Master of Business Administration
The MBA program was first introduced into university curriculum at the turn of the 20th Century and underwent a major restructure the late 40’s and 50’s. Today, enrollment in MBA programs has exponentially increased as it has become a necessary credential for those wishing to compete in a global society.
The intent of the “traditional” MBA program, often found in “B” or Business Schools, is to provide the business community with a degree-holder who has been exposed to a body of knowledge that in time may be applied to actual situations. The emphasis is on “in time”, which in a global society is no longer a luxury for employers.
Unlike “traditional” MBAs, Lawrence Tech’s “non-traditional” MBA is performance driven and links knowledge to organizational activities by melding theory with practice. The intent of Lawrence Tech’s MBA, offered through its Management School, is to develop leadership and management skills by providing the student with a broad understanding of the roles and responsibilities of business management, thereby enhancing the graduate’s effectiveness as managers and leaders. The learning is active, replacing the “read, look, listen, and take an exam” approach found in traditional MBAs. The program is further designed to develop the student’s skills in areas such as problem solving, communication and team building and helps students develop a cross-disciplinary approach to managing the organization.
Lawrence Tech’s 36 credit MBA program consists of 9 core classes and 3 electives. Students can select one of seven areas of concentration to help expand their experiences and meet future goals: Nonprofit Management, Marketing/Global Business, Human Resources Management, Management Information Systems, Operations Management, Project Management, and Finance. The Lawrence Tech MBA can be obtained in as few as two years of evening and/or weekend study.
CURRICULUM DESIGN
The Lawrence Tech MBA program is based on the philosophy that graduate level studies should incorporate both theoretical and empirical studies demonstrating a broad understanding of the skills/ knowledge necessary to achieve personal and organizational success and growth. The inaugural course, Leadership and Management, is designed to provide opportunity for the student (both individually and in teams) to demonstrate a comprehension of real world problems and issues. Solutions requiring interpersonal skills and decision support systems are used to highlight contemporary organizational issues. Students are encouraged to take Leadership and Management at the start of their program.
Pre-core courses may be required of students who have not taken undergraduate coursework in business or who do not have substantial relevant work experience. Waivers from the pre-core courses are generally granted at the time of admission to the MBA program. The essential foundations of accounting, finance, statistics, legal environment, economics, and marketing are covered in these courses. Pre-core classes may be taken concurrently with those core classes that require no prerequisites
Core courses are designed to provide students with meaningful experiences in analyzing and implementing operational concepts and programs as well as leading directly to the selections of appropriate elective courses. Provided the prerequisites, if any, have been taken or waived, the student may select Management Accounting and Control Systems, Human Resources Management, Marketing Management, Perspectives in International Business, Management Information Systems, Operations Management, or Financial Management. Finally, Strategic Management is considered the “capstone” course and should only be scheduled near the end of the student’s program.
Elective courses are offered at Lawrence Tech in the areas of nonprofit, human resources, international business, information systems, operations management, project management, finance and ethics. The option to take a directed study from a qualified faculty member provides an opportunity to tailor an individual program to meet the particular needs of students and employers.
CURRICULUM DELIVERY DESIGN
Consistent with its mission and values, the College of Management is committed to providing appropriate instructional methods to fit the needs of its students while maximizing student learning. As a result, the College has developed three course delivery formats to meet its students’ varied needs:
- Traditional courses are courses taught exclusively in the classroom. The semester includes 13 weeks of classroom instruction plus a one-week final exam period. Traditional courses are offered on the Southfield campus and at some of LTU’s education centers, and are usually held on weekday evenings or Saturdays.
- Hybrid courses are courses in which approximately half of the learning activities have been moved on-line. Time traditionally spent in the classroom is reduced but not eliminated. The goal of hybrid courses is to merge the best features of in-class teaching with the best features of on-line learning to promote active independent learning and reduce class seat time. Hybrid courses are offered at both the Southfield and education center campuses.
- On-line courses are courses in which all of the learning activities have been moved on-line, replacing classroom time entirely. The goal of on-line courses is to design classes that use the best on-line teaching methods for course content that can be effectively taught in an on-line environment. These courses provide maximum flexibility for students with challenging work and personal schedules. With permission of the office of the Dean all students may enroll in on-line courses to meet their graduation requirements.
ADMISSION
MBA classes begin each September, January, and May. Completed application packages should be received by the College no later than two weeks before start of classes. The package includes:
- Completed and signed application form
- Official transcript from every college or university attended, with GPA of 3.0 or greater
- Application fee
- Professional resume
- Results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam for applicants whose native language is other than English. This requirement is waived for international students holding degrees from colleges and universities in countries where English is the native language.
- WES course by course evaluation by World Education Services if undergraduate degree was earned outside of the US.
TRANSFER CREDIT
A petition for transfer of credits should be initiated by the student in the form of a letter addressed to “Office of the Dean” and should be made prior to the completion of the first semester of the graduate program. Twelve semester credits are the maximum accepted by Lawrence Tech’s College of Management for the MBA program. These courses must be graduate-level courses taken at an accredited college or university. Each course generally must have been taken within seven years of application for admission. Transfer students should apply for admission through the Office of Admissions. A GPA of 3.00 or better must have been earned; “passed/not passed,” “pass/fail,” or “pass/no entry” grades are not acceptable.
The student may be required to submit additional evidence (e.g., course syllabi, catalog descriptions and tests/examinations) in order to justify transfer of credits. The Management Graduate Admissions Committee may require the applicant to demonstrate proficiency in the subject either through an interview or written examination prepared by faculty members who have expertise in the subject/discipline.
To request an MBA application, contact:
College of Management
Lawrence Technological University
21000 West Ten Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48075
Phone (248) 204-3050
Fax (248) 204-3099