Masters of Business Adminstration
- Program Background
- Why an MBA at WSU Tri-Cities
- Admission requirements
- Application information
- MBA Program Information
- MBA Courses
- Download MBA brochure
Program Background
The Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) at Washington State University is offered through the College of Business. The MBA program at the WSU Tri-Cities campus is designed for students with broad academic backgrounds and a desire to prepare themselves for leadership responsibilities in today's global economy. Although it is tailored to meet the needs of the working professional attending school part-time, full-time students are also welcome.
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Why an MBA at WSU Tri-Cities?
The MBA program at WSU Tri-Cities incorporates the most current views in leadership and managerial skills development. With your career needs and academic excellence at the forefront, this program provides you with experience in and integration of business skills such as analysis, organization, and managerial decision-making in all areas of functional expertise. You will develop your leadership and team-building skills along with the ability to effectively interact in the business world.
WSU's business program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) – the hallmark of excellence in management education. Of over 3,000 business programs at four-year schools in the U.S. , only 400 have attained the highest standard of achievement required to be AACSB accredited.
The business professors at WSU Tri-Cities are leading researchers and top-notch educators who have close ties to industry, and real world experience in the fields in which they teach. They will bring their vast experience, and entrepreneurial and innovative vision into their classrooms and help you learn how to use textbook concepts and practices in your business career.
Washington State University Tri-Cities specializes in providing managerial and leadership education to individuals who live and work in the Columbia Basin without having to leave their jobs or homes. Students include recent college graduates, working professionals, and business executives.
Questions about the MBA Program? Contact:
Melanie Casciato
509-372-7360
Principal Assistant, Professional Programs
CIC 125A
melanie.casciato@tricity.wsu.edu
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Admission Requirements
- Four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Minimum INDEX score of 1150 ((GPA x 200) + GMAT). The GMAT Score must not be more than five years old at the Program start date. The average GMAT score for students who have been admitted to the program is 600. The minimum GMAT score with a 3.0 GPA is 550.
- Demonstration of competence in the MBA foundation coursework (see foundation requirements).
- Demonstration of English proficiency (International applicants): International applicants should send official TOEFL reports (580 paper based / 237 computer based / 92-93 IBTS minimum) to the WSU Graduate School (WSU school code 4705). We also accept the IELTS (7.5 minimum), or MELAB (90 minimum). Now accepting the Pearson Test of English (62 minimum) - use code 8Z2-GT-38.
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Application Information
Application may be made to start the MBA program at WSU Tri-Cities either Fall or Spring Semester. Application materials should be submitted at least two months prior to the beginning of the semester you wish to begin.
How to Apply
- Apply online ($50.00 application fee). Be prepared to supply e-mail addresses for three references. These references will be contacted by the Graduate School and asked to fill out an online recommendation form.
- Additional items to be submitted to the Graduate School ( Stadium Way , French Administration, Room 324, Pullman WA 99164-1030 ):
a. Official transcripts from each College or University you have attended
b. TOEFL scores (international students) (code 4705)
c. GMAT scores (code 09DTL08)
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MBA Program Information
Program Requirements To assure the quality of the WSU MBA program, and to accommodate the diversity in interests and backgrounds of the students, we have five distinctive levels of curriculum requirements. For course descriptions, check out the WSU online catalog.
- Business Foundation requirements (21 credits)
- Strategic leadership requirements (12 credits)
- Advanced business functions (9 credits)
- Electives (9 credits)
- Final presentation (2 credits)
I. Business Foundation requirements (21 credits)
This requirement is designed to accommodate the diversity of entering students with varying academic backgrounds while ensuring a solid foundation in all business areas. Applicants must demonstrate competency in the following MBA foundation coursework before enrolling in the MBA program. They may do this by presenting a bachelor’s degree in business from an AACSB or EQUIS accredited institution with an equivalent GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants who do not meet the business degree requirement must complete the appropriate foundation coursework from an AACSB or EQUIS accredited or other approved business program prior to enrollment in the MBA program. Applicants must have an average grade of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) for all foundation courses with no more than 2 grades below a B.
