Joy Nolan

"I went back to school in order to make a career change. I found exactly what I needed at Plymouth State University. I'm getting my Master in Education Counseling/Human Relations with a post baccalaureate certificate in Organizational Communications. Having my M.Ed. with an MBA concentration will help to make me more marketable."

Curriculum & Program of study

Required Courses

Functional Core Courses
Eight functional courses form the core of the MBA program for a total of 24 credits. These courses cover a common body of knowledge required of all MBA students at Plymouth.

BU 5110 Managing Organizational Behavior - 3 credits
BU 5120 Financial Analysis and Decision Making - 3 credits
BU 5190 Accounting for Managers - 3 credits
BU 5210 Strategies for Cross-Functional Analysis - 3 credits
BU 5220 The Legal Environment of Business - 3 credits
BU 5510 Operations Management - 3 credits
BU 5700 Marketing Techniques - 3 credits
BU 5720 Seminar in Executive Management - 3 credits

Elective Areas
Students are required to complete six credits of electives. This requirement may be satisfied using traditional coursework, Small Business Institute® consultations, independent studies and/or Master’s Research Projects. Students wishing to satisfy elective credits by taking traditional coursework may select two electives from the following subject areas or certificate/concentration programs:

Accounting
BU 5550 Investment Management - 3 credits
BU 5580 Real Estate Entrepreneurship - 3 credits
BU 5590 Budgeting and Fund Accounting - 3 credits
BU 5600 Federal Taxes and Business Decisions - 3 credits
BU 5610 Contemporary Accounting and the Business Environment - 3 credits
BU 5620 Auditing Perspectives - 3 credits

Economics
BU/EC 5460 Graduate Money and Banking - 3 credits
EC 5610 Economic Issues in International Finance - 3 credits
EC 5615 Global Economics - 3 credits

General Management
BU 5160 Seminar in Managing Human Resources - 3 credits
BU 5225 Current Issues in Employment Law - 3 credits
BU 5230 Management of Organizational Changes - 3 credits
BU 5240 Seminar in Organizational Communication - 3 credits
BU 5500 Small Business Problems and Strategy: SBI I - 3 credits
BU 5501 Small Business Analysis: SBI II - 3 credits
BU 5550 Investment Management - 3 credits
BU 5580 Real Estate Entrepreneurship - 3 credits
BU 5810 Seminar in Corporate Public Relations - 3 credits
BU 5850 New Ventures and Entrepreneurship - 3 credits

Health Care Administration
BU 5400 Survey of Issues in Health Care Administration - 3 credits
BU 5410 Human Resources in Health Care Administration - 3 credits
BU 5420 Health Care Laws and Ethics - 3 credits
BU 5430 Health Care Administration and Financial Management - 3 credits
BU 5490 Capstone: Health Care Topics - 3 credits

Human Resources
BU 5115 Creating Organizational Health - 3 credits
BU 5165 Training and Development - 3 credits
BU 5160 Seminar in Human Resources - 3 credits
BU 5230 Management of Organizational Change - 3 credits

Marketing
BU 5240 Seminar in Organizational Communication - 3 credits
BU 5630 PT: E-commerce - 3 credits
BU 5630 PT: Strategic Communications - 3 credits
BU 5630 PT: Promoting the Corporate Image - 3 credits
BU 5680 Applications in Marketing Research - 3 credits
BU 5690 Behavioral Perspectives in Marketing - 3 credits
BU 5730 Contemporary Issues in Marketing - 3 credits
BU 5810 Seminar in Corporate Public Relations - 3 credits

Students accepted into the MBA program meet with an advisor to set up an individualized course of study based on a review of competencies and previous coursework.

Master's Research Project Option

Candidates may complete a three- or six-credit Master's Research Project by working closely with a professor to conduct an investigation on either a theoretical or applied problem relating to a major interest. To enroll, obtain an application form from the College of Graduate Studies, complete it (with appropriate signatures) and register for the project with the College of Graduate Studies. Submit three copies of the Master’s Research Project to the faculty advisor and an oral presentation to a committee no later than April 1 of the intended year of graduation.

Twelve Month Program

All MBA courses, whether at Plymouth or at off-campus centers, are delivered in the evenings on a quarter system (fall, winter, spring, summer). In addition to providing excellent access for part-time students, this allows students, regardless of their location of study, to complete the MBA program in just four quarters (fall, winter, spring, summer). To do this, all undergraduate competencies must be met prior to beginning graduate study.

Degree Requirements

The Graduate Council sets the requirements for degrees, which include completion of the courses required in the program (30 graduate credits ) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Completion Deadlines

All requirements for a graduate degree must be completed within six years from the date of admittance. The MBA program can be completed by either full-time or part-time study.

3 Year Degree completion guide

We have formulated a detailed Course Planning Matrix (PDF 55kb) that will assist you in planning a three year study program. Specific courses, semesters and locations are included.