MBA Handbook

A. Vision Statement

The Fort Hays State University (FHSU) MBA will prepare innovative, ethical, problem-solving business leaders who are prepared to meet the challenges of a globally dynamic business environment.

B. Purpose and Mission

The MBA is a practitioner degree that provides students with a working foundation of the business disciplines. The FHSU MBA is a rigorous program designed to prepare students for career success by focusing on stated educational goals and learning objectives to be accomplished through a series of standardized core courses and additional electives.

C. Implementation

The MBA program continues the "high-tech, high-touch" tradition of FHSU. In the finest tradition of graduate programs, students interact with academically and professionally qualified instructors in small classes ensuring that the student is at the center of the collaborative learning experience. All on-campus courses are offered in state-of-the-art mediated classrooms. Virtual courses use Blackboard and include a wide variety of innovative electronic delivery methodologies. The program complies with all guidelines of the FHSU Graduate School. 

The program provides the flexibility of either virtual (online) or traditional (on-campus) formats. Both virtual and online options offer affordable education without sacrificing academic rigor. The MBA is an innovative program that offers specializations in several areas (see below) and is constantly pursuing new initiatives. Not all areas of specialization (concentrations) are available online.

D. Educational Objectives

Goal 1: Graduates of the MBA program will integrate concepts from the Business Disciplines
Objective: Demonstrate comprehension of the functional areas of business: accounting, economics, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, and strategic management. 

Objective: Demonstrate comprehension of global business issues.

Objective: Understand and analyze social responsibility and ethical issues facing businesses today.

Goal 2: Graduates of the MBA program will be effective communicators
Objective: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in written form through reports, letters, strategic plans, etc.

Objective: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in oral form when making presentations and proposals.

Goal 3: Graduates of the MBA program will be critical thinkers and problem solvers Objective: Critically evaluate, analyze, and synthesize data and information to solve complex business problems.

Goal 4: Graduates of the MBA program will understand how information technology can be a point of strength for an organization.
Objective: Understand the connection between business and information technology.

Objective: Understand the critical role information technology plays in deploying enterprise initiatives to achieve broad general business goals.

The FHSU MBA consists of 33 semester credit hours—24 hours of core and 9 hours of concentration courses or electives. The program must be completed within 8 years from the first program of study course. Any changes to the core curriculum occur through a recommendation from the MBA Curriculum Committee to the Dean and must further meet any requirements established by FHSU, the Graduate School, the Kansas Board of Regents, and The Higher Learning Commission.

A. Core Courses and Prerequisites

All MBA students are required to take the following MBA Core courses:

• MBA 811: Advanced Managerial Accounting
• MBA 812: Marketing Management
• MBA 813: Information Systems for Management
• MBA 814: Business Research and Quantitative Methods
• MBA 815: Managerial EconomicsMBA 816: Advanced Corporate Finance
• MBA 817: Strategic Management
• MBA 831: Organizational Behavior in a Global Context             

B. Design Elements Common to All Core Courses

While we envision a diversity of pedagogic approaches, each customized by the expert instructor to meet specific course and MBA learning objectives, each course should contain the following basic common design elements:

1. Course Syllabus

Every core course (and every MBA course) should comply with the format of the officially adopted Standard Syllabus.  

2. Course Learning Objectives

Each instructor must establish a list of course learning objectives. Learning objectives should be tied to course materials and assignments and should be consistent with the stated MBA program objectives. Learning objectives should be sufficiently general that they can be limited to a small number of items. Course pre- and post-tests should be tied to course learning objectives.

3. Evaluation of Student Work

Evaluations of individual student performance may take a variety of forms (exams, papers, projects, oral presentations, group work, etc.). Regardless of the form, all evaluations are tied in specific ways to the course learning objectives. The MBA Program requires course syllabi, assignments, projects, and examinations to be regularly reviewed to verify that course artifacts and learning opportunities adequately prepare students to achieve the stated learning goals.

4. Student-Faculty Engagement

HLC accreditation requires regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors.  Accordingly, MBA courses are designed to facilitate student-faculty interaction. Examples include: 

1. Class discussions
2. Recorded class video lectures
3. Opportunities for students to ask for clarification
4. Prompt faculty feedback on student work
5. Discussion boards
6. E-mail or telephone correspondence
7. Office hours held via Zoom/Teams    

C. Areas of Concentration

A concentration consists of 9 hours in a specialized area. Besides a general MBA, the following areas of concentration (specialization) and courses are currently available:

On Campus Only

• Accounting

Online or On Campus

• Corporate Communication
• Management Information Systems
• Information Assurance
• Health and Human Performance (HHP)
• Leadership Studies
• Health Care Management
• Digital Marketing
• Marketing
• International Business
• Human Resource Management
• Finance
• Tourism and Hospitality Management
• AgriBusiness
• Operations Management

D. Course Scheduling

The department chairs, in consultation with the MBA Coordinator, will establish a course rotation schedule sufficient to allow a student to complete all MBA degree requirements in no more than two years.  