Foundation Courses :
- MgtOp 215 (Statistics) or equivalent course
- EconS 404 (Economics for Managers) or equivalent macro and micro economic courses
- Acctg 550 (Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting) or equivalent financial and managerial accounting courses
- BLaw 210 (Law and the Legal Environment of Business) or equivalent course
- MgtOp 340 (Operations Management) or equivalent coursework
- Mktg 360 (Principles of Marketing) or equivalent coursework
- Fin 325 (Principles of Finance) or equivalent coursework
II. Strategic Leadership Requirements (12 credits)
After completing the business foundation requirements, MBA students may begin their program with the strategic leadership core. MgtOp 593 deals with issues such as leadership and group processes, while MgtOp 590 looks at larger issues of strategy and organization structure. The advanced statistics and information systems courses develop and enhance the students' decision-making abilities through the use of sophisticated, state-of-the-art conceptual tools.
- MgtOp 590 Strategy Formulation and Organizational Design
- MgtOp 591 Statistical Analysis for Business Decisions
- MIS 580 Information Systems Management
- MgtOp 593 Managerial Leadership and Productivity
III. Advanced Business Functions Requirement (9 credits)
This advanced requirement provides the expertise to function competitively at all managerial levels in a business organization. These courses emphasize functional integration and theory application. By incorporating the case study method, team involvement, and experiential focus, these courses are designed to fully integrate the MBA student experience and provide a meaningful link to business and industry.
- Mktg 506 Marketing Management and Policy
- Acctg 533 Cost Accounting and Administrative Control
- Fin 526 Financial Decision Making
IV. Elective Requirements (9 credits)
All MBA candidates must complete at least nine semester hours of approved elective courses. These courses may be used to focus in a particular area, or individualize your MBA program. They may include graduate level business courses; approved graduate level courses from other departments; or a maximum of one approved 400 level business course.
V. Final Presentation Requirement (2 credits)
In order to complete the MBA program, students must sign up for two credits of MgtOp 702 during their final semester, for a faculty directed oral presentation. This presentation will be in a case study format that analyzes an existing business or new business venture. The specifics of the presentation will be worked out between the student and his/her faculty committee. This final presentation is designed to:
- Provide an integrative exercise to review and demonstrate a working knowledge of the important theories and concepts from the core courses (strategic leadership and advanced business functions) in the MBA Program.
- Evaluate each student's ability to identify, analyze and interpret data relevant to business problems and issues of organizational context.
- Allow the committee to assess the student’s professional presentation skills (focus, delivery, conceptual clarity, supporting data, persuasiveness, and strength of conclusions).
Individual Presentations
Students ordinarily will prepare for and make their presentations as individuals. Preparation for the final presentation should be similar to the many case presentations the students have experienced during their graduate program. This assignment will be a broad-based business case, which can be centered around an existing organization, or a start-up business. The student will be asked to use the most appropriate visual aids available to present their analysis to the committee using the following format:
I. (5 minutes) - Introduction of the salient and important elements of the case and a clearly explained "problem statement."
II. (5 minutes) - Brief discussion of important industry and organization factors and a specific recommendation for management action(s) to resolve your defined problem statement.
III. (20 to 30 minutes) - Major discussion, analysis and presentation of data to support and explain your recommendations.
Presentation Evaluation
While the quality of the presentation will be assessed in relation to the student's understanding and approach to the case, the primary focus of the faculty will be on the student's ability to:
1. Understand the important managerial concepts (in reference to the 7 core graduate courses).
2. Identify and analyze the right data for the right reasons.
3. Present conclusions concisely, persuasively and professionally.
The student may use any and all resources available as they prepare, but the actual presentation must reflect their own analysis and be their own conclusions. The student is invited to contact their committee chair if they have any questions regarding this process.
Following the presentation, the committee will conduct a discussion to ask questions raised and explore more general management concepts. After sufficient discussion, the committee will provide specific feedback and suggestions regarding the student's ability in the above three areas. This will result in a vote from each member of the committee to recommend or deny graduation. In the case of a vote to deny graduation, students should contact the Program Director directly to discuss their options.
Team Presentations
Under some circumstances, students will be allowed to prepare for and make their presentation as a team.