Master of Business Administration

www.desales.edu/mba

610.282.1100, ext. 1450

Dr. Karen E. Kent, Director
610.282.1100, ext. 2827
mba@desales.edu

Joseph Zukauskas
Assistant Director

Barbara Markwalter
Assistant Director

Jennifer Vorhis
Program Administrator

Mission Statement

The mission of the DeSales University MBA program is to provide a transformative educational experience within the Catholic Salesian tradition. We develop knowledgeable, ethical leaders who will experience socially useful and professionally rewarding careers. The DeSales MBA prepares leaders to be who they are and be that well.

Distinguishing characteristics of the DeSales MBA:

Quality instruction from teacher-practitioners
Development of executive skills
Orientation for ethics and values
Customized advising and career support
Strong core curriculum, which links theory to practice
Broad selection of concentrations and specialty areas

Learning Outcomes

The MBA program is intended to provide students with a sophisticated level of understanding of the basic functional areas of business, as well as an appreciation of the role of business in our pluralistic society and the international community in which it exists. The ethical dimension of personal and corporate behavior and decision-making will be stressed throughout the program. The program will achieve this by having the students successfully:

Apply and evaluate management theories to make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
Apply and evaluate marketing principles to make decisions about the direction of an organization.
Analyze accounting data to understand the financial position of an organization and to make managerial decisions.
Analyze and evaluate quantitative data to make business decisions, in particular the budgeting of capital among potential investments.
Evaluate business decisions in light of regulatory and ethical frameworks, particularly with regard to Catholic Social Teaching.
Analyze and evaluate personal leadership skills, especially with respect to personnel management and effective communication.
Explain and analyze business issues utilizing a concentrated field of business.
Integrate concepts across business fields to develop comprehensive business strategy.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission to the MBA program are:

A Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
Acceptable level of academic quality in undergraduate work. Normally, this is defined as having achieved an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
Computer literacy and familiarity with basic, business-oriented software.
Acceptable score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). The GMAT may be waived for the applicant who presents evidence of a strong undergraduate academic record with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Candidates with a GPA below 3.0 may still be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Two years of full-time work experience.

All admission decisions and admission related matters must be approved by the MBA Program Director. Further review may be required by the MBA Committee on Admissions and Academic Standards, which meets at various intervals throughout the year. Applicants will be notified at the earliest possible date about their admission status.

Prerequisite Foundation Courses

Applicants who have not successfully completed undergraduate course equivalents outlined in the following sections of this catalog must do so by any of the following options:

Completion of the equivalent undergraduate courses identified in the Undergraduate Foundation Courses section of this catalog.
Undergraduate level CLEP examination, which is described in the University’s Undergraduate Catalog.
Completion of equivalent graduate courses described in the Graduate Level Foundation Courses section of this catalog.

If possible, prerequisite foundation course requirements should be satisfied before pursuing graduate level core, concentration, or elective courses so as to ensure adequate academic background, which is assumed in these advanced courses.

Prior academic course work to satisfy the undergraduate foundation course requirements should normally have been completed within the seven years preceding the date of acceptance into the program, with course grades of “C” or better. Each course should be the equivalent of at least three credit hours of academic work. In special circumstances, the MBA Program Director may waive this requirement.

Undergraduate Foundation Courses

Undergraduate Foundation Courses are listed:

Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Quantitative Business Analysis (or equivalent Statistics course)
Financial Accounting
Managerial Accounting

Graduate Level Foundation Courses

As an alternative to completing the undergraduate foundation course requirements, students may elect to complete the corresponding graduate level foundation course(s) from the list below:

FD - 5051 Foundations of Business: Statistics Module
FD - 5052 Foundations of Business: Economics Module
FD - 5053 Foundations of Business: Accounting Module

These three-week one-credit courses facilitate accelerated coverage of prerequisite subject matter. The pace is rapid and significant preparation outside of class is expected.

Completion of any of the above listed courses (FD 5051, FD5052, FD5053) does not reduce or substitute the MBA graduation requirements. Grades earned in these courses will not be computed in the graduate GPA. Information about the equivalency between undergraduate foundation courses and graduate level foundation courses is available through the MBA office.

