College of Business Administration

Dean’s Office:

Office: Commerce and Finance Building, Room 115
McNichols Campus
Dean: Gary A. Giamartino
Telephone: (313) 993-1204
Fax: (313) 993-1052
E-mail:giamarga@udmercy.edu

Programs Offered
— Business Administration (MBA)
— Joint JD/MBA Program (JD/MBA)
— Computer and Information Systems - Software Management (MSCIS)
— Product Development (MS)

Applications, transcripts, and requests for information for these programs should be directed to the College of Business Administration, Graduate Business Programs Office.

Visit our website at http://business.udmercy.edu

The College of Business Administration provides professional education in business and related fields recognizing the importance of a liberalizing education as a foundation for a career of continuing self-education. The University of Detroit Mercy’s Graduate Programs offer a personal academic approach to help you prepare for a rapidly evolving business world. Graduate business students can tailor their programs to meet their specific needs and interests, building on their current base of knowledge and work experiences. The College aims to instill in its students, through a personalized educational process, a sense of personal integrity, a high measure of intellectual curiosity and a deep awareness of personal and social values in contemporary society, particularly in its urban setting. To this end, the College notes the following mission and goals:

The College of Business Administration prepares students to serve business organizations and society with competence, compassion and conscience. Rooted in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, the College champions academic excellence and good character by encouraging intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social growth.

We achieve this mission by:

• encouraging and expecting excellence from students, faculty and staff in all we do;
• helping students to develop knowledge, analytical and critical thinking, and skills to compete in a dynamic global business environment;
• teaching students self-reflection, teamwork with diverse peoples, and responsible stewardship for the common good;
• delivering quality teaching, research, and service to our University, our profession, and our community;
• providing quality bachelor and master degree programs.

Outlook for Graduates of Business Programs

Since the late 1940s, more than 5,000 men and women in the U.S. and countries abroad have earned graduate business degrees at the University. Enrollment in graduate business programs averages 450 students per term, with approximately 200 students completing their graduate degrees each year.

The University of Detroit Mercy’s graduate business programs have an excellent reputation in metropolitan Detroit’s professional community. More than 200 business and professional organizations are represented by employees enrolled as degree candidates at the University. The University is proud of the many graduates who are in top management positions of organizations in every sector of the economy.

Graduate Business Programs

Associate Dean: Bahman Mirshab
Office: CF 114
McNichols Campus
Telephone: (313) 993-1202
Fax: (313) 993-1052
E-mail: mba@udmercy.edu (for MBA), mscis@udmercy.edu (for CIS)

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The MBA is designed to accommodate the career needs of professionals across a wide variety of work organizations: business, health care, industrial, educational, and governmental. The MBA Program is fully accredited by AACSB - The International Association for Management Education. Organized in 1916, AACSB is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. For more information about AACSB, see their web site at http://www. aacsb.edu.

Admission Requirements

The MBA Program is open to students of high promise who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. No prior academic work in business is required.

Admission decisions are based on a combination of the score attained on the required Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and undergraduate grade point average (GPA). Other factors such as work experience, post graduate studies, personal essays, and recommendations may be considered.

Admission Materials

(1) A University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Application Form, with the application fee;
(2) Official transcripts for all previous academic work;
(3) An official report with the scores earned on the GMAT; and
(4) Any other information (such as letters of recommendation, a statement of philosophy and goals, a detailed resume) which the applicant feels is important to the admission decision.

GMAT Scores

The Educational Testing Service administers the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Information about the test and applications for it may be obtained by calling the Graduate Business Programs Office at (313) 993-1202, or by writing: GMAT, Educational Testing Service, CN6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103.

Conditional Entry Status

Applicants whose admission materials do not lead to regular acceptance into the program may be considered for conditional entry status.
Conditional entry status is restricted to a narrow margin of applicants and usually requires a personal interview.

Guest Student Status

Individuals currently enrolled in another AACSB-accredited MBA program may obtain Guest Student Status for a limited number of courses by providing a statement of good standing from their school’s dean or program director.

Core Requirements

Core courses serve as the heart of a common educational experience for all students who seek the MBA degree. Post-core requirements include an integrated capstone course (MBA 590). Post-core courses also include a nine-hour series (beyond pre-core and core courses) aimed at providing an elective route for all MBA students. Such an elective route may be utilized by the student in two ways:

(1) To seek a mixture of advanced electives which the student desires as a means of enhancing specific career objectives, or
(2) To seek a specialization in which the student desires to focus post-core electives within a specific field (beyond pre-core and core courses).

