Online MBA Curriculum

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Online Master of Business Administration Curriculum

University of California, Riverside’s (UCR’s) Online MBA (OMBA) program provides a comprehensive framework for the strategic management of business organizations. Our OMBA curriculum includes MBA core courses in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing, organizational behavior, and quantitative analysis, as well as specialized electives, an MBA capstone course, and a fieldwork in management internship or work project.

As an OMBA student at UCR, once you complete your core MBA courses, you will choose an MBA concentration from six options, which will determine your elective courses. You will have the flexibility to choose electives from a variety of functional areas to add a specialization to your professional interests, personal passions, and desired career path.

Online MBA Program Requirements

Core MBA Courses

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UCR’s Online MBA curriculum requires students to complete nine core MBA courses (36 quarter units). Our core MBA courses give students a management level view of knowledge and skills of each functional area in an organization.

MGT 200 – Organizational Behavior and Theory
MGT 201 – Statistics for Management
MGT 202 – Financial Management
MGT 203 – Managerial Economics
MGT 205 – Information Systems
MGT 207 – Operations Management for Competitive Advantage
MGT 209 – Marketing Management
MGT 211 – Financial Accounting
MGT 235 – Strategic Management

Elective MBA Courses and Concentrations

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After completing the core MBA courses, you will complete five elective courses (20 units). Your elective courses will be determined by which MBA concentration you choose for your desired career path.

The links to the MBA concentrations below will help you explore the elective offerings, concentration requirements, career pathways, and guidance on course selection to gain relevant career related knowledge and skills. You can choose an MBA specialization area in one of the following areas:

Operations & Supply Chain Management

Business Analytics

Online MBA Capstone Course

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All Online MBA students are required to complete an MBA capstone class or thesis, which is typically undertaken in the final quarter of study.

The MBA capstone can be completed in one of two ways:

Option one (recommended): Complete MGT 238 – Management Synthesis. This four-unit course provides credit for the capstone and meets the “comprehensive exam” requirement.
Option two: Complete a thesis. Students will nominate three faculty members to supervise them as they complete a research project over two quarters. Students who pursue this option will take 32 units of electives, instead of 36, due to the additional four units required for the MGT 299 capstone course.

MGT 238 - Management Synthesis (recommended option)

In this course, students work in teams and consult for a small, local company. Teams utilize assessment tools for firms and industries learned in their strategic management course to analyze performance gaps and challenges prohibiting growth. Teams then present a growth plan to the company, outlining short-term and long-term business strategies. Finally, teams showcase their proposals and learnings in a final paper. The course allows candidates to leverage the variety of knowledge and skills gained from their MBA courses, while harnessing teamwork, consulting, analysis, and presentation skills to add value to a local company and help drive economic growth in the region.

Gain a Competitive Edge

An MBA from UCR will equip you with the variety of skills businesses today are looking for. Boost your competitiveness as a job candidate and prepare for a successful business management career.

Professor Talking to students on computer

Key Skills You Will Obtain

In addition to area specific knowledge and competencies you will obtain from choosing an MBA concentration, you will gain a mix of technical skills and people skills (also called soft skills). UCR’s PMBA program focuses on providing you with key skills employers seek, including:

> Problem-solving
> Analytical and quantitative skills
> Teamwork/collaborative skills
> Written and verbal communication skills
> Technical skills
> Leadership and management skills

Female student in UCR Student Success Center auditorium

Rigorous Stem-Designated Program

Our OMBA is a STEM-designated degree program.

With a STEM-designated graduate business degree, you are demonstrating to employers that you possess the combination of technical skills and business acumen necessary to add significant value to their organization.

For international students, a STEM designation enables a graduate student to work in the United States for up to three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon graduation.

Grad students at Anderson Hall, UCR School of Business

Access to Resources to Enhance Skills and Competitiveness

To set our OMBA students apart in a competitive tech market, we offer access to a professional development fund for students to select certifications, professional organizations, or trainings.

Students have earned certifications and mini-credentials from Google, IBM, Meta, and more.

You will be able to enhance your knowledge and fill in skills gaps in areas such as quantitative analysis, data analytics software, project/product management.

Connect with an AGSM Ambassador today!

Our Graduate Student Ambassadors constitute a distinguished group of business student leaders who are eager to serve as guides for prospective students. Connect with an ambassador from your program today to learn more.

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