General
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program offers a core of general subjects plus a wide range of elective subjects providing opportunities for students from either the private or public sectors to further their studies in general management with the flexibility to concentrate upon an area of specialisation.
The general purpose of the program is to provide quality education for those wishing to move into positions of general management or be managers of one of the specialist functions of management. It is therefore recommended both to individuals seeking to improve their managerial performance and potential and to organisations for inclusion in executive development programs for potential senior managers. Those students who have already had at least junior management experience are best able to profit from relating principles to practice and from the interchange of managerial experience during seminars.
Course objectives
On completion of the course students should:
* have the necessary analytical and computing skills concerning both the foundation as well as the functional areas of management;
* have developed an understanding of the social, economic and political environment of business;
* have acquired a strategic outlook necessary for organisational growth and survival;
* have developed interpersonal, leadership and decision-making skills conducive to fostering a culture of innovation and change.
Entrance requirements
Applicants should have had work experience before undertaking this course. A candidate with a four-year honours degree of at least honours IIA (or equivalent) standard may be exempted from this provision.
Intending students should possess a first degree of any faculty in a university or equivalent institution, and should have had a minimum of two years work experience after completion of that degree. However, where students have had substantial managerial work experience for at least five years prior to or during the acquiring of an undergraduate degree, the requirement for two years work experience after completion of that degree may be waived.
Applications will also be considered from non-graduates who possess professional qualifications and have had at least eight years appropriate work experience.
Duration
All requirements for the degree should be completed within two years from the date of enrolment for students who enrol full-time or within four years from the date of enrolment for students who enrol part-time.
Students who take the degree on a full-time basis are required to take the equivalent of four subjects per semester. Students taking the course on a part-time basis are required to take the equivalent of two subjects per semester throughout the course of study.
A selection of MBA subjects will be offered over the summer semester (end of November to the end of January). By taking subjects over the summer it is possible for full-time students to complete the MBA in sixteen months. The Monash Mt Eliza Business School has more information on this.
Course structure
Candidates are encouraged to select subjects consistent with their special interests. All students must complete the equivalent of sixteen subjects for the degree comprising nine 5000 level subjects, MBA6350 or MBA6360, and six elective subjects or their equivalent which may comprise a reading unit (equivalent to one elective); a research paper (equivalent to two electives); a corporate project (equivalent to two electives); an MBA thesis (equivalent to four electives).
Part one
Ten core subjects, to consist of four compulsory foundation subjects, four functional subjects at least one of which must be either MBA5180 (Accounting) or MBA5190 (Corporate finance), one environment subject and one integrative subject.
Part two
Six elective subjects or their equivalent, which may comprise: a reading unit (equivalent to one elective); a research paper (equivalent to two electives); a corporate project (equivalent to two electives); an MBA thesis (equivalent to four electives); A small number of half-weighted electives is also available. Two such subjects equal one elective.
The program is designed to encourage a degree of specialisation through the provision of a large number of electives.
Students are normally required to complete the core subjects prior to undertaking the more specialised elective subjects, with the integrative subject being completed in the final year of study.
The subjects which make up the degree fall into five categories.
1 Foundation subjects
These subjects are based upon the four disciplines or techniques necessary as a foundation for courses in the program. The relevant disciplines are microeconomics, behavioural science, quantitative analysis and foundations of management. Only one subject may be taken in each area - except MBA5300 (Health economics) which may also be taken as an elective subject.
Behavioural science
* MBA5210 Organisational behaviour
Quantitative analysis
* MBA5460 Principles of quantitative analysis
or
* MBA5550 Quantitative analysis
Microeconomics
* MBA5300 Health economics
or
* MBA5880 Microeconomics for managers
or
* MBA5890 Microeconomics for policy analysis
Foundations of management
* MBA5200 Foundations of management
2 Functional subjects
These provide a basic introduction to the main functional areas with which managers must deal. The subjects also serve as a foundation for a number of elective subjects in the program. Students are required to take at least four of the following subjects:
* MBA5180 Accounting
* MBA5190 Corporate finance
* MBA5220 Human resource management
* MBA5259 Employee relations
* MBA5270 Public management
* MBA5310 Marketing
* MBA5470 General operations management
* MBA5560 Management information systems
Either MBA5180 (Accounting) or MBA5190 (Corporate finance) must be included as one of the four functional subjects. Also, if specialising in public sector management, students may do MBA5280 (Public sector finance) instead of MBA5190 (Corporate finance) provided that MBA5180 (Accounting) is included as one of their functional subjects; they may also take MBA5260 (Public sector human resource management) instead of MBA5220 (Human resource management).
