Graduate School

*Some concentrations may not admit students to the doctoral program every year. Interested applicants should contact department PhD coordinators before applying to the program.

Individual program requirements described in The University of Memphis Graduate Catalog, 2007-2008, are subject to change. Please consult the college office for changes that may occur before publication of the next issue of this Catalog. Every graduate student is expected to comply with the general requirements of the Graduate School (see Admissions Regulations, Academic Regulations, and Minimum Degree Requirements) and the program requirements of the degree being pursued (see departmental listings in this section).

The Fogelman College of Business and Economics is one of the premier schools of business in the Mid-South and the only business school in West Tennessee that is fully accredited by the AACSB-International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB-International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. The Fogelman College is also home to the Robert Wang Center for International Business, one of only 30 Centers for International Business and Education Research (CIBER), as designated by the US Department of Education. Other significant initiatives and centers that promote business research and outreach to the business community include the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, the Center for Supply Chain Management and the Center for Managing Emerging Technology at the FedEx Technology Institute, and the Institute for the Study of Securities Markets. In addition, ten Chairs of Excellence and two Distinguished Professors are on the faculty in the School of Accountancy and the Departments of Economics; Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate; Management Information Systems; Management; and Marketing and Supply Chain Management.

The mission of the Fogelman College is to offer business education to a diverse student population by teaching a rigorous and relevant business curriculum, supported and strengthened by research and community outreach. Graduate degree programs serve the workforce needs of the Mid-South region and beyond. Specifically, through the MBA program as well as the Executive MBA, International MBA, and other masters programs, the College prepares students for leadership roles in the technology-driven and globally competitive marketplace. The College offers a PhD program in business administration in selected areas to prepare students for teaching, research, or professional careers while serving as a research catalyst to stimulate faculty scholarly endeavors.

The Fogelman College of Business and Economics offers four MBA programs, the Master of Science with a major in Business Administration and five concentrations, and the Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Arts in Economics. The largest MBA program in the college is designed for part-time students (although students may enroll on a full-time basis) with all classes offered in the evening. At least one year of full-time work experience is required prior to admission. This program has no concentrations and gives students the choice of two elective courses and an international course.

The MBA with an Executive concentration is a full-time, fixed-track 21-month program designed for full-time working professionals and mid-upper level executives with at least five years work experience, with classes offered on alternating Fridays and Saturdays and in two domestic and one international residency weeks.

The MBA with a Law concentration allows the student to concurrently earn an MBA and the JD. The student must be admitted to both the Fogelman College MBA program and the JD program in the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

The International MBA is a fixed-track two-year program designed for the full-time student interested in international business, with a required internship or study-abroad component.

The Master of Science with a major in Business Administration has concentrations in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate; Management Information Systems; Management; Marketing, and Real Estate Development. This MS degree offers students distinct specialization in their chosen concentration area.

The Master of Science in Accounting provides students wishing to specialize in accounting the opportunity to concentrate in one of three areas: general accounting, accounting systems, and taxation.

The Master of Arts in Economics provides advanced training in economics for students who are interested in continuing their graduate education with the PhD in Economics or who are interested in a career as an economic analyst in the private sector or in government organizations.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Program objectives are: (1) an understanding of the general context of business in society including: ethical and global issues, influence of the political, legal, social, and technological environment, the impact of demographic diversity on organizations, knowledge of the essential foundations of the business functions; (2) acquisition of a professional-level knowledge of: financial reporting and analysis, managing organizations, strategic use of science and technology, creating value in the global arena; (3) competence in business communication in a foreign language; (4) knowledge and skills in operations of one or more international businesses; and (5) ability to compete effectively for jobs in the profit and not-for-profit sector.

Program Admission
Applicants to all MBA programs must have:

1. An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or institution.
2. A Graduate School application for admission and the appropriate fee.
3. An official transcript from each college or university attended.
4. Satisfactory performance on undergraduate course work and a recent (five years or less) GMAT or GRE admissions examination score. In recent years, the average GMAT score for applicants admitted to Master’s programs was approximately 530.
5. A current resume
6. A personal statement of interest
7. Response to the required essay questions (available at fcbegp@memphis.edu)

Arrangements for taking the GMAT can be made by writing to GMAT, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, by calling 1-800-462-8669, or by using www.gmac.com.

Registration packets for the GRE may be obtained from Graduate Admissions (WT 101) or the Testing Center (JWB 112).

Qualified applicants may enter the MBA or the MBA with Law concentration in either the Fall or Spring semesters, while admission to the International MBA and the MBA with Executive concentration is for Fall only.

