Idaho State University offers a program leading to the degree of Master of Business Administration, open both to holders of business and non-business bachelor's degrees. The MBA program at ISU is accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Admission
Admission to the program, candidacy, and maintenance of good standing, will be in accord with the requirements of the Graduate School of Idaho State University and additional College of Business requirements.
Admission to the MBA program is granted only to students showing high promise of success in postgraduate business study. The College of Business uses various measures of high promise including:
a. Previous Schooling-Candidate's overall or upper-division grade point average prior to master's admission, or any other relevant measure of scholastic performance
b. Experience-A record of appropriate employment at increasing levels of responsibility
The minimum requirements that must be met to be considered for admission is defined by the following:
The sum of 200 times the grade point average earned in upper-division and post-baccalaureate course work (4.0 system) plus the total score on the Graduate Management Admission Test must equal at least 1000 points.
Meeting these minimum requirements does not assure admission, however, as many factors are weighed in such a decision. Included among these factors is the student's performance in any "Common Body of Knowledge" courses taken prior to admission.
Please note that no admission decision can be made until the College of Business has received the applicant's transcripts and GMAT score.
MBA Program Prerequisites
Math Skills
The minimum level of mathematics proficiency required for the MBA program is a basic course in statistics and one other advanced math course (a math course that would have college algebra as a prerequisite). If students have not completed this work, they may do so in their first term in the program.
Computer Skills
Computer literacy is an essential skill for a business student both for success in the MBA program and success in a professional business career. The minimum skills required for the MBA program are the ability to use a wordprocessor, a spreadsheet, DOS, and Windows.
Communications Skills
Communication skills are the most fundamental skill for a student and manager. It is expected that students entering the program have a high degree of proficiency in are so fundamental, the College of Business will specifically evaluate each student's skills during the first six to twelve credit hours of courses in the program. Additional work to correct deficiencies in this area will be required for students not demonstrating a satisfactory level of competence.
MBA I (21 hours)
MBA I courses are offered on a rotating basis between Pocatello and Idaho Falls. Students should be aware that it may be necessary to commute from one location to another. All MBA I courses are available at least once a year.
MBA 610 Applied Economics
MBA 611 Financial Reporting and
Managerial Accounting
MBA 612 Human Behavior in Organizations
MBA 613 Marketing
MBA 614 Information Systems
MBA 615 Finance
MBA 616 Manufacturing Competitiveness
& Industrial Analysis
Waiver of MBA I Requirements
No MBA I 600 level classes have prerequisites. However, most courses assume some basic knowledge of the functions and language of business. Normally, this might be gained through class work or through experience in a business organization. People lacking this background are encouraged to take the Survey of Accounting, Survey of Economics, and Statistics courses early in their program.
MBA I requirements will be waived for students who have a business degree within the last two years from Idaho State University. Students from other AACSB accredited institutions who have a degree within the last two years will have courses waived where equivalency of content with the ISU MBA core can be established. Students not meeting this requirement who feel that they have knowledge equivalent to that covered in a particular course are expected to use the challenge process.
MBA II (30 hours)
Core component (18 hours)
Students must have satisfied all MBA I requirements in order to enroll for any of the MBA II core component courses listed below.
MBA 621 The Decision Making Environment
MBA 622 Managerial Decision Analysis I
MBA 623 Managerial Decision Analysis II
MBA 624 Management of Quality and
Technology
MBA 625 Managerial Information and Control
Systems
MBA 626 Business Policy/Strategy in a
Global Environment
Electives
Students must complete a minimum of twelve credit hours of graduate work as electives. At least six credit hours must be in courses reserved for graduate students only (600 level courses). Electives must be approved as part of the student's program of study by the MBA Director. The electives may include MBA 650 Thesis (6 credit hours) or MBA 639 MBA Paper (3 credits hours). Students with the appropriate accounting prerequisites wishing an emphasis in accounting should take the following courses:
ACCT 631 Accounting Theory ACCT 632 Advanced Auditing ACCT 633 Legal Environment of Accounting ACCT 634 Seminar in Accounting
Program of Study
All MBA students are required to meet with the MBA Director or the Idaho Falls MBA advisor prior to or during their initial term in the program in order to develop a program of study. This program of study must be approved by the College of Business and the Graduate School of Idaho State University. Students will be blocked from registering their next term until this program of study is approved.
Examination Requirements
The MBA program requires the satisfactory completion of an oral examination in the final term of the student's program.
Academic Requirements
Any student who, after admission to the College of Business graduate program, falls below a 3.0 GPA in MBA II coursework or receives two C grades or a grade of D or F in MBA II coursework is deemed to be doing unsatisfactory work and is subject to review by the College of Business MBA Committee and to dismissal from the program. Any student who falls below a 2.75 GPA in MBA I coursework is deemed to be doing unsatisfactory work and is subject to review by the College of Business MBA Committee and to dismissal from the program. Students dismissed from the MBA program for academic reasons may re-apply for admission to the MBA program no earlier than four months following their dismissal. However, such requests for re-admission are not encouraged by the College of Business unless students requesting re-admission can demonstrate their ability to perform satisfactorily in the MBA program.
Courses in which a grade of D or F has been earned will not be counted toward fulfillment of MBA I or MBA II program requirements.