Master of Business Administration

PATRICK J. LAPERA, JD, MBA

Director of Graduate Programs and Adjunct Professor

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The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the Jack Welch College of Business is designed to prepare individuals for successful careers in the complex world of business. The program prepares leaders who are global thinkers, socially responsible, and ethical decision-makers.

The MBA program is built on the pillars of:

• Leadership
• Commitment to fostering up-to-date, cutting-edge knowledge of business disciplines
• Ethical responsibility
• Global awareness

The MBA program is focused on the development of certain key competencies:

• Executional excellence and continuous improvement through attention to detail, rigorous analysis, and decision-making
• Accountability for decisions and actions of team and self, putting team goals ahead of individual goals, with the focus on contribution to the organization
• Persuasive communication that is articulate, candid, to the point, and leads to action
• Personal and professional interest and the belief that every person deserves space and dignity

Classes are conducted in the evening. The program serves both professionally employed students and accomplished students who recently received their undergraduate degrees. Both segments earn an advanced degree under the direction of faculty members who possess both academic credentials and pragmatic business expertise.

Program Objectives

The Welch MBA program goals:

• Our graduates will have a broad understanding of the business disciplines and functional skills critical to their roles as business professionals.
• Our graduates will explore ethical standards of behavior and develop their own frames of reference and standards to guide their professional behavior.
• Our graduates will have the oral and written communication skills required to compete effectively in the workplace.
• Our graduates will be able to identify factors that affect business practices in the global environment and propose decisions and actions that are appropriate in specific situations.
• Our graduates will be decision-makers and critical thinkers who use analytic and problem-solving skills.
• Our graduates will have an understanding of leadership theory and demonstrate managerial skills with an understanding of the global environment.

To help students achieve these objectives, the university relies on faculty members who are dedicated to teaching. The faculty combines broad business experience and academic training that define the unique learning experience at Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business.

The Welch MBA

The Welch MBA represents a new approach to graduate business education. The multidiscipline approach is structured to enable students to move beyond functional expertise to true leadership skill. In addition to personalized professional planning, the program features an integrated core taught in a “business process” approach. This core combines readings, case studies, and deliverables to provide a content-rich, stimulating learning experience.

Admission Requirements

Individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in any academic discipline from an accredited institution will be considered for admission to the MBA program. The applicant’s undergraduate and post-graduate studies, GMAT score, essay, work experience, and recommendations are considered in the admission process.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree in business and satisfactory coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics from an accredited institution are generally eligible for the 36-credit program of study. Applicants without an undergraduate degree in business are generally required to complete up to an additional 9 credits of coursework.

In general, the minimum requirements for admission to the MBA program are an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, a GMAT score of 400, and two years of full-time professional work experience (excluding internships). The work experience must be significant and demonstrate:

• Oversight responsibility for the work of others, or
• Accountability for the tangible or intangible assets or accounts of others, or
• Responsibility for certifying the successful outcome of the work of others, or
• Acquiring/analyzing data for the benefit of an employer or client

A current résumé and employer reference must be submitted with the application. Meeting the minimum admission requirements is no guarantee of acceptance into the program.

For those applicants without full-time work experience, the minimum GMAT score is generally 500, with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

Upon acceptance, students receive a copy of their planned academic program and are assigned a faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to meet periodically with their advisor to discuss academic progress, career issues, or special needs.

GMAT Waiver Policy

As a general policy, the Welch College of Business requires the GMAT of all applicants. GMAT waiver requests for the MBA and Masters in Digital Marketing program are considered on a case-by-case basis and are based on a combination of advanced academic credentials with a substantial history of professional achievement. Waivers are not automatic for any candidate.

Eligibility

• Those candidates who hold a graduate degree from an accredited institution and who graduated with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better (or the equivalent of a “B” average under the system used by that institution). This includes terminal degrees such as JD, PhD, or MD.
• Those candidates who possess a recognized quantitative certification such as a CPA, CFA, CMA, CIA, or CFP.
• Those candidates who complete a graduate business program certificate at Sacred Heart University with a minimum grade point average of 3.5.
• Those candidates who complete an undergraduate degree program at Sacred Heart University with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 within two years of application. Sacred Heart students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the end of their junior year will also be considered for the waiver.
• Those candidates who complete an undergraduate degree program at Sacred Heart University with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 within two years of application and those Sacred Heart students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the end of their junior year have a high probability of receiving the waiver. Those candidates with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average will be considered for the waiver as part of their application review.
• Those candidates with five or more years of substantive work experience. Factors considered include scale and scope of responsibilities, managerial scope, and accountability for work product. A letter from an employer or supervisor detailing specific work responsibilities is not required but may be included in a letter of recommendation.