Advanced Placement

Core requirements are systematically required of all MBA students. In certain limited cases, however, an individual’s academic record may indicate that a specific core course should be replaced by an advanced course within the same discipline (e.g., an undergraduate accounting major may be considered for an advanced course in accounting in lieu of the core course, ACC 520).

In such cases, the designation of "Advanced Placement" (AP) is used to direct the student into a designated advanced course, as worked out with the program director.

Credits earned by the student in an AP designation will be counted towards the student’s core requirements.

Degree requirements

The basic requirements for University of Detroit Mercy’s MBA Program involve a 37 credit hour structure which includes the following set of core courses and a set of post-core courses.

Core Courses
ACC 520 Managerial Accounting	3 cr.
ECN 512 Analysis of Economic Conditions	3 cr.
MBA 520 Decision Analysis	3 cr.
MBA 521 Managerial Perspectives on Personal and Social Responsibilities	3 cr.
MBA 522 Corporate Finance	3 cr.
MBA 524 Marketing Management and Planning	3 cr.
MBA 525 Organizational Processes and Leadership	4 cr.
MBA 526 Information Systems and Technology	3 cr.
Post-Core Courses
Advanced Electives	9 cr.
MBA 590 Strategic Management	3 cr.

Foundation Courses

Foundation requirements include a set of courses designed for those applicants who have had no exposure or limited exposure to business courses in their academic background and/or limited work experience. These courses, up to a maximum of 18 credit hours, may be required to guarantee preparedness for the program’s core and post-core requirements.

Foundation Courses
ACC 510 Foundation of Financial Accounting	3 cr.
ECN 510 Economic Analysis	3 cr.
MBA 510 Legal Environment	1.5 cr.
MBA 512 Statistical Analysis for Decision-Making	3 cr.
MBA 514 Foundations of Management	1.5 cr.
MBA 516 Foundations of Marketing	2 cr.
MBA 518 Foundations of Financial Management	2 cr.
MBA 519 Foundations of Production and Operations Management	2 cr.

Each applicant’s program requirements are determined immediately following the admission decision.

Pre-core requirements may be waived, in any number, depending upon the applicant’s academic background. The mere fact that a student has completed coursework in one or more particular discipline or had extensive work experience does not imply that any waiver will be granted. Prior academic work must be of sufficient quantity and quality as to satisfy the specific criteria established. As a general rule, to be even considered as a basis for waiver, prior coursework must have been at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Each student’s specific requirements are determined individually with the objective of ensuring the overall quality of that student’s degree program.

Program Characteristics

Several important aspects of the MBA Program should be noted. These include policies regarding grade point averages, class scheduling, and advising.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

Students in the MBA Program are required to achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for final completion of the degree requirements and graduation.

Academic Standing

While an individual may be admitted into the MBA Program on a regular-acceptance basis, it is possible that the individual’s eventual cumulative GPA may fall below a 3.0 in any particular term. When this situation occurs, the student automatically is placed on "Academic Probation."

This status dictates that the student’s cumulative GPA must continue to improve in each consecutive term thereafter until the cumulative GPA reaches 3.0 and is then sustained at that level or higher.

If, after being placed on Academic Probation, the student’s cumulative GPA does not improve in each subsequent term, the student will be academically dismissed.

Class Scheduling

MBA classes are scheduled in the evening and on the weekend. Classes are currently offered on the McNichols Campus and the Outer Drive Campus.

Evening classes begin at either 6:00 or 6:35 p.m., Monday through Thursday for Term I and Term II. Term I, commencing the day after Labor Day, is 15 weeks in length; Term II, commencing in early January, is also 15 weeks long. Some Foundation Courses are offered in an eight-week format in both terms.

Each summer session is seven weeks in length. Summer I commences in early May. Summer II begins in late June. Evening classes for both sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. and 8:10 - 10:40 p.m.

The College of Business Administration offers the eight MBA core courses once per year on the weekend. MBA 590 and three graduate electives are also offered annually in the weekend format. Term I and Term II weekend classes are offered on 11 consecutive Saturdays Morning classes are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, and afternoon classes from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Summer I and Summer II weekend courses meet for seven consecutive Saturdays. Morning classes run Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and afternoon classes run Saturdays from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. (See Weekend College section of this catalog for further information regarding weekend classes and accelerated classes.)