3 Environment subjects
A number of subjects concern the environment within which managers operate; especially its social, economic and political dimensions as they occur at a national or international level.
Students must take at least one subject chosen from the following three:
* MBA5330 Business and government
* MBA5350 International business
* MBA5870 Macroeconomics for managers
4 Integrative subject
All students are required to take a subject to integrate previous studies in the context of policy formulation, either:
* MBA6350 Strategic management
or
* MBA6360 Strategic management in the public sector
5 Elective subjects
Students may select from a large number of elective subjects.
* MBA5230 Public policy
* MBA5290 Governing the modern state
* MBA5300 Health economics
* MBA6130 Financial markets and instruments
* MBA6140 International finance
* MBA6150 Auditing and accountability
* MBA6160 Law and business decisions
* MBA6170 Company groups
* MBA6180 Accounting for planning and control
* MBA6190 Corporate financial policy
* MBA6200 Hospital administration
* MBA6229 Management skills (half-weighted)
* MBA6239 Managing change (half-weighted)
* MBA6240 Organisation and management
* MBA6259 Industrial relations
* MBA6260 Managerial psychology
* MBA6270 Health services law
* MBA6280 The Australian health care system
* MBA6299 Advocacy and negotiations
* MBA6300 Epidemiological methods
* MBA6310 Services marketing
* MBA6320 Strategic marketing
* MBA6340 Corporate planning techniques
* MBA6360 Strategic management in the public sector
* MBA6370 Public policy process
* MBA6380 Business-to-business marketing
* MBA6390 Integrated marketing communication
* MBA6400 International marketing
* MBA6410 Public enterprise management
* MBA6420 Management of information technology
* MBA6429 Technology and organisational change
* MBA6430 Health policy and planning
* MBA6440 Public sector financial management
* MBA6449 Structure and management of cooperative businesses
* MBA6450 International human resource management (half-weighted)
* MBA6459 Comparative management (half-weighted)
* MBA6460 International business operations
* MBA6480 International economic environment
* MBA6490 Management of research and innovation
* MBA6500 Telecommunications and corporate management
* MBA6510 Pacific rim - employee relations
* MBA6520 Information industries: economic and social perspectives
* MBA6530 Manufacturing management and strategy
* MBA6540 Inventory management (half-weighted)
* MBA6549 Business and economic forecasting (half-weighted)
* MBA6550 Technology and government
* MBA6559 Quality control
* MBA6569 Applied operations management
* MBA6570 Computer models for business decisions
* MBA6580 Project management
* MBA6590 Special topics in technology management
* MBA6600 International tourism management
* MBA6610 Language and communication in international business
* MBA6640 Modern Europe: a regional study
* MBA6650 Strategy and structure
* MBA6660 The growth of the firm
* MBA6700 Restrictive trade practices
* MBA6710 Theories of the firm and industry structure
* MBA6720 Telecommunications law, economics and public policy
* MBA6870 Environmental economics and policy
* MBA6880 Social economics
* MBA6890 Applied economic analysis for public enterprises
* MBA6920 International strategic management
* MBA6930 Business and government in Eastern Asia
* MBA6940 Development administration
* MBA6950 International public administration
* MBA6960 International trade policy making
* MBA6970 Comparative public policy
Candidates who have special management education needs not covered by the listed subjects may be permitted to select:
(a) not more than two special subjects based on an especially appropriate undergraduate third-year subject;
(b) normally not more than one reading subject, providing they are not taking the MBA thesis option;
(c) subjects from the Master of Economics program;
(d) subjects from the Graduate Diploma/Master in Industrial and Employee Relations;
(e) not more than two particularly relevant postgraduate subjects offered by other faculties.
Although there is no strict order in which compulsory subjects must be taken students are advised to include either MBA5460 or MBA5550 in the first semester's work and to study:
(a) MBA5180 (Accounting) before MBA5190 (Corporate finance);
(b) both MBA5180 and MBA5190 before MBA5310 (Marketing);
(c) MBA6350 (Strategic management) or MBA6360 (Strategic management in the public sector) in the last year of the coursework because it subsumes much of the other subjects.
