Master of Business Administration

R. Eric Lloyd, MBA Director
Department Office: Room 419, Roush Hall

Mission Statement
Department Vision
Admission
Admission Materials
International/Non-Citizen Applicant Admission
Non-Degree Applicant Admission
Transient Applicant Admission
Academic Advising
Orientation
Academic Standing Policy
Grade Policy
Residence Requirement
Time Limit for Program Completion
Interruption in Attendance
Transfer Credit
Program Completion
Advisory Board
MBA Association
Distinguished Executive Lecture Series

MISSION STATEMENT

The MBA Program at Otterbein University is a multidisciplinary, ethics-supported, technology enhanced program with a global focus that furthers the mission of a liberal arts education while providing the skills for lifelong learning necessary to provide value to the individual, the workplace and society.

DEPARTMENT VISION

The mission of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics at Otterbein University is to provide a personalized education of distinction that leads our graduates to enquiring, ethical, and productive lives as global citizens. The Department seeks to produce well-rounded, professionally prepared graduates, ready to serve their community, employers, and family.

It is the goal of the Department to be a nationally recognized business program utilizing an interconnected liberal arts and professional curriculum. We seek to educate students in business administration, accounting, and economics through a curriculum where values, leadership, and ethics are modeled and taught. In accordance with the University’s mission, and in partnership with all areas of the University, the Department seeks to reach beyond the boundaries of the classroom to develop each student through both the intellectual and social dimensions of their University experience.

The Department is committed to an educational philosophy that stresses personal and professional development of both students and faculty, and incorporates the various disciplines of business as a part of a broad liberal arts education. Respect for others, community involvement, leadership, and service on a regional scope are encouraged and demonstrated through the professional and personal conduct of students, faculty and staff. Classroom instruction is conducted in a setting of personal attention and small class size. Faculty members advise and counsel students in such areas as course scheduling and career planning.

Otterbein University is a learning community dedicated to core values that define the University’s character and help guide the actions of its members. Given this, we expect all faculty and students of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics to:

Adopt holistic thinking and decision making;
Reflect an enduring spirit of curiosity and life-long learning;
Act as ethical and humane leaders;
Display a professional demeanor in appearance and attitude;
Balance personal, professional, and civic responsibilities;
Provide and appreciate experiential learning;
Become globally aware and locally engaged; and
Adopt an appreciation for cultural and intellectual diversity.

ADMISSION

Materials required for admission to the MBA Program must be submitted to the Graduate School at the address listed below. All contents of the admission file become the legal property of the University and are not returnable or transferable.

Admission to the MBA Program is open to graduates of regionally accredited colleges or universities, who hold a four-year degree, and have the intellectual, academic and personal ability to succeed in graduate studies. In order to ensure priority admission consideration, these materials should be submitted approximately four weeks prior to the start of the semester. Please contact the Graduate School at 614-823-3210 for specific dates.

Admission Materials

Official Transcripts for all previous college and/or university work. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Graduate School. If hand-delivered, transcripts must be in an unopened envelope from the issuing institution.
Official scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Applicants who earned a 3.3 GPA as an undergraduate student do NOT have to take the GMAT. Applicants with less than a 3.3 GPA as an undergraduate must take the GMAT and provide official scores. When requesting GMAT scores, please use the Otterbein University code, 77K-VL-62, or designate Otterbein University as a score report recipient.
Two MBA recommendation forms. The recommender should be an employer, a professor or person familiar with your professional or academic career. Otterbein University reserves the right to contact persons providing recommendations and to contact a recommender to acknowledge receipt of a recommendation.
Completed MBA application.
Personal statement (tell us about yourself and why you wish to earn a MBA at Otterbein.)
Current resume (include distinctions, awards, and computer package knowledge.)

All admission materials including transcripts must be submitted to:
The Graduate School
Otterbein University
1 South Grove Street
Westerville, OH 43081

International/Non-Citizen Applicant Admission

Some, or all of the following information may be required in order to complete the application process. Once the Graduate School has received an admission application, the applicant will be notified of what additional materials will be required.

The materials may include:

Supplemental Application for Admission.
Official TOEFL report if the applicant’s first language is not English or the applicant does not hold a degree from a U.S. college or university. A score of at least 550 on the paper-based test, a 213 on the computer-based test, or a 79 on the Internet-based test (IBT) is required. Departments may set minimum scores.
Proof of financial support is required for applicants seeking a student visa. Please contact the Graduate School for a complete description of documentation required to process an I-20.
If academic credentials are from an institution outside of the United States, a World Education Services, Inc. (WES) course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary credentials.
Applicants who hold a visa, are a U.S. resident alien, or are a permanent resident (with a green card) must submit a copy of the visa/green card along with the Supplemental Application.

In order to process admission and immigration documents in a timely manner, international/noncitizen applicants are asked to submit all admission materials, including the WES evaluation and proof of financial support, no later than two months prior to the start of term.

All international/non-citizen applicants should contact the Graduate School for additional information.

Non-Degree Applicant Admission

Eligible students, not already admitted to the MBA Program, who have earned a four-year degree from a regionally accredited college or university, may apply to enroll in up to three MBA courses for credit with special permission from the Director of the MBA Program.

