Business Administration / Master of Business Administration
Objectives
The Lewis University Graduate School of Management offers an advanced program committed to traditional standards of quality and innovative methodology. The Lewis approach to executive management education is characterized by:
- A curriculum which offers both theory and practical application.
- Faculty members who bring formal study, research, and executive experience to the classroom.
- A program which allows students to proceed at their own scheduling pace, keeping their professional and family requirements in proper balance.
The MBA program is designed for men and women who have the potential and motivation to excel in their individual careers and who have the background and analytical skills necessary for executive decision making. The Lewis program offers a comprehensive education in business administration as well as the opportunity to develop competencies in a specialized functional area of interest.
Specifically the program is designed to:
- Provide students with an understanding of the social, economic and political realities which impact the business environment.
- Establish conceptual and innovative abilities in the recognition and resolution of organizational problems.
- Strengthen analytical skills in areas of accounting, finance, economics, marketing, information systems, and management.
- Enhance interpersonal and communication skills for more effective relationships with staff, teams, peers, and customers.
- Strengthen self confidence in problem analysis and decisiveness and further interest in lifelong learning and formal education.
- Increase long-term potential through the development of management knowledge and skills.
Lewis MBA students bring to the program rich backgrounds of undergraduate education, professional experience, multiculturalism and global perspectives. This richness of diversity lends itself to dynamic classroom discussion.
Students come from 60 public universities and private colleges. The majority of MBA students currently hold managerial, administrative, technical and professional positions in the Chicago metropolitan area. Many of our graduate students come from Fortune 500 companies, as well as various governmental and non-profit agencies.
The one common element of Lewis MBA students is their motivation toward outstanding achievement in the classroom and in their personal and professional lives.
Admission
The MBA program seeks candidates who demonstrate evidence of strong leadership potential and are prepared to compete successfully in a rigorous course of study. Students may begin their MBA studies in any academic term. No undergraduate major is deemed preferable to another.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early enough prior to their intended start date in order to get the application materials completed and get the best selection of courses to choose from. The application process is done on a rolling basis, and the entire process from application submission to admissions decision can be completed in a timely manner.
Application
Three categories of students attend Lewis University MBA classes: students-at-large/conditional, degree candidates, and visiting students.
Only degree candidates have been completely admitted to the MBA Program.
Degree Requirements
MBA candidates must successfully complete between a minimum of 36 up to a maximum of 54 graduate credit hours, dependent upon their undergraduate preparation.
Once admitted to the Lewis MBA program, students must complete all course requirements through Lewis University, unless receiving specific written permission from the MBA Academic Program Director.
Full Admission Status
Degree candidates must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Complete an application for graduate admission, including a non-refundable application fee. Apply online by visiting lewisu.edu/apply
- Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended. (Not required for Alumni.)
- Have an undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0 or GMAT ≥ 550.
- Submit a professional resumé.
- Provide two recommendation forms, available from the Graduate School of Management online or by phone at (815) 836-5348. (One required for Alumni.) Letters of recommendation are also accepted.
- Complete the orientation checklist with a member of the Graduate School of Management.
Degree-Seeking Candidate
A Degree-Seeking Candidate is a student who has an undergraduate GPA of ≥3.0 or GMAT ≥ 550 ; OR has a post-graduate degree from an accredited university; AND has submitted all appropriate admission documents, and has received official documentation of acceptance.
Student-At-Large/Conditional
A student whose cumulative undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0 will be required to take three specified foundation level MBA courses and obtain a cumulative GPA of 3.33 after the completion of these courses. Students must meet this requirement on their first attempt. No further courses will be allowed if the GPA requirement is not met.
If a student has already taken a required foundation course as an undergraduate, and earned a grade of B or higher, they will choose from the following courses to complete the Conditional Admission requirement: 59-550 Managerial Accounting; 59-554 Managerial Economics; and 59-572 Managerial Finance.
Visiting Student
An applicant with an undergraduate bachelor’s degree may enroll in MBA courses and seminars as a visiting student with the approval of the MBA program director.
A visiting student may take a maximum of six graduate credit hours and must have:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Submitted a completed application form with the appropriate non-refundable application fee. Apply online by visiting lewisu.edu/apply
- An official transcript from each college/university attended sent directly to the MBA Admissions Committee of the Graduate School of Management.
- Complete the orientation checklist with a member of the Graduate School of Management.
- An undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0 or GMAT ≥ 550.
Students Educated Outside of the United States
International applicants must satisfy specific requirements before the application will be considered, and before an I-20 will be issued. The requirements include:
- U.S. bachelor’s equivalent if a bachelor’s degree was obtained outside the U.S., and official transcript evaluation by One Earth Evaluations, W.E.S. ,E.C.E or Educational Perspectives.
