AMBA - Business Administration

Program Director: Linda Ratsep

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is for working business professionals and is offered asynchronously, online. The core curriculum covers the foundation of a traditional Master of Business Administration program and includes seminars in Finance, Operations, Strategic Resource Management, Marketing, and Strategic Management. Students may pursue a general MBA degree or focus their studies in a concentration.

The MBA program is offered by the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies in partnership with the School of Business. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The mission of the ACBSP is to establish, promote, and recognize educational standards that contribute to the continuous improvement of business education and to recognize business schools that adhere to these standards.

At the center of the MBA program is a rigorous academic environment emphasizing the use of the case study in an interactive e-learning environment, mentoring relationships with faculty, and extensive experiential learning. The program develops traits common among leaders in every profession — discipline, integrity, confidence, critical thinking, and adaptability.

Critical Infrastructure Protection & Cybercrime Concentration

The Critical Infrastructure Protection & Cyber Crime concentration explores the nature of conflict in cyberspace focusing on two major Internet-based threats to the U.S. national security: cyber terrorism and cybercrime, and the security of information in computer and communications networks within infrastructure sectors critical to national security. These include the sectors of banking, securities and commodities markets, industrial supply chain, electrical/smart grid,
energy, transportation, communications, water supply, and health. The seminars in this concentration provide a risk management framework to help information leaders leverage the benefits of internet technologies while minimizing the risks that such technologies pose to their organizations. Special attention is paid to the risk management of information in critical infrastructure environments through analysis & synthesis of assets, threats, vulnerabilities, impacts, and countermeasures. A critical consideration is given to the role of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems in the flow of resources such as electricity, water, and fuel.

Cyber Law & International Perspectives on Cyberspace concentration

The Cyber Law & International Perspectives on Cyberspace concentration presents a comprehensive overview of ethical issues, legal resources and resources, and public policy implications inherent in the evolving online society. The complex and dynamic state of the law as it applies to behavior in cyberspace is introduced, and the pitfalls and dangers of governing in an interconnected world are explored. Ethical, legal, and policy frameworks for information assurance are addressed. Various organizations and materials that can provide assistance to operate ethically and legally in cyberspace are examined. Topics include intellectual property protection,
electronic contracting and payments, notice to consent from e-message receipts, nonrepudiation, and cybercrime, and the impact of ethical, moral, legal, and policy issues on privacy, fair information practices, equity, content control, and freedom of electronic speech using information systems. It also provides an overview of the issues surrounding transnational cyberspace policies, international investment strategies, and the implementation of communication and information technologies that affect the global economy and transforms the flow of information across cultural and geographic boundaries. The concentration examines various global governance frameworks, and organizations that shape and transform cyberspace such as the International Telecommunications Union, the World Bank Information and Communications Technology Sector, and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

Project Management Concentration

The Project Management concentration focuses on the ability to communicate and interact effectively among managers in order to accomplish business goals.  The concentration will first focus on the application of sound project management principles and practices, then focus on project leadership and team building, and finally, on the application of both as a project manager overseeing and managing a project in real-time.

Following the Project Management Institute practices into the classroom -- first teaching principles and practices to the students and applying these principles and practices in the management of a project. 

Finance Concentration

This concentration is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the general structure and function of financial institutions and markets as well as the financial management of businesses and value investments in securities and a range of additional assets. The curriculum provides a comprehensive examination of investment and portfolio management, international finance, bank management, and risk management to expand the professional knowledge in financial analysis skills, strategic perspective skills, and advanced decision-making capabilities. 

The concentration will provide a deeper understanding of the general structure and function of financial institutions and markets as well as the financial management of businesses and value investments in securities and a range of additional assets. The curriculum provides a comprehensive examination of investment and portfolio management, international finance, bank management, and risk management.

Organizational Leadership Concentration

Organizational Leadership focuses on leading change within the context of understanding the complexity of strategy within an organization. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of the implications of strategic alignment (or lack of strategic alignment) to organizational success.  

The concentration is broad and will focus on differentiating the conceptual and theoretical change models in order to understand the best ways to lead change while considering individual and group behavior.  Additionally, the concentration will enhance the ability to implement organizational change and align people to the processes improved by change initiatives. While understanding the importance of a leader's ability to follow the change management process in a collaborative manner, theories will be explored that foster positive changes in people and organizations.  Systems thinking and organizational theory and design support the change process while standing alone as relevant for individuals not part of a change initiative within their organization.  

