Dillard College of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration Dillard College Centers

Distinguished Professorships Programs and Courses

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Terry Patton, Dean

(Dillard College of Business Administration Building 239)

Master of Business Administration

Bob Thomas, Graduate Coordinator

Graduate Faculty:	Anders, Bultena. Dubinsky, Fritzsch, Fukasawa, Gaharan, Gelves, Kataria, Lei, Li, Manley, Martin, Martinez, Nguyen, Owen, Patterson, Patton, Shao, Stambaugh, Thomas, Tilker, Wilson, Young, Zaidi, Zhang
Emeriti Faculty:	Harmel, C. Harris, T. Harris, Harvey, Johnston, Krienke, Madera, McCullough, Patin, Ramser, Rountree, Van Geem.

Introduction

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program was created by the graduate faculty within the Dillard College of Business Administration. All substantive changes, deletions, and additions to the rules and guidelines concerning admission to, participation in, and graduation from the MBA Program are approved by the graduate faculty before they are implemented by the Graduate Coordinator.

Mission

The mission of the MBA Program at MSU is to: (1) qualify individuals for professional positions within the rapidly changing business world, (2) prepare students to assume positions of leadership within a wide variety of organizations, and (3) provide the foundation in business administration for those individuals who want to pursue advanced academic studies in business administration.

To attain its mission, the graduate faculty within the Dillard College of Business Administration believes that the MBA Program must lead to the achievement of the following objectives. Each graduate student, in pursuing an MBA degree at MSU, must

1. know how to use team building and collaboration to achieve group objectives
2. gain a broad understanding of the functional areas of a business entity
3. be able to communicate effectively through both written and oral means
4. develop analytical and critical thinking skills beyond those exhibited for students at the bachelor’s level
5. have the capacity to adapt his/her knowledge to new and unfamiliar circumstances.

Accreditation

The Dillard College of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance College Schools of Business, International (AACSB, International).

National business accreditation has several benefits to the business student:

1. Each student will receive a professional education in business administration which is relevant and of high quality.
2. The programs of business education at MSU are fundamentally similar to those received at other accredited institutions in the United States.
3. When recruiting and hiring business students, companies look favorably on graduates from accredited business programs.

Applying for Admission

To be considered for admission to the MBA Program, students must provide the information listed below to the Billie Doris McAda Graduate School.

1. A bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. A completed application form.
3. Official transcripts of all previous college course work (including verification of an earned bachelor’s degree).
4. An official score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

International students (from countries where English is not the native language) must provide the documents listed above as well as an official score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to the Office of International Services.

Application for Graduate Admission

Students may apply online via ApplyTexas at http://www.applytexas.org or at http://www.mwsu.edu. Students who have previously attended Midwestern State University, but did not enroll for a long semester (fall or spring) must submit a new application for admission. Even students who have completed their undergraduate degree at Midwestern State University must submit an application for graduate admission. The application for graduate admission must be filed by the deadlines listed in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog.

Official Transcripts

Transcripts reflecting course work pursued at all higher education institutions attended must be provided to the Graduate School before admission to MSU can be considered. Each applicant must have official transcripts sent directly to MSU. Copies of transcripts will not be accepted.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

Each applicant must register for and take the GMAT. Information about the GMAT can be found at http://www.mba.com. This web site makes it possible for students to access general information about the GMAT, review sample test questions, and register to take the GMAT online. However, members of the Beta Gamma Sigma (the international honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International) may request to have the GMAT requirement waived.

Admission Status

Applications for admission are reviewed and several factors are considered, including the applicant’s GPA on his/her last 60 hours of undergraduate course work and the score on the GMAT. Admission decisions are made by the Dillard College of Business Administration’s Graduate Program Committee.

International applicants must meet a minimum score on the TOEFL as required under International Students.

Unconditional Admission

A citizen of the U.S.A. who (1) has an earned undergraduate degree, (2) submits an application for graduate admission (including all required application materials), and (3) has been accepted for admission by the Dillard College of Business Administration’s Graduate Program Committee will be unconditionally admitted to the MBA program. To be admitted unconditionally, an international applicant must not only meet the three conditions above but also satisfy the TOEFL requirements shown above.

For more information on the MBA program including Program Requirements and Guidelines, see Master of Business Administration, M.B.A.

Important Program Guideline

The graduate faculty of the Dillard College of Business Administration has approved a number of guidelines (or rules) which must be adhered to by all MBA students. These guidelines affect several facets of the MBA program.

