M.A. in English
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Master of Business Administration - General
Conway, Arkansas
INTAKE: August
Program Overview
The University of Central Arkansas (UCA), located in Conway, USA, offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) - General program designed to provide students with broad exposure to management principles across all essential business disciplines. This degree is tailored for highly committed individuals seeking career advancement, enhanced knowledge, and improved skills in the dynamic business world. The program is flexible, with classes offered during afternoons, evenings, or entirely online, allowing full-time students to complete the degree in as few as 12 months, while accommodating working professionals.
AACSB Accredited: Yes, the University of Central Arkansas's College of Business, which houses the MBA program, is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. This is a significant indicator of quality, as AACSB accreditation is considered the premier global accreditation for business schools and ensures that the program meets rigorous standards of excellence in curriculum, faculty, and student outcomes.
Curriculum: The General MBA curriculum at UCA requires 30 credit hours beyond any prerequisites. The core consists of 21 hours covering fundamental business areas such as Information Technology for Managers, Accounting for Management Decisions, Financial Decision Making, Marketing Strategy, Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior, and Operations Management. For the remaining 9 hours, students choose three elective courses from a wide range of options spanning accounting, health administration, finance, and information management. This flexibility allows students to tailor their MBA to their specific career interests while still gaining a broad understanding of business functions. Prerequisites may apply for students with non-business undergraduate degrees.
Research Focus: The MBA program at UCA, while primarily geared towards practical management and leadership, integrates a strong emphasis on critical thinking and data-driven decision-making. Courses like "Critical Thinking and Experimental Design," "Predictive Analytics," "Prescriptive Analytics," and "Business Intelligence and Data Visualization" are available as electives or as part of specialized MBA concentrations, which implicitly encourages a research-informed approach to business challenges. The faculty in the College of Business are committed to scholarly contributions, and the program aims to equip students with the analytical skills to identify and solve complex business problems, often by leveraging data and established research methodologies.
Industry Engagement: UCA's MBA program demonstrates strong industry engagement, aiming to prepare graduates for immediate impact in various careers such as accounting, finance, data analytics, healthcare, marketing, human resources, and operations management. The College of Business maintains robust ties with the local business community, as evidenced by events like the Allison Speaker Series, which features industry leaders, and student participation in business analytics competitions. These connections provide students with valuable networking opportunities, real-world insights, and often lead to internships and employment, aligning the curriculum directly with industry needs and preparing students for the current business environment.
Global Perspective: The University of Central Arkansas's College of Business explicitly states its mission to "educate a diverse population of current and future business professionals to successfully and ethically meet the challenges of the global business environment." This commitment is reflected in the MBA program's curriculum, which includes topics relevant to international business, such as "International Finance" as an elective. Furthermore, the AACSB accreditation itself underscores a global standard of business education. By providing a broad business education with an emphasis on ethical leadership, decision-making methods, and social responsibility, the program prepares graduates to navigate the complexities and opportunities of an increasingly interconnected global marketplace.
Location
Conway, Arkansas
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 11400
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Application Fee: $50
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 65% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 79 or higher.
The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for international students to help make higher education affordable and accessible. These scholarships recognize academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement, supporting talented students from around the world as they pursue their degrees.
Merit-Based Scholarships: UCA provides competitive merit scholarships specifically for international students, awarded based on academic achievements such as high school GPA, standardized test scores, and other accomplishments. These scholarships can significantly reduce tuition costs and are renewable each year, provided students maintain satisfactory academic performance.
International Student Scholarship: The university offers dedicated scholarships for international students, including awards that cover partial tuition fees. These scholarships aim to attract high-performing students globally and promote diversity on campus.
Program-Specific Scholarships: Some colleges and departments within UCA provide scholarships for international students pursuing specific fields of study, such as business, education, health sciences, or the arts. Prospective students are encouraged to inquire about scholarships related to their major.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a General concentration from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) provides graduates with a comprehensive and adaptable skill set, preparing them for leadership and management roles across a multitude of industries. The AACSB accreditation of UCA's College of Business signifies a high standard of quality, ensuring that the curriculum is relevant and prepares students for the demands of the modern business world. This broad business education, coupled with a focus on critical thinking and strategic decision-making, makes UCA MBA graduates highly sought after in diverse professional environments.
Management Consultant: MBA graduates are well-suited to provide strategic advice to organizations across various sectors, helping them improve performance, solve complex problems, and increase efficiency. This often involves analyzing business operations, developing strategies, and implementing solutions.
Financial Manager/Analyst: In this role, graduates apply their understanding of financial markets, accounting principles, and investment strategies to manage company finances, guide investment decisions, analyze financial data, and assess the financial health of businesses. Roles can range from corporate finance to investment banking.
Marketing Manager/Director: With a solid grasp of market dynamics and consumer behavior, graduates can develop and execute comprehensive marketing strategies, manage brands, oversee advertising campaigns, and drive business growth for products or services in various industries.
Operations Manager: Operations managers are crucial for ensuring the efficient production and delivery of goods and services. MBA graduates can oversee supply chain, logistics, quality control, and process optimization to enhance productivity and reduce costs within manufacturing, retail, or service industries.
Human Resources Manager: Combining business acumen with an understanding of organizational behavior, graduates can manage talent acquisition, employee development, compensation, and labor relations. They play a strategic role in shaping company culture and maximizing human capital.
Project Manager: With training in organizational behavior, leadership, and strategic management, MBA graduates are highly effective at leading and overseeing projects from initiation to completion, ensuring they meet objectives, deadlines, and budgets across any department or industry.
Business Development Manager: These professionals identify new business opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and drive revenue growth. An MBA provides the broad business understanding needed to analyze market trends, negotiate deals, and expand a company's reach.
Data Analyst/Business Intelligence Analyst: While a specialized data analytics degree might delve deeper, a general MBA from UCA includes electives in data analytics. This allows graduates to leverage data to extract insights, create reports, and support data-driven decision-making, a critical skill in almost every modern organization.
Healthcare Administrator: For those interested in the healthcare sector, an MBA provides the necessary business and management skills to oversee operations, manage budgets, ensure compliance, and improve efficiency in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner: The comprehensive nature of a general MBA, covering finance, marketing, operations, and strategic management, provides an excellent foundation for individuals looking to start and manage their own businesses, or to take on leadership roles in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
