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Graduate Course Catalog 2011-2013

General Information:	Get General Information	Year 2011-2013 (Current) 2009-2011 2007-2009
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Colleges:	AllCollege of Arts and SciencesCollege of Arts and Sciences and College of BusinessCollege of BusinessCollege of EducationCollege of Nursing and Health Professions
Courses:	All Accelerated Aviation and Transportation Criminal/Social Justice Education Finance Information Security Management MBA Nursing Psychology Public Safety Studies

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION/MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Total Credit Hours: 36-54

OBJECTIVES

The Lewis University Graduate School of Management offers an advanced program committed to traditional standards of quality and innovative methodology. The Lewis approach to executive management education is characterized by:

• A curriculum which offers both theory and practical application.

• Faculty members who bring formal study, research, and executive experience to the classroom.

• A program which allows students to proceed at their own scheduling pace,

  keeping their professional and family requirements in proper balance.

The MBA program is designed for men and women who have the potential and motivation to excel in their individual careers and who have the background and analytical skills necessary for executive decision making. The Lewis program offers a comprehensive education in business administration as well as the opportunity to develop competencies in a specialized functional area of interest.

Specifically the program is designed to:

• Provide students with an understanding of the social, economic and political realities which impact the business environment.

• Establish conceptual and innovative abilities in the recognition and resolution of organizational problems.

• Strengthen analytical skills in areas of accounting, finance, economics, marketing, information systems, and management.

• Enhance interpersonal and communication skills for more effective relationships with staff, teams, peers, and customers.

• Strengthen self confidence in problem analysis and decisiveness; and further interest in lifelong learning and formal education.

• Increase long-term potential through the development of management knowledge and skills.

Lewis MBA students bring to the program rich backgrounds of undergraduate education, professional experience, multiculturalism and global perspectives. This richness of diversity lends itself to dynamic classroom discussion.

Students come from 60 public universities and private colleges. The majority of MBA students currently hold managerial, administrative, technical and professional positions in the Chicago metropolitan area. Many of our graduate students come from Fortune 500 companies, as well as various governmental and non-profit agencies.

The one common element of Lewis MBA students is their motivation toward outstanding achievement in the classroom and in their personal and professional lives.

MBA STUDENT PROFILE

Average Age: 33

Males: 49%

Females: 51%

ADMISSION

The MBA program seeks candidates who demonstrate evidence of strong leadership potential and are prepared to compete successfully in a rigorous course of study. Students may begin their MBA studies in any academic term. No undergraduate major is deemed preferable to another.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early enough prior to their intended start date in order to get the application materials completed and get the best selection of courses to choose from. The application process is done on a rolling basis, and the entire process from application submission to admissions decision can be completed in a timely manner.

APPLICATION

Three categories of students attend Lewis University MBA classes: students-at-large/ conditional, degree candidates, and visiting students.

Only degree candidates have been completely admitted to the MBA Program.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

MBA candidates must successfully complete between a minimum of 36 up to a maximum of 54 graduate credit hours, dependent upon their undergraduate preparation.

Once admitted to the Lewis MBA program, students must complete all course requirements through Lewis University, unless receiving specific written permission from the MBA Academic Program Director.

FULL ADMISSION STATUS

Degree candidates must:

1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

2. Complete an application for graduate admission, including a non-refundable application fee. Apply online by visiting www.lewisu.edu/gradapplication

3. Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended.

4. Have an undergraduate GPA greater than 2.75.

5. Submit a professional resumé.

6. Provide two recommendation forms, available from the Graduate School of Management online at www.lewisu.edu/gsm or by phone at (815) 836-5348.

7. Complete an admission interview.

DEGREE-SEEKING CANDIDATE

A Degree-Seeking Candidate is a student who has an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above; OR has a post-graduate degree from an accredited university; AND has submitted all appropriate admission documents, and has received official documentation of acceptance.

STUDENT-AT-LARGE/CONDITIONAL

A student whose cumulative undergraduate GPA is less than 2.75 will be required to take three specified foundation level MBA courses and obtain a cumulative GPA of 3.3 after the completion of these courses. Students must meet this requirement on their first attempt. No further courses will be allowed if the GPA requirement is not met.

If a student has already taken a required foundation course as an undergraduate, and earned a grade of B or higher, they will choose from the following courses to complete the Conditional Admission requirement: 59-550 Managerial Accounting; 59-554 Managerial Economics; and 59-572 Managerial Finance.

VISITING STUDENT

An applicant with an undergraduate bachelor’s degree may enroll in MBA courses and seminars as a visiting student with the approval of the MBA program director.

A visiting student may take a maximum of six graduate credit hours and must have:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

2. Submitted a completed application form with the appropriate non-refundable application fee. Apply online by visiting www.lewisu.edu/gradapplication

3. An official transcript from each college/ university attended sent directly to the MBA Admissions Committee of the Graduate School of Management.

4. An admission interview with the Graduate School of Management.

5. An undergraduate GPA greater than 2.75.

STUDENT EDUCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

International applicants must satisfy specific requirements before the application will be considered, and before an I-20 will be issued. The requirements include:

1. A four-year bachelor’s degree (U.S. bachelor's equivalent) if a bachelor’s degree was obtained outside the U.S., and official transcript evaluation by W.E.S. or E.C.E.

2. Official transcripts sent to the MBA Admission Director. Transcripts must be received before a candidate will be considered for admission. Transcripts must be accompanied with an official course-by-course evaluation by WEST, ECE, or Educational Perspectives.

