Saturday Master
| The Saturday MBA program is a brand new
option to help you get your business degree while continuing progress
in your career. Registrations are now being accepted for the next
session which will begin Summer Semester. Classes will be held on
Saturdays at the Meridian Campus of Mississippi State University.
The entire program can be completed in less than 19 months. |
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Benefits of the Saturday MBA Program
Benefits to Students
• Convenience
• Cohort Networking
• Classes Designed For Working Individuals
• Type of Students Attracted to the Program
• Develops Team Building Skills
• Interactive Classroom Methods Utilized
• Small Class Size
• Length of Program (17 - 18 Months)
• VALUE (Compare other SEC schools at avg. of $39,000)
Benefits to Sponsoring Companies
• Cost effective investment in employee and corporate development
• Program Designed to Address “Real World” Problems
• Saturday format does not interfere with work schedule
• Short Program (17 - 18 Months) Provides Great ROI!!
• Guaranteed Quality Through Accreditation
• Students learn about Alternative Solutions at Other Companies
• Goal of program is to Provide Directly Applicable Solutions
to Problems
• VALUE (Compare other SEC schools at avg. of $39,000)
Curriculum
The coursework is practical, relevant and directly applicable to working
managers. These individual experiences are shared and the practical
aspects of the theory taught are reinforced. The faculty members who
teach in the Saturday MBA program have both practical and scholarly
experience from which to draw. Only professors who have demonstrated
such in their field are allowed to teach in this exclusive program.
The Program is divided into two primary sections.
The First Section
This is a quick-start program, specifically designed to bring all
the students to the same basic level of preparation regardless of
their bachelor’s degree. These quick-start classes assume that
each class member has a working knowledge of core topics. Contained
in this section are the five (5) survey classes which are required
of all students.
| Course |
Course Number |
Saturdays |
| Survey of Management |
MGT 8063 |
4.5 |
| Survey of Finance |
BQA 8443 |
4.5 |
| Survey of Finance |
FIN 8052 |
3 |
| Survey of Marketing |
MKT 8072 |
3 |
| Survey of Accounting |
ACC 8303 |
4.5 |
These classes are designed to provide a refresher for those who may
have been away from academia for a few years. Although stated as principles,
these courses are driven by the standard to prepare you for more advanced
learning and are taught as such. A great majority of preparation and
responsibility for the more advanced classes belongs to the student.
Experience has shown that most professionals prefer to be treated
in this manner. Suggested outside reading lists and reading materials
will be provided and given to students prior to the beginning of class.
The Second Section
This section is composed of the thirty (30) hour core made up of fifteen
(15) classes covering the basic functions in business. Many of these
courses have hands-on case analysis, participant interaction, and
team- competition components to them.
| Course |
Course Number |
Saturdays |
| Multimedia Presentation and Communication |
BIS 8122 |
3 |
| Leadership Skills for Managerial Behavior |
MGT 8112 |
3 |
| Financial Statement and Management Accounting |
ACC 8112 |
3 |
| Managing Information Technology and Systems |
BIS 8112 |
3 |
| Business Case Analysis using Statistics |
BQA 8112 |
3 |
| Human Resource Issues |
MGT 8111 |
1.5 |
| Economics for Managers |
EC 8103 |
4.5 |
| Law, Business Ethics, and Dispute Resolution |
BL 8112 |
3 |
| Capital Acquisition and Allocation |
FIN 8112 |
3 |
| Corporate Liquidity Analysis |
FIN 8122 |
3 |
| Marketing Management |
MKT 8112 |
3 |
| Business Research |
MKT 8132 |
3 |
| Organizational Development |
MGT 8823 |
4.5 |
| Strategic Management |
MGT 8121 |
1.5 |
| Business Consulting Project |
MGT 8122 |
3 |
Course sequence is generally the same as in the traditional MBA program.
Minor differences would include course content and coverage allowing
for the “professional” experience that the students will
be bringing to the class. Sixty-five (65) Saturday classes are required
to meet matriculation requirements.
Instructional Methods
How Classes Are Taught
Various methods are used in the learning process. Methodology and
pedagogy vary but include: case method, Socratic style, team based
approach, active learning, group research assignments, report writing,
guest speakers, presentations, and occasional outside assignments
serving constituents of the program.
Students who have participated in Saturday MBA programs indicate
the greatest benefit, other than making life long friends, is the
use of study groups in the learning process. Teams are often developed
on the first day of class and sometimes rotate membership, but team
interaction and the resulting organizational discovery of the importance
of "team" has been shown to be most rewarding. Programs
help students identify that regardless of subject, someone will have
an inside edge and deeper knowledge that significantly brings the
rest of the team to a point far beyond what any individual could experience.
Group tutoring in each subject is, therefore, automatic and effective.
Cohort Method
As all individuals start, progress and graduate together in this program,
the educational experience is often enhanced by sharing learning styles,
strengths, weaknesses, and abilities through in class and off site
group tutoring sessions.