MBA Essential Foundations: Prerequisite Courses

Thorough understanding and knowledge of business fundamentals are a necessary foundation for advanced MBA Core Knowledge and Skills courses.

If students do not have an undergraduate degree in business, but meet the entrance requirements above, they must complete the prerequisite courses with 12 credits (C or better in each course) of the Essential Foundations or their equivalent. Prospective MBA students with undergraduate degrees in business are required to take only the Essential Foundations courses in which their background is deficient.

Essential Foundations:

ACCT 7000--Fundamentals of Accounting--3 hours
ECON 7010--Economic Theory--3 hours
ISDS 7020--Statistical Methods in Business and Economics--3 hours
FIR 7070--Financial Concepts for Business--3 hours
TOTAL--12 hours

Essential Foundations classes can not be used to meet program requirements of any graduate degree in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics.

The Graduate Non-Degree classification allows individuals who have not yet decided to pursue a graduate degree to enroll in Essential Foundations courses.

MBA Program Requirements

Each candidate for an MBA degree must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work beyond the Essential Foundations. Students are required to take 24 hours of Core Knowledge and Skills courses in six-hour blocks (two three-hour courses) listed below. The blocks may be taken in any sequence EXCEPT that MGMT 7160 and MKTG 7140 must be taken after completion of 18 hours of the Core Knowledge and Skills courses.

Additional course requirements include one international course (3 hours selected from the following: ECON 7170, FIR 7170, ISDS 7171, MIS 7170, MKTG 7170, MGMT 7170, or any other international course approved by the Director of MBA Programs), and two approved elective courses in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics. Approval of elective courses must be obtained from the Director of MBA Programs. A current listing of approved electives may be obtained by e-mail from fcbegp@memphis.edu or from the Graduate Programs Office, room 101 in the Business Building.

Core Knowledge and Skills:

Financial Reporting and Analysis

FIR 7150--Corporate Finance--3 hours
ACCT 7110--Accounting for Decision Making--3 hours

Managing Organizations

ECON 7100--Executive Economics--3 hours
MGMT 7130--Organizational Behavior and Performance--3 hours

Strategic Use of Science and Technology

ISDS 7120--Management Science & Decision Technology--3 hours
ISDS 7465--Information Systems in Organizations--3 hours

Creating Value in the Global Arena

MKTG 7140--Strategic Marketing--3 hours
MGMT 7160--Global Strategic Management--3 hours

TOTAL CORE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS--24 hours

International elective--3 hours

Electives--6 hours

MBA PROGRAM TOTAL--33 HOURS

Only degree-seeking students will be allowed to enroll in Core Knowledge and Skills courses.

MBA with Concentration in Law (MBA/JD)

Essential Foundations and Core Knowledge and Skills courses are identical to the MBA program. Electives for this concentration are offered through the Cecil B. Humphreys School of Law and must be approved by the Director of MBA Programs in the Fogelman College.

Executive MBA Concentration: Prerequisites and Program Requirements

The Executive MBA concentration consists of 45 credit-hours in a fixed-track format and is completed in 21 months. All participants take the same course of study and progress together through the program. There are no program prerequisites; content and knowledge of essential foundations are incorporated into the program requirements. Core knowledge and skills of the MBA program are presented in course residency periods and in 1.5/3-hour modules in a format designed for and limited to corporate executives.

Executive concentration students must attend a one-week residential management seminar in August of both the first and second years of the program. An international study residency is required in the summer after the first Spring semester of the program. During the Fall and Spring semesters classes meet each weekend on alternate Fridays and Saturdays. The program website www.emba.memphis.edu/ provides additional information regarding course schedule, etc.

INTERNATIONAL MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Program objectives are: (1) an understanding of the general context of business in society including: ethical and global issues, influence of the political, legal, social, and technological environment, the impact of demographic diversity on organizations, knowledge of the essential foundations of the business functions; (2) acquisition of a professional-level knowledge of: financial reporting and analysis, managing organizations, strategic use of science and technology, creating value in the global arena; (3) competence in business communication in a foreign language; (4) knowledge and skills in operations of one or more international businesses; and (5) ability to compete effectively for jobs in the profit and not-for-profit sector.

Program Admission
Applicants must have:

1. An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university,
2. A Graduate School application for admission and the appropriate fee,
3. An official transcript from each college or university attended,
4. Satisfactory performance on undergraduate course work and a recent (5 years or less) GMAT or GRE admissions examination score.
5. Acceptable TOEFL score for international applicants.

