Saint Joseph’s MBA Curriculum
Taking into account the rapid speed of change that characterizes the twenty-first century, the faculty of Saint Joseph’s University in consultation with its corporate stakeholders have developed courses with both on-campus and online models with opportunities for creative thinking, application of technology and new and different ways to approach the future.
Characteristics of the Professional MBA curriculum include:
- Focus on corporate social responsibility, ethics, infusion of cross-functional topics, and flexibility.
- Cutting edge, current, and relevant
- Leadership development
- Focus on developing excellent oral, written, and team communication skills
Curriculum
The M.B.A. curriculum consists of 53 credits which are distributed as follows:
Foundation courses |
20 credits |
Gateway courses |
6 credits |
Core courses |
15 credits |
Concentrations |
9 credits |
Cross-functional capstone |
3 credits |
The Foundation Courses cover the common body of knowledge required of all students studying for an advanced degree in business.
The Gateway Courses provide a basis for subsequent courses and includes 3 credits of ethics.
The Core Courses provide additional breadth and coverage of the common body of knowledge.
The Concentration Courses allow the development of expertise in a specific area of interest within our MBA Program. Students also have the opportunity to study toward a second concentration with the addition of 9 extra credits.
The Cross-Functional Capstone Course is the capstone of the MBA curriculum and draws together the theory and administrative practices studied in the various fields of business.
Foundation Courses
The foundation courses are designed to ensure that all students in the program have that common body of knowledge necessary for advanced study in business. The following foundation core courses are required (each is 3 credits):
Accounting Concepts |
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Contemporary Information Technologies |
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Managerial Economics |
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Financial Management |
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Managing Work Organizations |
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Marketing Concepts |
Those students who do not have a proficiency in Mathematics will be required to successfully complete DSS 500, a one credit math workshop.
All students will be required to register for DSS 510, a one credit Statistics Proficiency refresher course. One of the first assignments in this course will be taking the ALEKS placement exam to measure their proficiency in statistics before the end of the first semester. Students who pass the placement exam with 80% proficiency within the allotted exam period will be waived from the DSS 510 foundation course requirement and dropped from the course without monetary penalty.
- The Admissions Committee will evaluate the undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts of every applicant in order to determine which, if any, foundation requirements have been satisfied. Waivers are determined by a combination of the courses previously taken, the grades received, and the date of these previous courses.
- Students who have taken six credits of Business Math or three credits of Calculus and have scored sufficiently in the quantitative section of the GMAT/GRE will receive a waiver for DSS 500, Math for Graduate Business Studies.
- Students who receive a grade of 80% or higher in the ALEKS Placement exam will receive a waiver for DSS 510, Statistics Proficiency.Core Courses
Graduate Business students who have acquired competency through work experience or in-house training may receive a waiver of a Foundation Course by passing a challenge examination for the applicable course. (Please note there is no challenge exam for ACC 500 or DSS 525. Students may waive DSS 510 upon passing the ALEKS proficiency test with a score of 80% or higher.) Challenge examinations must be taken within six months after a student begins classes. The challenge examination may be taken only once for each waiver. Waivers are not granted for any Gateway, Core, Elective or Capstone courses. A fee is required for each challenge exam taken. Arrangements for challenge exams should be made with the Graduate Business office.
Gateway Courses
The MBA Gateway Course and the Ethics course are the first two required core courses of the Haub School of Business’ Professional MBA Curriculum and provide a basis from subsequent courses.
xxx545 |
Gateway Course (topics will vary semester to semester) |
MGT 552 |
Stakeholder Theory and Social Responsibility |
MGT 554 |
Ethical Practices in Business* |
*(This course is available as an option only for students enrolled in the Online Professional MBA Program and will satisfy the Ethics requirement. Online students count either MGT 552 or MGT 554 toward their degree, but not both.)
Core Courses
The Core Courses are designed to provide students with that common body of advanced knowledge which provides the base for study in the concentration areas and also to give the necessary background for future management positions. Students who have a significant background in the area of a particular advanced core course may substitute it with a course in that concentration. Arrangements for this substitution should be made at the Graduate Business office. The core courses are as follows:
Creating and Measuring Shareholder Value |
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DSS 560 |
Business Analytics for MBA |
Business Analytics for BI* |
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Shareholder Value Management |
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Empowering Human Potential at Work |
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MGT 553 |
Excellence in Organizations** |
MKT 550 |
Marketing Strategy |
*This course is available only for students pursuing a Business Intelligence concentration and will be required in place of DSS 560.
**This course is available as an option only for students enrolled in the Online Professional MBA Program and will satisfy the Management Core requirement. Online students count either MGT 551 or MGT 553 toward their degree, but not both.
Concentration Courses
The various concentrations within the MBA Curriculum allow students to choose an area of interest and gain a deeper knowledge of that subject. Students select three courses from those offered in the concentration chosen.
Students may choose from the following concentrations: Accounting, Business Intelligence, Finance, Health and Medical Services, International Business, International Marketing, Managing Human Capital, and Marketing. In addition, a General MBA is offered for those students who desire a broader background. These students choose three elective courses from three different areas of concentration.
