Business Administration, M.B.A.

A Helzberg MBA from Rockhurst University provides an individually tailored education with a focus on personal and professional development.  The prestige of this program is evidenced by our national rankings and broad network of alumni both in Kansas City and across the globe.

The Helzberg MBA strives to be the preeminent applied leadership, general management and competency-building program in the Kansas City area and beyond.  The Helzberg MBA incorporates the following six themes in the program: Leadership, Ethical Behavior/Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Skills and Knowledge, International/Global, Information Analysis and Application, and Communication.

The MBA core curriculum consists of 24 core credit hours in business courses, along with a minimum of 6 credits in electives to complete the program.  Completing 8 credit hours of electives in a specified discipline allow a student to receive a concentration for the MBA degree.

All MBA students must adhere to the Helzberg School of Management  Graduate Business Programs Admission Requirements, Standards and Policies.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite courses are designed to prepare students for MBA study. The Prerequisite requirement is typically satisfied by an undergraduate degree in business or a Rockhurst University undergraduate degree with a minor in business administration. Otherwise, a student’s Prerequisite requirement is determined during the student’s initial credit evaluation at the time of admission.  Prerequisite courses may also be taken by individuals seeking background in basic areas of business or by those wanting to review specific subjects before moving into the Core Managerial Perspective courses. Students are expected to satisfy Prerequisite requirements before moving into Core Managerial Perspective coursework.

Students meet MBA prerequisite requirements by:

1. Earning a C or better in applicable undergraduate business courses.
2. Completing specified Rockhurst MBA Prerequisite courses.
3. Or by receiving a waiver from the Dean or the Dean’s designee based on prior work experience or professional achievement. In all cases, the student is responsible for proficiency in all work discussed in those courses.

Core Managerial Perspective

The Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program requires students to take 24 credit hours of graduate education coursework which will form the Core of the program.

Electives

The student pursuing the MBA degree must also choose 6 additional hours of elective credit for the 30-hour degree.

The student pursuing a concentration within the MBA will take 8 prescribed credit hours outside of the Core. Elective hours may be counted toward the concentrations listed below.

Concentrations

The student pursuing a concentration within the MBA will take 8 prescribed credit hours outside of the Core. Elective hours may be counted toward the concentrations listed below.

• Accounting
• Business Intelligence
• Data Science
• Finance
• Health Care Management
• Management
• NonProfit Leadership
• Organizational Leadership

Program Goals

• Demonstrate personal responsibility and awareness of self and others; build effective teams; influence and enable others to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Analyze ethical and corporate social responsibility issues in context and implement appropriate actions.
• Integrate and apply skills & knowledge across business disciplines to effectively manage in dynamic environments.
• Demonstrate and apply global [cultural, political, historical, geographic, environmental, and economic] perspectives to decision-making within a complex and changing world context.
• Identify, access, analyze and synthesize relevant information that optimizes effective decision-making.
• Communicate effectively [speak, listen, read, write] with the internal and external stakeholders, and create an environment where effective communication can occur.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Apply leadership theory and organizational behavior to organizational contexts and make suggestions for improved organizational effectiveness.
• Articulate a plan for future development as a leader.
• Analyze various business situations involving decisions from a firm’s perspective considering impact and consequences on all stakeholders.
• Apply foundational knowledge in accounting, finance, management and marketing.
• Identify forces of globalization and make recommendations on how they affect multinational corporations including potential emerging markets, cross cultural management issues, institutional (risk) factors, current fluctuations, and strategic business entry strategies.
• Analyze, interpret, and develop market assessment that includes competitive structure and rivalry, financial position, growth strategies, and external market factors.
• Analyze both primary and secondary sources to make business recommendations as well as to support those conclusions.
• Effectively communicate ideas, problems, and data through written and oral communication.