The Emerging Leader M.B.A.

The Boler College of Business offers graduate coursework leading to the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree. The mission of this program is to prepare students to become managers and leaders fully utilizing their skills and abilities in making ethical contributions to their organizations and to the well-being of society. This mission is implemented in the Jesuit tradition of educational excellence for the purpose of becoming agents of positive social change. To achieve this mission, the program emphasizes the quantitative and behavioral tools of business analysis and strategic decision-making so that students develop an understanding of the various functional fields along with the creative and problem solving skills required to manage and lead successful enterprises.

We have developed a unique across-the-board systemic approach to our graduate programs. We framed this approach as the Boler College of Inspired Business Graduate Programs. We believe that our faculty, our curricula, our labs, our internships, our regional and international partners, and visiting thought leaders all serve a singular purpose: helping students to experience how new and sustainable prosperity is created in an increasingly complex, changing world. The Boler Inspired Business Forum — an orientation into the mindsets students need to manage the performance of the Triple Bottom Line: Economic, Environmental and Societal — is the first class in the journey towards an Inspired Life. People, profit and planet considerations are integrated into all graduate level classes. Students learn how effective leaders make responsible, data-driven decisions that are grounded in their concern for profitability and for humanity.

Managing for the triple bottom lines of environmental, economic and societal performance requires a fundamental shift of how business leaders think. Thus, educating and cultivating the next generation of inspired business leadership means going beyond just developing the skillsets that accountancy, finance, marketing, supply chain management, or business analytics demand. This is why the Boler graduate programs developed four critical mindsets that are integrated within the framework of the TBL: An Ethical Mindset is unselfish, open, reflective and grateful for others — attentive to love, truth, fairness, equity and justice. A Systems Mindset recognizes that all people and all things are interconnected. A systems thinker is morally aware of how human actions create outcomes that impact current and future generations of people. An Innovation Mindset is driven to solve problems and make a difference by creating. It is inclusive and welcomes the diverse contributions and experiences of others. Because it is observant, curious, constructive and fearless, the innovative mind is able to synthesize seemingly divergent strains of thought into new breakthroughs. A Dynamic Mindset embraces disruption and perpetual change in all its forms — new technologies, new data, new methods, new ideas. The dynamic mind is uncomfortable with the status quo, and actively seeks out what’s next. Together we believe that these mindsets will form the foundations for students’ decisions and actions in their future careers.

John Carroll University is a member of JEBNET, the network of Jesuit M.B.A. programs linking 30 AACSB- accredited Jesuit colleges and universities by means of an articulation agreement. This agreement provides students with unparalleled flexibility to transfer graduate credits and complete their M.B.A. at another Jesuit or Catholic university in the event they relocate to another region of the country. More information can be found at the JEBNET website: http://jesuitmba.org/.

Admission Requirements

The Boler M.B.A. program is open to individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and who show high promise of success in graduate business study. New students may enter the program at the beginning of the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Completed applications and all supporting documentation must be received at least thirty (30) days (domestic students) and sixty (60) days (international students) before the beginning of the intended semester. Admission decisions are based on an evaluation of:

• Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended.

• Official scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). These may be waived for admission. However, they may be required for consideration for fellowships, graduate assistantships, and GMAT-based scholarships.

• At least one letter of recommendation.

• An essay entitled “Graduate Business Education: Enabling Me to Achieve My Personal Goals and Become a Leader.”

• A detailed resume indicating employment and educational background. International students must also provide evaluation of foreign credentials by an independent evaluation service, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and a certified statement of financial ability.

Program of Study

The Emerging Leader M.B.A. Program is an accelerated M.B.A. course of study that is designed to be completed within one academic year; however, students may take up to three years to complete the program if pursuing the degree on a part-time basis. The courses and teaching methods used in this program are designed to quickly develop an understanding of the managerially relevant decision making tools, concepts, and processes necessary to be successful in business. To enrich the educational experience, students in this program may complete an approved internship/work experience during their matriculation through the program. 

The M.B.A. program has two alternatives: 1) the Emerging Leader M.B.A., for which students may apply for in-person or online attendance and 2) the Professional M.B.A., which is designed for students with 2 or more years of professional business experience. All pathways require a minimum of 33 credit hours.

Both options in the M.B.A. program consist of four curriculum areas: Business Foundation Courses, Core Courses, Elective Courses, and Capstone Courses. The Emerging Leader M.B.A. differs in Core, Elective, and Capstone Courses from the Professional M.B.A., but are identical for the Business Foundation Courses.

The minimum number of credit hours for the degree (beyond the Business Foundation Courses) is 33 for all M.B.A. programs. Consult with the Office of Graduate Business Programs for more information.

 Program Learning Goals & Objectives

The M.B.A. program is designed to develop in students the skill sets necessary to be successful in a variety of management situations. Specifically, our MBA students will:

• Objective 1: integrate and apply evidence-based business knowledge to advance business practice, strategy & creation within a broader societal framework.

• Objective 2: identify and utilize analytical procedures, processes and technology to synthesize data and advance business practice, strategy and creation within a broader societal framework.

• Objective 3: demonstrate communication skills that synthesize complex data to inform and engage a diverse audience in individual, team and organizational settings to advance business practice, strategy and creation within a broader societal framework.

• Objective 4: demonstrate personal integrity in action, through ethical awareness, and a capacity to apply an ethical framework to make decisions.

• Objective 5: demonstrate the capacity to apply managerial and leadership skills in a dynamic team environment, in order to advance business practice, strategy and creation within a broader societal framework.

Sequence of Courses in the Emerging Leader M.B.A.

Coursework is to be completed in the following curriculum areas. To be prepared for advanced courses, students must complete all of the Business Foundation requirements.

Business Foundation Courses*

Subtotal: 12

*Subject to waiver for undergraduate equivalent

Core Courses

Subtotal: 24

Elective Courses

Two courses that pursue an in-depth study of specific areas of business. Students desiring a concentration in a specific area of business would take both in-depth courses in that area. These in-depth courses may be taken at JCU if available or online through one of our partner Jesuit schools.

One Elective Course (3 credit hours) is recommended to be an international business course.

Subtotal: 6

Capstone Course

Subtotal: 3

Internship (optional for dedicated online students, but recommended)

Subtotal: 0

Total: 33

Grade Requirements in the M.B.A. Programs

Students are allowed no more than two grades of C and must achieve a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to graduate. A grade of D does not earn graduate credit.

Concentrations

Concentrations, though not required, can be taken in any of the areas listed in the Elective courses section of the Course Descriptions. Students desiring a concentration should take two in-depth courses in the preferred area of business. These courses may be taken at JCU, if available, or online through one of our partner Jesuit schools. At least three credit hours of electives are recommended to be from an approved international business course.

**Students should consult their M.B.A. advisor for approved global electives

Program Faculty