The W. Edwards
Deming School of Business
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
(with a concentration in Professional Practice Management)
The Master of Business Administration Program (with a concentration
in Professional Practice Management), hereinafter the Program,
is an independent study graduate degree program. The objective
of the Program is to provide students with a foundation
of knowledge useful in the successful management of professional
practices in the field of law. In addition to licensed professionals,
the Program is also of interest to individuals providing
consulting services to professional practices.
Certain courses require business research fieldwork. Students
are required to interview and evaluate individuals and analyze
business opportunities. For example, the Commercial Leasing course
requires the student to evaluate three actual lease opportunities.
Students conclude the Program with the preparation of a comprehensive
business plan.
The overall learning objectives of the Program are:
-
To develop the business skills necessary to
operate or consult to professional practice organizations.
-
To develop and present a viable business plan
of appropriate depth and breadth to present to potential investors.
-
To explore the intricacies of effective management
and marketing of a professional practice.
-
To allow for a number of electives, focused
on various professional practice issues and procedures.
The Program is presented on a trimester basis. Students
are enrolled in 12 units per trimester. Each trimester consists
of a minimum time period of 16 weeks from the date study commences.
Students not completing all trimester coursework in 16 weeks will
be granted an extension of time to complete the trimester. Such
extensions normally may not exceed 32 weeks. Students may take
a leave-of-absence between trimesters. However, except in special
circumstances, the entire degree program (3 trimesters) must be
completed within 5 years.
Independent Study
The University's independent study modality recognizes that education
is an individual process where individuals with different learning
needs and study schedules can be accommodated. It emphasizes learning
that is meaningful, where individuals enjoy the learning process,
and acquire knowledge to better understand and manage their own
careers.
The Program’s Faculty Mentors support the student’s
independent-study learning role by guiding and stimulating the
learning process in one-on-one interaction. Our faculty mentors
recognize individual learning styles and needs, encourage one-on-one
contact, and emphasize the relevance of the material to the individual's
situation.
Each course in the Program contains a series of lesson
assignments generally consisting of reading requirements and research
projects. Students are evaluated through examinations and/or research
assignments which are submitted for faculty evaluation.
All assignments are submitted electronically. As set forth in
the University’s General Catalog, Internet access and minimum
computer requirements and skills are required as a condition of
admittance.
Shortly after enrollment in the Program, the student
in collaboration with a faculty member agree on a plan for the
completion of the degree requirements. The degree completion plan
will include a projected timetable for completion of the Program,
selection of electives, and communication with faculty and staff.
While the plan can be modified in the future, experience has shown
this type of planning increases a student’s probability
of success.
Curriculum
To earn the Master of Business (with a concentration in Professional
Practice Management) degree, a student must complete the courses
outlined below with a cumulative grade point average of at least
3.00. The requirements may be completed in as little as twelve
months, and must be completed within five years from the date
of initial enrollment.
| First Trimester (12 units)
|
| BUS511 |
Entrepreneurship |
4 units |
| MGT511 |
Managerial Perspectives |
4 units |
| MKT511 |
Marketing Management |
4 units |
| Second Trimester (12 units)
|
| MGT515 |
Management of a Law Practice |
4 units |
| BUS509 |
Business Research Methods/Business Plans |
4 units |
| MKT513 |
Public Relations |
4 units |
| Third Trimester (12 Units)
|
| BUS596 |
Business Plan |
4 units |
| |
|
|
| |
Choose a minimum of 8 units from the following
Elective Courses:
|
|
| BUS503 |
Valuing a Small Business or Professional Practice |
4 units |
| BUS516 |
Commercial Leasing |
4 units |
| FIN502 |
Financing the Business Venture |
4 units |
| BUS512 |
Franchising and Licensing |
4 units |
| ACC515 |
Taxes and the Legal Professional |
4 units |
| FIN515 |
Money and Capital Markets |
4 units |
| ACC513 |
Managerial Accounting |
4 units |
Total Semester Units Required for Graduation: 36
Financial Information
The tuition for the Program is $225.00 per unit.
Additional information on financial aid and tuition financing
can be found under Tuition, Financial Aid
and Financing.
|
| Application Fee |
$40
|
| Transfer Credit Evaluation Fee |
$55 |
| Portfolio Credit Evaluation Fee |
$100 |
| Registration Fee (Per Trimester) |
$50 |
| Graduation Check/Diploma Fee |
$75 |
| Computer Library Fee (Per Trimester) |
$45 |
Administrative Accounting Fee (Per
Trimester)
(Installment Payment Option Only) |
$25 |
| Transcript Fee (Two Provided at No
Cost) |
$10 |
| Returned Check Fee |
$25 |
The cost of books and materials, other than each course syllabus,
is not included in the tuition. Most books and materials may be
purchased at local colleges, retail bookstores, directly from
publishers or over the Internet. The cost is estimated to average
approximately $125.00 per course.
Admission Policies and Requirements
Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or first professional
degree from a college or university accredited by an accrediting
agency recognized by the United States Department of Education
may apply to the Program. The majority of applicants
to this Program are mature adults working in a variety
of professional settings. Many have not attended college for several
years. Consequently, prior class rank and grade point average
are not significant factors in the admission process.
To apply for admission to the Program, an applicant
must first complete the University’s Application
for Admission Form along with the required $40.00 application
fee. It is not necessary to submit official transcripts at the
time of application. However, official transcripts will be required
within 60 days of enrollment.
