Master of Arts in Management

The Master of Arts in Management is designed to prepare current and future general managers, HR practitioners, Health Care Administrators, Communication Specialists, Conflict Resolution Specialists, and Public Relations Specialists for rewarding careers. Graduates with an MA in Management credential will be strong decision-makers, qualified leaders, and equipped business professionals who have a deep understanding and practical skills to be effective and impactful business leaders.

MA IN MANAGEMENT ADMISSIONS

To be granted full admission for any graduate degree program, applicants must meet the requirements for Full Admission to the Graduate School along with any additional requirements for a specific degree.  Applications for admission to a master's program are processed by the Graduate Admissions Office in conjunction with the relevant Program Director.

Some degree programs may include additional requirements for admission that are supplemental to the Graduate School’s requirements.  Admission to one graduate program does not guarantee admission to another.

Full Admission

Applicants who meet all of the criteria listed below may be granted full admission to the Graduate School.

1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

2. Evidence of sound moral character and compatibility with DBU's mission.

3. A likelihood of academic success as demonstrated by a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in all previous course work.

4. Two letters of recommendation from non-family members.

5. A current, professional resume.

Applicants seeking admission will be required to submit the following:

• A formal Application for Admission to pursue a specified master's degree program.  The application will ask applicants for a Statement of Purpose outlining reasons for seeking admission and showing compatibility with DBU’s mission.

• Official transcripts from each institution attended as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student.

• Two letters of recommendation from non-family members.

• A current, professional résumé.

• Any additional requirements requested by a specific degree program. 

Additional Requirements

The MA in Management does not include any additional requirements for admission.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who show potential for graduate study, but do not meet the criteria for Full Admission, may be admitted for up to 12 hours under provisional status. Students admitted under Provisional Admission will be granted Full Admission upon successful completion of 12 credit hours and fulfillment of the conditions of their admission as determined by the Graduate Admissions Office.

Deferred Admission

Applicants meeting criteria 1 and 2, though not meeting criteria 3 and one of 4-6, may be determined by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee to show potential for graduate study. These applicants will be asked by the committee to complete certain requirements, such as requisite coursework and/or an entrance examination, before an admission decision will be made. These applicants must fulfill all requirements which are determined by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee as necessary prior to a final committee review and admission decision.

Note:  Applicants for whom there is no evidence to demonstrate a likelihood for success in the MA in Management Program may be denied admission to the program.

MA IN MANAGEMENT FOUNDATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

All graduate business students are required to complete the foundational courses for the appropriate program through undergraduate or graduate course work. Students who have not completed appropriate undergraduate business courses will be required to take equivalent 5000 level graduate courses upon acceptance to the program. Students who have completed undergraduate business courses may have any (or all) of the 5000-level requisite courses waived, if courses meet the waiver criteria:

• The completed undergraduate course is equivalent to the 5000-level course.

• The course grade is at least a B.

• The course is taken at a regionally accredited institution.

• Foundational courses will not be accepted if completed through correspondence, life and work experience, CLEP, or other standardized testing.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW (Core of 18 credit hours and 18 credit hours within a concentration for a total of 36 hours)

MA IN MANAGEMENT REQUIRED CORE CURRICULUM (18 hours)

Conflict Resolution Management Concentration

The Conflict Resolution Management Concentration will provide students with the practical experience and theoretical foundation they need in order to become effective at mediating conflict. The format of classes includes lectures, group discussions, and many practice mediation sessions. Following completion of the courses, the student will be qualified to perform court-appointed mediations in Texas.

General Management Concentration

The General Management Concentration is designed to give students the flexibility to build their own concentration by choosing courses based upon their interests. Students develop their program to fit their educational and career goals by completing 18 hours of the 6000 level courses listed below, in addition to the 18-hour core requirement. This concentration is also available online.

Health Care Management Concentration

The Health Care Management Concentration is designed to equip students with state-of-the-art technologies in the health care industry. Emphasis is given to strategic health care planning, marketing, healthcare policy, managed care, and long-term care. A capstone initiative provides students with "hands-on" experiences in an area of interest to the student such as administration, clinical practice, or education/consultation. This concentration is also available online.

Human Resource Management Concentration

The field of human resources is expanding rapidly as senior executives look to HR departments to address complex and dynamic staffing issues. Special attention is given to litigation issues, salary strategies, and the development of an organization's personnel.

This concentration is also available online.

Organizational Communication Concentration

The MA in Management with a focused study in Organizational Communication is for those who are striving to be policy leaders of their organizations, their communities, and society overall. Hands-on learning opportunities will plug in students to the latest techniques in “best practices” to serve the customer, both internally and externally. The program emphasis will be improving business performance through effective communication.