StudyQA — MBA: Business Administration — University of California

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Description Contents Requirements

As an MBA student, you have the option to take courses outside UCLA Anderson. You can complement your MBA with cutting-edge research and classes in other areas such as law, public health and urban planning. With UCLA’s reputable graduate and professional education, UCLA Anderson students can enhance their MBA experience.

We’ve designed our career and academic programs to complement each other every step of the way. Market-focused and developed with close attention to feedback from corporate recruiters, our curriculum ensures that you will leave UCLA Anderson ready to have an immediate and positive impact wherever you go.

Areas of Study

Accounting; Consulting; Corporate Finance; Entertainment, Entrepreneurship; Finance; Global Management; Health Care; Hi-Tech; Investment Management; Marketing; Sustainability; Real Estate. For additional information, students should consult the school's website.

Course Requirements

The five required elements of the M.B.A. program are the management core, Leadership Foundations, the advanced electives, the international requirement and the Applied Management Research project. The management core courses teach the fundamental techniques and disciplines which underlie the practice of management. Advanced electives provide specialized knowledge and skills for one or more fields of management work. The international requirement recognizes the importance of a global perspective. The Applied Management Research project allows an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the program to strategic issues in real organizations. A total of 90 units of coursework is required for the degree.

Management Core. The management core consists of nine courses (Management 402, 403, 405, 408, 409, 410, 411, 420, and 421) on subjects basic to the practice of management.

Advanced Electives. These courses are chosen by students from the management curriculum area or interdisciplinary studies courses to focus on one or more fields of specialization. Up to twelve units of free electives may be selected from any University department, subject only to general University regulations. A maximum of eight units of Management 596 courses may be applied toward the 90-unit requirement for the degree. These courses count as free electives. Fieldwork courses (Management 451 and 454) are offered for unit credit, but these courses will not be applied toward the 90-unit requirement. Students pursuing concurrent degrees from other UCLA departments will have a reduced advanced elective load, which varies according to the degree pursued in addition to the MBA.

International Requirement. Students fulfill the international requirement in one of two ways: (1) take at least one course from a list of approved Management international electives maintained by the M.B.A. program, or (2) complete an approved international Applied Management Research project (approval required prior to the start of the project).

Applied Management Research Project. A two-term team project (Management 451 and 454) in the second year, Applied Management Research, is the final, professional requirement of the M.B.A. program. Each team chooses a project from three options: (1) Management Field Study, (2) Business Creation, or (3) Special Project.

At least 90 units of work toward the degree must be completed in residence in the full time MBA program at UCLA. In special cases, up to 8 units of graduate work taken elsewhere and not used toward another degree may, via petition, be counted toward the free electives component of the 90-unit total.

Field Experience

Candidates for the M.B.A. program are required to do a minimum one-quarter internship with a company in their proposed area of study (e.g. finance, marketing, consulting). The summer between the first and second years is the preferred time to satisfy this requirement; however, internships may be pursued during the Fall, Winter or Spring terms. Candidates should wait until their second quarter in the M.B.A. program to begin satisfying this requirement. Candidates should expect to devote at least 120 hours during the term to their internship, and should be prepared to provide regular activity reports to their faculty adviser. Candidates considering entrepreneurial ventures may also discuss their plans with the M.B.A. Program Associate Dean in order to develop alternative fieldwork opportunities. Candidates who do not have an interest in entrepreneurial ventures may work with the program to develop a special research project to meet this requirement. Candidates will have their experiences evaluated by their faculty adviser through enrollment in Management 454. Evaluation may consist of any combination of written or oral presentations.

Capstone Plan

The capstone plan requirement is fulfilled by successful completion of the two courses of the Applied Management Research Project (MGMT 451 and 454) with a grade of “B” or better. Teams of M.B.A. students complete an original applied research project that integrates and expands students' capacity to solve complex business problems. Students are individually evaluated by three UCLA faculty members who supervise the project to ensure that the students’ work and contribution adhere to the rigorous academic requirements of the program.

Requirements

Online Application

All applicants must apply to the MBA program online. Applications will be accepted for fall 2016 starting Aug. 1, 2016. The application fee is $200. Note that we have three admissions rounds each with their corresponding deadlines and decision release dates.

Four-year Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent

Candidates must hold a completed undergraduate degree in order to enroll in our MBA program. Usually this is a four-year bachelor's degree, or its equivalent in other countries.

GMAT/GRE

All applicants must take the GMAT or GRE, but there is no minimum score. For an idea of the typical range we admit, see the latest class profile.

Work Experience

Although the majority of our students do have full-time work experience, early career and college senior prospective students may still apply.

We evaluate candidates on their work in any given field after the completion of their undergraduate degree. Backgrounds and interests vary widely among our students, but all share a vision of how the MBA will empower their future.

» Quality of experience is more important than quantity.
» We look at your impact in the context of the time you had and the field you're in.
» Diverse paths lead to business school, and we find that students learn more when we mix people from every type and level of organization. Your application should show us how you will contribute to the mix of your class.
» We are most impressed by increasing levels of responsibility over time; those who advance faster than their peers are the ones who get admitted first.
» The majority of our students are career-switchers using the MBA to leverage themselves into a new field. Others will springboard back into higher positions in their current sectors.
» We admit very few people without at least a year or two of post-bachelor degree work. Our "early career" admits contribute more in terms of academic excellence and contagious study skills.
» Leadership in work, campus or community organizations helps to demonstrate management potential. Show us that you can commit to an organization, create a vision and motivate others to achieve goals together.
» Jobs held prior to your undergraduate degree may be listed if desired, but our focus is on post-baccalaureate experience.
» A resumé must be submitted with the application and should create a compelling summary of your career on one page (or not more than two pages).

Recommendations

Two letters of recommendation are needed from individuals who are well acquainted with your performance in a work setting, preferably from a direct supervisor or manager.

Essays

One essay is required, in written form only. One optional essay may also be submitted to supply information on extenuating circumstances.

Interviews

Interviews are conducted on an invitation basis only after submitted applications are reviewed, and an interview must be completed to be admitted to the program.