Degree Requirements for the MBA Program
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) requires the satisfactory completion of all course work (48 credit hours for students in progress prior to September 2010, 52 credits for students accepted September 2010-May 2012 and 54 credits for students accepted in September 2012 or later). Students must complete 48-54 credit hours of courses, including 40 credit hours of required courses and 8-12 credit hours of electives. 48 credits are required for students in progress before September 2010 and not opting for a concentration. 52 credits are required for all students entering September 2010-May 2012 and 54 credits are required for all students entering September 2012 or later. Grades are awarded on A, A-, B+, B, B-, C and F basis. Students who have not met and completed all degree requirements will be allowed to participate in graduation exercises only under very exceptional circumstances.
Course Requirements-Master of Business Administration
Math Competency Requirement
The SOM requires all students entering the MBA program who scored below the 25th percentile in the quantitative portion of the GMAT to take and pass a math competency test prior to the first full week of classes in the MBA program.
Students have three attempts to pass the math competency exam. If a student does not successfully pass the math competency test with a grade of 80% or higher in each section, and has taken the test three times, the student will be required to slow down her program of study until the test is passed. The student will also be withdrawn by the SOM programs office out of any quantitative course(s).
The student will not be required to withdraw from the MBA program, but she will not be permitted to enroll in any MBA quantitative courses, e.g. GSM 411 Economics, GSM 427 Strategy Decision Making, GSM 420 Financial Accounting, or GSM 415 Quantitative Analysis, until the math competency exam is passed. Passing the math competency is not a contingency in a student's admissions decision. If the program of study is slowed down, it also may delay a student's expected graduation date.
Excel Competency
The SOM requires all students entering the MBA program to take and pass an excel competency test prior to the first full week of classes in the MBA program. This exam is housed within a Harvard Business school spreadsheet course and passing the pre-test is the requirement. Students can enroll in this spreadsheet course at any time after they deposit and they are allowed to study and retake the pre-test as many times as necessary before the first quantitative course begins. Passing the excel competency is not a contingency in a student's admissions decision. If the program of study is slowed down, it also may delay a student's expected graduation date.
Technology Fluencies
Students are expected to possess the technology competencies necessary for success in the MBA Program. These competencies have been defined by the faculty within individual courses and approved by the Curriculum Committee that are necessary for success in the MBA program.
MBA Course Requirements: Prior to Fall 2012-48-52 credits
| GSM 403 | Foundations of Business-3 sessions will be required during your graduate program. One session when you enter, one session midway through the program and one session at the end of your program | 0 cr. |
| GSM 411 | Economic Analysis for Managers | 2 cr. |
| GSM 412 | Business, Government and the Global Economy (Prerequisites: GSM 411) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 415 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 cr. |
| GSM 420 | Financial Reporting and Analysis | 3 cr. |
| GSM 421 | Managerial Accounting (Prerequisite: GSM 420) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 425 | Marketing Management (Pre/co-requisite: GSM 415, GSM 420, GSM 411) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 426 | Strategy 1 | 1 cr. |
| GSM 430 | Technology and Operations Management | 3 cr. |
| GSM 431 | Information Technology (Prerequisite: GSM 430) | 2 cr. |
| GSM 435 | Finance (Prerequisites: GSM 411, GSM 415 and GSM 420) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 440 | Strategy II (Prerequisites: GSM 421, GSM 425, GSM 430, GSM 435, GSM 460, GSM 465, and pre/co-requisites GSM 426, GSM 412, GSM 431 and GSM 441 | 3 cr. |
| GSM 441 | Leadership, Governance and Accountability (Prerequisites: GSM 412, GSM 421, GSM 425, GSM 426, GSM 430, GSM 435, GSM 460, GSM 465, and pre/ co-requisites: GSM 440, GSM 412 and 431) | 2 cr. |
| GSM 450 | Career Strategies | 1 cr. |
| GSM 455 | Leading Individuals and Groups | 3 cr. |
