Bluffton University

Graduate programs in business

Bluffton University offers two graduate programs in business. The master of business administration (MBA) and the master of arts in organizational management (MAOM) share a common core of courses that are taken by both MBA and MAOM students. Each program also has program specific courses that are taken only by MBA or MAOM students.

Students can complete a Bluffton MBA online in either 12 or 22 months.  The classes meet via videoconferencing, one night a week (two nights a week for the 12-month program). Bluffton’s MBA is focused on leadership development.  

Except when noted otherwise, admissions policies and academic procedures are identical for both programs.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Organizations today seek leaders who offer creative approaches to problems, respect diversity and embrace change. The MBA program prepares graduate students for enhanced roles in their organizations and the larger society. MBA students examine carefully the roles organizations play in an era of rapid and global change. In the process, students increase their capacity for use of quantitative concepts and tools in productive and strategic managing. Grounded in the historic peace church tradition of Bluffton University, the MBA program assists students to develop and nurture healthy organizations and a just society.

Program characteristics

The MBA program enjoys these unique characteristics:

• Admission to the MBA program does not require an undergraduate business degree. Graduates are employed in the for-profit, not-for-profit and public sectors and have a variety of educational backgrounds.
• Students enhance their managerial skills through extensive investigations of management issues. Class presentations, materials and assignments relate closely to the managerial challenges which students confront.
• Classes are interactive in nature with substantial opportunities for experiential learning. Student evaluations are based on papers, class participation and presentations.
• Students enjoy support from a creative, interactive community of advanced learners. They also receive personalized attention from faculty members who hold appropriate advanced degrees in relevant fields of study.
• Evening classes permit students to continue full-time employment.

 

Program requirements

Required courses:
MGT 505 The Theory and Practice of Management (3)
MGT 510 Organizations, Management and American Culture (3)
MGT 515 Data Analysis and Decision-Making (3)
MGT 525 Financial Decision Making (3)
MGT 611 Marketing, Technology and Management (3)
MGT 620 Organizations and the Global Economy (3)
MGT 625 Strategic Issues in Contemporary Management (3)
MGT 635 Managerial Economics (3)
MGT 645 Leadership Communication in the Workplace (3)
MGT 660 Assessing and Developing Leadership Skills (3)
MGT 661 Leading Innovation and Change (3)
MGT 662 Managing People in Organizations (3) 

Master of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM)

Organizations today seek leaders who offer creative approaches to problems, respect diversity and embrace change. The MAOM program prepares graduate students for enhanced roles in their organizations and the larger society. MAOM students examine carefully the roles organizations play in an era of rapid and global change. In the process, students increase their capacity for imaginative, productive and strategic managing. Grounded in the historic peace church tradition of Bluffton University, the MAOM program assists students to develop and nurture healthy organizations and a just society.

Program characteristics

The MAOM program enjoys these unique characteristics:

• Admission to the MAOM program does not require an undergraduate business degree. Students are employed in the for-profit, not-for-profit and public sectors and have various educational backgrounds.
• Students enhance their managerial skills through extensive investigations of management issues. Class presentations, materials and assignments relate closely to the managerial challenges which students confront.
• Classes are interactive in nature with substantial opportunities for experiential learning. Student evaluations are based on papers, class participation and presentations.
• Students enjoy support from a creative, interactive community of advanced learners. They also receive personalized attention from faculty members who hold appropriate advanced degrees in relevant fields of study.
• Evening classes permit students to continue full-time employment.

 

Program requirements

Required courses:
MGT 505 The Theory and Practice of Management (3)
MGT 510 Organizations, Management and American Culture (3)
MGT 515 Data Analysis and Decision-Making (3)
MGT 525 Financial Decision Making (3)
MGT 611 Marketing, Technology and Management (3)
MGT 620 Organizations and the Global Economy (3)
MGT 625 Strategic Issues in Contemporary Management (3)
MGT 645 Leadership Communication in the Workplace (3)
MGT 660 Assessing and Developing Leadership Skills (3)
MGT 661 Leading Innovation and Change (3)
MGT 662 Managing People in Organizations (3)
MGT 690 Integrative Seminar (3)

 

Courses

MGT 505 THE THEORY OF PRACTICE MANAGEMENT  (3)
Examines the theory and practice of management from early times through the era of scientific management. Learning organization theory also is investigated.

MGT 510 ORGANIZATIONS, MANAGEMENT AND AMERICAN CULTURE  (3)
Provides students with an understanding of models for organizations and management based in historical and cultural realities. Organizations of the industrial revolution to those of our post-modern, multicultural society are examined.

MGT 515 DATA ANALYSIS AND DECISION-MAKING   (3)
Explores business use of tools and processes to enhance corporate decision-making. This course presents the basics of decision analysis as applied to value-focused thinking, decision modeling risk and uncertainty, sensitivity analysis, and efficient use of statistical decision making and heuristics.