- A minimum score of 550 on the paper based TOEFL or 79 on Internet-based, or IELTS score of 6.0.
- Students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 3.0 must fulfill the admission criteria required for full degree candidacy (see Student-at-Large/Conditional). Students who are educated outside of the U.S. who have obtained U.S. citizenship or resident alien status are not required to fulfill full degree candidacy prior to beginning the program, but may be required to show English proficiency.
- Submission of all financial documentation and requirements of issuance of I-20.
Grading
MBA students must achieve a 3.0 GPA (B average) overall for MBA coursework. If any grade of D is received for any MBA course, the grade will not count toward degree requirements and the course must be repeated.
Students whose GPA falls below the required 3.0 minimum will be placed on probation for the following eight-week session. Students who do not successfully increase their GPA to 3.0 after the probationary eight-week session will be subject to academic dismissal.
Transfer of Graduate Credit
A student entering the Lewis MBA program with appropriate prior graduate coursework in business may have a maximum of nine credit hours beyond the foundation level applied to Lewis MBA course requirements.
Course credits eligible for transfer consideration must meet the following criteria:
- All transfer credit must have been earned within an eight-year period prior to matriculation in the Lewis MBA program.
- The coursework must have been completed at an accredited graduate school.
- A minimum grade of B must have been earned for the course.
- The coursework must have an equivalent in the Lewis MBA curriculum.
Time Commitment
Graduate level study requires a significant commitment of time. Because of the concentrated, eight-week course schedule, it is crucial that students attend all class meetings. Students should expect two to three hours of homework for every class hour. Thus, a three-credit-hour class may result in a substantial number of study hours.
Assignments must be submitted on time, or a course grade could be jeopardized. Although most instructors will try to make arrangements for a student whose work demands travel, this may not be possible in all cases. Students are responsible for informing instructors in advance of known absences and as soon as possible in the case of emergencies. Two or more unexcused absences in an 8-week session can result in a grade of F .
Course Load
The Graduate School of Management strongly recommends that students who are employed full-time enroll in no more than one course each eight-week session, for a total of six credit hours per semester.
A course load of three classes (nine credit hours) each semester is considered full-time, and is only advised for students who are not employed or are only minimally employed.
Immunizations
Please see Immunization Law.
Outcomes Assessment
The program reserves the right to require students to participate in institutional testing programs as part of ongoing assessment of student outcomes. All MBA and MSF students must complete the Major Field Test (MFT) exam during the last semester prior to graduation.
Course Meetings/Times
Classes usually meet once a week during weekday evenings or on Saturday mornings. Some courses are offered online.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend scheduled classes regularly. This expectation presumes a mature student’s interest in maximizing the opportunity to profit from the instructor’s expertise, planned class activities, and the interchange with peers. It also presumes the student’s responsibility to contribute to the quality of intellectual interaction in the class. Each instructor specifies the class attendance policy in the course syllabus at the beginning of each course. A student registered for a Saturday course may not register for a weekend MBA seminar.
Time Frame for Completion of Degree Requirements
Attending classes part-time, an MBA student generally completes all degree requirements in two to three years (including summers). A full-time student should be able to complete all degree requirements in one to two years. The maximum time allowed to complete all degree requirements is seven consecutive years from the date of matriculation.
Graduation Requirements
Upon completion of the following eight requirements, students will be awarded the MBA degree:
- The degree candidacy admission standard.
- Phase I - Foundation Course requirements.
- Phase II - Core Course requirements.
- Phase III - Functional Areas of Concentration Course requirements.
- Phase IV - Elective Course requirements.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Satisfaction of all financial obligations to Lewis University.
- An Application for Graduation completed and submitted to the Registrar’s office.
Withdrawing from a Course
Students should consult with the MBA advisor and the course instructor when considering withdrawal from a course. Please see Withdrawal Policies.
Incomplete Grade
Please see Incomplete Grade.
Degree Offered: MBA
Total credit hours required: 36-54
Curriculum
I. Foundation Courses (21)
All Lewis MBA students must satisfy Phase I course requirements. These seven required courses provide the background and essential preparation for advanced study.
Students with undergraduate degrees in business may be eligible for a waiver of some or all of the Foundation courses. The student must have earned a grade of B- or better to be eligible for a waiver. Transfer credit must have been earned prior to matriculation.
