Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Nov 21, 2024

Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Richards College of Business

Christopher K. Johnson, Dean
678-839-6467
http://www.westga.edu/business

Master of Business Administration Degree

https://www.westga.edu/mba/
678-839-6467

Through a rigorous and intellectually challenging experience, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program engages students in the process of solving business problems. The MBA program prepares students to perform effectively in management positions or to pursue further studies. The objectives of the MBA program are to enhance the student’s ability to:

Communicate at a professional level in oral presentations and in writing using appropriate technologies.
Work effectively with others and lead in organizational situations.
Identify how globalization affects organizations and their environment.
Recognize the importance of ethical decision making.
Integrate analytical and problem solving skills with concepts and theories from all functional areas of business using appropriate analytical and decision making technologies.

The MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), the premier accrediting agency for management education. The MBA serves working professionals through evening courses on the main campus in Carrollton, and our satellite locations in Newnan and Douglasville. Full time MBA students enrolled for the Fall semester on the Carrollton campus can complete the MBA program in one year. The online Georgia WebMBA^® program is also available as a separate program (listed below).

MBA Admission Criteria

The MBA program in the Richards College of Business relies on a competitive admission process. In all cases final admission decisions are made by the appropriate Richards College of Business Graduate Program Director.

Applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of a 2.80 or greater will be evaluated for regular admission. Applicants with a GPA between a 2.50 and a 2.79 will be evaluated for provisional* admission.

Applicants can submit a GMAT score to improve their admission status. Applicants must attain a score of 950 points based on the formula: (undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale) x 200) + the applicant’s Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score, and a 3.0 or higher on the analytical writing section of the GMAT: OR

In a limited number of cases, prospective students with substantial management experience (in rank and tenure) and a strong academic background may apply for and be granted a GMAT Waiver. To be considered for a GMAT waiver, applicants must submit the GMAT Test Score Waiver Form with supporting documentation. This form is available through the Richards College of Business Office of Graduate Student Services.

*Please see the Graduate School Section for details on regular and provisional admission policies.

THE GEORGIA WEBMBA^®

Richards College of Business - Adamson Hall
https://www.westga.edu/webmba/
678-839-6467

Graduate Faculty

Professors:

A. Austin, E. Bergiel, R. Best, B. Bird, D. Boldt, R. Colley, J. Deng, S. Dutt, T. Gainey, K. Green, M. Halonen-Rollins, S. Hazari, C. Hodges, M. Kassis, D. McWilliams, H. Patron, B. Prince, B. Sethna, W. Smith, S. Talpade, J. Upson, S. Webb, J. Wei, M. Yu

Associate Professors:

Y. Cheng, A. Chwialkowska, S. Lopez, L. Liu, D. McWilliams, L. Peng, M. Sinkey, G. Towhidi, S. Velez-Castrillon

Web MBA Faculty:

B. Duesing, J. Eastman, J. Ha, M. Halonen-Rollins, C. Hodges, T. Hwang, A. Mackelprang, C. Paul, D. Roebuck, J. Wang, J. Wei, A. Woszczynski, J. Yang

Mission Statement

Vision

To become a globally recognized college of business preparing forward-thinking, responsible leaders.

Mission

We are in the business of transforming lives through education, engagement and experiences.

Strategic Goals and Values

Thought Leadership

Provide thought leadership through intellectual contributions and professional practice that is consistent with our mission and vision and raises the institutional visibility and reputation.

Academic Success

Develop an environment that promotes improved student retention and progression toward graduation.

Relevant Programs

Enhance and create curricular and co-curricular programs and initiatives that align with current and expected industry needs and prepare students for career success.

Global Engagement

Expand the Richards College of Business’ international participation by developing programs and partnerships that engage faculty and students in the global business community.

External Engagement

Increase external funding from private donations, grants, and/or contracts to help support student, faculty, and staff success.

Togetherness and Belonging

Maintain and enhance a culture where all students, faculty and staff feel valued, connected, and engaged.

Ethical Values

The Richards College of Business community (administrators, faculty, staff, students, and business partners) share a commitment to the principles of honesty and integrity in interactions and undertakings, accountability for personal behavior, and respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others. In addition, we strive to continuously improve our abilities to recognize unethical behavior and to make ethical and moral decisions.

https://www.westga.edu/academics/business/vision-and-mission.php

The Richards College of Business offers graduate programs in business administration, professional accounting, applied business analytics, and strategic cybersecurity and information management.

These programs are administered through four departments: (1) Accounting and Finance, (2) Economics, (3) Management, and (4) Marketing.

The faculty members are committed to professional development through intellectual activities. The primary means by which instructors can enhance and update the content of their present courses and design new ones is through research and other professional development activities. Intellectual activities are also essential to enhance the status of the Institution among accredited member schools, potential employers, and other publics.

Service to the Institution and to the professional community supports the activities necessary to accomplish the mission. This involvement promotes the design of a superior curriculum, placement of graduates, discovery of new ideas for intellectual activities and classroom instruction, and the procurement of external funding for College activities.

Note: All Richards College of Business students must see their advisors and get their schedules approved before attempting to register.

Criteria for Admissions and Continued Enrollment in Graduate Business Programs

Initial and continued enrollment in any graduate program within the Richards College of Business is not only determined by academic criteria. Honest, ethical, professional behavior must be demonstrated at all times during the admissions process and throughout one’s tenure as a student in the program. Students may therefore be denied enrollment or removed from any graduate program for engaging in dishonest, unethical, unprofessional behavior in a class, or in any interaction with University of West Georgia faculty, staff, or students.

The graduate programs in the Richards College of Business rely on a competitive admission process. Applicants must complete an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Prior to enrolling in the MBA program, admitted students are expected to have basic business knowledge in the following content areas: finance, accounting, economics, and statistics. All incoming students will receive access to MBA Math to build or refresh their foundational business knowledge prior to beginning the MBA program.

Additionally, the applicant is subject to program specific criteria. Once a student has met the criteria for his or her selected graduate program, the Richards College of Business relies on the Dean or his or her designate to review all aspects of the student’s file to determine whether or not the applicant has provided evidence that he or she will likely succeed in the graduate program. If the committee finds that the student has provided evidence to support his or her likely success in the program, the student is admitted. If not, the student is permitted to provide further evidence to support his or her likely success in the program, the student is admitted. Applicants are encouraged to work closely with the Richards College of Business Office of Graduate Student Services throughout the admission process.

Each of the Richards College of Business graduate programs may have differing and specific criteria for admission and continued enrollment. Each applicant should carefully review the applicable criteria for their selected program.

Applicants with a native language other than English must submit minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or minimum IELTS scores. Unless explicitly stated as a program requirement, all graduate programs within the Richards College of Business adhere to the standards as listed in the International/Permanent Resident section in the UWG graduate catalog.