Common Body of Knowledge Courses

1. CBK Course Prerequisites: Before registering for a CBK course, a student must complete each prerequisite either at MSU or by transfer credit.
2. Undergraduate CBK Courses: Since the required CBK courses are undergraduate courses, they may be taken at MSU prior to entering the MBA program. All required CBK courses taken at MSU (after completing requirements for an undergraduate degree) will be included as part of the last 60 hours of course work, which forms the basis for computing the student’s undergraduate GPA.
3. Transferred CBK Courses: Equivalent CBK courses may be transferred from other accredited colleges and universities. Equivalency will be determined by the Graduate Coordinator in consultation with the appropriate Department Chair.
4. CLEP Exam: A student may satisfy a required CBK course by taking a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject exam. In order to receive credit, the student must earn a score equivalent to “B” or higher. Credit from DANTES will not be accepted.
5. Completion of CBK Courses: Before beginning graduate level course work, a student must complete all or a majority of the required CBK courses. Any student wishing to take a graduate level business course prior to completion of all CBK courses must receive approval from the Graduate Coordinator.
6. Microcomputer Proficiency: A student who is not proficient in microcomputer applications will be advised to take MIS 2003 (Information Technology Concepts for Business).

Required Graduate Courses

Normally no substitutions will be allowed for the eight (24 semester hours) graduate courses required for the MBA degree (i.e., those courses specifically identified by course number and title).

Elective Graduate Courses

All graduate level elective courses must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator. The following rules will help students select graduate level electives.

1. Undergraduate Courses Taken for Graduate Credit: The Dillard College of Business Administration does not award graduate credit for any undergraduate courses.
2. Graduate Transfer Credit: A maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate level course work may be transferred from another accredited college or university or from another graduate program at MSU. Each graduate course for which transfer credit is requested must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Minimum Grade Requirements

Graduate students are expected to do high quality work. Only grades of A, B, C, and CR are acceptable in graduate courses. Graduate students are responsible for adjusting their course loads consistent with their schedules of work and other outside activities and to prepare themselves by taking prerequisite courses. The following rules, approved by the graduate faculty of the Dillard College of Business Administration, concern graduate level performance.

1. Transfer Credit -Transfer credit will be reviewed for approval.
2. Grade Point Average – To graduate with an MBA degree, students must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher on all graduate course work. Furthermore, students who choose the thesis option must earn a minimum GPA of 3.00 on all graduate course work in order to enroll in thesis courses. All students must have an overall 3.00 GPA in order to graduate.
3. The “Three C” Rule – Graduate students who earn a “C” or lower in no more than two different graduate courses will be allowed to remain in the MBA program as long as their cumulative GPA remains 3.00 or higher. However, after earning the second “C” or lower grade, a graduate student must meet with the Graduate Coordinator to create a plan for improving performance. If a graduate student earns a grade of “C” or lower in more than two different graduate courses, the student will be dismissed from the MBA program.
4. Repeated Courses - A repeated course will not be coded as such without approval from the Graduate Coordinator. If the Graduate Coordinator approves the repeat, the repeated course will be the one calculated in the GPA. However, all previous course grades remain on the student’s transcript.

Final Degree Plan

Early in the semester prior to the semester of expected graduation, an MBA student must schedule a conference with the Graduate Coordinator to prepare his/her final degree plan. After approval by the student and the Graduate Coordinator, the final degree plan is submitted to the Dean of the Dillard College of Business Administration and then to the Office of the Registrar. After meeting with the Graduate Coordinator, the student should file for graduation.

Filing for Graduation

In the semester prior to the semester of anticipated graduation, the graduate student should file an Application for Graduation and pay the graduation fee at the Office of the Registrar. (See Academic Calendar  in the Graduate Catalog for deadlines.) A student may also apply for graduation online at http://mwsu.edu/registrar/applygraduation/index.

Research Proposal

Each MBA degree candidate has the choice of submitting a thesis. The student must submit a written research proposal. At a minimum, the proposal should cover the following areas:

Introduction to the topic chosen. Include background to the topic and why it is important.

Statement of problem and objective of study. In this part, the student should clearly and concisely indicate what he/she expects to accomplish. The discussion should cover exactly what will and will not be included in the study.

Literature review. The student should include in the proposal a brief summary of each piece of literature which significantly affects the topic. For each piece of literature included, the student should discuss how the results relate to the topic.

Proposed research design. This section is particularly important if the student chooses the thesis option. In a thesis, the student will normally define a topic, design a study to address the topic, conduct the study, and analyze the results in
the final report (i.e., “the Thesis”).

Summary. In this section, the student should summarize the entire proposal.

The student should submit the research proposal as early as possible for several reasons:

1. The research proposal (and topic) will help identify an appropriate chairperson for the student’s faculty advisory committee. The background of the faculty member who will serve as chair should compliment the student’s proposed research.
2. Where possible, the student should write research papers in MBA courses related to the chosen topic. In this way, each student can better understand the topic.