Computer Literacy

The University expects all incoming students to be “computer-literate,” which is defined as being familiar with and capable of using Microsoft Office Suite, and Internet Search Engines. Applicants lacking this background should acquire it by completing relevant coursework at the University or by some approved alternative.

Academic Schedule

The academic year of the MBA program consists of four main sessions, along with mini-sessions:

Summer (6 weeks) early July - mid August
Fall (12 weeks) late August. - late November, (8 weeks) early September - early November
Winter (12 weeks) early January - late March, (8 weeks) mid-January - early March
Spring (12 weeks) early April - late June, (6 weeks) mid-May - late June

The Academic Calendar can be found at www.desales.edu.

During the 12-week sessions, courses meet once a week in a variety of delivery formats (on-site, online, hybrid, or FLEX) from 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. During the 6-week summer session, courses meet in a variety of delivery formats (on-site, online, hybrid, or FLEX) once a week from 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.

One-credit courses are offered throughout the year.

Student Status

A full-time student is one who carries at least six (6) credits in a given term.

A part-time student is one who carries at least three (3) credits in a given term.

International Student Status

In addition to the criteria described in the Academic Regulations section, an international student (F-1 visa) needs to

maintain full-time student status (2 courses per 12-week session)
carry at least one classroom-based course in each session
take no more than one distance-education course in each session

Student Categories

Applicants may be admitted to the MBA program in one of the following categories:

Regular Student Category
A student in this category must have met all admission and foundation course requirements.

Provisional Student Category
A student in this category needs to fulfill foundation and/or specified requirements as set forth by the MBA Committee on Admissions and Academic Standards. The student will be eligible for regular student status when all requirements have been met.

Special Student Category
A qualified applicant who has not formally applied to the program may be permitted by the director to enroll as a special student in a maximum of two MBA courses. The applicant must satisfy all admission requirements before enrolling in any additional MBA courses.

Auditing Student Category
The MBA program director may permit qualified applicants to audit selected courses. Such applicants must complete the MBA application form and pay tuition for any courses to be audited. Audited courses may not be counted toward graduation requirements.

Application Procedure

Application is completed online and is accepted on a rolling basis. Interested students are encouraged to discuss their background with an admission counselor before submitting their formal application for admission.

Formal action on a prospective student’s application for admission cannot be taken until all of the following have been received:

A completed application form.
Two professional references, if required.
Official transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Current resume.
A personal essay in which the applicant outlines objectives, capabilities, and motivation for pursuing graduate study.
If required, GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) scores.
For international students only, TOEFL scores, with a minimum score of 90 is expected for admission. In addition, a WES or similar evaluation is needed to determine undergraduate degree equivalency and GPA.

When all the application items are received, the MBA Program Director will review a candidate’s application packet for approval and if need be, send it to members of the MBA Committee on Admissions and Academic Standards.

Completed application items should be submitted at least one month in advance of the date on which the applicant plans to begin graduate coursework.

Transfer Policy

Regular students may transfer a maximum of nine graduate credits into the MBA program. Transfer credits are acceptable for courses completed with a minimum grade of “B” at an accredited institution within ten years of acceptance into the program, must be compatible with the MBA curriculum, and must be approved by the program director. Additional transfer credits must be approved by the dean of graduate education upon the recommendation of the program director and the MBA Committee on Admissions and Academic Standards. In order to transfer graduate credits into the MBA program, students must submit an official transcript, course description and course syllabus for each transferred course.

Registration

Once admitted into the MBA program, students will receive an e-mail containing login instructions for the MyDSU portal. The student will use this portal to access WebAdvisor Self Service, Brightspace D2L, and the library resources. WebAdvisor Self Service is the web-based platform used to register for class. Students may register for class as soon as each session schedule is posted in WebAdvisor Self Service.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are available at www.desales.edu/mba.