Specialisations available
Elective-level subjects may be grouped to give a degree of specialisation in the following nine areas:
* General management
* International business
* Accounting and finance
* Marketing
* Employee and labour relations
* Hospital/health administration
* Human resource management
* Information systems/operations management
* Public sector management
The MBA thesis
The MBA thesis is offered as an option in the second year of the program to stimulate, to develop and to test the candidate's ability to plan, carry out and report on a piece of research. It also provides an opportunity to apply new knowledge and skills to an empirical problem. The thesis represents a substantial piece of work of approximately 25,000 words. It will be supervised by a suitable member of staff of the university.
Research paper
The research paper must normally be within the area covered by a subject in the program and represent a substantial piece of work of up to 10,000 words. It will be supervised by a person lecturing in the subject to which it is attached or by another suitable member of staff of the university or school. The research paper is regarded as equivalent to two elective subjects and must be submitted within twelve months of its commencement.
Corporate project
The corporate project requires three-way support from student, staff and host organisation, and concerns problems of strategic importance to the host or client organisation. Projects are to cover the areas of problem identification, problem analysis, problem solution, and implementation. It is equivalent to two elective subjects and must be submitted within twelve months of its commencement.
Exemptions
As the MBA program is designed as a cohesive program it is not normal practice to grant exemptions from prescribed studies. However, students who have credit for postgraduate studies which (a) are comparable to those prescribed for the MBA degree and (b) would fall within the time limits prescribed, may apply for equivalent credit towards the degree.
Substitutions
Other students may be required to substitute subjects for any of the compulsory subjects which they have studied previously. For example, students who have completed at least two semesters of undergraduate study of microeconomics will not normally be allowed to enrol for MBA5880 (Microeconomics for managers). Except with the approval of the dean they will also be required to substitute another subject for:
* MBA5180 (Accounting) if they have passed the equivalent of two years study in accounting at an undergraduate level;
* MBA5190 (Corporate finance) if they have passed AAF3140 (AF314 - Business finance);
* MBA5210 (Organisational behaviour) if they have passed MGC2230 (AS223 Organisational behaviour);
* MBA5259 if they have passed MGC2420 (Employee relations) or equivalent;
* MBA5460 (Principles of quantitative analysis) if they have passed a third-year subject in statistics;
* MBA5870 (Macroeconomics for managers) if they have passed a first-year subject of at least one semester's duration concerning macroeconomics.
Candidates with other degrees may also be obliged to substitute in a similar way to Bachelor of Economics or Commerce graduates as shown above. This will depend upon the subjects taken during their undergraduate courses. Students required to take substitute subjects may select from any of the electives permitted. Substitution may also be required in relation to elective subjects in appropriate cases.
Assessment of performance
Candidature may be terminated at any time if progress is regarded as unsatisfactory. Normally, however, performances will be reviewed at the end of each semester, and if they do not reach the required standard students will not be permitted to continue with the course. Students will be given their results by marks and grading of high distinction (HD), distinction (D), credit (C), pass (P) or fail (N) in each subject. Students taking first-year MBA subjects must pass the examination component in addition to obtaining an overall pass in the subject.
Enrolment and re-enrolment procedures
Applications for the March intake each year close on 1 October of the preceding year. Appropriate forms may be obtained from the Monash Mt Eliza Business School, Clayton. Additional procedures for international students, including July entry to the MBA, are described in the Student information handbook.
The candidates selected will be required to attend an interview to discuss their proposed course with the course director and to submit a formal enrolment. These interviews will normally be scheduled during January or February.
Approval for the selection of subjects and a topic for the MBA thesis must be obtained from the dean of the faculty or the dean's nominee. Candidates must obtain this approval each year before enrolling. A member of staff of the university will be appointed to supervise the theses, projects or research papers of those candidates who elect the research option.
Leave of absence
Students may apply for leave of absence from the program. By granting such leave the faculty reserves a place in the program, and the period of approved leave is not counted in the time limit for completion of the degree. Leave of absence is normally for periods up to one year and must be approved by the course director.
Leave of absence is not granted in a student's first semester unless there are very special circumstances eg medical reasons. In such cases a student wishing to withdraw from all subjects, or all but one subject, must withdraw from the program but may reapply for admission to the MBA program in a subsequent year.