3. A minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL (213 on computer-based; 79 on Internet-based), or IELTS score of 6.0.

4. Students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 2.75 must fulfill the admission criteria required for full degree candidacy (see Student-at-Large/Conditional on the previous page). Students who are educated outside of the U.S. who have obtained U.S. citizenship or resident alien status are not required to fulfill full degree candidacy prior to beginning the program, but may be required to show English proficiency.

5. Submission of all financial documentation and requirements of issuance of I-20.

DUAL GRADUATE DEGREES

MSIS/MBA

Students who are interested in obtaining an MBA as well as an MSIS may pursue a dual master's program in business administration and information security in less time than would be required to complete two degrees separately. Candidates in this program complete 62-80 credit hours, dependent on their undergraduate preparation.

All policies for Application and Admission for the dual MSIS/MBA program are the same as those for the MBA program.

MSN/MBA

Registered nurses interested in obtaining an MBA as well as an MSN may pursue a dual degree in business administration and nursing. Degree requirements for this program vary significantly from the information provided in this catalog for the individual degrees. Contact either the MBA Program Director or the Director of the Department of Graduate Studies in Nursing for information and program requirements.


I. Foundation Courses (21)

All Lewis MBA students must satisfy Phase I course requirements. These seven required courses provide the background and essential preparation for advanced study.

Students with undergraduate degrees in business may be eligible for a waiver of some or all of the Foundation courses. The student must have earned a grade of B- or better to be eligible for a waiver. Transfer credit must have been earned prior to matriculation. (Accounting, economics, and quantitative methods require two undergraduate semesters for waiver eligibility.) Students may also petition for Proficiency Exams for Foundation courses if they believe they have a strong background in the subject matter. Proficiency exams must be completed in the student's first semester of study.
59-501 Financial Accounting (3)
59-502 Business Economics (3)
59-504 Quantitative Methods for Business (3)
59-506 Current Topics in Information Technology (3)
59-508 Contemporary Management Practice (3)
59-510 Survey of Marketing (3)
59-512 Financing the Business Enterprise (3)

II. Core Courses (24)

Eight managerial courses comprise the core of the MBA curriculum. Up to three courses(9 credit hours) grade B or higher, may be transferred in from another college/university if the graduate course is equivalent to a Lewis MBA course.
59-550 Managerial Accounting (3)
59-554 Managerial Economics (3)
59-568 Marketing Management (3)
59-572 Managerial Finance (3)
59-601 Legal, Social and Ethical Foundations for Business (3)
59-611 Managerial Communication (3)
59-615 International Business and the Global Environment (3)
59-620 Strategic Management in the Global Environment (3)
(Capstone)

III. Concentration (9)

MBA candidates may select an area of Concentration. Students take three courses in their preferred area of concentration.

Accountancy
59-640 Accounting Ethics (3)
(Required)
59-642 International Accountancy (3)
59-643 Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (3)
59-644 Advanced Tax Topics (3)

Finance
59-579 Investment Analysis (3)
59-584 Derivatives I (3)
59-585 Financial Management Strategies (3)
59-586 International Finance (3)
59-599 Derivatives II (3)
59-600 Portfolio Management (3)
59-602 Fixed Income Analysis (3)
59-603 Financial Statement Analysis (3)
59-604 Quantitative Techniques for Financial Markets (3)

Healthcare Management
59-650 Healthcare Management Operations and Accounting (3)
59-660 Healthcare Marketing (3)
59-670 Healthcare Finance and Economics (3)

Human Resources Management
59-558 Human Resources Management (3)
59-588 Employment Law (3)
59-630 Organizational Behavior and Development (3)

Information Security
59-505 Introduction to Information Security (3)
59-551 Information Security Strategies and Risk Management (3)
59-552 IT Governance and Compliance (3)
59-555 Security Assurance Principles (3)
68-566 Ethical Hacking (3)

Information Technology Management
59-552 IT Governance and Compliance (3)
59-557 Project Management (3)
59-594 Database Management (3)
59-596 Networks and Data Communications (3)

International Business
59-545 International Economics (3)
59-580 International Marketing (3)
59-586 International Finance (3)
59-642 International Accountancy (3)

Marketing
59-580 International Marketing (3)
59-582 Social Media Marketing (3)
59-589 Analysis of Promotion (3)
59-590 Marketing Research (3)
59-591 The Strategies of E-Business and E-Marketing (3)
59-560 Principles of Six Sigma (3)

Operations Management
59-562 Operations Management (3)
59-564 Coordinating and Managing Supply Chains (3)

Project Management
59-557 Project Management (3)
59-559 Advanced Project Management (3)
59-560 Principles of Six Sigma (3)
59-561 Strategic Outsourcing (3)

Custom Elective Option

Students who do not wish to select a concentration in a particular subject area will be permitted to “customize” a unique concentration (9-12 credit hours) to better reflect their professional and educational interests by selecting courses from any of the concentration courses offered in the program. Students’ customized concentration must be approved by the Director of Administration.

IV. Elective (3)

Students may choose any MBA concentration course offered or may take three, one-credit hour graduate seminars.

Seminars are offered each semester. Each seminar meets Friday evening from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., and the following Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Students are required to complete all pre-assigned readings, attend the entire seminar, and submit a graduate-level paper/project within two weeks. Seminars are graded on a pass/fail basis.