Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration program prepares leaders and managers for careers within all types of organizations. The faculty’s research contributes to educational excellence. Different MBA delivery formats and certificates serve a wide variety of interests.

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

At UTA we are committed to mentoring and producing the next generation of business educators and researchers.  The College of Business doctoral program is small and flexible, involving in-depth study in the functional areas of accounting, finance, information technology, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, or strategic management.

While most graduates undertake careers as teachers, scholars and researchers working within academic environments, the doctoral degree can also lead to careers in industry and government.

Master of Business Administration

Admissions

The MBA Graduate Studies Committee has two alternative sets of conditions that allow applicants to be admitted without review by the MBA Admissions Committee. The MBA Graduate Advisor reviews all applications and determines if they qualify for admission under one of these two sets of criteria. Applicants who do not satisfy the conditions for admission are referred to the MBA Admissions Committee for consideration.

Admission to the MBA program is based upon a score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the record of one’s undergraduate academic performance (typically the last 60 hours of the GPA is used as calculated by Graduate Admissions*). A GMAT or GRE score need not be the sole criterion for determining admission to the MBA program. The GRE is scored differently, the percentile on the GRE will be matched to that of the GMAT. An applicant can be admitted to the program on probation with a GPA of 3.0 and in lieu of the GMAT or GRE take the four Foundation Pathway courses. 

A graduate grade point average is used when it is 3.0 or above and is based on at least 24 semester hours.

An applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate a sufficient level of skill with the English language to assure success in graduate studies as defined in the TOEFL and IELTS Test Score Minimums section under Admissions Requirements and Procedures the Graduate Catalog.

To apply please visit: https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX

Unconditional Admission without Committee Review

Applicants qualify for unconditional admission without the need for review by the MBA Admissions Committee if they have a bachelor’s degree in a business discipline (with a GPA* of 3.0 or better), take the GMAT and score at least 500 with a 30^th percentile or higher in the verbal and quantitative areas. The GRE is accepted but the GMAT is preferred.  

Probationary Admission

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a business or non-business discipline and a GPA* of 3.0 or better who choose not to take the GMAT can be admitted to the MBA program on probation.  Twelve hours of Foundation Pathway courses are required.  These courses must be completed with a 3.0 or higher GPA and with only one grade of C.  Upon successful completion of the Foundation Pathway courses, the student will be admitted unconditionally to the MBA program.  The Foundation Pathway courses are in addition to the 36 hour count. 

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

An applicant unable to supply all required official documentation prior to the admission deadline but otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission. Complete and satisfactory credentials must be received by Graduate Admissions before the end of the semester in which the student has registered in a provisional status.  Provisional admission does not guarantee subsequent admission on an unconditional basis.

Deferred and Denied Admission

A deferred decision may be made when an applicant’s file is not sufficiently complete to make an admission decision, or when an applicant needs to improve certain criteria to enhance their competitive status for future admission consideration.  For an applicant lacking sufficient evidence to indicate potential for academic success as an MBA student, admission will likely be denied. All applicant data will be carefully reviewed before an admission denial is made.  The decision to defer/deny admission is not based on any single criterion.

Scholarship information

Students unconditionally admitted, have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 as calculated by Graduate Admissions (or 3.0 at the graduate level), and enroll for a minimum of six semester credit hours will be eligible to apply for available fellowships and/or scholarships.  A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) will not be used as the sole criterion for determining fellowship and/or scholarship opportunity.

MBA Requirements

The MBA program is designed to accommodate both full-time and part-time students from business backgrounds. It is not necessary to have completed prior academic work in business administration. Business degreed students who are admitted unconditionally will have a 36 hour program.  The Foundation Pathway courses are designed to prepare students for core and elective coursework.  For students required to take the Foundation Pathway courses, the total number of hours for the program is 48. 

Only one change of program between the on campus program and online program will be allowed. 

Waivers

A waiver is provided in the MBA if a student holds an undergraduate degree in an area of study that aligns with an MBA core course.  A prerequisite is considered fulfilled when the student is granted a waiver of that specific Pathway Foundation course.  The Foundation Pathway courses and required courses may not be taken as electives in the program.

Foundation Pathway courses

There are twelve hours of MBA Foundation Pathway courses. 

BSTAT 5301	FOUNDATIONS OF ANALYTICS	3
ACCT 5301	ACCOUNTING ANALYSIS I 1	3
ECON 5311	ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 1	3
MANA 5312	MANAGING THE ENTERPRISE	3
Total Hours		12

1	Indicates a core course that is a pre-requisite for courses taken in the core portion of the MBA program.

REQUIRED COURSES

There are 36 hours of required courses.  The nine hours of electives allows the student an opportunity to tailor studies to enhance a career interest.

