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Sameer Vaidya, Dean

Thomas Nichols, Associate Dean

Faculty

Bonnie Albritton

Trisha Anderson

Thomas J. Bell, III

Yashar Dehdashti

Sua Jeon

Thomas W. Nichols

Gokcen Ogruk-Maz

Sameer Vaidya, Dean

Kimberly Webb

Shengxiong Wu

Sinan Yildirim

Mission

The SOBAPP is fully accredited at both the undergraduate and graduate levels by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Master of Business Adminstration (M.B.A.)

1. Core courses: Core courses are required and provide students with a well-rounded base of business knowledge, giving graduates the business management skills needed to be competitive in today’s business job market.
2. Concentration courses: Concentration courses are designed to provide students with focused knowledge and skills in specific functional areas of business.

It is recommended that students without a business degree also complete foundation courses (or other instruction) in Algebra, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Statistics prior to enrolling in related courses.

Students in the online MBA and the applied MBA complete the same course requirements. Students enrolled in the applied MBA combine the flexibility of online classes with real-life practical applications through on-campus meetings. The main difference between the two programs is student participation in an approved internship for applied MBA students. Students enrolled in the applied option are responsible for finding an internship. Students that are unable to locate an internship are given a special experiential learning project addressing the program’s learning objective.

Admission to M.B.A. Program

Consideration for admission to the M.B.A program in the SOBAPP is contingent upon submission of the following items:

• An Application for Admission,
• A non-refundable application fee;
• An official transcript from each institution of higher education attended;
• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test score (test must have been taken within 5 years of the application date.) Please refer to the admissions criteria to determine whether you need the GMAT/GRE score;
• A list of career accomplishments if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business experience;
• Two work-related references or recommendation letters if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business work experience;
• Current professional résumé or curriculum vita (CV);
• Completion of individual assessments (such as online learning readiness questionnaire).

The Dean or Associate Dean of the SOBAPP makes the final evaluation of candidate credentials and admission decisions. Admission decisions are not subject to appeal.

Admissions Criteria

Admission decisions are based on an overall evaluation of the items listed below to estimate an applicant’s potential for success in the graduate program. Admission criteria for the M.B.A. program are as follows:

• Four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 from a regionally accredited college or university (or comparable foreign degree)*; or a Master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 from a regionally accredited college or university;​
• GMAT/GRE will be waived for applicants meeting one of the following three conditions:
  1. Bachelor’s degree with a GPA (overall or last 60 credit hours) of 3.0 or above.
  2. Bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.5 or last 60 credit hours GPA of 2.75 with at least 3 years professional business work experience.
  3. Completed graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 and above.
• Applicants who do not meet any of the three conditions for a GMAT/GRE waiver listed above must have a completed Bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.5 or above or last 60 credit hours GPA of 2.75 or above with a minimum GMAT score of 500 or an equivalent GRE score;
• Applicant’s current résumé or curriculum vita (CV) to assess professional and academic preparation for graduate studies;
• List of career accomplishments demonstrating applicant readiness for graduate studies if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business work experience;
• Two work-related references or recommendation letters confirming the applicant’s career accomplishments, motivation to achieve, and the capacity of the applicant to contribute to the learning process if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business work experience;
• Scores on required individual assessments indicate the potential for success of the applicant in the program.

*Applicants with a three-year Bachelor’s degree will be required to enroll in a one-year bridge program to complete their fourth year by successfully completing 24 undergraduate credit hours. Please refer to the next section for more information on the Bridge Program.

All application for admission materials should be submitted to:

International applicants should refer to the section titled “Admission of International Students” in this catalog and contact the Office of International Programs (817) 531-4965 for application instructions. Prospective international students can also obtain information from the Texas Wesleyan International Programs website at http://txwes.edu/admissions/apply-now/international-students/.

Admission Requirements Under Articulation Agreement(s)

The program has formalized articulation agreement(s) with select institutions of higher learning to facilitate the admission process. Students granted admission through an articulation agreement will be required to satisfy the admission criteria stipulated within the confines of the said articulation agreement.