Program Requirements:

ACCT 7172--Global Accounting Policies--3 hrs.
ECON 7101--Economics for International Business--3 hrs.
MGMT 7125--Organizational Behavior International--3 hrs.
MKTG 7101--Global Marketing--3 hrs.
BA 7902--Workshop in Business--1 hr.
Business Communication I* (Students select one course, per their language track.)--3 hrs.

ENGL 7807--Workshop in Government & Corporate Writing
LALI 7780--Individual Studies in Business Language (Chinese)
SPAN 7101--Introduction to Hispanic Culture and Business
FREN 7101--French/Business & Economics
GERM 7101--Advanced Business German I
JAPN 7101--Advanced Business Japanese I

LALI 7780--Individual Studies in Business Language (Chinese)
SPAN 7102--Introduction to Hispanic Culture and Business
FREN7102--French for Commerce
GERM 7102--Advanced Business German II
JAPN 7102--Advaned Business Japanese II

Elective course for international & world regional track students
GEOG 7301--Seminar in Regional Geography or elective course--3 hrs.
POLS 7501--Seminar in International Relations or elective course--3 hrs.
Elective course for all students--3 hrs.
BA 7950--Practicum in International Business or elective course--9 hrs.
MGMT 7161--International Business Strategy--3 hrs.
Required Business Elective--3 hrs.
Required Business Elective--3 hrs.

IMBA TOTAL--59 hours

*Students are required to take business communication courses according to their language track. Foreign national students are required to choose English for their language coursework.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Program objectives are: (1) an understanding of the general context of business in society and a foundation knowledge of the essential business functions; (2) acquisition of an advanced level of knowledge of a specialized business discipline; (3) ability to make significant professional contributions within a functional area of business; and (4) ability to compete effectively for professional positions in the private or public sectors.

Program Admission

Applicants to all MS programs in the Fogelman College must have the following:

1. An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or institution;
2. Application for admission and appropriate fee;
3. Official transcript from each college or university attended;
4. Satisfactory performance on undergraduate coursework and a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admissions test or the Graduate Record Examination GRE;
5. International applicants must submit an acceptable TOEFL score.

The Graduate Non-Degree classification allows individuals who have not yet decided to pursue a graduate degree or who have professional development needs to enroll in MS courses (a maximum of 9 credit hours). To remain enrolled as a Graduate Non-Degree student, individuals must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students should note that the 9-hour maximum is more stringent than the University Graduate School policy.

MS in Accounting

Prerequisite courses and program requirements for this degree are described in the School of Accountancy section of this bulletin.

MS in Business Administration

Prerequisites for the Master of Science in Business Administration differ by concentration area. Description of these prerequisites is listed in the departmental description for each concentration.

All Master of Science in Business Administration students must complete the following three core courses:

MKTG 7213--Research Methodology--3 hours
ISDS 7465--Information Systems in Organizations--3 hours
One international course (selected from the following: ECON 7170, FIR 7170, 3 hours ISDS 7171, MIS 7170, MKTG 7170, MGMT 7170, or any other international course approved by the concentration advisor)

Total core: 9 hours

The remaining 24 hours beyond the MSBA core are taken in the concentration area as specified in the appropriate departmental listing in this bulletin. Students in this program should consult the departmental master’s advisor for details concerning the concentration.

MASTER OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS

The Department of Economics offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Arts degree. For program admissions, prerequisites, and degree requirements see the departmental listing in this section.

PhD IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The mission of the PhD in Business Administration program is to prepare individuals primarily for careers in teaching and research in institutions of higher education and secondarily for careers as consultants, researchers, and professional managers in other organizations.

Program objectives are: (1) an acquisition of an advanced level of knowledge in one or more functional areas of business or in applied economics and an expert level of knowledge in one or more subfields of a business function or economics; (2) ability to conduct significant, independent research that extends the knowledge base in a business function or economics; (3) capacity to teach effectively within the business or economics discipline; (4) capacity to communicate advanced-level knowledge to others in the academic and professional community; and (5) ability to compete effectively for faculty positions in respected colleges and universities or other high-level professional positions.

Students with master’s or professional degrees in business administration, public administration, economics, law, engineering, mathematics, computer science, psychology, sociology, and the physical sciences will find this background provides important preparation for entering the PhD program.

The University has the academic resources to provide the doctoral applicant with a balanced education that provides both the qualitative and quantitative skills required of the modern business education professional.

The PhD student at the Fogelman College must select a concentration from one of six departments: accounting, economics, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing and supply chain management.

Visit this website for more information: http://fcbephd.memphis.edu

Program Admission and Prerequisites

Individuals meeting the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School for doctoral-level programs shall be eligible to apply for admission to the PhD in Business Administration program. Applicants must indicate their area of concentration when filing their initial application.

