Today’s business leader must be able to quickly analyze situations and information and critically analyze alternatives and courses of action. The purpose of the Augsburg MBA is to prepare students to accept greater responsibility in organizations facing this dynamic , highly competitive global economy. The curriculum has been designed to teach students the ability to analyze data, think critically, and apply innovative solutions to complex problems. Quality, individual initiative, ethics, and teamwork are hallmarks of the Augsburg MBA. We have a commitment to continually improve students’ experiences and learning in the program. Our faculty is uniquely qualified to bridge theory and real-world application, giving MBA students opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge in a variety of disciplines.
Plan of Study
The Augsburg MBA is an accelerated, evening program that allows working professionals to complete an MBA degree in approximately 26 months. This is accomplished by using a cohort model in which students follow a predetermined schedule with classes meeting one night a week.
Students in a cohort program model stay together as a group through the sequence of classes for the duration of the program. This provides a continuous, collaborative learning process. The cohort environment fosters a cohesive learning community where students learn from one another, mentor each other, and develop their own career development plan based on a series of self-assessments. You’ll share diverse professional expertise and experience as you work in teams on projects, case studies, presentations, and Harvard Business Review simulations, both inside and outside of class. Working both individually and in small groups enables you to enhance your strengths, build your skills, expand your business acumen, and improve your decision-making. Together as a community, you’ll build personal, social, and academic abilities.
MBA students bring a wealth of work and personal life experiences with them into the classroom, multiplying the opportunities for learning. The personal connections and relationships you build with fellow students and faculty will extend into an important and valuable network as you take your career to new levels.
Credit for Prior Learning
Up to nine credits (three courses) may be waived through prior business coursework that is comparable to the course curriculum and from an accredited business school (with director/faculty approval) or certain professional credentials (with appropriate documentation). Consult the MBA program office for details. Students who have passed the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) or Certified Management Accountants (CMA) exam may be waived from MBA 520, Accounting for Managers.
Students with prior academic coursework that meets the following criteria may be waived from eligible core courses.
- Course(s) must be taken at an accredited institution.
- Acceptance of core course waivers implies the student accepts the responsibility for having the essential knowledge and understanding of the core course material, and is properly prepared for any future core or elective course for which the waived course was a prerequisite. Academic credit is not awarded for any waived course, nor will the course appear on academic transcripts.
Academic Calendar
The Augsburg MBA is a year-round program. Courses are offered during fall, spring, and summer semesters. Courses are offered consecutively during each term so students are able to concentrate on one subject at a time. The program is designed to have students take at least two courses per term.
Official academic calendars and the MBA registration policies can be found at www.augsburg.edu/registrar. The unique cohort model of the Augsburg MBA requires individual schedules for each cohort. These schedules are provided by the MBA department.
The Faculty-Led International Experience
Each year, all current MBA students are offered the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led international experience. This trip is taken in conjunction with either MBA 565 – Managing in a Global Environment or MBA 595 – Strategic Management. Students will travel as a group to an international location, visit businesses, participate in faculty lectures, and learn about the culture and traditions of the countries visited. Each MBA student will have two opportunities during their matriculation in the program to participate. Costs can vary; but as a minimum, trips normally include tuition (for the course selected), lodging, and travel in-country, as well as some meals. We have visited Germany, France, Poland, England, Ireland, Italy, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
Program Requirements
The Augsburg MBA requires 42 semester credits for degree completion. Augsburg MBA courses are three semester credits each. Each three semester credit course consists of 28-32 hours of in-class instruction and 5 ½ – 9 ½ hours of online instruction per week through a web-based electronic course management system.
A total of 14 courses are required for the Augsburg MBA. There are 12 core courses and 2 elective/concentration courses.
MBA Program Sequence
Semester 1:
MBA 592 – Leadership: Ethics, Vision and Transformation
MBA 545 – Organizational Behavior
Semester 2:
MBA 540 – Business and Professional Ethics
MBA 570 – Quantitative Decision-Making for Managers
Semester 3:
MBA 571 – Business Analytics
MBA 520 – Accounting for Business Managers
Semester 4:
MBA 530 – Managerial Finance
MBA 510 – Applied Managerial Economics
Semester 5:
MBA 550 – Marketing Management
MBA 595 – Strategic Management
Semester 6:
MBA 565 – Managing in a Global Environment
MBA 580 – Management Consulting Project
Concentration Course 1
Semester 7:
Concentration Course 2
Electives
Students are required to complete a concentration in either Finance, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, or Data Analytics.
Data Analytics Concentration
MBA 572 – Data Programming
MBA 573 – Predictive Analytics
Finance Concentration
MBA 532 – Investment Theory and Portfolio Management
MBA 535 – International Finance
Leadership Concentration
Any two MAL electives from the Master of Arts in Leadership program
Entrepreneurship Concentration
MBA 596 – Managing Innovation
MBA 583 – Entrepreneurship: Execution, Planning & Strategy
The entrepreneurship concentration teaches students how to perform the due diligence in developing and turning a business idea into reality by assessing the risks before product development. Our students learn how to collaborate and iterate in approaching the market opportunity and potential solution.
Student Learning Experience
Student Learning Experiences are meant to integrate the material from the three modules: Personal & Professional Development (SLE 1), Quantitative Analysis & Decision Making (SLE 2), and Value Creation (SLE 3). SLE 1 is embedded in MBA 540 Business Ethics, MBA 545 Organizational Behavior, and MBA 592 Leadership: Ethics, Vision and Transformation. SLE 2 is embedded across the MBA curriculum and includes a global business simulation in the MBA 595 Strategic Management course. SLE 3 is a single course, the MBA 580 Management Consulting Project.
MBA/ MA in Leadership Dual Degree
Augsburg offers a coordinated program for students interested in both the Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Leadership degrees. See the Master of Arts in Leadership section of this catalog for program details.
For a complete list of courses and descriptions, see the Course Description Search.