills (ENGL 150, ENGL 254 or COMM 286). Furthermore, students who have not previously completed an administrative policy course will be required to take GRBA 853, Strategic Management and Business Policy.
The MA program provides the opportunity for students to focus on one or two areas of business (or one area of business and one area outside of business with the approval of the adviser). The MA program is normally chosen by students who wish to build more knowledge in the area of specialization.
The MA degree is offered under all three options according to requirements of the Graduate College. A faculty adviser is responsible for and designs a student’s MA program. The student is expected to complete a program in one or two principal fields to be selected from banking, finance, insurance, investments, management information systems, management science, organization and management theory, marketing, marketing channels, organizational behavior, personnel and labor relations, production, strategic management, and promotion. The supporting field may be selected from the above or, in the case of Option II, an outside minor with the approval of the adviser. Under Options I and II, a minimum of 16 hours of course work must be earned in courses open exclusively to graduate students. Under Option III, a minimum of 18 hours must be earned in graduate-only courses. Graduate business administration 853 and departmental 996, directed reading courses, may not be used to fulfill the minimum hours required in courses open exclusively to graduate students (900 level or 800 level without 400 or lower counterparts) for all three options.
The MA student is required to take written and/or oral comprehensive examinations according to the requirements of the Graduate College. At the discretion of the adviser, this examination may include a separate section specifically covering the supporting field.
The Marketing Department also offers a specialization in marketing, communications studies, and advertising. This is an Option III program. The program consists of a major - a minimum of 18 hours in marketing and two minors of 9 hours - one in communication studies and one in advertising. Eighteen hours of the program are specified courses which includes 6 hours from each of the following three departments: marketing, communication studies, and advertising. A comprehensive oral examination is also required.
The PhD program is designed primarily for those who expect to pursue a career in research or university-level teaching.
Students in a graduate business program must earn a grade of B or better in 800-level course work in a minor, or allied, or supporting course work to be recommended for a graduate degree.
Students interested in the programs offered by the Business Interdepartmental Area may contact Graduate Advising for further information:
Graduate Advising
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
139 CBA
PO Box 880405
Lincoln, NE 68588-0405
402-472-2338
cbagrad@unl.edu
Students in the MA, MPA, MBA, MS, MBA/JD and MBA/MArch program should also be aware of the requirement of submission of the Memorandum of Courses form prior to completion of half the program. Please contact your advisor for more information.
Applicants for admission to the PhD program should be graduates of an accredited institution with a degree in business administration. Students who are not graduates of an AACSB accredited college or school of business may be required to complete courses to satisfy the Common Body of Knowledge. Some programs may permit the student to substitute appropriate courses in analytical techniques or behavioral sciences to fulfill this requirement. A student’s supervisory committee will make this determination at the time of admission to the program.
In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate College for the doctor of philosophy degree, students are normally required to choose four fields of emphasis. At least half of the fields must be in the business area, including banking, finance, financial accounting, insurance, international marketing, investments, managerial accounting, management information systems, management science, organization and management theory, marketing, marketing channels, organizational behavior/human resources management, production and operations management, promotion, strategic management, and taxation. Fields in the Department of Economics may be included in the program. Each of the fields will normally be covered by a comprehensive examination. Approved minors, if used, may include the areas of mathematics, political science, psychology, economics, and sociology or others specifically approved by the supervisory committee.
As part of their regular course work, doctoral students are required to take ECON 852 Teaching College Economics and Business prior to, or parallel, with the first course taught. In addition to the regular course work and research prescribed in a PhD program, a student must complete a minimum of 9 hours of acceptable course work for the research tool requirement. These hours must be completed after receipt of the bachelors degree and may be taken as either graduate-level or undergraduate-level courses designated by the supervisory committee. The tool may include courses in one or more of the following fields designated by the supervisory committee: research methods, statistics, mathematics, computer science, or foreign language. These hours will not be part of the required minimum 90 hours for the PhD degree.
Specializations available at the doctoral level:
Accountancy; Finance; Management; Marketing
School of Accountancy
For a brief description of the program, application requirements and contact information, view the graduate program summary, Click here.
Director: Paul Shoemaker, Ph.D.
Graduate Committee Chair: David Smith, Ph.D.
Students not seeking a law degree may be admitted to one or more of the cross-listed College of Law courses in the School of Accountancy with the specific approval of the faculty member teaching the course and the Dean of the College of Law.
For admission to all graduate courses, the prerequisite course must have been completed with a C or better or the student must have permission of the instructor.
Finance
View the PhD program information in Finance.
Department Chair: Manferd Peterson, Ph.D.
Graduate Chair: John Geppert, Ph.D.
Management
View the program information in Business.
Department Chair: Gwen Combs, Ph.D.
Graduate Chair: Peter Harms, Ph.D.
The Ph.D. program in Management is a research-oriented opportunity for students to prepare for successful academic careers as faculty in Colleges of Business. We prepare students to pursue high quality scholarship, and to perform effectively in the classroom. The program requires full-time participation.
Admission
We will be inviting applications for admission to the program in Fall 2012. We anticipate admitting 2-3 students per year. Students admitted to the program typically will have a Masters degree in a Business discipline or related field from an accredited university. A GMAT/GRE score will be required as part of the admission process. The GMAT/GRE score is not the sole admission criterion, however the average score for admitted students will be targeted at 1400+ using the sum of GMAT (or GRE equivalent) and 200* GPA.
Coursework
The program provides a broad base in contemporary issues in Management, and will take at least four years to complete: two to two and a half years of coursework, with the remainder devoted to dissertation research, teaching, and other research projects aimed at assisting students develop their own programmatic research agenda. Typically, students will complete at least six courses from the Management Department in the areas of Organizational Behavior, Human Resources, Strategy, Leadership, and Organizational Research Methods. Students will be required to complete at least four courses in various statistical and/or qualitative data analysis techniques, and three courses in an approved minor area of study.
Typically, students will take their comprehensive exams at the end of their second summer in residence after their core curriculum requirements have been met. Upon successful completion of comprehensive exams students will be expected to defend a dissertation proposal in the following academic year, and then successfully defend the completed dissertation within 1-2 years of the proposal defense.
In addition to the feedback received in coursework, students will be evaluated each year by the faculty to ensure satisfactory progress toward the degree.
Support
Students accepted into the Ph.D. program in Management will receive a stipend, tuition remission, and basic health insurance offered by the University of Nebraska’s student health insurance plan. Students can also expect some support for travel to professional meetings where they are presenting papers based on their research.
Student Life
Ph.D. students are expected to be active partners in the academic community. They will have an opportunity to work with different faculty, teach for at least two semesters, develop independent research projects, and participate in various brownbag sessions, current topics seminars, and doctoral development sessions.
Marketing
View the Masters Degree program information in Marketing.
View the PhD program information in Marketing.
Interim Department Chair: A. Dwayne Ball, Ph.D.
Graduate Committee Chair: James Gentry, DBA