Admission to the PhD program may be granted to qualifying applicants who show high promise of success in doctoral business study. The principal criterion for admission is evidence of superior achievement in prior academic work, coupled with outstanding promise for future contributions as a business scholar. The concentration department and the Associate Dean of Academic Programs will review and evaluate each applicant. Some concentrations may not admit students to the doctoral program every year. Interested applicants should contact the departmental PhD coordinators before applying to the program.

Criteria used for evaluation include the applicant’s:

1. Academic record. Applicant’s graduate grade point average on the master’s level coursework should be 3.4 or higher (on a 4.0 basis).
2. Testing. Applicants must present an acceptable score on a recent (five years or less) Graduate Management Admission Test or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). In 2005, the average GMAT score for applicants admitted to doctoral programs was approximately 633.
3. Recommendations. Three letters of recommendation are required from former professors, colleagues, and/or business executives.
4. Personal Statement and Resume. Applicants must submit a written statement of career plans and objectives, and a current resume of academic and professional experiences.
5. Mathematics. Applicants must submit a transcript indicating the successful completion of a course in calculus.
6. Interview. Applicants may appear before the departmental admission committee for a personal interview.

Prerequisites in the functional areas of business are determined by the department. A typical applicant has completed a master's degree in business, economics, or other relevant discipline.

Following admission, a student will be assigned to a department program committee composed of faculty members from the student’s department of concentration. The program committee is responsible for planning and approving the program requirements, and for guiding and monitoring the progress of the student through the program.

Program

A minimum of 72 hours beyond the bachelor's degree is required. A minimum of 39 hours of the curriculum below must be completed at the University of Memphis after admission to the program. Most concentrations require more than 39 hours.

Residency: Students enrolled in the doctoral program must also meet the university residency requirements as defined in the Minimum Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

Course Requirements

Research Core (at least 12 semester hours): Includes courses designed to develop and improve research skills. Students may be required to acquire competence using research tools and techniques beyond and above what is required with the research core. Courses in the Research Core must be approved by the student’s departmental PhD coordinator.

Concentration (at least 30 semester hours): A minimum of 15 hours of 8000 level courses is required in the student's chosen concentration. Possible concentrations include: Accountancy, Economics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, or Marketing. Additional supporting coursework may be selected from these concentrations or from approved areas outside the college. Courses graded S,U, or IP may not be used to satisfy the minimum hours required for Research Core or Concentration.

Dissertation (18 semester hours): requires major research of an original and creative nature and must meet the requirements of the Graduate School. The dissertation is the research capstone of the PhD program and must be a significant contribution to the study of Business Administration. The student will register for dissertation credit hours every semester after passing the comprehensive examinations. Students planning to graduate in the summer must be registered for dissertation credit. The student must show satisfactory progress over a 2-year period of time. Unsatisfactory progress towards dissertation completion will be grounds for dismissal from the program. After the dissertation is approved by the dissertation committee, the candidate will be given a final oral examination primarily dealing with the dissertation. The examination will be conducted by the dissertation committee. All members must be present at the examination. If the student’s performance on this examination is satisfactory as judged by the committee, all requirements for the degree will have been completed. In the Fogelman College, no credit earned more than 10 years prior to the student’s date of completion of the doctoral degree will be applied toward satisfying requirements of the doctoral degree. Students should note that the 10-year time limit is more stringent than the University Graduate School policy. NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

Comprehensive Examinations

Each student will write comprehensive examinations in the concentration. Comprehensive examinations in the concentration may be taken as soon as all of the course work required for the PhD degree has been successfully completed. Exceptions may be made as the discretion of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs. After satisfactorily completing the written comprehensive examinations, each student must pass a general oral examination integrating all work. The student's program committee will organize and administer the oral examination. Comprehensive examinations are given each year in March and September. Some concentrations require qualifying examinations covering specific courses or content, typically given after the first year of coursework, to be successfully completed prior to sitting for the comprehensive exam. Failure to pass the qualifying exam after two attempts will result in termination from the program.

EXPENSES

Credit Hour Surcharge

A surcharge of $30 per credit hour for graduate students has been approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The purpose of the surcharge on these business courses is to facilitate the continuous improvement of the college and compliance with the standards of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB International).

Financial Assistance

A number of doctoral and master's graduate assistantships are available to full-time students. Doctoral assistantships may be available to those students with a GMAT score of 600 or above. Graduate assistants provide part-time assistance to the concentration in teaching and research. Current compensation for doctoral students ranges from $9,000 to $12,000 per academic year, for master's students a minimum of $6,000 per academic year, in addition to a full tuition waiver. The Fogelman College also has a limited number of doctoral fellowships available.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BA)

The courses listed below are designated with "BA" numbers in order that they may be available to advanced graduate students with a major in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics. They may be accepted toward the completion of the degree requirements.