(Accounting, economics, and quantitative methods require two undergraduate classes each for waiver eligibility.) Students may also petition for Proficiency Exams for Foundation courses if they believe they have a strong background in the subject matter. Proficiency exams must be completed in the student’s first semester of study.
| 59-501 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| 59-502 | Business Economics | 3 |
| 59-504 | Quantitative Methods of Business | 3 |
| 59-506 | Current Topics in Information Technology | 3 |
| 59-508 | Contemporary Management Practice | 3 |
| 59-510 | Survey of Marketing | 3 |
| 59-512 | Financing the Business Enterprise | 3 |
II. Core Courses (24)
Eight managerial courses comprise the core of the MBA curriculum. Up to three courses (9 credit hours) grade B or higher, may be transferred in from another college/university if the graduate course is equivalent to a Lewis MBA course.
| 59-550 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| 59-554 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| 59-568 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| 59-572 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| 59-601 | Legal, Social and Ethical Foundations of Business | 3 |
| 59-611 | Managerial Communication | 3 |
| 59-615 | International Business and the Global Environment | 3 |
| 59-620 | Strategic Management in the Global Environment | 3 |
| 64-696 | Major Field Test (Non-Credit Business Assessment) | 0 |
III. Concentration (9)
MBA candidates may select an area of Concentration. Students take three courses in their preferred area of concentration.
Accountancy
| 59-640 | Accounting Ethics | 3 |
| 59-642 | International Accountancy | 3 |
| 59-643 | Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination | 3 |
| 59-644 | Advanced Tax Topics | 3 |
Finance
| 59-579 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
| 59-584 | Derivatives I | 3 |
| 59-585 | Financial Management Strategies | 3 |
| 59-586 | International Finance | 3 |
| 59-599 | Derivatives II | 3 |
| 59-600 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| 59-602 | Fixed Income Analysis | 3 |
| 59-603 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| 59-604 | Quantitative Techniques for Financial Markets | 3 |
| 59-679 | Business Intelligence & Data Analysis | 3 |
Healthcare Informatics
| 59-675 | Introduction to Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| 59-676 | Healthcare Data Security, Privacy and Confidentiality | 3 |
| 59-677 | Healthcare Data Analysis and Design | 3 |
| 59-679 | Business Intelligence & Data Analysis | 3 |
| 59-557 | Project Management | 3 |
| 59-556 | Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Planning | 3 |
Healthcare Management
| 59-650 | Healthcare Management, Operations and Accounting | 3 |
| 59-660 | Healthcare Marketing | 3 |
| 59-670 | Healthcare Finance and Economics | 3 |
| 59-655 | Quality Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| 59-679 | Business Intelligence & Data Analysis | 3 |
| 59-556 | Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Planning | 3 |
Human Resources Management
| 59-558 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| 59-588 | Employment Law | 3 |
| 59-630 | Organizational Behavior and Development | 3 |
Information Security
| 59-505 | Introduction to Information Security | 3 |
| 59-523 | Computer Forensics | 3 |
| 59-551 | Information Security Strategies and Risk Management | 3 |
| 59-552 | IT Governance and Compliance | 3 |
| 59-566 | Ethical Hacking | 3 |
| 59-594 | Database Management | 3 |
| 59-556 | Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Planning | 3 |
Information Technology Management
| 59-552 | IT Governance and Compliance | 3 |
| 59-557 | Project Management | 3 |
| 59-594 | Database Management | 3 |
| 59-596 | Networks and Data Communications | 3 |
| 59-556 | Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Planning | 3 |
International Business
| 59-545 | International Economics | 3 |
| 59-580 | International Marketing | 3 |
| 59-586 | International Finance | 3 |
| 59-642 | International Accountancy | 3 |
Marketing
| 59-580 | International Marketing | 3 |
| 59-582 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| 59-589 | Integrated Marketing Communications | 3 |
| 59-590 | Marketing Research | 3 |
| 59-679 | Business Intelligence & Data Analysis | 3 |
Social Media Marketing
| 59-582 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| 59-605 | Social Media Analytics | 3 |
| 59-606 | Social Media Strategies | 3 |
| 59-607 | Search Engine Optimization Methods | 3 |
| 59-679 | Business Intelligence & Data Analysis | 3 |
Operations Management
| 59-560 | Principles of Six Sigma | 3 |
| 59-562 | Operations Management | 3 |
| 59-564 | Coordinating and Managing Supply Chains | 3 |
Project Management
| 59-557 | Project Management | 3 |
| 59-559 | Advanced Project Management | 3 |
| 59-560 | Principles of Six Sigma | 3 |
| 59-561 | Strategic Outsourcing | 3 |
Custom Elective Option
Students who do not wish to select a concentration in a particular subject area will be permitted to “customize” a unique concentration (9-12 credit hours) to better reflect their professional and educational interests by selecting courses from any of the concentration courses offered in the program.
IV. Elective (3)
Students may choose any MBA concentration course offered or may take three, one-credit hour graduate seminars.
Seminars are offered each semester. Each seminar meets Friday evening from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., and the following Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Students are required to complete all pre-assigned readings, attend the entire seminar, and submit a graduate-level paper/project within two weeks. Seminars are graded on a pass/fail basis.