Business Administration

Coles MBA
Georgia WebMBA
Coles Executive MBA

Kennesaw State University offers three MBA programs of study - Coles MBA (Cobb, Galleria, Dalton, and on KSU campus locations), Coles Executive MBA, and the Georgia WebMBA. All graduate and undergraduate programs at Kennesaw State University are fully accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - (http://www.aacsb.edu).

Vision and Mission Statements, Michael J. Coles College of Business

Vision: The Coles College of Business aspires to be the preferred provider of timely, flexible business education and relevant, applied research and practice valued by the marketplace.

Mission: The Coles College of Business provide high quality, applied business education and knowledge creation in a collegial, stimulating, and supportive learning-centered environment. Predominantly serving residents and the business community of the metropolitan Atlanta and the Northwest Georgia region, we strive to develop our students into highly effective and ethical business leaders who are prepared for an increasingly complex, technologically sophisticated and interdependent world. We offer innovative and flexible programs through a diverse and talented pool of faculty and staff who contribute to the professional and ethical standards of their respective disciplines. In all our activities, we treat individuals with integrity and respect and are focused on the continuing development of our students, faculty and staff, and communities.

– Revised March 2008

Coles MBA

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Contact: Dr. Timothy Blumentritt, Director
Office: Executive Development Center,
KSU Center
Phone: (770) 423-6087
Email: tblument@kennesaw.edu
Web address: www.colesMBA.com

Program Description

The Coles MBA is a professional degree providing a broad base of general business knowledge that prepares graduates for middle- and upper-level management positions. The program seeks to develop in its students an understanding of managerial behavior and decision-making within the economic, social, and political environments of business operations. Students will develop their communication and leadership abilities, their analytical and decision-making skills, and their effectiveness at developing working relationships with subordinates, peers and supervisors, and external constituents.

General Requirements for Admission to the Coles MBA

Admission to the MBA program is granted to those persons showing high promise of success in graduate business study. Applicants’ portfolios are reviewed as a part of a competitive process based on the following components:

Professional Experience
Academic Background
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
Applicants may also provide up to 3 references if they choose

*International applicants have additional requirements; see Graduate Admission section of this catalog.

Transfer Credit

A student may transfer a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate courses provided the transfer hours are made prior to the last 27 hours of course work. Special hardship cases, such as job transfers, will be decided on an individual basis by the program director.

The transfer of credit for course work completed at another institution will be approved only under the following conditions:

The course was completed at an institution accredited by AACSB at the time of transfer;
A minimum grade of “B” was received in the course;
The course was restricted to graduate students only;
The content of the course corresponds to that of a course required or permitted in the student’s program at Kennesaw State University;
The credit to be considered for transfer will not be more than six years old at the time the student enters KSU.

A request for consideration of transfer credit must be submitted to the MBA program director by the student concerned during the first semester of residence here. The request must indicate the specific course(s) for which transfer credit is sought. A copy of the other institution’s transcript and a course description from the catalog must be submitted. A course outline may also be required.

Grades in Graduate Courses

Expectations for satisfactory graduate level student performance are detailed in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. Grades and hours earned in the business foundation courses are included in computing graduate grade point average. As and Bs are expected in all classes.

Petition to Graduate

Each MBA student must petition to graduate one semester prior to completing program requirements. The Registrar’s office should be contacted to petition to graduate.

Admission Criteria for Non-Degree Student

The Coles MBA does not admit non-degree seeking students.

Readmission to the Coles MBA

Any graduate student who has a break in attendance of 5 semesters or more must apply for readmission to the MBA program. Students applying for readmission must meet all admissions criteria in place at the time of readmission including minimum GPA and GMAT scores. The six-year time limit for degree completion applies. For details on readmitting, see Readmission to Graduate Study in the Graduate Admission section of this catalog. Complete the application at http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/admissions/forms.html.

Georgia WebMBA

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Contact: Dr. Joseph Bocchi, Program Director
Phone: (770) 499-3232
Email: jbocchi@kennesaw.edu
Web address: www.colesMBA.com

The Georgia WebMBA offers qualified and highly motivated students the opportunity to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree online through a consortium of five University System of Georgia institutions. The Coles College of Business and the other Georgia WebMBA participant school and colleges are accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (http://www.aacsb.edu).