If the applicant is accepted for admission to the Program,
enrollment materials will be prepared and sent to the applicant
for review and signature.
All payments submitted for tuition and fees must be payable in
U.S. dollars. Payments may be made by MasterCard®,Visa®,
American Express® or personal/business check.
Foreign Applicants and Applicants with International Credentials
Applicants whose native language is not English and who have
not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution
where English is the principal language of instruction must receive
a minimum score of 500 (530 for Masters degree program applicants)
on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL),
or 61 on the iBT (71 on the iBT for Masters degree program applicants),
or its equivalent.
For more information on TOEFL visit the website: www.ets.org/toefl
Transfer Credit and Portfolio Credit
The acceptance of transfer credits between academic institutions
lies within the discretion of the receiving college or university.
Credits earned at William Howard Taft University or Taft Law School
may or may not be accepted by another institution depending upon
its own programs, policies, and regulations.
The University is committed to providing students the greatest
opportunity to apply previously earned credit toward their chosen
degree program. Subject to the limitations of state and accreditation
regulations and academic comparability, students may apply to
have credit awarded through completion of:
MBA students may apply to transfer up to a total of 18 units
of Transfer Credit (or a combination of transfer credit and experiential
or equivalent credit). A maximum of 9 units may be awarded for
adequately documented and validated Experiential or Equivalent
Credit.
Foreign Degree Evaluation
Applicants wishing to transfer in credits or degrees earned at
institutions located outside the United States must have their
academic transcripts evaluated and certified by a National Association
of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) member organization.
Applicants will be assessed a fee by the certifying organization
and should request that the report be sent directly to Taft University.
Applicants transferring in a degree need to request a General
Degree Evaluation sometimes called a Document by Document Evaluation.
Applicants wishing to transfer in credits toward specific courses
must request a Course-by-Course report.
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Course Descriptions
ACC 513 Managerial Accounting (4 Units)
This course offers a balanced coverage of concepts, methods, and
uses of managerial accounting with a strong emphasis on management
issues. The principal course objective is to help the MBA student
focus on concepts and managerial uses of accounting information,
rather than the techniques of cost accounting.
Prerequisites: Second Trimester courses.
ACC 515 Taxes and the Legal Professional ( 4
Units)
This course focuses on Federal and state taxes of special concern
to attorneys and law office managers including income and business
related taxes. The objective of the course is not to make the
student a tax expert but rather to establish a basic foundation
of knowledge which will allow for better communications with CPA’s
or other tax professionals.
Prerequisites: Second Trimester courses.
BUS 511 Entrepreneurship (4 Units)
This course presents an overview of all aspects of entrepreneurship
including developing a viable concept, organizing the enterprise,
market and financial planning, and controlling the organization
with a special emphasis on concepts of goal setting, motivation
and the psychology of achievement.
Prerequisites: None.
BUS 512 Franchising and Licensing (4 Units)
This course explores concepts of franchising, benefits and problems
from both a franchisor and franchisee perspective, as well as
legal requirements. Students research actual franchise opportunities.
Prerequisites: Second Trimester courses.
BUS 503 Valuing a Small Business or Professional Practice
(4 Units)
This course explores the most commonly accepted valuation methods
for closely-held businesses and professional practices. It also
covers defining value for different purposes, the impact on value
of cash versus financing options, as well as how to work with
professional business appraisers and business brokers.
Prerequisites: Second Trimester courses.
BUS516 Commercial Leasing (4 Units)
Often the largest financial commitment of the small or developmental
stage business, this course covers lease negotiations, the lease
document, and tenant improvements for both office and retail leases.
Prerequisites: Second Trimester courses.
BUS 509 Business Research Methods/Business Plans
(4 Units)
This course is a comprehensive, practical, and accessible presentation
of the field of business research. It emphasizes an applied approach
with practical applications to give students a basic understanding
of the scope of business research. The course also serves as an
introduction to the development of business plans.
Prerequisites: First Trimester courses.
BUS 596 Business Plan (4 Units)
In this capstone project, the candidate develops a comprehensive
business plan.
Prerequisites: All Core and Elective courses.
FIN 502 Financing the Business Venture (4 Units)
This course focuses on setting out the basic principles of financial
management and applying them to the decisions faced by the financial
managers. It shows how managers value investments that may pay
off at different points in time or have different degrees of risk.
The course also explores financing alternatives available to the
small or developmental stage enterprise.
Prerequisites: Second Trimester courses.
FIN 515 Money and Capital Markets (4 Units)
The principal objective of this course is to give students a clearer
picture of how the money and capital markets, which now completely
circle the globe, function to provide the many services and fulfill
the many roles they are expected to perform in today’s world.
Prerequisites: Second Trimester courses.
MGT 511 Managerial Perspectives (4 Units)
This course focuses on managerial careers, development of critical
executive and managerial abilities, and the dynamics of organizational
environment and systems as they impact managerial progression
and work.
Prerequisites: None.
MGT 515 Management of a Law Practice (4 Units)
This course presents a comprehensive analysis of the concepts
of management applicable to the legal profession.
Prerequisites: First Trimester courses.
MKT 501 Marketing Management (4 Units)
This course emphasizes the importance of teamwork between marketing
and all the other functions of the business, strategic market
planning, and presents company examples of creative, market-focused,
and customer-driven action.
Prerequisites: None.
MKT 513 Public Relations (4 Units)
This course presents the basic information about public relations
practice, presents a brief summary of its development, and addresses
trends that might predict the future.
Prerequisites: First Trimester courses.
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