Faculty
Saturday MBA faculty members have been selected from both the Starkville
and Meridian campuses to teach because of past performance and achievement
in graduate classes and their ability to work with the type of professionals
attracted to this class. Faculty selected for this program often regards
it as a sign of personal achievement.
Application Procedure
Each applicant must submit the materials described below to:
Saturday MBA for Professionals
Mississippi State University – Meridian Campus
Division of Business & Industry
1000 Highway 19 North
Meridian, MS 39307
See Application Packet for the following:
- Application for Admission Form: The application deadline is November
1st preceding the beginning of class in January. Students are encouraged
to submit the application forms as soon as possible.
- Application Fee: An application fee of $30.00 is required for
out-of-state residents and international students only. Please make
check or money order payable to Mississippi State University.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters of recommendation
are required and must be sent directly by the recommender. Letters
of recommendation should be written by professional associates who
have known the applicant for at least one year.
- College Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-high
school educational institutions attended must be sent directly from
those schools.
- Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): The GMAT is a standardized
test required of all Saturday MBA applicants and is one of several
factors utilized in the admission decision. If you have not taken
the GMAT, please call 1-800-GMAT-NOW, or go to www.gmat.org for
registration and testing information. See enclosed booklet for more
detailed information. An acceptable GMAT score (generally 500 or
higher) administered within the last 5 years, (except for the Master
of Economics which requires an acceptable GRE score); or an acceptable
ACS score based on the following formula: 200 x (last 60 hours of
GPA) + GMAT = 1100, is required. For international applicants, a
TOEFL score of: Paper Based - 575; Computer Based - 233; Internet
Based - 90 is required. An IELTS score of 6.5 may be substituted
for the TOEFL.
- Statement of Recognition of Participation: The applicant’s
employer must complete and return this form.
- Statement of Purpose: The applicant must write a statement describing
personal goals, unique experiences, and characteristics that he/she
would bring to this program.
- Immunization Form: State law requires that applicants born after
1956 submit proof of MMR Immunization.
- Interview: Upon receipt of the applicant’s packet, the
director of the program may request an interview.
Downloadable Forms
Application
Recommendation Form
Transcript Request
Form
Statement
of Recognition of Participation
Statement of Purpose
Immunization Form
Selection of Participants
The selection of participants is a process that uses a combination
of several factors proven to be strong predictors of success in MBA
programs. The first factor is grades earned in the undergraduate program.
Generally, the last sixty (60) hours are used to calculate the GPA (grade
point average). More often than not, a GPA above 3.0 is considered to
be acceptable. The second factor used to determine eligibility and propensity
for success is the GMAT score. Typically, a score above 500 has been
proven to be a strong indicator for success in a MBA program. The GMAT
can be taken at the testing center at MSU-Starkville or at the Sylvan
Learning Center.
Mississippi State University uses a composite score to help determine
acceptance in the program. This composite score allows flexibility for
scores from various programs and schools. The composite requirement
is calculated by multiplying the applicant’s GPA times 200 and
then adding applicant’s GMAT score to this. The combined score
should equal or exceed 1100.
For example: If the GPA for your last sixty hours was 2.95, you would
multiply your GPA by 200 to get a score of 590. After taking the GMAT,
suppose you scored a 527. You would add your 527 GMAT score to your
590 GPA score to get a total of 1117. This exceeds the 1100 threshold
for acceptance in the program.
In the event that there are more qualified applicant’s than the
advertised class capacity, students will be selected by a review of
two (2) application items: 1) the order in which completed applications
were received; and 2) the Statement of Purpose essay. The essay will
be reviewed for a compelling argument why a MBA degree is essential
to the future of the candidate.
Fees
Tuition for the Saturday MBA program is $22,000. There is a $1,000
non-refundable deposit due with the application. The remaining $21,000
can be paid in three installments. The first installment of $7,000 is
due before classes start in January. The second is installment of $7,000
is due the following July before the second section of classes begin.
The third installment of $7,000 is due the following January. All tuition
must be paid before each of the three sections begins. If a student
drops the program after the sections have started, all paid tuition
fees will be forfeited to offset prepaid expenses by the university.
If a student does not meet the deadline for payment of any of the three
sections, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.
For any other payment schedule, contact Marilyn James, Coordinator of
Financial Aid, Records and Registration at the Meridian Campus at 601-484-0134.
Financial Aid is available in the form of student loans.
The $22,000 covers all tuition, fees, books, working lunches, and a
wireless capable laptop computer. The books for each class will be delivered
at least one week before the class starts. The working lunches will
be selected from various popular local restaurants and caterers. There
are several local caterers that provide an assortment of lunch items
such as pizza and lunch calzones from Luigi’s, assorted sandwiches
from McAlisters, and others. The wireless laptop will be compatible
the MSU network (and most others 802.11b), which will allow students
to work anywhere in the building as if they were in a computer lab.
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