Program Description

The Georgia WebMBA is a professional degree providing a broad base of general business knowledge that prepares graduates for middle- and upper-level management positions. The program seeks to develop in its students an understanding of managerial behavior and decision-making within the economic, social, and political environments of business operations. Students will have the opportunity to improve their communication and leadership abilities, their analytical and decision-making skills, and their effectiveness at developing working relationships with subordinates, peers, supervisors, and external constituents. The Georgia WebMBA program is cohort-based meaning that students who begin the program at the same time constitute a cohort. Each cohort progresses through the program together taking the same courses in the same sequence.

Georgia WebMBA admission is competitive with a limited cohort. Successful candidates typically have undergraduate grades and GMAT scores well above the general requirements noted below.

Two three-semester-hour Georgia WebMBA courses are offered in each of the five consecutive 14-week semesters. Students must complete ten prescribed graduate business courses for a total of 30 credit hours plus a program orientation. Every course is not offered each semester, so students should take courses in sequence, two courses per cohort, to complete the degree in five semesters. Course offerings will be announced at the Georgia WebMBA student orientation. (See the “Mandatory Orientation” section below for details.) For course descriptions, visit http://www.webmbaonline.org.

While extenuating career or life events may require a student to work closely with the program director to make any necessary adjustments, most students complete all 10 courses in five sequential semesters.

General Requirements for Admission to the Georgia WebMBA

Professional Experience
Academic Background
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
Applicants may also provide up to 3 references if they choose

*International applicants have additional requirements; see Graduate Admission section of this catalog.

Transfer Credit

The program allows, but does not encourage, a maximum of six semester hours from an AACSB accredited graduate institution. The transfer of credit for course work completed at another institution will be approved only under the following conditions:

The course was completed at an institution accredited by AACSB at the time of transfer.
A minimum grade of “B” was received in the course.
The course was restricted to graduate students only.
The content of the course corresponds to that of a course required or permitted in the student’s program at Kennesaw State University.
The credit to be considered for transfer will not be more than six years old at the time the student enters Kennesaw State University.

Students must submit a request for consideration of transfer credit to the program director during their first semester at KSU. The request must indicate the specific course(s) for which transfer credit is sought. An official transcript from the institution at which the course was taken and a course description from the catalog the year the course was taken must be submitted. A course outline may also be required.

KSU Course Substitutions

The six-hour transfer-credit limit includes courses earned at KSU and courses completed at another institution. The KSU program director will advise on and have final authority on any requests to use KSU courses as substitutions for required Georgia WebMBA courses. While remaining flexible to work and life changes, the director typically encourages students to take the prescribed Georgia WebMBA courses to preserve the integrity of the overall learning experience.

Mandatory Orientation

Students are required to attend a two-day orientation held on the Kennesaw State University campus. Any admitted student who does not attend is disqualified from continuing in the program. The orientation focuses on team building, program expectations, interaction with faculty and administrators, and hands-on learning with WebCT, the distance learning technology platform used in the program. New students also have the chance to interact with students from other program cohorts A second non-credit residential meeting, held concurrently with the orientation, is required for each student team. It consists of one day on which seasoned student teams or team representatives present special topics and demonstrate learned knowledge and skills and best practices.

Grades

Expectations for satisfactory graduate level student performance are detailed in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Petition to Graduate

Each Georgia WebMBA student must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completing program requirements. The student must contact the program director of the school to which they were admitted and request a petition to graduate. To request a petition, KSU students must go to http://coles.kennesaw.edu/mba-options/career-growth-mba/advising/cg-intranet.html. The Graduate Business Office will prepare a petition and e-mail it to the student’s preferred e-mail account. Directions on filing the petition with the Office of the Registrar will be included.

Admission Criteria for Non-Degree Students

The program does not admit non-degree seeking students.

Readmission to the Georgia WebMBA

Any graduate student who has a break in attendance of six semesters or more must apply for readmission to the Georgia WebMBA program. Students applying for readmission must meet all admissions criteria in place at the time of readmission and they must re-enter at the lock-step point in the program where they stopped attending previously. For details on readmitting, see Readmission to Graduate Study in the Graduate Admission section of this catalog.