Bridge program

The Bridge Program is designed to accommodate applicants possessing postsecondary degrees comparable to three years of university study in the United States, as determined by the most recently published guidance from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, or equivalent peer-reviewed guidance.

This program will be helpful in preparing students for graduate study while enabling them to complete their fourth year of study. The courses required to complete the Bridge Program will be tailored to each individual student based on their needs and in consultation with a graduate advisor. These courses might be a combination of general education and specialized lower or upper-level courses. Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in all courses attempted as part of the Bridge Program. Upon completion of the Bridge Program students will receive a certificate and may continue to a full graduate-level course of study. Admits into the Bridge Program will be administratively assigned degree-seeking graduate student status while completing the required undergraduate-level Bridge curriculum.

English Proficiency

Students who are non-native speakers of English must provide evidence of English proficiency by submitting official scores from TOEFL (minimum 213 computer test/550 paper test/79 internet test), or IELTS (minimum band score of 6.5 on the Academic version). Test scores must be less than 2 years old. Other evidence of English proficiency may be considered on an individual basis.

Official Transcripts

Transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended must be submitted, regardless of whether a degree was earned. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The designation “student copy,” “issued to student,” “applicant’s copy,” “unofficial copy,” or other similar notations are not acceptable. This includes hand-delivered transcripts or copies received from a third party, except in rare and documented instances in which international applicants are unable to provide official transcripts.

If you attended a non-U.S. institution, please send transcripts in both the original language, and an official translation of the transcript. A copy of your diploma (graduation certificate) is also required.

Assistance with Your Application

If you have any questions about applying to the program or would like assistance in completing your application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Fifth-Year Option for BBA Majors

The fifth-year option allows qualifying students to first earn a B.B.A. and then an M.B.A. The benefits of the fifth- year option are:

• Early assurance into the M.B.A. program
• Full admission into the M.B.A. program upon the award of the B.B.A. degree
• Waiver of the M.B.A. application process and related application fees. Fill out a short information form upon completion of your B.B.A.
• Enrollment in up to 9 hours of graduate coursework during the student’s final undergraduate semesters. Any graduate hours earned will count toward the M.B.A. degree.

The fifth-year option consists of the following three sequential steps:

1. Intent Form and Plan of Academic Coursework
   • Undergraduate majors with more than 30 program hours remaining toward earning a B.B.A. and who meet the following criteria are eligible to file a fifth-year intent form:
     • Students with 24 or more college credit hours must have a minimum college cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and, if applicable, 2.75 in their major.
     • The fifth-year intent form must be filed with the student’s advisor. In response, the advisor will prepare a plan of academic coursework. After the fifth-year intent form and the plan of academic coursework are approved by the School of Business, the student is designated as participating in the fifth-year option (i.e., the student’s degree audit and transcript are updated to indicate participation in the fifth-year option).
     • The student may withdraw from the fifth-year option at any time resulting in the removal of the fifth-year option designation.
2. Early Assurance
   • Once 30 program hours remain, the GPA of the fifth-year option student is reviewed.
     • Students with a minimum college cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and 2.75 in their major are admitted into the M.B.A. program with a provisional status.
     • Students not meeting the GPA requirement are removed from the fifth-year option. The student may complete the normal application process for the M.B.A. program. Or, the student may request any graduate credit earned under the fifth-year option to be applied to the B.B.A. degree.
3. Full Admission
   • Once the B.B.A. degree is awarded, the GPA of the fifth-year option student is again reviewed.
     • Students with a minimum college cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and 2.75 in their major are fully admitted into the M.B.A. program (i.e., admission status is no longer provisional). Following full admission into the M.B.A. program, fifth-year option students are subject to the normal M.B.A. policies in the graduate catalog.
     • Students not meeting the GPA requirement remain provisionally admitted. In order to be fully admitted, the student must complete the normal application process for the M.B.A. program.

M.B.A. Admissions Status

Provisional Admission

Applicants meeting all admission requirements, but lacking one or more official documents, may be admitted provisionally for one session only. During the session, provisionally admitted students may take up to 3 courses. Provisional status will not be extended past the initial session of enrollment.