Requirements for the program include the following courses:

MARK 5311	MARKETING	3
OPMA 5361	OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT	3
or BSTAT 5325	ADVANCED METHODS FOR ANALYTICS
FINA 5311	BUSINESS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	3
BLAW 5330	LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS	3
or MANA 5337	ETHICS AND THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
ECON 5313	DECISIONS AND STRATEGY 1	3
ACCT 5302	ACCOUNTING ANALYSIS II 1	3
INSY 5375	MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES	3
MANA 5360	LEADERSHIP AND TEAMS	3
MANA 5336	STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (Capstone course - taken in second to last or last semester of program)	3
Nine hours of electives.		9
Total Hours		36

Electives and concentrations

Students can take courses in different areas (no concentration) or may choose to concentrate in a given area such as accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing, operations management, or real estate. Students can tailor the program to develop business skills and perspectives essential to career goals and objectives. Choosing to concentrate or not will not impact the degree name on the transcript or diploma. Both will read "Master of Business Administration."

Students may take advanced electives in any of the curriculum areas of the MBA program. Students may take up to six semester hours in non-business coursework as part of their electives, subject to the approval of the MBA Advisor. An approved study abroad program or internship can also be used to satisfy an advanced elective requirement.

Professional Management Electives

Students holding bachelor’s or master’s degrees in professional fields such as architecture, education, engineering, nursing, social work, and urban studies have the option of taking, with program advisor approval, up to nine hours of approved electives in their professional area as part of their MBA degree requirements. With these electives, professionals can develop advanced management skill in a functional area by declaring a nine hour concentration, or pursue a more general management approach by declaring no concentration.

Cohort format (also referred to as CMBA)

In addition to the Professional MBA program on the main campus, the Professional Cohort MBA format (CMBA) is designed for career focused individuals who are working full-time. In the cohort format, courses are taken in sequence, in accelerated 5- or 8-week sessions. This format, which is only offered at the Fort Worth campus, allows students to complete their MBA degree in 24 months. Like the main campus program, the cohort is 36 to 48 semester hours and includes the same curriculum requirements as the main campus MBA program detailed above. Due to the nature of a cohort format, there is only one elective.  The program is 36 hours but can be as many as 48 hours depending upon type of admission.

Online MBA

In addition to our Flexible MBA and Cohort MBA, the online MBA is designed for working professionals who prefer the online format either due to learning preference or work obligations.  This asynchronous program is in seven week formats and allows students to complete their degree in 12 months.  The program is 36 hours but can be as many as 48 hours depending upon type of admission. 

Grade and Graduation Requirements

If twelve hours of Foundation Pathway courses are required, the courses must be completed with a 3.0 or higher GPA and with only one grade of C. 

The MBA program follows the grade requirements for probation as specified under the general regulations of the Graduate Catalog. In addition, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average in all coursework and area of concentration to graduate.

Executive MBA Program

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program is designed to provide high-quality graduate management education to experienced mid-level and upper-level managers and executives. The program covers all functional areas of business management and exhibits several content integrating themes associated with successful management of modern business organizations.  These include leadership and ethics, international business operations, innovation, and effective utilization of teams. 

The program is a 15 to 24 month, cohort-based design with a lock-step, fixed curriculum.  The schedule of classes is non-traditional and utilizes weekend and accelerated formats.  Students, who are usually fully employed, enter the program as a group and progress through courses together. Course content is delivered by senior faculty, many of whom have extensive industry experience.  Frequent guest speakers are utilized for content expertise.  The focus of the program is to use methods that maximize student interaction and connects classroom discussion directly to each student’s job situation.

Executive MBA (EMBA)-International Option

The Executive MBA program is designed to provide high-quality, graduate management education to mid-level and upper-level managers and executives. The program covers all functional areas of business management and has an international focus in its course offerings. Other program content themes may include project management, total quality management, strategic resource alignment, leadership, entrepreneurship, big data or other specific areas as determined by the local needs and demand.

The program provides an opportunity for experienced professionals to obtain a master's degree in Business Administration on a schedule that minimizes disruption of work and personal pursuits. It includes a cohort class structure that offers a lock-step, planned curriculum in an executive setting. In other words, members of each class begin the program at the same point, move through the curriculum together, and typically complete the degree requirements for graduation as a group. Executive MBA students are required to complete their degrees in two years or less.

