Course code: 0028
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.
In both contexts the efficient manager needs to possess competence in a variety of skills enabling understanding of the many complex problems of organisations. The continued growth of technology, the rise of large-scale organisations, the process of economic growth, the expanding role which government plays in economic affairs, the internationalisation of business, the changing character of the workforce as well as shifts in community attitudes and values are all changing the scope and character of management.
Effective adaptation to these conditions requires a sound grasp of the educational foundations of management. These foundations include:
(a) the development of the analytical skills required to identify problems and analyse alternative solutions;
(b) the learning of the concepts and methods of the behavioural, social and quantitative sciences which assist in the above processes;
(c) the separate study of the various functions which make up the management task, such as accounting, finance, information systems, labour relations, marketing, personnel and production;
(d) the development of decision-making skills through practice in decision-making in complex environments;
(e) the study of, and the learning of, techniques which assist in understanding the changing technological, economic, social, political, legal and international environment with which managers deal;
(f) the development of skills in leadership and group participation;
(g) through various integrative mechanisms, the development of a general management perspective (This perspective is acquired through synthesis of the study of the various component disciplines and functions relevant to the management task; through integration of the study of the organisation with broader social, political, technological and economic trends; and through the consideration of particular managerial problems requiring the application of a number of skills and perspectives for their solution.);
(h) the offering of opportunities for specialisation by allowing students to explore a particular segment of the managerial process in greater depth.
On completion of the course students should have:
The Faculty of Business and Economics will not be admitting candidates to this program from 1995 onwards. Intending MBA candidates should contact the Monash Mt Eliza Business School on telephone 9903 1500 or fax 9903 1501 to discuss the relevant course structure and content and to obtain details regarding proposed entrance requirements for 1997.
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.
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).
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.
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 may also be 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.
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. All students must take one subject from each of the four areas. However MBA5300 (Health economics) may be taken in conjunction with another subject in the field of microeconomics. In this case MBA5300 (Health economics) would be taken as an elective subject.
Behavioural science
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:
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 to be chosen from the following three:
All students are required to take a subject to integrate previous studies in the context of policy formulation, either:
Students may select from a large number of elective subjects. However, listed MBA offerings may be subject to change and are timetabled each year on the basis of demand.
(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) subjects from the Master of Public Policy and Management;
(f) 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.
Elective-level subjects may be grouped to give a degree of specialisation in the following nine areas:
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.
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 department. The research paper is regarded as equivalent to two elective subjects and must be submitted within twelve months of its commencement.
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.
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.
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:
Candidature may be terminated at any time if progress is regarded as unsatisfactory. Normally, however, performance will be reviewed at the end of each semester, and if performance does 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.
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.
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.
| Published by Monash University, Clayton, Victoria
3168 Copyright © Monash University 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Caution Authorised by the Academic Registrar December 1996 |