International Masters of Business Administration - Program Content

Program Content

For the content of the MBA core curriculum, see the overview at the Wikiversity MBA topic page.

In general, MBA programs are structured around core courses, typically taken at the start of the MBA, and elective courses allowing for a subject specialty or concentration. The core curriculum is essentially standard. A thesis, preceded by additional course work in research methodology, is usually required. Some programs instead allow for a "Major Project".

Typically, in the program's first part (first year), students will acquire the analytical tools necessary for academic training in the key management functions, as well as a working knowledge of these functions. In the second part (second year) students pursue a specialized curriculum. Often, further course work in the key functions is specified in parallel to the specialism. Here, the first course addresses short-term, tactical problems, while the second course addresses long-term, strategic problems (e.g. "Financial Management I" covers working capital management, while part II covers capital investment decisions). "Business Strategy", where the key areas are synthesized or integrated, is usually offered as a capstone course; related participation in a business simulation or game is a common degree requirement. Course work in Business ethics may be included in the first or second part (or both), with a correspondingly different focus.

The courses are, typically:

• Analytical: accounting, (managerial) economics, operations research, organizational behavior, statistics (and sometimes business law and tax)
• Functional: financial management, human resource management, marketing management, operations management
• Specialization: entrepreneurship, finance (including corporate finance and investment management), international business, management information systems, management science, marketing, operations management, organizational design, project management, real estate, risk management and strategy, among others.

Programs may also include training in skills such as spreadsheets, negotiation and foreign languages, and in areas such as multiculturalism and corporate social responsibility. Company visits (including overseas travel), and guest lectures or seminars with well known CEOs and management personalities, are also common. These, with the core subjects, provide the graduate with "breadth", while the specialty courses provide "depth".

Full-time students generally seek an internship during the interim. In some programs, (part-time) students' Major Projects will address a problem current in their organization; particularly in programs with an action learning orientation, these may be practically oriented. In many programs, applicants with appropriate background may be exempt from the analytical course-work.

As regards Executive MBAs, the curriculum will be largely as described, but the focus will differ, taking on a macro view, and emphasizing real-world applicability, in contrast with the more fundamental and functional orientation of traditional programs.