Degree Requirements

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). Students in the full-time 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: Acct 202 requires Acct 201; Fin 322 requires Acct 201, 202, and Econ 111;  IS 270 requires CS 172 (Computer Modeling) or a foundational knowledge in spreadsheets, word processing and database programs as well as Math 241; IS 341 requires IS 270.

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 graduation from 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.

Continuous and Terminal Registration

The University of Montana requires that all graduate students register for at least one credit in every academic term (including summer if it is the last semester) once they are admitted to Graduate School until completion of a degree program. This policy will change to a minimum of three credits beginning with the fall 2008 semester. Graduate students who are not registered will be dropped from their programs. See policy B3.000 on the graduate school's website for an explanation of the continuously registered requirement. The only exception is for students who are granted a leave of absence.

Students who fail to formally request a leave-of-absence and who do not take the required minimum credits in every academic term must be aware of this continuous registration requirement. They will be charged tuition for as many credits as required to “bridge” the period of inactive status during which time a formal leave was not sought. If students drop out for a second time, they must reapply for admission to the full-time program.

Readmitted students who took unauthorized leave may, on the recommendation of the Graduate School based on discussions with the MBA Program Director, be required to register for two (change to four beginning fall semester 2008) terminal credits for not meeting the continuous registration requirements.

Leave of Absence

Students may take a leave-of-absence only once during their period of enrollment for a specified length of time by completing a Leave of Absence Form approved by the Graduate School. They may re-enroll at the end of their leave period to complete all remaining degree requirements.

A leave of absence must be requested before the term the request is for and is only granted because of an emergency. Leaves of absence will not be approved for the purpose of working on jobs, research, thesis or to establish residency.  See the Graduate School's leave of absence policy.

Graduation Information

Students who want to receive their degrees for a particular term must submit their graduation application and $25 fee by the required deadline to the MBA Program Assistant. Application for Graduation (MSWord format)

All grade changes that are a part of a student's degree program must be made by the required deadline as well. Graduation application amendments due to dropping or adding of courses, grade changes, or graduation term change must be submitted to the MBA Program Assistant. Amendment to Application for Graduation (pdf format)
 

FALL DEADLINES

July 24
Deadline for filing Application for
Graduation form.

December 31
Final deadline for completion of all
requirements for graduation.

December 15
Last day of Fall Semester and
award date for Fall degrees.

SPRING DEADLINES

December 8
Deadline for filing Application for
Graduation form.

May 31
Final deadline for completion of all
requirements for graduation.

May 12
Last day of Spring Semester and
award date for Spring degrees.

SUMMER DEADLINES

March 8
Deadline for filing Application for
Graduation form.

August 31
Final deadline for completion of all
requirements for graduation.

July 27
Last day of Summer Semester and
award date for Summer degrees.

The Graduate School also recommends that approximately 6 weeks after the degree award date students review their final transcript to be sure that it is an accurate record of their academic history. Students can print their own unofficial transcript using Cyberbear.

Diplomas are mailed approximately three to four months after the degree award date. If students need official documentation of their degree before the diploma arrives, official transcripts can usually be substituted. Official transcripts can be ordered through the Registrar's office at (406) 243-2995. There is a charge for official transcripts.