Supply Chain Management Concentration

The Supply Chain Management concentration focuses on three key areas of study, strategy planning, and operation; logistics design and execution; and, optimization.

These focal areas will explore key supply chain concepts related to strategy, planning, processes, technologies, warehousing, distribution, transportation, procurement, contracts, networks, inventory, capacity, business operations, tools supply and demand, forecasting, and the language of supply chain management. The concentration will provide a solid foundation of supply chain management concepts, principles, application, and assessment, with a focus on continuous improvement. In effect, addressing three important business questions related to supply chain management, "What are we going to do?" (Strategy); "How do we implement?" (Logistics); and, "How do we improve upon what we are doing?" (Optimization).

Construction Management Concentration

The Construction Management concentration focuses on three key areas of study, Project Management Techniques, Tools, and Practices; Contracts and Insurance in Construction; and, Project Finance and Accounting.

These focal areas will explore key construction management concepts related to strategy, planning, processes, technologies, project management framework, project life-cycle, project process, and key project management areas. Additionally, project integration, scope, time, cost, quality, resource, and schedule management will be studied. Other key areas of focus will be project management procurement, and overall project communication requirements, risk characteristics of various construction contract delivery methods, contractual format/forms, and the place that insurance and surety play in the AEC arena. The emergence of new contractual forms from AIA, DBIA, and the ConsensusDocs requires a new perspective on contracts and project organization.

Energy Management Concentration

The Energy Management concentration focuses on three key areas of study, Energy Resources and Markets; Managing Energy Savings and Efficiency Projects; and, Managing Corporate Energy Needs. The curriculum is designed to help students develop strategic solutions that enable corporations or institutions to become more energy efficient by reducing their energy demands and usage.

These focal areas will explore key energy management concepts related to strategy, planning, processes, technologies, resources, distribution, transportation, procurement, contracts, networks, markets, energy operations, energy supply and demand, regulations, and forecasting corporate energy needs. The concentration will address three important business questions related to energy management, “What are we going to do?” Develop strategic solutions for corporations or institutions on their energy needs; “How do we implement it?” By analyzing all options in energy markets and developing a specific procurement plan for the organization and, “How do we improve upon what we are doing?” By learning to achieve a systematic and continuous energy auditing inside the organization in order to optimize its use in all processes.

International Business Concentration

The International Business Concentration provides an in-depth knowledge of the global business environment to develop competencies in strategic management of international organizations; international aspects of cyberspace, including the overlaps between cybercrime, cybersecurity, cyber policy, cyberwar, and international relations; and developing diplomatic capabilities in achieving multinational corporations' strategic goals.

Technology Management Concentration

The Technology Management concentration focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills required to be an effective business leader within all areas of business with specialized expertise in technology management.  The concentration focus on technology management strategy and decision-making, the role research and development play with regard to technology management strategies, technology project management, and technology absorption, diffusion, and margining within organizations. The Technology Management concentration focuses on providing knowledge and skills required to be an effective business leader within all areas of business with specialized expertise in technology management.  Additionally, the concentration will focus on technology management strategy and decision-making, the role research and development play with regard to technology management strategies, technology project management, and technology absorption, diffusion, and margining within organizations.

General MBA Concentration

The General MBA Concentration provides a business foundation through in-depth business management courses ideal for specialized career goals. Areas of focus will offer an understanding to apply key concepts used in the primary functional areas of business management; apply critical and creative thinking skills to identify business problems and recommend implementable solutions that meet business objectives; and, demonstrate the ability to communicate and interact effectively among managers and members of business organizations and their related communities.

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution, as evaluated by WES, IERF, SpanTran, or CED.

• If English is not your first language, proof of English language proficiency is required. This can be demonstrated in one of three ways:

  • TOEFL - a minimum score of 550 (paper-based test) or 80 (Internet-based test) is required.*

  • IELTS – a minimum composite score of 6.5 is required.*

  • The applicant holds a baccalaureate or master’s degree from a college/university/institution in which the primary language of instruction was English.

Eligibility requirements are expected to be met unless noted in specific articulation agreements or memoranda of understanding (MOUs).

Up to 12-semester graduate credits for study conducted elsewhere may be awarded. Norwich complies with VA regulations and guidelines as it pertains to transfer credits.

Assessment Exam

An outcomes assessment exam is a requirement in the Master of Business Administration program.  The assessment exam covers business concepts discussed throughout the program.  The dates for the exam will be provided by Norwich staff during the last seminar of the program.