Curriculum

As American industries moved into the 21st Century, the challenge of successfully managing a business became more intricate. Most industries emerged as global, and many industries were destabilized by waves of new technology. Innovation in curriculum design and delivery is required by Business Schools to meet these challenges and to fulfill the educational needs of future managers. At UM, we believe that we are on the leading edge of such innovation.

The MBA degree at The University of Montana is a 32-hour professional degree program. Students can enroll in 600-level courses following completion of the 500-level foundation program (offered via the Internet). For students with baccalaureate degrees in Business Administration, or undergraduate courses in the functional areas of business (e.g., accounting, finance, etc.), the MBA Director may waive part of the foundation program when the student applies for admission to the University. Each student should be advised by the MBA Director or the MBA Program Assistant as to the necessary foundation courses for that student.

Graduate-level Internet Business Foundation Courses
Open to graduate-level students only.

As an alternative to taking 500-level graduate foundation courses on the Internet, students can complete undergraduate courses in the functional areas of business (see list below) or take a combination of both the graduate- and undergraduate-level courses. Students in the daytime MBA program in Missoula will do this if they come into the program needing only some of the necessary courses. Foundation courses normally must be completed at either the graduate or the undergraduate level before students enroll in any of the required 600-level professional program courses.

Undergraduate-level Business Foundation Courses
Open to both graduate-level and post baccalaureate students.

* Requires prerequisites: Actg 202 requires Actg 201; Fin 322 requires Actg 201, 202, and Ecns 201;  MIS 270 requires CS 172 (Computer Modeling) or a foundational knowledge in spreadsheets, word processing and database programs; MIS 341 requires Stat 216.

After completing our foundation program, students are introduced to the professional program at UM. Our philosophy is straightforward: cut back on required, functional area material; introduce cross-functional courses (i.e., interdisciplinary); and expand elective offerings to broaden the curriculum with choices of several course topics and professors. As an AACSB accredited program, we are replicating the best practices of some of the country’s larger and more distinguished MBA schools.

Professional Program

The curriculum for the professional program is set up in a “sequence” where several Spring Semester courses build on Fall Semester prerequisites. Students are allowed to start the program in either semester with those entering in the spring being directed into electives and sequence-independent courses for a 17-month program. Students starting in the fall can finish the program in 10 to 12 months by taking 16 credits per semester. However, many students choose to stretch the program out over 12 to 24 months while taking advantage of experiential opportunities within the school and/or the community.

Four integrative courses, six functional-area courses, and one orientation seminar make up the required courses in the professional program. See the Course Sequence Map for a visual representation of all required courses.

The 13 remaining credits in the professional program are electives. Four of these credits are restricted choice credits with a 2-credit minimum of concentration required in each of two “perspective areas” of study: interpersonal and technology. Each year, a variety of both one- and two- credit perspective courses are offered in order that students will have ample choice of electives in each area.

Orientation

Restricted Choice Electives

MBA 645 represents interpersonal perspective or soft-skill electives in our curriculum. Example topics include: managerial communications (both cross-functional and cross-cultural); leadership & motivation; negotiation; human resources; etc. Our objective is to teach some soft skills that employers value. Students are required to complete at least two credits of interpersonal perspective coursework as part of the 32-hour MBA.

MBA 655 represents technology perspective courses in the curriculum. Example topics include e-commerce & Internet marketing; business valuation; quality control systems; strategic management of technology & innovation; systems analysis & design; etc. Our objective is to expose students to contemporary issues and/or applications of technology used in business organizations. Students are required to complete at least two credits of technology perspective coursework as part of the 32-hour MBA.

Other Electives

The remaining nine credits of electives are unrestricted and may represent a combination of any number of courses available in the program (including possible transfer credits from another institution). All degree requirements (32 hours) must be completed within five years of the date of admission to the program. Students may petition to have one or two courses that are completed earlier than five years count toward graduation only by completing a test to demonstrate current competency in the subject area.

Transfer Credits

On occasion, students enter the MBA program having completed graduate work at other institutions. The policy on transfer credits at UM allows for a maximum of nine (9) credits to transfer from another graduate program upon recommendation of the MBA Program Director. These credits must be acceptable to the School of Business Administration as part of the MBA degree requirements.