Students who would like to receive two concentrations can do so by taking another 9 credits in a second area of expertise.
The concentration areas which are currently offered are more fully described below:
Accounting
This area is designed for business managers who hold positions requiring the use of accounting information. It will provide students with in-depth study in financial accounting as well as the implication of tax policy in making business decisions. The courses stress a user-based understanding of accounting.
Tax Planning for Management Decision-Making |
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Financial Statement Analysis |
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Topics in Accounting |
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International Accounting Study Tour |
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Research in Accounting |
Business Intelligence
Information Systems are the driving force in shaping and delivering products and services. Today, firms seek individuals who are competent with technology and also possess strong analytical skills for business decision-making. This concentration is designed for students who want to understand current information technologies and their effect on corporate decision-making and strategic planning. (Please note that students studying toward a concentration in Business Intelligence must take DSS 610 in place of DSS 560.)
Enterprise Data |
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Business Process Modeling and Analysis |
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Introduction to Data Mining |
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Critical Performance Management |
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Predictive Analytics |
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Six Sigma Applications & Foundations I |
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Six Sigma Applications & Foundations II |
Finance
The finance concentration develops the financial and analytical skills necessary to fulfill the role of a financial manager or administrator in a corporate and/or financial market setting.
Financial Institutions and Capital Markets |
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FIN 601 |
Personal Financial Planning |
Portfolio Management |
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FIN 604 |
Personal Insurance Planning |
Pension and Benefits Administration |
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Estate Planning |
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Risk Management |
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Advanced Financial Management |
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International Finance |
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Security Analysis |
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Mergers and Acquisitions |
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Derivative Markets |
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Finance Study Tour |
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Topics in Finance |
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Research in Finance |
General M.B A.
The General M.B.A. area is designed for students seeking the broadest type of business education. Students choosing this area may select any three 600+ or above level courses, provided that they have fulfilled course prerequisites.
Health and Medical Services Administration
The health and medical services administration area is designed to prepare students and/or medical practitioners for management positions in both profit and not-for-profit health enterprises.
FIN 614 |
Accounting, Finance and Economics for Health Care |
Health Care Marketing |
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PMK 660 |
Coding, Coverage, and Reimbursement |
Managing Human Capital
This area is designed for students who want to develop as managers to lead human capital-centric/high-involvement organizations. In addition to simply attracting, developing, and retaining the best talent, creating a human-capital centric organization involves organizing and managing people so that they perform in ways that lead to excellent organizational performance.
Pension and Benefits Administration |
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MHC 560 |
Introduction to Strategic Human Resource Management |
MHC 561 |
Human Resource Research/Survey Methods |
Employment and Labor Law |
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MHC 563 |
Human Resource Technology |
MHC 565 |
Leading Change in Organizations |
MGT 650 |
Business Law for Managers |
MHC 651 |
Career Management in Organizations |
MHC 653 |
Leadership in the Modern Organization |
MHC 654 |
Managing Teams |
MHC 655 |
Managing Workforce Diversity |
MHC 656 |
Influence, Negotiation, & Conflict Skills |
MHC 662 |
Rewards Administration |
MHC 663 |
Talent Selection and Retention |
MHC 667 |
Human Resources Fundamentals |
MHC 770 |
Study Tour |
MHC 771 |
Topics in Managing Human Capital |
MHC 791 |
Internship I |
MHC 792 |
Internship II |
MHC 793 |
Practicum in Managing Human Capital |
MHC 794 |
Research in Managing Human Capital |
International Business
This area provides a combination of a broad-based business education with a strong global perspective, all of which build upon the core breadth requirement. It is designed for individuals holding or desiring management positions in firms with a global focus.
International Accounting Study Tour |
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International Finance |
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Finance Study Tour |
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MGT 661 |
International Management |
International Business Study Tour |
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International Marketing |
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Marketing Study Tour |
International Marketing
This area is designed for business managers who wish to expand their understanding and skill levels in the international marketing functions of their organizations
Global Marketing Concepts |
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Global Cultures and Consumers |
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International Channel Management |
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International Marketing Research |
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Emerging Markets |
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Global Marketing Communications |
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International Product Development and Brand Management |
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International Marketing Study Tour |
Marketing
This area is designed for business managers who wish to expand their understanding and skill levels in the marketing functions of their organizations, specifically international marketing, promotions and strategic marketing management.
Promotional Strategy |
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Strategic Marketing Management |
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International Marketing |
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Research in Marketing |
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Consumer Behavior |
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Business of Sports |
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Marketing and Social Media |
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Global Marketing Concepts |
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Global Cultures and Consumers |
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International Channel Management |
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International Marketing Research |
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Emerging Markets |
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Global Marketing Communications |
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International Product Development and Brand Management |
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Marketing Study Tour |
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International Marketing Study Tour |
Cross-Functional Capstone
The integrative course is designed to permit students, at the end of the course of study, to integrate the knowledge from their previous courses. All students are required to culminate their studies by taking the following course:
MGT 795 |
Global Business Strategy |
Strategic Management in Health Care (Required in place of MGT 795 for students concentrating in Health and Medical Services Administration) |
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MGT 789 |
Global Business Strategy Simulation (This course is available as an option only for students enrolled in the Online Professional MBA Program and will satisfy the Capstone requirement. Online students count either MGT 795, MGT 796, or MGT 789 toward their degree, but not more than one.) |
Post-M.B.A. Certificate
Students who have received an MBA degree can earn a Post-MBA certificate in an additional concentration by successfully completing four courses in one of the following areas: Business Intelligence, Finance, Financial Analysis and Reporting, Health and Medical Services, International Business, International Marketing, Managing Human Capital, or Marketing.
