The Bloch School offers a master of business administration (MBA) and an executive master of business administration (EMBA). Students enrolling in the MBA program are required to choose among eight emphasis areas, and their programs will consist of between 30 and 48 credit hours. Most MBA students attend evening courses on a part-time basis and admission is available in the fall, spring and summer semesters. EMBA students enter a cohort-based, lockstep program that offers an integrated curriculum with the themes of leadership, strategic thinking, and innovation woven throughout the program. This full-time program meets three times per month, (one Friday/Saturday and one additional Saturday) over a 21-month period, with admission taking place only in the fall.
MBA core courses stress the knowledge and skills needed to deal with an organization and its personnel. The functional courses (accounting, finance, production, economics and marketing) develop specialized knowledge and skills. In addition, the MBA program stresses leadership and the related social and public responsibilities for those in business.
The Curriculum
The MBA degree requires a minimum of 30 hours and a maximum of 48 hours, depending upon the student's educational background. (Of the total 30-48 hours, 12-18 hours beyond the core must be outside the student's area of emphasis).
Students may pursue the MBA program full-time or part-time. Students who have completed the Bloch School B.B.A. or B.S. in accounting programs with grades of C or better in required courses, and who have met MBA admissions standards, may enter directly into the courses beyond the core of the MBA program and complete the degree requirements with 30 hours of coursework. Additionally, students who have completed an undergraduate business degree from an AACSB-accredited institution and have met the MBA admissions standards, are waived from the core with a grade of C or better in the equivalent undergraduate courses.
Students with prior coursework in business (C or better grades) may be exempted from up to 18 credit hours of the 48 required for the degree. Waivers and exemptions are determined based on documentation provided by the student. Note: Students who repeat courses that have been waived from their program may not count the repeated course for credit toward their degree.
Previous college work in business is not required, but students with no preparation in mathematics and computer applications must complete Math 110 and MIS 202.
1. Core Courses: 24 Hours
2. Beyond Core Courses: 24-30 Hours
The minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed for the MBA degree, with additional hours possibly required based on educational background. The following must be completed:
- MGT 5537 Competitive Strategies
- Emphasis Area (12 hours)
- Electives (9-15 hours outside of emphasis)
MBA Emphasis Areas
The MBA program offers advanced study in eight emphasis areas:
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- General Management
- International Business
- Leadership and Change in Human Systems
- Management of Information Systems
- Marketing
- Operations Management
Each emphasis area is comprised of 12 hours. No more than 12 hours from any one area (beyond the core) can be used toward the MBA. For the most current information on emphasis areas, consult the Bloch School Web site at http://www.bloch.umkc.edu/graduate/mba/mba-emphasis/index.aspx.
Students can, with the consent of appropriate faculty, select any other Bloch courses that might fit within the emphasis areas listed below (courses outside the Bloch School require special approval). Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with an adviser in planning their programs so that the courses they choose will be of interest and benefit to them while fulfilling the requirements of the degree. Emphasis areas follow.
Entrepreneurship (12 hours)
Four courses selected from the following:
- ENT 5515 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Boot Camp
- ENT 5525 Entrepreneurship: Managing Creativity and Innovation
- ENT 5535 Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship
- ENT 5541 Personal Entrepreneurial Strategy
- ENT 5542 Technology & New Ventures I
- ENT 5543 Technology & New Ventures II
- ENT 5545 Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation
- ENT 5585 Venture Capital Finance and Investment
- ENT 5587 Seminar in Entrepreneurship
- ENT 5591 Small Business Management Practicum
- ENT 5597 Independent Research in Entrepreneurship
- Any other course approved by Entrepreneurship faculty.
Finance (12 hours)
- FIN 5550 Advanced Financial Management Theory and Policies
Plus nine hours selected from the following:
- FIN 5551 International Financial Management
- FIN 5552 Global Financial Markets and Institutions
- FIN 5553 Investment Analysis
- FIN 5556 Management of Financial Intermediaries
- FIN 5557 Derivative Securities
- FIN 5559 Strategic Financial Management
- FIN 5582 Seminar in Finance
General Management (12 hours)
Select one course from four of the following course areas: Leadership and Change in Human Systems, Law and Society, Strategy and Planning, International Business, or Entrepreneurship (a list of courses in each area is available on the Bloch School Web site at http://www.bloch.umkc.edu/graduate/mba/mba-emphasis/index.aspx#gm).