Refund Amount for 12 Week Classes (Please check with advisor for 8 week and 6 week policy)

Drops during the add/drop period: 100% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 1st class after the close of the add drop period: 80% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 2nd class after the close of the add drop period: 65% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 3rd class after the close of the add drop period: 50% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 4th class after the close of the add drop period: 25% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 5th class after the close of the add drop period: No refund

MBA Probation Regulation

A student may be placed on probation at any time after completion of 12 credits if their GPA falls below a 3.0. Program foundation courses are excluded from GPA calculations. The student will remain on probation until the GPA improves and the student reaches a 3.0, or for one year, whichever comes first. If after one year the student’s GPA remains below a 3.0, but substantial progress has been made, an appeal can be submitted to the director of the program, asking for an extended time to improve the GPA. An additional two sessions may be approved. Carrying a GPA of less than a 3.0 after this process will result in dismissal from the MBA program.

Graduation Requirements

The MBA degree will be awarded to candidates who have satisfied the following requirements

Satisfactory completion of all foundation course requirements (if required).
Completion of the required 12 graduate level courses (36* credit hours) with a GPA of at least 3.0, and no more than two grades below the “B-” level. The required 12 graduate level courses are described in the Program Structure section.
Achievement of a minimum grade of “B” in the required capstone course, CR - 510 Capstone-Policy and Strategy .
Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the University.
Completion of the graduation application and graduation fee.

No special written or oral examination or special research project report is necessary to meet the minimum graduation requirements. Similarly, there is no thesis requirement.

Course Waiver

The director may waive one of the following courses:

CR - 501 Financial and Managerial Accounting for a student who has completed 12 undergraduate credits in accounting with at least a 3.0 GPA.

CR - 504 Innovation and Market Strategy for a student who has completed 12 undergraduate credits in marketing with at least a 3.0 GPA.

CR - 505 Empowering Human Potential for a student who has completed 12 undergraduate credits in management with at least a 3.0 GPA.

CR - 506 Financial Analysis and Strategy for a student who has completed 12 undergraduate credits in financial management with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Attendance

Consistent attendance is essential and expected to participate in, contribute to, and profit from classroom discussions and other activities. Possible absences should be discussed with the instructor and missed work must be made up for the successful completion of the course.

MBA Class Formats

Center Valley/FLEX

A Flex class is a class in which all live (synchronous) class sessions may be, at the student’s discretion, experienced either in the traditional physical classroom or remotely via Zoom. A Flex student may choose to experience all, some, or none of the live sessions remotely. Students may vary their attendance mode without prior notice from class meeting to class meeting. Instructors must teach from Center Valley classroom.

Online

Synchronous Online Learning - Students will virtually attend a class session each week, at the same time as the instructor and classmates. Student attendance remotely via Zoom is required at the scheduled meeting time.

Asynchronous Online Learning - Allows students to view instructional materials each week at any time they choose. Live sessions may be held, but student attendance is optional.

The University uses D2L Brightspace as downloadable interactive educational software.

Technology Requirements for Online/Hybrid Learning

Students will need a laptop (PC or Mac) or access to a desktop computer in order to receive the best compatibility and functionality when taken courses at DeSales University. Tablets and mobile phones can be used as supplemental technology but will not have the same capabilities as a full computer.

Requirements for PC
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 (Version 20H2) or higher
Browser: Google Chrome (version 80 or higher), or Mozilla Firefox (version 72 or higher)
Pop-Up blocking should be disabled in all browsers

Requirements for Mac
Operating System: Macintosh OS X 10.15 (Catalina) or higher
Browser: Safari (version 12 or higher), Google Chrome (version 80 or higher), or Mozilla Firefox (version 72 or higher)
Pop-Up blocking disabled

Hardware
Specific courses require different hardware. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what hardware is needed to participate in the course. Common hardware includes:

Computer speakers or headset
Many courses include videos or audio lectures which require use of speakers or headset.

Microphone or headset with microphone
A microphone may be required if your course includes live audio chat over the Internet. You can purchase a computer headset with microphone at most office supply or electronics stores. A USB headset works best with Mac.
Webcam: A camera is required for videoconferencing, secure online testing, and presentation assignments. Cameras that come integrated with laptops work well. External cameras can be purchased online or at office supply and electronics stores.