| GSM 460 | Communication Strategies | 1 cr. |
| GSM 465 | Leading Organizational Change (Prerequisite: GSM 455) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 470 | Negotiation and Conflict Management (Prerequisite: GSM 455) | 2 cr. |
| GSM 5XX | Electives (8-12 credits in total; many have prerequisites). | 3 cr. |
MBA Course Requirements- Fall 2012 and after-54 credits
| GSM 411 | Economic Analysis for Managers | 3 cr. |
| GSM 412 | Business, Government and the Global Economy (Prerequisites: GSM 411) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 415 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 cr. |
| GSM 420 | Financial Reporting and Analysis | 3 cr. |
| GSM 421 | Managerial Accounting (Prerequisite: GSM 420) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 425 | Marketing Management (Pre/co-requisite: GSM 415, GSM 420, GSM 411) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 427 | Strategic Thinking and Analytical Decision Making | 3 cr. |
| GSM 430 | Technology and Operations Management | 3 cr. |
| GSM 435 | Finance (Prerequisites: GSM 411, GSM 415 and GSM 420) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 440 | Strategy II (Prerequisites: GSM 421, GSM 425, GSM 430, GSM 435, GSM 465, and pre/co-requisites GSM 412, GSM 442 | 3 cr. |
| GSM 442 | New Financial Capstone | 3 cr. |
| GSM 455 | Leading Individuals and Groups | 3 cr. |
| GSM 465 | Leading Organizational Change (Prerequisite: GSM 455) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 470 | Negotiation and Conflict Management (Prerequisite: GSM 455) | 3 cr. |
| GSM 5XX | Electives (12 credits in total; many have prerequisites). | 3 cr. |
Concentrations-MBA
Students need a minimum of 9 credits within a concentration to satisfy the concentration requirements. All concentrations have different requirements within them. Required courses for each concentration are listed below:
| Business and Financial Analytics | GSM 520 Strategic Performance Measures OR GSM 535 Financial Modeling |
| Marketing | GSM 526 Research Design and Analysis |
| Sustainability/CSR | GSM 516 Sustainability Analysis and Reporting GSM 512 Corporate Social Responsibility |
| Non Profit | GSM 561 Non Profit Management GSM 560 Financial Management in Non Profit Organizations GSM 563 Philanthropy, Policy and Fundraising in the Non Profit sector |
| E-Ship | GSM 570 Creativity Innovation and Entrepreneurship GSM 571 Business Plans GSM 5xx designed with your Eship concentration advisor |
| Health Care | MBAH 480 The Health System (Replaces: GSM 610 Strategic Drivers, Policy and Politics in the Health Sector) MBAH 410 Health Economics OR MBAH 436 Health Financial Strategy GSM 5xx designed with your HC concentration advisor |
| Organizational Leadership | GSM 553 Gender, Diversity and Leadership GSM 551 Perspectives and Practices: Principled Leadership GSM 511 Culturally Intelligent Leadership |
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS-MBA IN HEALTH CARE PROGRAM
The Master of Business Administration in Health Care (MBAHC) requires the satisfactory completion of all course work: 54 credits. Students must complete 48 credit hours of required courses and 6 credit hours of electives. Grades are awarded on A, A-, B+, B, B-, C and F basis. Students who have not met and completed all degree requirements will be allowed to participate in graduation exercises only under very exceptional circumstances.
Course Requirements-Master of Business Administration in Health Care
Math Competency Requirement
The SOM requires all students entering the MBAHC program who scored below the 25th percentile in the quantitative portion of the GMAT to take and pass a math competency test prior to the first full week of classes in the MBAHC program.
Students have three attempts to pass the math competency exam. If a student does not successfully pass the math competency test with a grade of 80% or higher in each section, and has taken the test three times, the student will be required to slow down her program of study until the test is passed. The student will also be withdrawn by the SOM programs office out of any quantitative course(s).
The student will not be required to withdraw from the MBAHC program, but she will not be permitted to enroll in any MBAHC quantitative courses, e.g. MBAH 410 Health Economics, MBAH 427 Strategic Thinking and Analytical Decision Making, MBAH 420 Financial Reporting and Analysis, or MBAH 415 Quantitative Analysis, until the math competency exam is passed. Passing the math competency is not a contingency in a student's admissions decision. If the program of study is slowed down, it also may delay a student's expected graduation date.
