The Degree of MBA (Business) [Graduate]

Entrance Requirements

Admission to a program of graduate studies in the Faculty of Business is based on the applicant’s undergraduate grades, three letters of reference, a statement of purpose explaining how the MBA relates to the applicant’s career goals, and the applicant’s Graduate Management Admission Test score. For candidates interested in this program, a minimum of two years’ work experience is also desirable. A resume outlining past work experience is required as part of the application materials.

Program Requirements

The MBA program is designed for students from various educational backgrounds; no specific undergraduate major is required for entrance. All MBA students are required to fulfil a total of ★60 (including thesis or course-based). Students who fail three or more courses will be required to withdraw from the MBA program.

Individuals who have completed a certificate program through the Alberta School of Business Executive Education may be eligible for a three credit reduction in the MBA program requirements. Individuals are required to have successfully completed all requirements of the certificate program. Only those Executive Education certificate programs with a minimum of 12 full days of instruction are eligible for the ★3 reduction and the completion of a maximum of one certificate program is eligible for credit reduction. The Senior and Executive Managers’ Development Program (SEMDP) is grandfathered from this policy. Individuals who complete SEMDP are eligible for up to a ★6 reduction in the MBA program requirements.

Phase one:

The first eight months of the MBA program provides a foundation of courses covering basic managerial skills. The program begins with a required business skills orientation prior to the start of Fall Term classes. Because the first-year full-time courses are cohort-based involving teamwork, exemptions are not normally permitted. Completion of all ★30 in the core courses requires one full academic year (September – April).

The second phase of the program provides students with the opportunity to pursue, in some depth, courses in fields of their choice.

Phase two:

The course-based option consists of ★30, which includes a capstone course.

The thesis-based option consists of ★15. SMO 641 is required along with ★12 in electives. The thesis is equivalent to ★12 and is undertaken with the supervision of an advisor and a committee.

Note:

Length of Program

The equivalent of two full-time academic years are normally required to complete the program; however, it may be possible to accelerate studies with the completion of courses during Spring/Summer. The course-based MBA may be taken on a part-time evening basis; however, the program must be completed within six consecutive years from initial registration in the program.

For the thesis-based MBA, the minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time attendance.