International Business (12 hours)
Four courses selected from the following:
- DSOM 5544 Supply Chain and Logistics Management
- FIN 5551 International Financial Management
- FIN 5552 Global Financial Markets and Institutions
- MGT 5545 International Management
- MGT 5550 The Operation of International Business
- MGT 5552 International Study in Business
- MKT 5555 International Marketing
Leadership & Change in Human Systems (12 hours)
Four courses selected from the following:
Management of Information Systems (12 hours)
Four courses selected from the following:
- ACCTNG 5567 Information Systems Control and Audit
- MIS 5529 Decision Support & Expert Systems
- MIS 5552 Data Base Management
- MIS 5554 Systems Analysis, Design and Engineering
- MIS 5558 Management and Economics of Computing
- MIS 5569 Information Systems Consulting
- MIS 5580 Seminar in Information Systems
Additional elective courses may be selected from the following:
Marketing (12 hours)
Plus nine hours selected from the following:
Additional elective courses may be selected from the following:
Students may confer with a faculty member to select courses that concentrate in Marketing Research and Analysis, Direct Marketing, or other fields; students with an interest in Direct Marketing should complete the following courses: MKT 5539 and MIS 5552. These are not, however, separate emphasis areas.
Operations Management (12 hours)
Required nine hours:
- DSOM 5542 ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
- DSOM 5543 Project Management
- DSOM 5544 ERP - Supply Chain and Logistics Management
Select one of the following:
Two or more electives should be selected from the following:
Note: Students should ensure that prerequisites are taken in the proper sequence. Prerequisites and program requirements may change. Consult the Bloch School Web site at http://www.bloch.umkc.edu/ for current information.
Executive MBA Program
- http://www.bloch.umkc.edu/graduate/emba/index.aspx
The Bloch Executive MBA (EMBA) is a highly-selective degree program for experienced professionals. The program offers a comprehensive integrated curriculum, field experiences, and four residencies. It is distinguished by an emphasis on cohort-learning, teamwork, hands-on projects, leadership coaching and development, and learning activities that contribute substantial value to participants, employers, and the larger community.
Students are admitted each spring to a new EMBA cohort through a special application process. Students begin coursework in late summer and program completion requires 21 months.
The program is composed of 16 semester-long, graduate-level courses and of four week-long immersion residencies that are focused on leadership, innovation, public policy and the global marketplace. A variety of teaching formats are employed, including case studies, group projects, simulations and role playing, fieldwork, interactive discussions, and renowned guest lecturers. Daylong classes meet three days per month (one Friday/ Saturday and one additional Saturday). Classes do not meet in the summer. To ensure that all students are up to speed on academic and business basics, the program starts with self-paced, on-line tutorials in key subject areas, such as finance, accounting, statistics and economics.
Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
Graduates of the Bloch School's EMBA program will gain the business knowledge skills needed to excel as executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The EMBA graduate will:
- Define, analyze and evaluate decisions through an integrated analysis by using tools found in the major disciplines in the fields of business.
- Devise solutions for a variety of business problems and issues by using cohesive and logical reasoning patterns.
- Conceptualize a complex issue into a coherent written statement and oral presentation.
- Integrate leadership ideas and insights gleaned from coursework and deftly apply these to complex leadership scenarios. In addition, our students will show a much greater awareness of their own leadership strengths and development areas, and will be engaged in the lifelong process of taking action to strengthen their leadership competencies.
- Be exposed to and will comprehend the forces and personalities that shape America's business policy by working effectively in business policy teams.
Admissions RequirementsThe EMBA is designed for experienced professionals who typically possess a minimum of 8 years of work experience with growing responsibilities for managing people, projects, and/or budgets. Admissions decisions are based on a combination of a solid academic record, demonstrated professional achievement, and evidence of a strong commitment to learning and to career development. Further information on the Bloch EMBA program is available at (816) 235-2370 or at the program's web site http://www.bloch.umkc.edu/graduate/emba/index.aspx.
The Curriculum
Leadership Residency
- Financial Decisions and Societal Goals provides an overview of approaches to business strategy rooted in financial modeling and analysis. The focus is on identifying and developing strategic sensibilities that executives confront in the face of complexity and uncertainty.
- Team and Community Building kicks off the program to create relationships among the participants and faculty that facilitate and accelerate learning and to introduce students to the concepts and material in the leadership curriculum.
Semester 1
Leadership and Organizations focuses on how organizations work and how leaders can set direction, marshal resources, and build support to move initiatives forward. The course provides tools and tactics for assessing organization needs and constraints through multiple lenses, and assessing one's own leadership strengths and weaknesses for development and alignment with organization needs.
Managerial Economics studies the relationships between the economic theory and system as a whole and the ways in which their functioning is affected by the behavior of the interdependent sectors of which they are composed. Students will explore the major factors and determinants of economic prospects relevant to profit-maximizing production and pricing decisions for the firm.
Marketing Management examines the role of marketing in driving profitable revenue growth in companies. Focus is placed on tools and approaches to analyzing and understanding customer needs—including the roles of market research and brand equity—and the development of integrated marketing plans to deliver to these needs.
Financial Reporting Systems introduces generally accepted accounting principles and concepts along with the preparation and analysis of financial statements.