MBA Continuous Enrollment Policy

Graduate students in the MBA program must maintain continuous enrollment in the program. Students who fail to enroll for two consecutive terms (exclusive of summer term) must apply for admission. The MBA director may require the student to meet current admissions requirements as a condition of readmission. Applications for readmission should be submitted to the MBA office and will be reviewed by the MBA director. Students who are readmitted must adhere to the guidelines and curriculum in effect at the date of readmission.

Degree Requirements

A total of 36 credit hours of graduate coursework (excluding foundational courses) and a minimum GPA of 3.0 are necessary for completion of the Welch MBA program for candidates who are waived from the foundational coursework. Those who are not waived will need up to 9 additional credit hours of foundational coursework. In all cases, a minimum of 27 credit hours (excluding foundational coursework) must be taken at Sacred Heart University in the Welch MBA program.

Course Waiver Policy

Upon application, transcripts will be reviewed for possible course waivers. For students transferring from another accredited graduate program, the MBA director will review transcripts and make a determination of course equivalency. A maximum of 9 credits, plus the foundation courses, can be transferred. The three foundation courses, as well as WGB 602 and WGB 603, have formal waiver requirements. It is important to note that a strong working knowledge of economics, accounting, and finance is required for the integrated core courses (WGB 640 and WGB 641).

WGB 518 can be waived for those who have completed 3 credit in statistics with a grade of B or better. WGB 519 can be waived for those who have completed microeconomics and macroeconomics each with a grade of B or better. WGB 520 can be waived for those who have completed 3 credit hours in microeconomics or macroeconomics and 3 credit hours in statistics with grades of B or better in all.

WGB 521 can be waived for those with an undergraduate degree in business or in exceptional situations upon review of candidate work and academic experience by the MBA director.

For those who have completed an undergraduate degree in accounting within the last two years, WGB 602 can be substituted with AC 610, AC 617 or an elective approved by the MBA director.

For those who received an undergraduate degree in finance within the last two years, an elective in finance can be substituted for WGB 603.

Degree Requirements

Foundation Courses (9 credits)

WGB 518	Introduction to Business Statistics	3.00 Credit(s)
WGB WGB 519	Introduction to Economics	3.00 Credit(s)
WGB WGB 520	Introduction to Economics and Statistics	3.00 Credit(s)
WGB 521	Fundamentals of Management	3.00 Credit(s)

Program Courses (27 credits)

In addition to the 9 credits of electives.

WGB 600	Professional Planning	2
WGB WGB 602	Corporate Financial & Management Accounting	3
WGB 603	Financial Management	3
WGB 612	Leading & Influencing with Integrity	3
WGB 614	Social & Legal Responsibilities in Business	3
WGB 640	Dynamic Business Management I	5
WGB 641	Dynamic Business Management II	5
WGB 691	Welch Competency Demonstration & Implementation	3

Planning and Assessment

WGB 600

Professional Planning

2

BREADTH Leadership Competencies

WGB 612	Leading & Influencing with Integrity	3
WGB 614	Social & Legal Responsibilities in Business	3

BREADTH Quantitative Competencies

WGB WGB 602	Corporate Financial & Management Accounting	3
WGB 603	Financial Management	3

Integrated Core Courses

WGB 640	Dynamic Business Management I	5
WGB 641	Dynamic Business Management II	5

Electives (9 credits)

Three 600-level courses (3 credits each)

Capstone Course

WGB 691

Welch Competency Demonstration & Implementation

3

MBA Concentrations

Students may choose among five concentrations: accounting, finance, management, business analytics or marketing. There are some restrictions on available concentrations for students who intend to take their coursework exclusively at the Luxembourg campus location. Students who choose accounting, finance, management, business analytics or marketing must take three electives in the respective discipline. MBA students are eligible to take elective courses in the MSHR and MSDM programs. Students who do not meet the elective requirements for a concentration will simply receive an MBA.