Full-Time and Part-Time Student Status

An individual may undertake the MBA Program on either a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time student status usually involves a nine or above credit-hour course load in Terms I and II. Part-time student status usually entails a 1-8 credit hour load in Terms I and II.

Students who have not completed their required program within five years may be subject to re-evaluation and additional coursework. Students not enrolled for more than two consecutive terms (without prior approval of the program director) may be required to re-apply for admission.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are available to selected full-time students enrolled in any graduate business program.

A graduate assistantship is conferred upon a student with the understanding that the student will be assigned to a discipline or program to assist in research, tutoring or general activities. In return, the student receives a tuition waiver for up to nine credit hours in Term I and/or Term II.

Application forms for a graduate assistantship are available in the Graduate Business Programs Office.

Cooperative Education Program

Through its Cooperative Education and Career Center, the University of Detroit Mercy offers a professional practice program for MBA candidates. After completing the appropriate credit hours in the MBA Program, students are eligible for a career-related professional practice assignment.

The professional practice model is based on traditional co-op, providing students with the opportunity to select either full-time assignments, alternating semesters of work with study, or part-time assignments, with parallel semesters of work and study. A minimum of two assignments is required, with three assignments being the maximum a student may complete. The professional practice program model combines the success of traditional co-op with the new demands for graduate student programming.

The professional practice coordinator, upon the recommendation of the program director, accepts students into the program.

Upon placement, students are required to enroll in Business Administration Co-op 595, 596, 597. Grades are based on the evaluation of the employer, a written professional practice training report and a progress interview with the student’s professional practice coordinator. Please refer to the Professional Practice Handbook, available in the Cooperative Education and Career Center for additional requirements.

The Thesis Plan

An MBA student may elect, with approval of the associate dean, to write a master’s thesis for the equivalent of six credit hours. These credits are applied to the student’s electives.

A thesis advisor will be selected from the faculty.

Advising

The associate dean of Graduate Programs serves as general academic advisor for all students entering the MBA Program. When appropriate, specific advising matters may be referred to the advisor in a particular academic discipline.

Honor Society for MBA Student Performance

Beta Gamma Sigma. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, a national scholastic honor society for graduates in the field of business and management, is the highest national scholastic honor that a student in a school of business or management can achieve. Eligibility for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma places a student in a very select group and is conferred for a lifetime status.

Beta Gamma Sigma chapters are only chartered in those business schools which are accredited by the AACSB. For more information about AACSB, see their web site at http://www.betagammasigma.org.

Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration (Joint JD-MBA)

The Joint JD-MBA Program is offered to those who desire to pursue career avenues in which the integration of business and legal analysis is critical. Individuals seeking the Joint JD-MBA are typically interested in specific areas of law practice, (e.g. corporate or labor law), governmental agency work, or the management of specialized product firms.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Joint JD-MBA Program is contingent upon separate admissions to the UDM School of Law program and the MBA Program. However, the applicant is not formally admitted into the Joint JD-MBA Program until the satisfactory completion of the first year of law studies (30 credit hours.)

Beyond separate admission into the law school and the College of Business Administration, an individual must have completed first-year law courses with a cumulative average of 2.5 or better and with no course grade below a 2.0.

An individual who desires to enter the Joint JD-MBA Program must complete a JD-MBA application form with the law school registrar typically in February or March of the first year of course work in the University’s School of Law.

Provisional acceptance to the Joint JD-MBA Program may be granted in April of the first year of law school, but final acceptance is dependent upon posting of first-year law school grades. A letter of acceptance is then sent to the applicant by the JD-MBA Program advisor.

Degree Requirements

The Joint JD-MBA Program incorporates two sets of academic requirements. Those two sets of requirements interface to allow a significant saving in course work when compared to an individual’s efforts in accomplishing both degrees on a back-to-back, or independent basis.

— JD Requirements Under the Joint Program Law school course requirements consist of 78 credit hours, including all required courses of the regular law curriculum. A GPA of at least 2.5 is required of all law courses.

— MBA Requirements Under the Joint Program MBA courses include 25-41.5 credit hours of graduate business courses, depending upon the applicant’s academic background and professional performance.

Depending upon the applicant’s former performance in business course work, the JD-MBA candidate may take from 0-16.5 credit hours in the MBA’s foundation requirements. Students having to fulfill foundation courses will be waived from MBA 510.

JD-MBA students are required to complete 22 credit hours in the MBA’s core structure. Students are waived from MBA 521.