MGT 525 FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING   (3)
Emphasizes the use of analytical and critical thinking skills in financial decision-making. Topics include opportunity costs, breakeven analysis, operational and capital budgeting. Spreadsheets are used for decision-making purposes throughout the course.

  MGT 611 MARKETING, TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT  (3)
This multidisciplinary course examines the interplay of marketing and social commerce and the implications for effective management. Balancing the synergies of marketing and technology is an emerging field of study as we find our society in the throes of a technological revolution. Social commerce is rapidly reshaping the field for all organizations, whether for profit or non-profit, particularly through the marketing lens. Managing the collaboration of these once distinct areas of organizations requires a new approach to communication and strategy.

MGT 620 ORGANIZATIONS AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY  (3)
Provides students with an understanding of the increased interdependence of national economies and the spread of common political and economic ideologies. Students use economic tools to research the effects of increased globalization on individual organizations and countries.

MGT 625 STRATEGIC ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT  (3)
Combines theory with case analysis to investigate the development and implementation of strategy in the public and private sectors. Key topics include strategy formulation in various environmental contexts, strategy analysis and organizational and managerial impacts on strategy formation.

MGT 635 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS   (3)
This course applies insights from economic theory to the functions of managerial planning and decision making within a market-oriented business context. Specific content includes an overview of the market system, consumer demand theory, cost analysis, profit analysis, pricing strategies, the economics of technical change and innovation, the architecture of the firm, employee incentives, international economic impacts and government regulation.

MGT 645 LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE  (3)
This course brings theories of language, narrative and performance to a discussion of the ways that communication shapes organizational identity, managerial leadership and employee identification.  All through the course, students are invited to make critical and ethical commentary on the language of management and organizations. The language, narrative and performance of nationally recognized leaders such as Rudy Giuliani, Jack Welch and Stephen Covey are used as illustrations.

MGT 660 ASSESSING AND DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS (3)
This course explores the dynamics of the relationship between leaders and followers using both current leadership theory and widely used self-assessment tools.

MGT 661 LEADING INNOVATION AND CHANGE (3)
This course will examine the literature on change management and innovation. Students will develop an understanding of their roles as leaders who seek to create conditions within organizations to support and motivate adaptation, innovation and change.

MGT 662 MANAGING PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS (3)
Surveys selected topics related to the management of people in organizations, including personnel selection and training, motivation, leadership, team building, the organization of work hours and space.

MGT 690 INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR (3)
Involves independent study and a student presentation related to the broad topic of understanding effective management. A final paper demonstrates the use of primary as well as applied sources related to the topic. This paper includes a reflective synthesis by the student of a coherent management philosophy.

Admissions process

Applicants should:

• Complete our free application at bluffton.edu/apply, including a personal statement and resume.
• Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions.
• Upon acceptance, submit $200 deposit to secure spot in the cohort.

 The following are the criteria for admission to the graduate programs in business:

• Completed application materials.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• A 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in the last half of the bachelor's degree program.
• Satisfactory interview with program director or other designated person.
• Approval for admission by the director of the graduate programs in business.

• For admissions questions, please contact admissions@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3257.

Special student status

Special student status may be granted to applicants to permit them to complete six semester hours for the 12 month program or nine semester hours for the 22 month program prior to regular admission to the MBA or MAOM program. During the first six semester hours for the 12 month program or nine semester hours for the 22 month program, special students must demonstrate an ability to maintain a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) to be considered for regular admission.

As space allows, special student status also may be granted to non-degree-seeking students who hold a bachelor's degree. Applicants should complete special student status forms as a part of the application process.

International students

International applicants are expected to have a minimum score of 565 on the TOEFL exam. This requirement can be waived at the discretion of the director and/or the admissions committee of the MBA and MAOM programs, provided satisfactory English proficiency on an alternative evaluative measure can be demonstrated. In addition, all foreign language documents accompanying the application must include notarized translations. International students must have residence in the United States to enroll. Bluffton University does not issue I-20s for online programs.

Tuition and fees

The university reviews tuition and fees annually.
Tuition (MBA/MAOM) per semester hour: $625
Technology fee per semester: $125

Refund policy

Students who withdraw from the MAOM or MBA program following approved withdrawal procedures receive refunds according to the schedule available from the business office or the financial aid office. Students who are recipients of Title IV aid have refunds and repayments distributed as prescribed by federal law. Distribution schedules are available to all prospective and current students from the business office or the financial aid office. 

Graduation requirements

Students must complete coursework within four years of their admission to the MBA or MAOM program. Graduation requirements include completion of 36 semester hours of coursework (with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0). Students must earn a grade of C or above in all courses. They may repeat courses to earn improved grades. Students must pay for courses each time they are taken.

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