7100-8100. Introduction to Electronic Commerce. (3). (Same as Comp 7100). Technical foundations of electronic commerce, including intranets and extranets and protocols; programming in C++, Java, and html; client-server environments; webmasters; on-line authoring tools; catalogs; and services. PREREQUISITE: COMP 2150 or knowledge of a high-level programming language.

7105-8105. Contemporary Electronic Commerce (3). (Same as COMP 7105-8105). Technical and managerial foundations of electronic commerce, including electronic infrastructure, data transfer, mining and warehousing, security; one-to-one marketing; impact of electronic commerce on resource planning, project development, organization and management of the business environment; new forms of the virtual enterprise. PREREQUISITES: ISDS 7190, COMP 7100, or permission of the instructor.

7110-8110. Advanced Electronic Commerce (3). (Same as COMP 7110-8110). Advanced concepts and strategies for EC, including implementation platforms, multimedia integration, human-computer interaction, and ethical issues; impact of EC as a force in technology advances, consumer behavior, and changing the nature of the business world. PREREQUISITES: BA 7105, COMP 7105, or permission of the instructor.

7160. Survey of Electronic Commerce. (3). A broad survey of electronic commerce topics including the Internet, the World Wide Web, e-strategy, e-business models, customer relationship management, e-supply chain management, electronic data interchange, data security on the Internet. PREREQUISITE: Permission of faculty director of master's program.

7700-30. Special Topics in Business Administration. (1-6). Special study of problems in business and economics. Topic areas change each semester as determined by new developments in business. PREREQUISITE: Permission of associate dean for academic programs.

7750. Survey of International Business. (3). Overview of global business methods and practices, including management, marketing, financial, and economic complexities in a global business environment; varying emphasis on different functional areas of interest; an introduction and preparation for the International Business Practicum.

‡7800. Internship in Business. (1-6). Internship in business organization to gain on-the-job experience in actual management environment; project to be approved by College Internship Director and supervised by graduate faculty. PREREQUISITES: 15 semester hours of graduate credit and minimum GPA 3.25.

†7900. Research Practicum in Business for Master’s Students. (1-9). Practical demonstration of and experience in the design, practice, and methodology of research in business. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

†7902-8902. Workshop in Business for Graduate Students. (1-6). Presentations of research methods and scholarly work by faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars in business.

‡7910. Problems in International Business. (1-6). Directed independent or group study and research in international business area. Study projects may be designed by student(s) with approval of supervising faculty member. PREREQUISITE: Permission of associate dean for academic programs.

†7920. Studies in the Contextual Environment of International Business. (1-12). Accommodates transfer credit (pre-approved by IMBA coordinator) taken abroad; business, language, and area study courses in cultural, economic, historical, philosophical, political, social or legal context. Credit varies according to content; no more than 12 hours may apply toward degree. Restricted to students enrolled in IMBA concentration.

7950. Practicum in International Business. (3-9). Practicum in foreign business or academic organization to gain management skills and experience; work experience in non-English speaking country; enrollment must be approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Programs. PREREQUISITE: 12 hours of graduate business courses.

7970-8970. Electronic Commerce Project. (3). (Same as COMP 7970-8970). Research in an electronic commerce project under the supervision of a faculty member and possibly a liaison from commerce or industry. PREREQUISITES: BA 7110, COMP 7110 or permission of the instructor.

†8800. Reading for Comprehensives (1-12). Directed readings as preparation for comprehensive examinations. Arranged on an individual basis; limited to Ph.D. students in Business Administration. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours. PREREQUISITE: Students must have completed or be in the last semester of required course work and have permission of the College Ph.D. coordinator.

†8900. Research Practicum in Business for Doctoral Students. (1-9). Practical demonstration of and experience in the design, practice, and methodology of research in business. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

†8901. Teaching Practicum in Business for Graduate Students. (1-6). Practical demonstration of and experience in the art of teaching business topics. Required course for PhD students. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

‡8920. Dissertation Seminar. (1-3). Research design and methodology in administrative sciences; guidance in preparing dissertation proposal; students present progress reports to other seminar members to critique the progress of fellow students and acquire skills and knowledge in research design and methodologies. To be taken during the last 12 hours of doctoral coursework.

†9000. Dissertation (1-12). Independent research for Doctor of Business Administration degree. PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of comprehensive exams or permission of Director of Ph.D. Programs.

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.

‡Grades of A-F, or IP will be given.