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The master of business administration (MBA) program is designed to provide professional business education to individuals who wish to pursue a variety of administrative careers in both the private and public sectors. The theme of the curriculum is intrapreneurship which can be defined as an “entrepreneurial attitude and approach to management and problem-solving within any organization, large or small.” Throughout the program, the focus is “what one needs to know to run a business” while developing the ability to analyze all types of business situations and propose appropriate, creative and financially sound solutions. The curriculum combines conceptual, analytical and experiential approaches to learning both in and out of the classroom. Once the foundation of basic problem solving tools and knowledge in each functional area is established, the program deepens the interdisciplinary understanding of problem-solving approaches and their functional, ethical, environmental and international ramifications. The program then culminates with a required capstone practicum. This practicum makes the K-State MBA unique in the area, by providing an interdisciplinary, team-based consulting-type of experience for all students in their last semester of study.

The MBA curriculum is a 52 credit hour program designed to be completed in two years of full-time study or four years of part-time, typically evening, study. Four components comprise the curriculum:

• Business core (24 credit hours)
• Advanced core (9 credit hours)
• Integration Core (7 credit hours)
• Set of Electives (12 credit hours)

The student may choose to pursue a prespecified, focused Concentration in lieu of the Set of Electives. Students pursuing a masters degree in another field may choose to use 9 credit hours from their other Masters as the Set of Electives in the MBA. Thus, a dual Masters/MBA can be obtained with an additional 43 credit hours. The Integrated Core will be composed of a three credit hour theory component with a four credit hour practicum component. The full time program of study can be completed in 22 months.

Before beginning the MBA coursework, students must acquire basic competency in mathematical analysis, personal computing and economic theory and analysis. These competencies may be acquired through specific undergraduate course work with the number of courses required depending on the applicant’s prior academic work. This basic competency coursework may be taken after admission to the MBA program during the student’s first semester.

Once admitted, MBA students are responsible for making themselves aware of Graduate School policies and deadlines.

Areas of concentration

K-State’s MBA offers its students the opportunity to gain general business knowledge as well as develop a focus in a particular area of interest. Concentration areas are available in enterprise information systems, finance, management, and technology entrepreneurship. Specific courses have been carefully developed to complement one another and best meet the needs of our students. Students wishing to complete specific concentrations will be restricted to designated course work. MBA students may not take a concentration in accounting. Students interested in accounting should enroll in the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program.

Enterprise information systems

This area of concentration is to teach students how enterprise-wide information systems and key information technologies, such as the Internet, help organizations reinvent their business processes and gather information in support of related key strategic business initiative. Students will get an indepth look at an enterprise-wide information system while focusing on systems design, evaluation and control.

Finance

The finance concentration will allow students to combine the broad MBA education with specific skills necessary to be a successful financial analyst or manager. Students will specialize in controlling the resource investments required to support an enterprise’s operating activities, planning and negotiating appropriate financing arrangements to support these investment requirements, and managing the risks inherent in an enterprise’s investment and financing activities.

Management

A concentration in management will allow a student to develop their knowledge in human resource management and/or operations management. Courses are offered in a variety of areas of management such as leadership, entrepreneurship, supply chain management, personnel law, etc.

Technology entrepreneurship

The technology entrepreneurship concentration allows graduate students to gain valuable exposure to the innovation and technology commercialization process at Kansas State University through in-class teaching and on-the-job training programs. Students in the concentration focus on the creation and management of innovation in organizations with a particular emphasis on the commercialization of intellectual property. Students with undergraduate degrees in the sciences and engineering are especially encouraged to consider this concentration as part of their programs.