Provisionally admitted students desiring to continue graduate studies beyond one session must be fully admitted into the M.B.A. program.

Certificate Students

A certificate student is a student seeking to complete the four courses comprising a concentration in one (or more) of the following:

• Accounting
• Data Analytics
• Digital Marketing
• General Business
• Health Care Administration
• Supply Chain Management

In order to be admitted into the certificate program students must meet the requirements (and follow the same process) for full admission into the M.B.A. program. Certificate students however are not eligible to receive financial aid. Certificate students must earn a grade of C or higher in each concentration course in order to receive a certificate of completion.

At any time after admission into the certificate program, a student may choose to pursue an M.B.A. degree by advising the Dean, Associate Dean, or the MBA Director of the SOBAPP. Any student pursuing an M.B.A. degree is subject to the Minimum Academic Standards of the program. In the event a certificate student decides to pursue an M.B.A. degree, he/she will be given:

1. General elective credit if their concentration has been discontinued, or
2. Concentration credit if their concentration is part of an existing M.B.A. program.

M.B.A. degree seeking students do not receive a certificate upon program completion.

Readmission to the M.B.A. Program

Any former fully admitted Texas Wesleyan graduate business student who has not been enrolled at Texas Wesleyan University for two or more consecutive semesters and wishes to return should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for information on readmission. Students that have been withdrawn from the program for failing to maintain minimum academic standards may petition to appeal. The appeal must be made in writing to the Graduate Committee within one year of the withdrawal from the program.

To apply for readmission to the M.B.A. Program, please submit:

• An Application for Admission, Graduate Programs, SOBAPP
• An official transcript from each institution of higher education attended (if enrolled at another university since last attending Texas Wesleyan)
• Current professional résumé or curriculum vita (CV)

Readmitted students must meet full admission criteria to rematriculate into the M.B.A. Program.

Graduate Faculty

Individuals appointed to the graduate faculty hold the highest degree in their field except in those cases where a person possesses special knowledge or has had unique business experience. The graduate faculty is appointed by the Dean of the School of Business Administration and Professional Programs as outlined in the graduate faculty appointments and assignments policy in the faculty handbook.

Graduate Committee in Business

The Graduate Committee recommends policy, hears appeals, and approves and recommends curricular changes for the graduate business programs.

Membership includes:

• Dean of the SOBAPP;
• Associate Dean of the SOBAPP (Chairperson);
• All appointed and contributing graduate faculty in the SOBAPP.

Graduate Student Orientation

Each session an orientation is provided for the purpose of acquainting new graduate students with University policies, faculty, and administration.

Academic Policies

Participation

A student participates in an online course by engaging in academically related activities of the course. Examples of such activities include but are not limited to: contributing to an online discussion or chat term; submitting an assignment or working draft; working exercises; taking a quiz or exam; or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course-related question. Documenting that a student has logged into an online class or website is not sufficient, by itself, to demonstrate academic participation by the student.

Any student who has not logged into an online course within one week of the start date of the course may be dropped from the class roster for non-participation. Any student who fails to complete coursework which in the aggregate constitutes 10% or more of the course grade during the session may be dropped from the course for non-participation. The last date of a student’s participation will be the date the student last logged into the course and completed an academically related activity.

All students enrolled in an Applied Program Option will be required to attend regular physical meetings in the USA. Each student enrolled in an Applied Program Option must engage in an internship integral to the established curriculum, participation in which is required to begin immediately. The practical training must directly relate to the student’s major area of study. Locating an internship is the responsibility of the student, with all placements subject to the approval of SOBAPP.

Transfer Credit

Texas Wesleyan’s SOBAPP may accept up to 6 credit hours (2 courses) as transfer credit from another AACSB-accredited university’s M.B.A. or other graduate program. No transfer of credit is automatic and all possible transfer courses must receive final approval from the Dean or Associate Dean after consulting with appropriate graduate faculty members. To be eligible for transfer, a course grade of a “B” or above is required, and the class must have been taken no more than seven years prior to the applicant’s projected graduation date from the M.B.A. program at Texas Wesleyan (refer to the Time Limitation policy below). Students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher in their previous program in order for transfer credits to be considered.

