The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Overview
The Master of Business Administration Program (with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management), hereinafter the Program, is a directed independent study graduate degree program. The objective of the
Program is to provide students with a foundation of knowledge useful in the successful management of professional practices in the fields of accounting and law. In addition to licensed professionals, the
Program is also of interest to individuals providing consulting services to professional practices.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Presentation
The
Program is presented on a trimester basis. Students are generally enrolled in
(14) units per trimester. Each trimester consists of a minimum time period of 16 weeks from the date study commences. Students not completing all trimester coursework in 16 weeks will be granted an extension of time to complete the trimester. Such extensions normally may not exceed 32 weeks. Students may take a leave-of-absence between trimesters. However, except in special circumstances, the entire degree program (3 trimesters) must be completed within 5 years.
The
Program utilizes a directed independent study modality and requires no classroom attendance. Prior students have resided in all regions of the United States as well as Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Instruction Policies and Methods
Each course in the
Program contains a series of lesson assignments generally consisting of reading assignments and occasionally audio or video tapes. Students are tested through objective examinations and written projects.
Certain courses require business research fieldwork. Students are required to interview and evaluate individuals and analyze business opportunities. For example, the
Commercial Leasing course requires the student to evaluate three actual lease opportunities.
Students have the option of concluding the
Program with a traditional thesis or the preparation of a comprehensive business plan. Most students in the past have selected the business plan alternative since it provides the most practical benefit to professionals.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Faculty
The University
employs faculty qualified to undertake the
level of instruction or course development
that they are assigned. They possess degrees
or credentials appropriate to the degree
program and level they teach. A complete listing of
faculty and their qualifications is set
forth in a separate
Catalog
Supplement
or can be viewed
here
on our website.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Admission Policies and Requirements
Regular Applicants
Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or first professional degree from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education are considered regular applicants to the
Program. The majority of applicants to this
Program are mature adults working in a variety of professional settings. Many have not attended college for several years. Consequently, prior class rank and grade point average are not significant factors in the admission process.
Special Applicants
Individuals not qualifying as a Regular Applicant may apply as a Special Applicant. Special Applicants are evaluated on a case-by-case basis but must have an academic and/or professional background equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. As a general rule, Special Applicants must have ten or more years of professional or managerial experience. In addition to the information provided on the standard
Application for Admission form, a Special Applicant must provide a statement of his or her personal and professional goals, how completion of the
Program would assist in the attainment of those goals, and submit three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s capabilities and personal integrity.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Curriculum
The
following courses are required for the Master of Business Administration
Program (with an concentration in Professional Practice Management).
Click on the course title for full course descriptions.
*Business
Law: Students may select from
The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business
(BLW 503)
or
Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration
(BLW 502). Law
students or law school graduates may substitute an elective.
**Accounting graduates or CPA’s may substitute an elective.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Degree Requirements
To earn the Master of Business (with a
concentration in Professional Practice Management) degree, a student must complete the courses described
above and in the Catalog Supplement
with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00. The requirements may be completed in as little as twelve months, and must be completed within five years from the date of initial enrollment.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
How
to Enroll
To apply for admission to the
Program, an applicant must first complete the University’s
Application for Admission form, along with the required $35.00 application fee ($55.00 for Applicants seeking transfer credit). It is not necessary to submit official transcripts at the time of application. However, official transcripts will be required within 60 days of enrollment.
If the applicant is accepted for admission to the Program, enrollment materials will be prepared and mailed to the applicant for review and signature. All payments submitted for tuition and fees must be payable in U.S. dollars. Payments may be made by
MasterCard®/Visa® or personal/business check as described in Section VI of the
Application for Admission form.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in
Professional Practice
Management)
Financial Information
The tuition for the
Program is $225.00 per unit for all residents of the United States. Tuition for individuals outside the United States is $250.00 per unit. The non-resident surcharge can be avoided if the non-resident maintains a mailing address within the U.S.
Additional information on financial aid and
tuition financing can be found under Tuition,
Financial Aid and Financing.
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Fee
Schedule
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Application
Fee
($55.00 for Special Applicants and Regular Applicants Seeking Transfer Credit) |
$35.00 |
| Registration
Fee (Per Trimester) |
$40.00
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| Graduation Check/Diploma Fee |
$75.00 |
| Computer Library Fee (Per Trimester) |
$35.00 |
Administrative Accounting Fee (Per Trimester)
(Installment Payment Option Only) |
$ 25.00 |
| Transcript Fee (Two Provided at No Cost)
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$7.50 |
| Returned
Check Fee
|
$25.00 |
Thesis Fee
(Applies only to students
enrolled in BUS 599)
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$250.00 |
The
cost of books and materials, other than each
course syllabus, is not included in the tuition.