Thesis

A graduate student who chooses to do a thesis must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Prepare and submit to the chairperson of his/her faculty advisory committee a more detailed research proposal than the original “Research Proposal”.
2. Actually carry out the proposed research. This usually involves collecting the appropriate data, analyzing the results, drawing appropriate conclusions, and submitting a thesis (formal report) covering the research design, analysis, and results. The requirements for a thesis are more rigorous because the results are published.

The topic chosen will be determined through consultation with approval by the student’s faculty advisory committee. The student begins this process no fewer than twelve months before expected graduation. The first draft of the thesis (including analysis of results and conclusions) should be submitted to the faculty advisory committee early in the student’s semester of expected graduation.

Graduate Advisory Committee

Identifying a thesis topic and writing a research proposal, the student should consult with the Graduate Coordinator to form a Graduate Advisory Committee.

The student’s required research proposal (discussed above) will facilitate selecting of a chairperson who has an academic background consistent with the student’s research topic.

The Graduate Advisory Committee serves two important functions:

1. Providing guidance to the student in completing his/her course work,
2. Helping the student define the research topic and supervising the conduct of a thesis.

Important Deadlines for Students in a Thesis Program

Students writing a thesis must submit a proposal. The student must complete the “Application for Admission Candidacy” form, which requires a copy of the research proposal and the list of committee members, prior to enrolling in the first thesis course, BUAD 6983 . (Note: Students should identify a faculty member who has a background compatible with his/her research topic to serve as chair.)

Thesis
Semester	Requirement
First semester or no later than 3 semesters prior to graduation	Notify the Graduate Coordinator of intent to pursue the Thesis option
At least three semesters prior to graduation	Register for BUAD 6983   Write thesis proposal Identify Graduate Advisory Committee members Complete and submit Application for Candidacy to the Graduate Coordinator
At least two semesters prior to graduation	Register BUAD 6993   Begin work on thesis
Semester of Graduation	At least 3 weeks prior to the end of the semester	Completed thesis approved by GAC and turned in to the Graduate Coordinator

Dillard College Centers

Bureau of Business and Government Research

John Martinez, Ph.D., Director

The Bureau of Business and Government Research is an integral part of the Dillard College of Business Administration and Midwestern State University. The mission of the Bureau of Business and Government Research is

1. to provide assistance in research conducted by the faculty and students in the University;
2. to conduct and encourage research related to economic development and the local community; and
3. to promote partnerships in the business and local community to pursue contemporary economic, business, and government issues.

The Bureau of Business and Government Research at Midwestern State University is a member of the nationwide Association for University Business and Economic Research. The Bureau of Business and Government Research publishes the Midwestern Business and Economic Review twice yearly.

The Mamie Raborn Center for Economic Education

James Owen, Ph.D., Director

The Mamie Raborn Center for Economic Education was established in 1982 to increase the economic understanding of the University community and the citizens of the North Texas area. The Center provides economic education materials, disperses information concerning economic issues, and serves as a point of contact for members of the media and community having questions about economic issues.

Small Business Development Center

Vanda Wright, Director

The MSU Small Business Development Center provides assistance to small businesses. Clients include those already in business and those who want to start a new enterprise. The Center provides business and technical advice in one-on-one counseling. Special seminars and workshops are developed and presented as needed. Assistance in international trade, government contracting, and technology transfer is also offered.

The Small Business Development Center works with the Dillard College of Business Administration in developing cooperative research with faculty members.

The Munir Abdul Lalani Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise

Jeffrey E. Stambaugh, Ph.D., Director

The Munir Abdul Lalani Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise was established by the family of Munir Lalani to support entrepreneurial ventures, creativity, innovation, and curriculum for students at Midwestern State University. The Lalani Center works with individual students as well as members of the North Texas community in support of new business start-ups and other entrepreneurial activities, business incubators, and partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Wichita Falls region. The Lalani Center is developing curriculum in entrepreneurship to encourage and support successful student innovation and economic development. The business incubator program helps accelerate new business ventures, assists in business plan development, venture capital development, and participation in national student competitions. The Lalani Center is a member of the National Business Incubator Association.

Distinguished Professorships

Bridwell Distinguished Professorship of Finance

The Bridwell Distinguished Professorship of Finance was established in 1990 by the Bridwell Foundation to bring outstanding scholarship to Midwestern State University. The professor holding this position is recognized in the finance profession for his academic achievements.

Dr. Adam Y.C. Lei, CFA, is the Bridwell Distinguished Professor of Finance. Dr. Lei has taught at Louisiana State University prior to joining Midwestern State University in 2005. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in finance from Louisiana State University, M.B.A. degree from National Chung Cheng University, and bachelor’s degree in industrial management from National Cheng Kung University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation since 2009. Dr. Lei’s research has been published in academic journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance, Managerial Finance, Financial Services Review, and the Journal of Economics and Finance Education. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Lei served as an officer in the Republic of China Military Police.