Excel Competency
The SOM requires all students entering the MBAHC program to take and pass an excel competency test prior to the first full week of classes in the MBAHC program. This exam is housed within a Harvard Business school spreadsheet course and passing the pre-test is the requirement. Students can enroll in this spreadsheet course at any time after they deposit and they are allowed to study and retake the pre-test as many times as necessary before the first quantitative course begins. Passing the excel competency is not a contingency in a student's admissions decision. If the program of study is slowed down, it also may delay a student's expected graduation date.
Technology Fluencies
Students are expected to possess the technology competencies necessary for success in the MBAHC Program. These competencies have been defined by the faculty within individual courses and approved by the Curriculum Committee that are necessary for success in the MBA program.
MBA in Health Care Course Requirements- 54 credits
| MBAH 403 |
Foundations of Business-3 sessions will be required during your graduate program. One session when you enter, one session midway through the program and one session at the end of your program required |
0 cr. |
| MBAH 410 | Health Economics | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 415 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 420 | Financial Reporting and Analysis | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 421 | Managerial Accounting (Prerequisite: MBAH 420) | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 424 | HC Marketing Management (Prereq's: MBAH 415, MBAH 420, MBAH 410) | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 427 | Strategic Thinking and Analytical Decision Making | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 429 | HC Quality and Measurement | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 434 | HC Finance (Prereq's: MBAH 410, MBAH 415 and MBAH 420) | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 436 | HC Financial Strategy (Prerequisite: MBAH434) | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 443 | HC Organizational Strategy | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 448 | HC Information Technology | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 455 | Leading Individuals and Groups | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 466 | HC Leadership and Change (Prerequisite: MBAH455) | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 470 | Negotiation and Conflict Management (Prerequisite: MBAH 455) | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 480 | The Health System | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 481 | HC Law and Ethics | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 5XX | Elective I | 3 cr. |
| MBAH 5XX | Elective 2 | 3 cr. |
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS-MHA PROGRAM
The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) requires the satisfactory completion of all course work, 48 credit hours for students. Grades are awarded on A, A-, B+, B, B-, C and F basis. Students who have not met and completed all degree requirements will be allowed to participate in graduation exercises only under very exceptional circumstances. These degree requirements also apply to all offsite MHA programs.
Course Requirements-Masters in Health Administration
| HCA 500 | Health Care Accounting | 2 cr. |
| HCA 501 | Self and Small Group Leadership | 2 cr. |
| HCA 502 | Quantitative Analysis for Health Care Administration | 2 cr. |
| HCA 503 | Managerial Epidemiology and Health Information | 2 cr. |
| SHS 450 | The Health Care System: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 cr. |
| HCA 509 | Health Care Finance I | 3 cr. |
| HCA 522 | Health Care Law | 2 cr. |
| HCA 545 | Ethical Analysis and Social Values | 1 cr. |
| SHS 581 | Basic Negotiation | 1 cr. |
| HCA 504 | Health Economics | 3 cr. |
| HCA 505 | The Nature of Groups and the Nature of Work | 2 cr. |
| HCA 522 | Health Information Systems | 2 cr. |
| HCA 545 | Health Care Policy and Politics | 2 cr. |
| Elective | Elective Credits | 2 cr. |
| HCA 520 | Health Care Operations and Quality | 3 cr. |
| HCA 523 | Health Care Marketing | 2 cr. |
| HCA 530 | Organizational Strategy | 3 cr. |
| HCA 521 | Human Resource Management | 2 cr. |
| HCA 531 | Research and Survey Methods | 1 cr. |
| HCA 533 | Leadership and Change | 3 cr. |
| HCA 534 | Health Care Finance II | 3 cr. |
| HCA 540 | Fieldwork | 2 cr. |
The HCA Program at the School of Management requires the following of accepted students prior to enrollment:
- An undergraduate statistics course (any type - 1 semester), equivalent to MATH 118 at Simmons College. The course must have been completed with a B or better in the last 10 years.