Most books and materials may be purchased at
local colleges, retail bookstores, directly
from publishers or over the Internet. The cost
is estimated to average approximately $75.00
per course.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in Professional Practice
Management)
Income
Tax Deductibility
Educational
expenses are generally deductible (even if they
lead to a degree) if the education that is
undertaken maintains or improves a skill required
by the individual in their employment or meets the
express requirements of the student's employer.
Accordingly, tuition, tees, and materials for this
Program should generally be tax deductible
as ordinary business expenses for self-employed
individuals and as itemized deductions for
students who are employees.
Employer
paid educational expenses related to an employee's
employment are not taxable to the employee.
Applicants and students are encouraged to contact
their professional tax advisor to ascertain the
income tax ramifications in their specific circumstances.
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The Master of Business Administration Program
(with a concentration in
Professional Practice
Management)
Frequently
Asked Questions
1. Q. How long does it take to complete the
Program?
A. The University's commitment to the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council precludes any student graduating from a University degree program in less than one year. Students may take as long as five years to complete the
Program. Experience has shown the typical student will complete the
Program in two to three years.
2. Q. Will you accept transfer credits from other M.B.A. programs?
A. Regulations of the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education limit transfer credits to 6 semester units or the equivalent. Applicants seeking transfer credit should include complete information on prior graduate studies at the time of application.
3. Q. I don’t have a lot of computer knowledge. Will I have difficulty completing the assignments?
A. Computer requirements are detailed in the
General
Catalog. Basic knowledge of Microsoft
Windows® and Word® is necessary to complete some of the assignments. Internet access is necessary to utilize the
Lexis/Nexis® electronic library. An e-mail address is necessary to effectively communicate with University personnel and fellow students. If you have
no computer experience, enrollment in one-day courses in
Windows®, Word®, and the Internet, such as those offered by CompUSA and other companies, will provide the necessary computer skills to complete the assignments.
4. Q. How much continuing education credit can I expect to earn in the
Program?
A. For certified public accountants, the AICPA and most Boards of Accountancy (including California) grant 15 hours of credit for each semester unit earned. CPE credit is earned at the time an individual course in the
Program is completed.
5. Q. I’m not sure I want to complete the entire
Program, can I take just one course rather than enroll in the entire
Program?
A. No. Students are enrolled in 14 units (4 courses) each trimester. However, a student who elects not to complete the
Program or enroll in additional trimesters has no financial obligation to the University beyond the current trimester.
6. Q. What financial aid and tuition financing alternatives are available?
A. Many students are eligible for financial aid through employer tuition reimbursement programs and/or the University’s
Partners in Professional Education (PIPE)
Program.
One hundred percent financing of tuition and books is available through
SLM Financing, a Sallie Mae
company, to qualified borrowers. In addition, the University offers a no interest financing alternative which permits students to pay approximately 30% of tuition at the time of enrollment and the balance over a 5 month period.
7. Q. I’m employed by a large international corporation and have no interest in small or developing businesses. Is this the right M.B.A. program for me?
A. Probably not – the focus of the Program relates to the goals, objectives, concerns, and problems of small or developmental stage enterprises. While many of the courses address matters equally applicable to multi-national corporations, there are M.B.A. programs offered at other institutions probably better suited to your needs.
8. Q. Is there ever a need to come to California?
A. No. Academic and administrative procedures are carefully designed so that students can complete all requirements for graduation entirely by independent study, without disrupting their work and family lives. Students may elect to take examinations at the University or at over 250 approved testing sites. If a testing site is not convenient to a student, procedures are in place for the student to nominate a proctor.
9. Q. Will I need to complete courses pursuant to a rigid timetable?
A. No. Each trimester must generally be completed in not less than sixteen weeks nor more than 48 weeks. However, completion of assignments within this time period is at the discretion of the student. There are no assignments that must be submitted on a weekly or monthly schedule and students may take time off between trimesters. However, except in special circumstances, the degree
Program must be completed within five years from the date of matriculation.
10. Q. How soon can I get started?
A. The University maintains open enrollment throughout the year. Applications
are reviewed weekly and most students commence study within three weeks from the date of
application.
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