UCR’s MBA curriculum requires students to complete nine core MBA courses (36 quarter units). Our core MBA courses give students a management level view of knowledge and skills of each functional area in an organization.
 

• MGT 200 – Organizational Behavior and Theory

• MGT 201 – Statistics for Management

• MGT 202 – Financial Management

• MGT 203 – Managerial Economics

• MGT 205 – Information Systems

• MGT 207 – Operations Management for Competitive Advantage

• MGT 209 – Marketing Management

• MGT 211 – Financial Accounting

• MGT 235 – Strategic Management

After completing the core MBA courses, you will complete nine elective courses (36 units). Your elective courses will be determined by which MBA concentration you choose.

An MBA concentration typically requires completing five courses in a functional area of business. When choosing a specialization area, we recommend you plan for your desired career path.

The links to the MBA concentrations below will help you explore the elective offerings, concentration requirements, career pathways, and guidance on course selection to gain relevant career related knowledge and skills. You can choose an MBA specialization area in one of the following areas:
 

Accounting

Finance

Information Systems

Management

Marketing

Operations & Supply Chain Management

Business Analytics

All MBA students are required to complete an MBA capstone class or thesis, which is typically undertaken in the final quarter of study.

The MBA capstone can be completed in one of two ways:

Option one (recommended): Complete MGT 238 – Management Synthesis. This four-unit course provides credit for the capstone and meets the “comprehensive exam” requirement.

Option two: Complete a thesis. Students will nominate three faculty members to supervise them as they complete a research project over two quarters. Students who pursue this option will take 32 units of electives, instead of 36, due to the additional four units required for the MGT 299 capstone course.

MGT 238 – Management Synthesis

Students work in teams and consult for a small, local company. Teams utilize assessment tools for firms and industries learned in their strategic management course to analyze performance gaps and challenges prohibiting growth. Teams then present a growth plan to the company, outlining short-term and long-term business strategies. Finally, teams showcase their proposals and learnings in a final paper.

The course allows candidates to leverage the variety of knowledge and skills gained from their MBA courses, while harnessing teamwork, consulting, analysis, and presentation skills to add value to a local company and help drive economic growth in the region.

MBA students are required to complete MGT 402 but can also complete an additional management workshop.

MGT 402 – Business Career Professional Development Workshop

Management 402 develops critical career management skills through a greater understanding of abilities, preferences, and job search resources. Lessons will boost students’ proficiency in career- enhancing techniques, such as self-assessment, career research, resume building, networking, interviewing, salary negotiation, and professionalism. Instructors and industry professionals provide hands-on learning opportunities.

MGT 404 – Communication, Leadership, Teams, and Ethics
(optional)

Management 404 provides students with an introduction to management, which concerns the planning, organizing, and problem solving of organizational resources in order to accomplish organizational goals. The course is designed around the assessment and development of four core managerial skills: communication, leadership, teamwork, and ethical decision making.

The fieldwork in management internship is a mandatory part of the MBA program and is counted as one course (four quarter units).

A required internship experience is designed to provide meaningful work experience in a variety of industries. Students will have an opportunity to apply academic knowledge and skills in a professional business setting.

Students will typically begin their fieldwork in management internship after completing the core MBA courses. Students may opt for full-time internships during the summer or part-time internships during fall and winter semesters. Employed students may be allowed to develop projects related to their current employment to fulfill the internship requirement.

Learn more about the fieldwork in management requirement.