Coles Executive MBA

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Contact: Mandy Brooks
Office: KSU Center, Suite 431
Phone: (770) 420-4MBA (4622)
Fax: (770) 420-4444
Email: mbrooks@coles2.kennesaw.edu
Web address: www.colesMBA.com

The Coles Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is an innovative, interactive, integrated program incorporating real-life experiences into every component. The program is process-oriented rather than functionally-oriented and taught in a team environment that simulates the workplace. Individuals completing the program become complete managers and leaders with new ideas, broad perspectives, technology awareness and an expanded business network.

General Requirements for Admission to Coles Executive MBA

The Coles Executive MBA program is limited to talented men and women who have earned baccalaureate degrees in any field of study from institutions accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University. Applicants are expected to have the intellectual curiosity and motivation necessary to sustain an intensive graduate program and a professional career. Admission will be granted only to applicants showing high probability of success in postgraduate business study.

The College of Business Graduate Admissions Committee determines the eligibility of each person who applies for admission to the Coles Executive MBA program. Consideration is given to the applicant’s academic record, scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and work experience. Other factors reviewed include the applicant’s educational background, performance in outside activities, evidence of successful teaming, leadership experience and record of accomplishments in business and professional activities.

Only course work from institutions with accreditation equivalent to that granted by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or similar recognized institutional accrediting agencies is considered in evaluating an applicant for admission.

Baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University.
Minimum cumulative adjusted grade-point average of 2.80 on a 4.0 scale.
Minimum total score of 500 on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or approval of GMAT Waiver by the dean of the graduate college based on completion of advance degree from an accredited university, professional experience or undergraduate degree holders in quantitatively rigorous disciplines with exceptional communication skills. Contact the Coles EMBA department for official instructions and form: 770-420-4622.
Minimum of 5 years of management or professional experience as evidenced by submission and review of current resume.
Two letters of recommendation.
Interview with Coles EMBA admissions professional.
Consideration is given to the applicant’s academic record, scores on the GMAT, and work experience. Other factors reviewed during the admissions interview include the applicant’s educational background, performance in outside activities, evidence of creativity and leadership, record of accomplishments in business and professional activities, evidence of successful teaming.
When there is a conflict in the predictions of success for the GPA and GMAT, exceptions may be made if the applicant’s educational background, excellence in performance in outside activities, creativity and leadership, accomplishments in business and professional activities and evidence of successful teaming are sufficient to indicate success in the program. International applicants have additional requirements; see graduate admission section of this catalog.

In reviewing the academic work of applicants, the Admissions Committee evaluates the junior/senior adjusted grade point average for all applicants. In cases where the applicant has done additional accredited undergraduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree or has done accredited graduate work, the most recent two-year adjusted GPA will be used in the admissions consideration.

An applicant will not be admitted until a completed application, current resume, an official GMAT score or GMAT Waiver, two letters of recommendation and official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate courses have been received and evaluated and a satisfactory admissions interview has been completed. Admissions decisions are determined by the College of Business Graduate Admissions Committee and are communicated in writing by the College of Business Graduate Admissions Committee to the applicants as soon as is practical after materials have been received and evaluated.

Program Fees

The cost for the 18-month program is $46,500. This fee includes a nonrefundable deposit of $500 which is due upon acceptance to the program. The remaining $46,000 is prorated over the entire program. Meals, textbooks, notebook computer, lodging and meals at Opening Residency and International Residency are included in this fee, exclusive of international airfare.

Transfer Credit

Student associates enrolled in the Coles Executive MBA program will not be given credit for courses taken at other institutions.

Candidacy

Student associates will be admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of 9 semester hours of course work with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and a grade of “C” or better in each course presented for candidacy. Student associates not achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 after the completion of 9 credit hours will be admitted to candidacy at such time as they achieve a 3.0 minimum GPA.

Grades in Graduate Courses

Student associates must earn a grade of “C” or better in every graduate-level course. They must also achieve a GPA of at least 3.0 in:

all 7000 and 8000-level GBA courses, and
in all graduate-level courses.

Petition to Graduate

Each MBA student associate must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of program requirements. The student must contact the Executive MBA Office and request a petition. A petition will then be prepared and mailed to the student associate’s home address.

Admission Criteria for Non-Degree Student

Students classified as non-degree students are not permitted to enroll in Coles Executive MBA courses.