Dillard Distinguished Professorship of Finance

The Dillard Distinguished Professorship of Finance was established in 2010 to honor Ms. Kay Dillard, a primary benefactor of the Dillard College of Business Administration. The professor holding this position is recognized nationally in the finance profession for his outstanding contributions to the finance field.

Dr. Robert C. Forrester has been named the first Dillard Distinguished Professor of Finance.  He received his BBA and MBA from Midwestern State University and his doctorate in finance from Kennesaw State University. Prior to entering academia, he has work experience with Reynolds Aluminum and is currently the owner of several successful companies in the North Texas area, as well as the recipient of the BBB Torch Award for honesty and integrity in business. In his first year of teaching, the MSU Student Government Association selected Robert as the Midwestern State University Professor of the Year.  He was selected as the MSU Dillard College of Business Outstanding Alumni of the Year in 2010.  In addition, the Dillard College of Business faculty chose Robert for their 2010-2011 Faculty of the Year award. Robert was the Dillard College of Business Executive-in-Residence from 2010-2014. He has served as the President of the Red River Best Chevy Dealers Association, past board member of the Clay County Memorial Hospital, past chair of the Clay County Hospital Foundation, co-chair of the Business Advisory Board of Midwestern State University Dillard College of Business Outreach Committee, and served on the MSU AACSB Strategic Planning Committee as well as many other boards and committees.

Dillard Distinguished Professorship of Marketing

The Dillard Distinguished Professorship of Marketing was established in 2010 to honor Ms. Kay Dillard, a primary benefactor of the Dillard College of Business Administration. The professor holding this position is recognized nationally in the marketing profession for his outstanding contributions to the marketing field.

Alan Dubinsky (Ph.D., University of Minnesota) has been named the first Dillard Distinguished Professor of Marketing. He has taught at several universities, including Purdue University, SMU, University of Missouri, and University of Kentucky. Prior to entering academia, he was a territory manager for Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). His research has appeared in the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Academy of Management Journal, Leadership Quarterly, and Sloan Management Review, among others, and he is the author of four books. He is a former editor of the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management and a recipient of the Annual Excellence in Research Award from the American Marketing Association Selling and Sales Management Special Interest Group.

Louis J. and Ramona Rodriguez Distinguished Professorship

The Louis J. and Ramona Rodriguez Distinguished Professorship was established in 2003 to honor President Emeritus Louis J. and Ramona Rodriguez.

Munir A. Lalani Distinguished Professorship of Entrepreneurship

The Munir A. Lalani Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship was established in 2008 by the family of Munir Lalani to support entrepreneurial activities in the Dillard College and region.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Stambaugh, the Munir A. Lalani Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, is a retired Colonel from the United States Air Force where he has a distinguished career as an officer and fighter pilot. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and has served as the 27^th Fighter Wing Vice Commander in Clovis, NM. He has twice been assigned to the Pentagon and served as a political-military affairs officer at U.S. European Command Headquarters in Germany. In 2001, he was a Fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. Dr. Stambaugh completed his Ph.D. in Management with a specialization in entrepreneurship and strategies from Texas Tech University. He serves as the Director of the Munir Abdul Lalani Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise in the Dillard College of Business Administration.

Robert Madera Distinguished Professorship of Accounting

The Robert Madera Distinguished Professorship of Accounting was established in 2005 in recognition of the long-time service of Professor Emeritus, Robert Madera. The generosity of alumni of the Dillard College of Business Administration has made this professorship possible.

Terry Patton, Ph.D., CPA, CGFM, is the Robert Madera Distinguished Professor of Accounting and the Dean of the Dillard College of Business Administration at Midwestern State University. He is the author of numerous articles on governmental accounting and coauthor of a textbook, Introduction to Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting, 7^th edition, published by Prentice Hall. He also was co-author on PPC’s Guide to Governmental Financial Reporting Model: Implementing GASBS No. 34. Previously, Dr. Patton was the Research Manager at the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). In his eight years at the GASB, he was part of the project team on numerous GASB Standards including major projects such as GASB Statement No. 34, Basic Financial Statements-and Management’s Discussion and Analysis-for State and Local Governments and GASB Statement No. 45, Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions. Dr. Patton also has been an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a supervisor at a Texas CPA firm where he conducted audits of local governments. Dr. Patton received his doctorate in accounting from Texas Tech University. He is a member of the American Accounting Association and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Programs and Courses

Programs

• •  Business Administration, M.B.A.

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