The program consists of 12 courses (36 credit hours). A single course is offered every 6-8 weeks.

Criteria for Admission

The EMBA admission process takes a holistic view of the candidate to determine the likelihood of success in the program and the extent to which each candidate will contribute to the overall success of the class. Factors taken into account in evaluating a candidate include: 

Completion of a four-year undergraduate degree or internationally recognized equivalent 

Minimum of 5 years of professional work experience, with 2 years of managerial experience 

High potential for advancement and proven academic capability 

Ability to contribute to the Executive MBA experience 

Ability to read, write and speak English. If candidates do not have standardized tests results (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS), they will be required to take an in-house English test and pass an oral English interview. This requirement is waived for custom-designed cohorts for companies or government entities, which are taught in Mandarin. 

Strong interest in a U.S. educational experience.

Probationary Admission

If applicants do not meet a majority of standards for unconditional admission outlined above, they may be considered for probationary admission after careful examination of their application materials. Any available test scores will not constitute the sole or primary basis for ending consideration of an applicant. Probationary admission may require that the applicant receive a B or better in at least their first 9 hours of graduate coursework applicable to their degree being sought at UT Arlington.

Curriculum

• Accounting Analysis II (ACCT5302)
• Managerial Economics (ECON5313)
• Strategic Management (MANA5336)
• Financial Applications (FINA5340)
• Management of Information Technologies (INSY5375)
• International Marketing (MARK5331)
• Management of Multinational Enterprises (MANA5331)
• Strategic Human Resource Management (MANA5340)
• Organizational Behavior* (MANA5320)
• Entrepreneurship* (MANA5339)
• Global Supply Chain Management* (OPMA5368)
• Operations Management* (OPMA5361)

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are electives.

Course Descriptions – International EMBA

Accounting Analysis II (ACCT 5302)

• Introduction to concepts, purposes, problems, methodology, and terminology of managerial accounting.

Managerial Economics (ECON 5313)

• Application of economic analysis in formulating business decisions based on the theoretical foundations of demand, cost, production, profits, and competition. Macroeconomic topics of particular relevance to managers are included.

Strategic Management (MANA 5336)

• Strategic management uses a general management perspective in addressing issues related to the formulation and implementation of corporate and business level strategy. The course involves developing the ability to identify issues, evaluate strategic options and understand the organizational process by which strategies get formed and executed. It builds on the knowledge gained in functional area courses and uses case studies and projects to improve students' analytical and decision-making skills.

Financial Applications (FINA 5340)

• Analysis of financial problems of business concerns, presented in case materials. Considers determination of capital needs, choosing among alternative capital investments, planning methods of financing new capital expenditures, and planning recapitalizations, mergers, and reorganizations.

Management of Information Technologies (INSY 5375)

• This course covers topics on the management of information technologies (IT) from the view point of senior managers. Subjects discussed include the strategic role of IT to gain competitive advantage, Internet-based business models, building a lean and agile organization through IT, managing IT security and reliability, evolving models of IT service delivery, such as cloud computing and open source, management of outsourcing, IT governance, and ethical issues in the digital era.

International Marketing (MARK 5331)

• Management of marketing in international business. Includes marketing research, pricing, promotion, and distribution in the international environment. Examines marketing problems arising from various degrees of foreign involvement (exports, licensing, foreign subsidiaries).

Management of Multinational Enterprises (MANA 5331)

• Focuses on the international dimensions of strategy and organization and provides a framework for formulating strategies in an increasingly complex global economy. The course seeks to provide students with an understanding of the cultural, political, competitive, technological, legal, and demographic environments in which multinational firms operate. It then examines the nature of global competition by exploring the characteristics of global industries and strategies that have been successful in an international context. Also covered are issues related to organizational design and strategic control in the management of multinational enterprises.

Strategic Human Resource Management (MANA 5340)

• Emphasizes strategic perspective of modern human resource management theory and practice. Topics include human resource planning, staffing, training and development, compensation, performance appraisal, and labor and employee relations.

Organizational Behavior* (MANA 5320)

• Systematic study of behavioral problems in the complex organization. Analyzes the interaction of environmental and internal factors and their effects upon organizational behavior.

Entrepreneurship* (MANA 5339)

• New venture opportunity assessment, formation, and development in startup and corporate environments. Students will understand the role of entrepreneurship in the economy and the attributes of entrepreneurial behavior. Students will learn how to assess the market and financial feasibility of a new venture as well as understand how to use equity and debt financing, how to select between starting up, franchising, or buying a business, how to lead the growing company, and how to address family business dilemmas. The cornerstone of the course will be a feasibility assessment project that leads to a business plan for a new venture of the student's choice. For the project, students can explore either an original new venture idea, an already existing venture concept (for example, a franchise), or a new business opportunity in need of assessment for an existing firm or their current employer.