E. Internships & OPT/CPT

Work experience of any kind enhances the value of the MBA degree. Through work experience, MBA students can develop contacts that help them to network, learn how classroom concepts are applied to real-world problems, and gain insights into real business operations that can improve the classroom learning environment for themselves and their peers. Temporary work experiences provide an opportunity for students to exhibit their competence and can often lead to permanent work. Students may obtain credit for short-term work experiences through formal internship arrangements. If the internship course is permitted within the MBA concentration, it will be applied toward the degree. Note that internships will never be used as a substitute or replacement for any MBA course. Students are responsible for finding internships in their area of interest if they would like an internship opportunity. Students seeking internship credit must comply with the departmental rules and procedures required for earning internship credit in that department. International students planning to pursue OPT or CPT must work with the MBA Coordinator and Global Affairs regarding the unique requirements of their visa.

F. Transfer, Waiver, and Substitution of Courses:

• Requests for transfer, waiver, or substitution of any MBA Courses should be submitted through the MBA Coordinator.
• To help ensure success on the comprehensive exam, no more than nine credit hours will be considered for transfer, waiver, or substitution.
• The comprehensive exam will evaluate all MBA core coursework, even if outside coursework has been transferred into a student’s program.

A. Application Package

A Complete Application Package depends on the applicant's ability to speak English and will include the following:

1. Domestic Students

• Paid graduate application.
• Current resume'.
• Official transcript (s) in English for all undergraduate and graduate course work.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• Personal Statement from student that states:
  • Reason for seeking an MBA at FHSU.
  • Professional or career goals.
  • Description of prior work experience.
• Other requirements as specified by the FHSU Graduate School: https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/gradschl/admission/

2. International Students

• All material required of Domestic Students, plus
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Other proof of ability to speak and understand English acceptable to the MBA Committee Refer to the current Graduate School requirements here: https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/gradschl/admission/international/

B. Timing of Application Submission

• Applications are accepted for admission throughout the year and are processed on a rolling basis. Responses are typically provided in 4-6 weeks, and students can then enroll in classes on a space-available basis.

A. Registration Priority 

Refer to the FHSU Academic Calendar for dates and priority of registering for classes: https://www.fhsu.edu/registrar/academic

B. Costs and Fees

Refer to FHSU Student Fiscal Services for the current tuition and fees schedule: https://www.fhsu.edu/sfs/students_parents/tuition/

C. Academic Honesty

The FHSU University Catalog at https://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatalog/gen/academichonesty.asp contains a clear and strong statement on academic honesty. This statement reference is included in the standard syllabus for every MBA core course. The policy includes an extensive list of dishonest academic practices and provides for sanctions (as selected by appropriate classroom instructors commensurate with the seriousness of the infraction) for violations of the policy. The full policy can be viewed in the online University Catalog.

D. Satisfactory Academic Performance

No grade below C may be applied to graduation. No more than two grades of C may be applied toward graduation. No course taken for Pass/Fail or Credit/No-Credit or audited may be applied toward graduation. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of B (3.00) in the MBA program courses. Refer to current Graduate School language regarding satisfactory academic standing here: https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/gradschl/documents/graduate-school-handbook.pdf.

E. Incompletes ("I")

Please refer to the FHSU policy on Incomplete Grades

F. Advising and Mentoring

All MBA students will be assigned an academic advisor to discuss curriculum, academic challenges, and success in the MBA program.  

G. Adding a Concentration

Any student wanting to add or change an MBA concentration must formally contact the MBA Coordinator.

H. Full-time Status for MBA Students

Registration in 9 or more credit hours in a 16-week semester constitutes full-time status as a graduate student. An MBA student must receive approval from the MBA Coordinator to enroll in 12 or more credit hours in a 16-week semester or more than 6 credit hours during the summer.

The Graduate School requires that each candidate for a graduate degree must satisfactorily pass a comprehensive assessment: https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/gradschl/documents/graduate-school-handbook.pdf A pass/fail decision will be made within approximately two weeks of the exams ending.

1. Comprehensive Exam Administration

Comprehensive exams will be held once each semester – spring, summer, and fall. Students will be tested over the MBA core classes using a multiple choice exam administered on Blackboard. The comprehensive exam is proctored by the MBA Coordinator, or designee, who is physically present during the exam. Students should plan to keep any coursework, notes, exams, or other information from their core classes to assist in studying for the comprehensive exam. We do provide some basic study materials that will be available in a Blackboard shell where the exam will also be administered. Students are not allowed to use any books, websites, notes, or other test aids during their exam. Students may use a financial calculator, scratch paper and a pen/pencil during their exam. Students should review the FHSU Academic Honesty policy prior to taking their exam. Students will receive a pass/fail score on the comprehensive exam and will receive an email regarding their score after the testing window has closed and scores have been reviewed. Any questions regarding comprehensive exams can be directed to the MBA Coordinator. Should a student not pass their exam, they are allowed up to two retakes within 12 months, scheduled by contacting the MBA Coordinator. Failure to successfully complete the retake will result in removal from the program.