At the MBA post-core level, JD-MBA students are required to fulfill MBA 590. In addition, the post-core requirement of nine credit hours of electives are fulfilled by a cognate of law courses.

Program Sequencing

The usual approach to the Joint JD-MBA Program is to enter law school as a first-year student and, pending the outcome of the first-year law studies, to be admitted into the joint program.

Once admitted, course studies over the next two to three years are scheduled to integrate law and business studies.

This sequencing is based upon a law school student who enters in Term I of the academic year.

A Variation in Program Sequencing

Some candidates who began course work in the MBA Program may decide to seek admission to the Joint JD-MBA Program. It must be noted, however, that candidates who pursue this approach must be accepted into the law school program on a Term I basis only.

Admission requirements, as described above, necessarily apply to the JD-MBA candidate who follows this particular sequencing of course work.

Degree/Diploma Identification

Upon completion of the Joint JD-MBA Program, graduates receive two diplomas: one for the JD degree and one for the MBA degree.

Tuition Rates

Tuition rates and fees for students in the Joint JD-MBA Program are the same as those for the School of Law at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Advising

All applications, forms, original files, and grade analyses are handled through the Registrar of the School of Law. Contact: Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, School of Law at (313) 596-0264; lawao@udmercy.edu.

Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems - Software Management

The mission of the MSCIS Program is to enhance the overall productivity and quality of information technology organizations and IT work. It’s curriculum centers on concepts, principles and methods, which establish best practice in the management of the system and software lifecycle processes. That body of knowledge originates directly within the industry itself and has been prototyped mainly in advanced technology organizations. In support of this mission, the MSCIS supplies essential background in research methods and offers advanced training in software development and deployment techniques.

Admission Requirements

The MSCIS Program is open to students of high academic promise who have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Of primary importance is the nature and quality of the applicant’s prior academic record and work experience. No prior work in software management is necessary, since the curriculum encapsulates the entire body of knowledge. Incoming students with limited background in software development are given adequate foundation as part of their course of study.

Admission Materials

To apply for admission to the MSCIS Program, applicants should submit the following materials:
1. A University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Application Form and application fee;
2. Official transcripts for all previous academic work;
3. Any other information that the applicant feels is important to the admission decision.

Degree Requirements

A student must complete 33 credit hours, which comprise of five core courses and six electives.

Foundation Course
Note: To be assigned on entry based on student background. This course will not count towards degree requirements.
CIS 501 Introduction to Information Systems	3 cr.
Core Courses
CIS 505 Project Management .	3 cr
CIS 510 Object Oriented Software Development	3 cr.
CIS 520 Software Requirements .	3 cr
CIS 530 Software Quality Assurance & Testing	3 cr.
CIS 540 Software Process Management	3 cr.
Electives
NOTE: Students must complete six electives that are part of their academic plan.
CIS 502 Structured Development for the Internet	3 cr.
CIS 503 Software System Documentation	3 cr.
CIS 525 Software Design and Construction	3 cr.
CIS 535 Metrics and Models for Software Management	3 cr.
CIS 543 Software Lifecycle Documentation	3 cr.
CIS 553 Graphical User Interface Development	3 cr.
CIS 554 Software Maintenance	3 cr.
CIS 555 Database Design	3 cr.
CIS 556 Advanced Database Issues	3 cr.
CIS 557 Networks	3 cr.
CIS 558 Distributed Software Development	3 cr.
CIS 559 Electronic Data Interchange	3 cr.

CIS 560 Electronic Commerce	3 cr.
CIS 565 Information and Society	3 cr.
CIS 580 Advanced Topics in Information Systems	3 cr.
CIS 589 International Software Management	3 cr.
CIS 590 Leadership in Assessment	3 cr.
CIS 591 Audit	3 cr.
CIS 595 Directed Research	3 cr.
MBA 520 Decision Analysis	3 cr.
MBA 526 Information Systems and Technology	3 cr.
MBA 535 Systems Simulation	3 cr.
MBA 562 Entrepreneurship	3 cr.

Master’s Thesis Option:
Note: A student may write a thesis with the approval of his/her advisor and the director of Graduate Business Programs. In this case, students are required to take only four electives.

CIS 599 Master’s Thesis 6 cr.

Total: 33 credit hours

Master of Science in Product Development

This is a joint program between the College of Business Administration and the College of Engineering and Science. See page 23 for a description on this program.