- A working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite software programs, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
Waiving the GRE/GMAT Requirement
Students may waive the GRE/GMAT requirement by enrolling in two back-to-back courses, as non-degree students. This option also allows students to evaluate whether the program is a good fit for them. Individuals who earn a minimum grade of B+ in both courses may then apply for degree status without submitting standardized tests. Due to visa restrictions, this alternative is available for U.S. students and permanent resident aliens only.
Health Care Administration Program-Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.)
The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Health Care is a 15-credit program is individually designed to build on the strengths each student possesses and to cover new material. Required and elective courses are chosen from the M.H.A. curriculum and may include fieldwork or independent research. Two concentrations are available: Finance and Analytical Thinking and Organizational Leadership.
ACADEMIC POLICIES FOR THE ACCELERATED MASTERS IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM
http://www.simmons.edu/som/amha/docs/AMHA_POLICY_MANUAL_7122011.pdf
The Accelerated Master of Healthcare Administration (AMHA) requires the satisfactory completion of all course work, which is 10 courses and 30 credit hours for students. The AMHA program also has degree pre-requisites which are required as well. Grades are awarded on A, A-, B+, B, B-, C and F basis. Students who have not met and completed all degree requirements will be allowed to participate in graduation exercises only under very exceptional circumstances. These degree requirements also apply to all offsite MHA programs.
Course Requirements-Accelerated Masters in Health Administration
| HMP 500 | Participant Foundations | 3 cr. |
| HMP 581 | Negotiation | 3 cr. |
| HMP 503 | Managerial Epidemiology | 3 cr. |
| HMP 523 | Strategic Marketing | 3 cr. |
| HMP 522 | Health Information Management | 3 cr. |
| HMP 509 | Health Care Finance | 3 cr. |
| HMP 520 | Healthcare Operations and Quality | 3 cr. |
| HMP 505 | Organization Theory | 3 cr. |
| HMP 545 | Health Policy | 3 cr. |
| HMP 534 | Advanced Financial Strategy and Business Planning (pre-req: HMP 509) | 3 cr. |
| HMP 530 | Organizational Strategy (pre-req's: HMP 581, 503, 523, 522, 520,505, 534) | 3 cr. |
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS-MCM PROGRAM
The Master of Science in Communications Management requires a student to complete 36 semester hours, consisting of:
- Four required courses
- Four electives
- An Applied Learning Project
Required Courses-MCM
| MCM 442 | Emerging Communications Technologies | 4 cr. |
| MCM 462 | Financial Aspects of Business | 4 cr. |
| MCM 485 | Communicating Across Cultures | 4 cr. |
| MCM 481 | Strategic Communication and Organizational Change | 4 cr. |
| MCM 500 | Applied Learning Project (MCM 500) | 4 cr. |
| MCM 5xx | Electives | 4 cr. |
Applied Learning Project (MCM 500)
Students take a semester-long course during which each student develops an Applied Learning Project (ALP) that demonstrates understanding of the strategic use of communications. Students present their findings at the end of the semester. Examples of past projects range from business and communications plans to audits, marketing campaigns, and research projects on a wide variety of topics.
Grades are awarded on A, A-, B+, B, B-, C and F basis. Students who have not met and completed all degree requirements will be allowed to participate in graduation exercises only under very exceptional circumstances.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS-DUAL DEGREE MCM PROGRAM and GENDER/CULTURAL STUDIES
The Master of Communications Management (MCM) requires the satisfactory completion of all course work -36 credit hours of coursework. The dual-degree will earn the student a Master of Science (M.S.) in Communications Management and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Gender/Cultural Studies. Coursework includes four required MCM courses, three required GCS courses, five electives, and one combined GCS/MCM capstone or Applied Learning project. SOM grades are awarded on A, A-, B+, B, B-, C and F basis. Students who have not met and completed all degree requirements will be allowed to participate in graduation exercises only under very exceptional circumstances.