Global Supply Chain Management* (OPMA 5368)

• Course covers concepts and issues important in managing supply chains. A strategic view is taken of the way companies coordinate their operations with suppliers and customers in a global marketplace. The strategic use of information systems to better manage supply chains is also covered.

Operations Management* (OPMA 5361)

• Introduction to concepts and problem-solving techniques important in production management and operations management. Topics include demand forecasting, capacity management, resource allocation, inventory management, supply chain management, quality control, and project management. 

Dual degree option

Students may pair the MBA degree with a specialized graduate degree.  Students requesting the dual degree program must be admitted to each participating program. The number of hours that may be used jointly will be determined by the total number of hours required by both degree programs. Dual degree programs are available at the master's level only.

Joint Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Business Administration

The program is designed to prepare students for careers as managers with specific knowledge of the biomedical science field. Students are required to take courses from life sciences, business, and liberal arts, culminating in a joint Master of Business Administration degree (MBA), including a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. The curriculum is offered jointly by the College of Business and the College of Science. The BS in Biology will be conferred at the same time as the MBA. If students in this joint degree program are not accepted into the MBA program, or if they enter the MBA program and fail to complete the MBA requirements, then, in order to earn a BS in Biology they must take the same, full complement of courses required for a BS as students not enrolled in the joint program.  Students interested in this integrated undergraduate and graduate degree plan should consult with the Biology undergraduate advisor. If eligible for the program, their Biology undergraduate advisor will direct them to contact Graduate Business Services. Application procedures will be discussed at that stage.

PhD in Business Administration

Admission

Admission to the PhD program is based upon the completion of the general admission requirements of Graduate Admissions. For PhD program admission, a score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and a record of undergraduate and master level academic performance are required. Students for whom English is not their native language must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 550. The TOEFL cannot be waived, even when a student has a Master's degree from a US university.  International applicants that score below minimum acceptable levels on the verbal portion of entrance examinations may be admitted under the condition that they pass an English proficiency exam or complete UT Arlington’s Graduate English Skills Program prior to beginning graduate coursework. Applicants are encouraged to submit a résumé with their application that highlights professional and personal accomplishments, linguistic abilities, computer expertise and leadership experience. A statement of purpose which describes the applicant's academic and work background, research interests, and reasons for applying to the UTA PhD program is required as part of the application.

Multiple criteria are used to make admission decisions. Quantitative measures include an applicant’s GMAT or GRE score and grade point averages on undergraduate and master level courses as calculated by the Graduate Admissions. No formula is used nor weights assigned to these factors. There are no set minimum scores for GMAT or GRE required for admission and no cutoff scores on grade point averages.  A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) is not used as the sole criterion for an applicant’s admission decision.

PhD admission decisions are made by a committee headed by the major field coordinator for the track that an applicant wishes to specialize in (Management, Finance, etc.).  These committees typically give consideration to many factors (educational objectives, letters of recommendation, etc.) in addition to quantitative metrics to arrive at a decision. All students who wish to have a strong application for a PhD program are encouraged to gain research experience through activities such as working as a research assistant for a faculty member, writing a master's thesis, and/or presenting papers at academic conferences.  Strong performance in courses in research methods and advanced statistics are also viewed positively. Students who wish to learn more about the admission process for a particular area of business administration are encouraged to contact the major field coordinator for that area.   

Categories of Admission Decisions

An applicant is unconditionally admitted when all factors for consideration indicate very strong potential for academic success as a business doctoral student. When multiple factors indicate lack of potential, admission will be denied. Probationary admission is not available for the doctoral program.

A provisional decision to admit may be granted when the applicant meets criteria for unconditional admission but an item of applicant information has not been received by the Graduate Admissions (e.g., official test scores have not arrived).  A deferred decision may be made when an applicant’s file is not sufficiently complete to make an admit or deny decision.

University and College Fellowship/Scholarship Awards

Doctoral students who are newly admitted, have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 as calculated by Graduate Admissions (and 3.0 at the graduate level), and enroll for nine semester credit hours will be eligible for available Dean's Doctoral Assistantship (DDA),fellowship and/or scholarship support. A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) is not used as the sole criterion for determining fellowship and/or scholarship eligibility.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 in the PhD program to keep any DDA, fellowship and/or scholarship support.  Students whose GPA falls below 3.25 can petition through their Area Coordinator and the PhD Program Director for a one semester probationary period to raise their GPA to the 3.25 level or above.  If this is granted, the student will continue his/her DDA during that probationary semester.  If the student's GPA is not above 3.25 after the probationary semester, the student will no longer be eligible for fellowships, scholarships, or DDA positions. 