320| Texas Wesleyan University 2024-2025 Catalog

Acceptance of transfer credit toward business graduate program requirements is contingent upon its relevance and appropriateness to the degree being sought and is subject to approval by the Dean or Associate Dean of the SOBAPP. Transfer hours of a “B” or better will receive a grade of “P” and will not be computed in the GPA.

Time Limitation

A student must complete the requirements for a graduate degree in the School of Business Administration and Professional Programs within seven years from the date of initial enrollment in graduate courses at Texas Wesleyan University. Students may, in writing, request an additional extension of time to graduate which must be approved by the Graduate Committee. All decisions made by the Graduate Committee will be communicated to the student in writing and approved extension requests may have stipulations or conditions included which must be adhered to by the student.

Residency Requirement

To be awarded the M.B.A., students must successfully complete 24 credit hours and 10 courses at Texas Wesleyan University.

Grading

Graduate credit is allowed only for courses completed with grades “A,” “B,” and “C,” although grades “D” and “F” are used in computing grade point averages.

No final grade assigned for a graduate-level course may be raised unless an error has been made. The substitution of another course for one completed with a lower grade is not permitted.

Selected courses, workshops, etc. may be graded on a “P” (pass) or “F” (fail) basis at the option of the Graduate Committee. No more than 3 hours may be graded pass/fail. A grade of “P” for a pass/fail course is not calculated in the grade point average. However, a grade of “F” for a pass/fail course will be used in the grade point calculation.

Minimum Academic Standards

The graduate business programs in the SOBAPP requires that a student maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) or better. The Graduate Committee of the SOBAPP will recommend withdrawal of a student from a master’s program if a student receives two course grades below “C.” For purposes of enforcing this withdrawal rule, the first grade received in a course is used by the Graduate Committee. Master’s program students may not graduate with more than two “Cs” in their program requirements, although a course may be repeated once to raise a grade of “C” or lower. A student may not repeat more than three courses at the graduate level, and all replacement course work must be completed at Texas Wesleyan University. Pending recommendation of the Graduate Committee, the Dean of the SOBAPP will make the final decision on a student’s withdrawal.

Students will be placed on probation if their cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0. Students will remain on probation until they raise their cumulative GPA to a 3.0 and above.

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for graduation, a student must have completed an approved program of study with a minimum of 30 hours of course work for the M.B.A. program. The students must earn at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). Application for graduation must be filed in the Office of Student Records no later than the date listed in the catalog calendar.

All course work applicable to the master’s degree must be completed within seven years from the date that the student was admitted to the program. Under rare circumstances the Graduate Committee may grant an extension. Any request for an extension must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the SOBAPP.

Capstone Integrative Course

Strategic Management (MGT 6207) is the “capstone” course in the M.B.A. program. In this course, students are expected to integrate and apply materials from the core curriculum and advanced electives on a comprehensive organizational project. To enroll in this course, students must have completed at least 14 hours of core M.B.A. courses with passing grades. It is recommended that this course should be taken in the last session of the M.B.A. program. In order to graduate, students must earn a “B” or better in the Strategic Management course.

Sequence of Events for Graduate Students

1. Be admitted to graduate program (refer to the admission requirements and procedures (p. 313)).
2. Based on the individual student needs and according to an M.B.A. degree plan students will register for graduate work or suggested leveling courses/instruction.
3. File application for graduation in the Office of Student Records no later than the date listed in the catalog calendar.
4. Complete any remaining courses; remove all grades of “I” (incomplete).
5. Attend Hooding and Graduation (refer to the University Calendar for date, time, and location).

Programs

• Business Administration, Data Analytics, M.B.A.
• Business Administration, Digital Marketing Concentration, M.B.A.
• Business Administration, M.B.A.

• Certificate Students

• Business Administration, Accounting Concentration, M.B.A.
• Business Administration, Health Care Administration Concentration, M.B.A.
• Business Administration, Supply Chain Management Concentration, M.B.A.

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