Order of Taking Courses
Students should take their Foundation Courses at the beginning of their MBA studies. An MBA Gateway Course and the Ethics Course (MGT 552 or MGT 554) are the first two required courses of the Haub School of Business MBA curriculum and provide a basis for subsequent courses. (No more than three Gateway or Core Courses may be taken before the foundation core requirements have been completed.) Students have six years to complete their MBA degrees, beginning when they take their first 545 or above level course. Students who have decided on their concentration area are advised to take the Core Course related to their concentration so that they are eligible to begin taking their electives. An elective is any 560 or above level course that is open to Professional MBA students and not already part of the required MBA curriculum. Concentration courses are offered on a cyclical basis. The integrative Capstone Course is normally taken as the last course; or, in some cases, as the next to last course.
Registration/Selection of Courses
MBA students get the schedule from the web and register online. Students are encouraged to consult with the Graduate Business Office if they have questions regarding course selection before registration.
Students are reminded that they are responsible for successfully completing the courses necessary for graduation, including all Foundation Courses stipulated by the Admissions Committee in their admission letter. Taking an upper level course out of sequence and obtaining a satisfactory grade will not eliminate the need to fulfill Foundation Requirements. Students who register for a course without having taken the proper prerequisite course will be dropped from the course and withdrawal penalties will be applied, including but not limited to the denial of a full tuition refund.
Registering for Online Courses
MBA students who have applied and been accepted to the Online Professional MBA Program will be able to register for any available online courses that are part of the program at the start of each registration period. Remaining spaces in online courses will be made available to non-online MBA students on a space available basis later in the registration process. Some online courses, such as MGT 553, MGT 554, and MGT 789, will not be made available to non-online students.
On-Campus students who have moved out of the area and no longer have access to campus should contact the Graduate Business Office for information on how to officially transfer into the Online Professional MBA Program.
Online students do have the option of registering for on-campus courses at the start of the registration period.
Academic Advising
Students who would like to discuss their course of study and/or who have questions on prerequisite courses or degree requirements should call the MBA office for an appointment. The Associate Director and/or an Academic Advisor are available most Mondays through Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The telephone number is (610) 660-1690 or 1-888-SJU-MBA-1. Students are also encouraged to send their questions by email to sjumba@sju.edu.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants for admission must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. The applicant must submit the following:
- A completed application form (available online at www.sju.edu/mba), accompanied by a non-refundable application fee;
- Official transcripts indicating receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
International applicants are no longer required to submit a credentials evaluation since Admissions staff can perform transcript evaluations. However, applicants already possessing a course-by-course evaluation of their transcripts are encouraged to submit this in place of original transcripts. For those who do not possess a course-by-course evaluation, an official record of all college and university academic studies and results of state and/or national examinations taken are required. Student must also submit a photocopy of their undergraduate diploma. Academic records must be in English and include the name of each individual course, the grade earned, and the grading scale used. Documents not available in English must include an official or notarized English translation. The Graduate Operations Office performs all international credential evaluations. Foreign documents, credentials and transcripts must be official (sealed and sent directly from the institution). Only originals or photocopies officially stamped and attested by a school official (Registrar, Principal, or Controller of Examinations) are accepted. Faxes, scanned, or notarized copies or copies attested by a department head cannot be accepted as official. All credentials submitted to Saint Joseph’s University become property of the University and cannot be returned or copied for release to students.
- Official GMAT or GRE test scores; information is available for the GMAT at www.mba.com and for the GRE at www.ets.org/gre. Scores for the GMAT/GRE exam are valid if the exam has been taken within five years of the student’s application. Official copies are those sent to Saint Joseph’s directly from GMAT or GRE. Saint Joseph’s GMAT institution code is WL8-WS-63 and our GRE code is 2801;
- Two letters of recommendation, one from an employer and one from a former professor; if no prior employment, both letters may be from former professors, or if out of school for more than two years, both may be from the employer.
- Personal statement.
- Business resumé.
Foreign applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Students already in the Philadelphia area who do not have a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score may be admitted following satisfactory performance on the English test administered at the ELS Center on the Saint Joseph’s University campus. Minimum required language scores are as follows:
- Paper-based TOEFL: 550
- Internet-based TOEFL: 80
- IELTS: 6.5 overall score
- PTE: 60
Qualified students who complete Level 112 at the ELS Language Center and receive a strong, positive letter of recommendation from the Center can begin their MBA studies without the official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score. Foreign applicants seeking an F-1 student visa must also supply a statement of financial support.