Degree Requirements

All students must complete work in a major area field and a research field. Some major courses may be external to the College of Business, if deemed appropriate by the student's advisor.   Examples include industrial engineering, mathematics, computer science, sociology, and psychology. Students admitted to the PhD program will choose courses in consultation with their major field coordinator, who serves as their academic advisor for the first two years of the program.  

The following minimum semester hours must be included in the student’s Program of Study.

Minimum Hours

	Minimum Semester Hours
Business Foundation	0-121
Major Field Seminar	12
Other Major Field Coursework	12
Research Field	12
Dissertation	18

1	From 0-12 hours may be required of some students, depending upon the student’s background (i.e., previous graduate coursework) at the time of admission to the doctoral program.

Annual Progress Evaluations

All doctoral students are expected to show steady progress toward their degree and to demonstrate satisfactory advances in their ability and motivation to conduct independent research throughout their program. During a student’s program, a progress evaluation will be conducted near the end of the first year, but no later than 24 credit hours. After the first year, an annual progress evaluation will take place each subsequent year. The evaluation will be conducted by the major field coordinator/PhD advisor in consultation with a faculty committee. If the student has not yet passed all comprehensive examinations or does not have a formal dissertation committee, the faculty committee will consist of the PhD Committee for the major area. If the student has passed all comprehensive examinations and has a formal dissertation committee, the faculty committee will consist of the Dissertation Committee.

Upon completion of the evaluation, a recommendation of continuation or discontinuation in the program is made to the College of Business PhD program director for a final decision. When a discontinuation decision resulting from the first year diagnostic evaluation is made, the student will immediately be discontinued in the PhD program. For a discontinuation decision in the annual progress review in the second year and beyond, the student will be placed on probation for one regular semester (Fall or Spring) during which he or she must demonstrate satisfactory improvement in his/her performance. At that time the major field coordinator/PhD advisor in consultation with the faculty committee, and the PhD program director, will make a final decision on whether the improvements are satisfactory. An unsatisfactory decision at that time will result in the immediate discontinuation of the student in the PhD program.

During the annual progress reviews, reasons for poor performance include: grade point averages below minimum GPA requirements, unsatisfactory progress in completing coursework, unsatisfactory progress in completing dissertation, and inadequate demonstration of ability and motivation to conduct independent research.

All students must maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher to remain in good standing in the PhD program.  Students whose GPA falls below 3.25 will be given a one-semester probationary period to raise their GPA to the 3.25 level or above.  If after that one semester passes, the student's GPA is still below 3.25, the student will be dismissed from the program.  Any student who earns three grades of  C in the PhD program will be immediately dismissed from the program. 

Comprehensive Examinations

Students must demonstrate competence in their fields of study by the successful completion of comprehensive examinations. Written comprehensive examinations in each field will be given at the start of each fall and spring semester of each year and may be given during the summer term. A student is eligible for a written comprehensive examination when that student has completed:

1. Any Business Foundation courses with a GPA of at least 3.25 and
2. prescribed coursework in the field with a GPA of at least 3.25.

If a student fails a written comprehensive examination and continues in that field, the examination must be retaken by the end of the next long semester. If a student fails a second comprehensive examination, that student will not be permitted to continue in the PhD program.

When a student successfully completes the written comprehensive examination, that student should schedule a comprehensive oral examination which is administered by the student’s Supervisory Committee. A student who fails the comprehensive oral examination is given a second oral examination within 12 months of the date of the first examination. If a student fails the second comprehensive oral examination, that student will not be permitted to continue in the PhD program.

Upon successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations, the student is admitted to candidacy.

Dissertation

The Dissertation Committee consists of a minimum of three members, at least two of whom must be from the major field. There is no maximum number of faculty members that can serve on a committee, although committees of more than five are unusual.  The chair of the Dissertation Committee must be from the major field. At least one member of the committee must be from outside the department - either from outside the major field at UTA or a nationally or internationally recognized non-UTA scholar.  Any committee member from outside UTA must receive approval from the Graduate Dean. 

The dissertation must be completed within four years of the oral comprehensive examination.

Faculty

Faculty are listed in their respective departments.