Software
Specific courses require different software. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what software is needed to participate in the course. MS Office is usually the standard for word processing but any program that will save files as PDF will work. Adobe Acrobat Reader or some other program that reads PDF files is also often a requirement.

Power BI: Mac users can only view Power BI created dashboards. Use of a windows machine running the latest version of Microsoft Office (or the Microsoft Office 365 equivalent) is necessary for this platform.

E-mail

Students enrolled in distance education or online courses are required to use their DeSales University e-mail. Please view the DeSales University e-mail policy.

Program of Study

In addition to developing an understanding of the sophisticated nature and inter-relationship among the basic functional areas of business, the MBA program emphasizes executive skills development in the following primary areas:

Strategy and Leadership
Communications
Ethical Decision-making
Self-awareness
Business Analytics
Critical Thinking
Globalization

The program uses a holistic and strategic approach in dealing with organizational problems. Thus, functional areas of business will be considered in the context of the organizational whole, while maintaining a global perspective and providing a multi-stakeholder, rather than a single-interest, approach. Furthermore, a strategic, long-run perspective is stressed rather than a short-run, tactical view. A balance between cognitive and affective learning is also sought. The entire program gives primacy to matters of ethics and values, as well as the rights and responsibilities of business organizations.

Program Structure

Beyond the required prerequisite foundation courses, the basic MBA program structure consists of three “building blocks” as shown below.

Core Courses
Concentration Courses
Capstone Integrating Course

MBA 1 Credit Courses

1 credit courses enable students to explore topics related to business management, and to use these credits toward concentration credit requirements. Each one credit MBA course would consist of 14 class hours scheduled over two weekends, in both synchronous (live via Zoom) and asynchronous (online self-directed) formats. Synchronous courses are held on the weekend, with the expectation that individual work would be completed within the class time frame. The one credit courses will support most MBA concentration areas. Effectively, students will need to complete (3) 1-credit courses to make up for a full 3-credit, session length course.

Graduate Certificate Programs

Graduate Certificate Programs are ideal for students who seek to expand their current qualifications, are considering a reentry into higher education, or who want to jumpstart their Master’s degree by completing coursework that applies towards the MBA degree.

DeSales University Accelerated MBA Program

DeSales University’s Accelerated MBA is a one-year/15-month program designed for recent bachelor’s degree graduates or for those professionals in career transition. Admission preference will be given to those students who successfully completed at least one internship or career related job experience. Students who possess a business-related undergraduate degree will complete the program in 12 months. Students who have not taken business courses will take three, one-credit modules of Business Foundation course to prepare them for the 12- month program (total 15-month program). The curriculum can be completed entirely online in 36 credits through the general MBA track or in 36 credits through a mini-concentration track.

The DeSales Accelerated MBA curriculum covers nine core courses, two electives in a focused area, and a capstone course. The possibilities for electives include courses in the following disciplines: business analytics, finance and accounting, healthcare management, marketing, operations and supply chain management, project management and self-design . Students may choose two courses from any concentration curriculum. Students can apply without submitting GMAT scores but must have at least a 3.0 GPA for all previous coursework.

For non-business MBA applicants, Foundational Courses are available, which include to following classes: FD - 5051 Foundations of Business: Statistics Module , FD - 5052 Foundations of Business: Economics Module , FD - 5053 Foundations of Business: Accounting Module .

Below is the planned curriculum program:

Curriculum Plan

Foundational Classes (for those students without previous business classes) - FD - 5051 Foundations of Business: Statistics Module , FD - 5052 Foundations of Business: Economics Module , FD - 5053 Foundations of Business: Accounting Module .

First session

Second Session

CR - 503 Corporate Social Responsibility
CR - 506 Financial Analysis and Strategy
PM - 501 Project Management Essentials
Elective Select focus course with advisor approval

Third Session

MG - 504 Managerial Decision-Making
CR - 510 Capstone-Policy and Strategy
Elective Select focus course with advisor approval

Fourth Session

CR - 507 Strategic Thinking and Leadership

Programs

Masters

Graduate Certificate