Materials required for admission as a non-degree student must be submitted to the Graduate School.

Admission Materials:

Completed MBA Application form.
Official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges or universities where the degree was received. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Graduate School. If hand-delivered, transcripts must be in an unopened envelope from the issuing institution.

Transient Applicant Admission

A student enrolled and in good standing in a graduate business program at another institution may apply to enroll in specific graduate courses for transfer of credit.

In order to be admitted, transient students must submit:

An MBA application form.
Official graduate transcript from current MBA program. In order to be considered official, the transcript must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Graduate School. If hand-delivered, the transcript must be in an unopened envelope from the issuing institution.
Letter from the Dean, Director, or Department Chair documenting enrollment in an MBA program. The transient student must meet all of the registration requirements for the given course.

Transient students must complete all of the course requirements and examinations and pay the same fees and tuition as Otterbein University students. Transient students may enroll in up to 12 graduate credit hours over a maximum of three semesters on a space available basis.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Upon admission to the MBA program, the student will be assigned an advisor. Students are encouraged to seek advice from faculty in the department and based on their professional goals and interests, students can request another advisor.

ORIENTATION

The MBA Program offers an online orientation session that is available 24 hours at the student’s convenience. The orientation session provides an opportunity for new students to learn about the MBA Program academic expectations, networking, mentorship program and working with My O-Zone, including on-line registration. Additional questions can be directed to the Graduate School at 614-823-3210.

ACADEMIC STANDING POLICY

Academic standing policies apply to all degree, non-degree, and workshop participants. For graduate level courses, please refer to the section on Academic Policies in this catalog. For undergraduate level courses, please refer to the Academic Good Standing Policies in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.

GRADE POLICY

If a grade lower than a C is earned the course must be repeated and a grade of C or higher must be earned in order to satisfactorily complete the course. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required in order to remain in good standing and to graduate. Please refer to the section on Academic Standing Policy in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

To meet the residence requirement for a Master of Business Administration, a student must complete a minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate course work at Otterbein University.

TIME LIMIT FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION

The time limit for course work to be applied to the degree is five years. The time limit is computed from the date credit is recorded on the University transcript until the degree requirements are completed. Extension of time requested for adequate and unusual cause beyond the control of the student may be submitted to the Director of the MBA Program.

INTURRUPTION IN ATTENDANCE

After admission to a graduate program, continuous progress toward completion of the degree is expected. Students not enrolled for one year must submit an updated admission application to the Graduate School. Official college transcripts must be submitted if additional college or university courses were taken during the time of absence. Additional documents may need to be resubmitted depending on the length of the absence. Please contact the Graduate School to verify required materials. Students should be aware that new program requirements may be in effect and are encouraged to contact the program director prior to reenrollment. Students should also be aware that there is a time limit for program completion. Please see the section on Time Limit for Program Completion.

TRANSFER CREDIT

A maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate work with a grade of B or higher may be transferred from an accredited graduate program upon approval of the MBA Director. The course(s) must be from an MBA Program or a program closely related to business (e.g., Accounting, Economics, Information Technology).

In addition:

Evaluation of transfer credit is to be made at the time of admission.
If a student decides to transfer courses from another MBA program while completing the degree at Otterbein, prior approval from the MBA Director must be obtained for transfer credit to be awarded.
The content of the course must satisfy a requirement or be a suitable elective in Otterbein’s MBA program.
Credit will not be recorded until an official transcript has been received from the offering institution.
Grades associated with the course do not transfer and have no effect on the Otterbein University GPA.

PROGRAM COMPLETION

Students must submit a Request for Degree Application to the Office of the Registrar two semesters prior to the completion of all graduate work. This form may be obtained at the Office of the Registrar or from the Registrar’s web page at www.otterbein.edu, under the intranet link. All financial obligations must be met before students may participate in graduation, receive their transcripts, or receive their diploma.

The following criteria must be fulfilled to complete the MBA Program:

All requirements for the MBA degree have been met.
A 3.0 graduate grade point average.
Submit a Graduation Application Packet to the Office of the Registrar 2 semesters prior to graduation. Packets are available in the Office of the Registrar or on the Registrar’s website.

ADVISORY BOARD

Since early in its inception in 1997, the MBA Program has been working with local, national and international senior executives on curriculum, mentorship, networking opportunities for students, marketing and resource development issues. The idea is to seek executive input to ensure that our “product” remains market-driven and our program is reviewed as a market leader. The executives’ “real-world” perspectives are critical for the success of our students.

MBA ASSOCIATION

The MBA Association was formed to address the needs and goals of the MBA student body by including career development through networking, exploring new business or community opportunities and further enriching the MBA experience. Any MBA student and alumni without regard to race, sex, creed, handicap or national origin is eligible for membership in this association. We invite all students to consider participation in this association. For more information, contact the MBA Program at 614-823-1095.

DISTINGUISHED EXECUTIVE LECTURE SERIES

The MBA Program hosts a Distinguished Executive Lecture Series. This event is an opportunity for students to discover the career paths of senior executives, their challenges and achievements. The event also exposes students to more-in depth discussion of current business topics. A reception follows each lecture, giving students a chance to meet and talk with the Distinguished Executive. Students will be notified of these events via the O-Zone and Otterbein campus E-Mail.

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