Semester 2
Organizational Finance will give students a thorough introduction to financial management that blends appropriate amounts of relevant theory with practical application. Topics include discounting techniques and applications, evaluating capital expenditures, estimating cost of capital, and valuing stocks and bonds.
Influence, Persuasion and Change presents ideas, strategies and tools for leading change in complex organizations. The course challenges students to think through the execution of change strategies through assessment or organizational power dynamics and appropriate influence styles for achieving results. Emphasis is placed on analyzing those attributes and skills most critical for building influence, especially in change initiatives, and on defining an ethical approach to leading, influencing, and persuading others.
Public Policy Context for Business Decisions is designed to provide intensive exposure to the forces and personalities in Washington that shape America's business policy. EMBA participants learn how to understand and anticipate the impact of public policy on their businesses and how to become more effective participants in the national decision-making process. (The course culminates in the 5 day Washington, D.C. residency.)
Applied Statistical Methods investigates the use of detailed sample data for purposes of estimating, predicting, forecasting, and explaining correlations among varied observations. Students will apply the concepts of probability theory, central tendency, sampling, inference, modeling, and forecasting to help solve managerial problems and support decision processes.
Innovation Residency
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Immersion is designed to give students a strong entrepreneurial mindset and to provide students with an understanding of the process for identifying and evaluating business opportunities. The immersion exposes students to complex and difficult new business creation and innovation tasks firms undertake to create profitable businesses and satisfied customers. A business simulator is used to serve as a continuing, evolving "case" in which course participants working in teams assume an entrepreneur or general manager's role. Students will execute true-to-life business decisions and compete with other students in a virtual business world.
Semester 3
Leadership Accountability and the Legal Implications highlights the accountabilities of leaders and the challenges they face in the rapidly changing business environment. The course studies the political, social, ethical, and global environment in which American business organizations operate and the impact on today's leaders. Topics include creating and maintaining affiliate relationships and joint ventures, as well as prohibitions on anti-competitive behavior, protection of intellectual property, operating within a regulated environment and securities law.
Strategic Management develops economic principles essential for the formulation and evaluation of strategy including industry analysis, strategic positioning and the boundaries of the firm. The course also addresses the capacity of executive leadership to create and communicate a clear direction for a company's future.
Operations Management for World Class Competitiveness examines the basic principles and strategic use of managing the production and distribution of goods and services. This course positions operations as an important tool for achieving strategic leadership through competitive advantage. The managerial integration of OM functions with corporate strategy provides frameworks and tools for dramatically improving business processes.
Information Technology as a Strategic Tool examines the critical linkage between an organization's business, cultural and information technology strategies. In organizations today, information technology has become a key component in accomplishing strategic and operational goals. The course provides concepts and a framework for understanding and enhancing the role IT can play in innovation, change, and continuous organizational learning.
Semester 4
Leadership, Strategy and Human Resources focuses on the leader as a catalyst in developing high-performance, market-based cultures and as a human resources strategist in marshalling the workforce. Geared to the general manager, the course presents ideas and tools for building, bonding, and linking the workforce to accomplish the organization's mission. Topics include ideas and tools for identifying, recruiting, and retaining talent, developing and coaching subordinates, appraising and rewarding performance, and delegating to balance control and risk.
Global Initiatives in Management examines the management of contemporary international business organizations in a global economy. The inter-relationship and impact of political, economic, social and technological factors is studied, together with the complex challenges of strategy and execution in global companies. (This course includes the 10 day, international residency experience in a major business center abroad.)
Integrated Business Strategies - Capstone Course integrates the disciplines of business to help the student develop an integrated understanding of business planning and strategy. Students will use cases and simulation to plan and test alternative business strategies in a competitive environment. The course examines the critical factors involved in strategic decision making.
The fourth course in the final semester is a student's choice from among two electives:
Innovation and Entrepreneurship covers the entrepreneurial and innovation process from conception to birth of the new business. It looks at both process and people involved in assessing ideas, exploiting opportunities, and converting concepts into high-growth businesses. Application of these processes will be extended to both start-ups as well as new business groups within existing organizations, with an emphasis on nurturing a climate of innovation. Students will identify opportunities for high-growth potential new enterprises, develop a business plan, and present their plans to a panel of potential investors and/or senior managers. Topics covered include organization form, funding sources, the start-up team, and the product launch. OR
Advanced Topics in Finance covers financial topics of value to today's executive. The topics will address timely, emerging issues such as investments, valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and enterprise risk management.
Combined J.D./MBA Program
The Bloch School and UMKC School of Law offer the combined J.D. and MBA program. Students must satisfy the admission and degree requirements for each school. For further information, contact the School of Law or consult the Bloch School Web site at http://www.bloch.umkc.edu/graduate/mba/jd-mba-joint-program/index.aspx.
Business and Public Administration, Henry W. Bloch School of