Donald W. Reynolds Center, Suite 304, (501) 569-3356, (501) 569-8898 (fax)
Professor Jane Wayland, Dean
Professor Sonya F. Premeaux, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
The College of Business (COB) offers the following graduate degrees:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Science in Business Information Systems (M.S. in BIS)
- Graduate Certificate Programs
- Graduate certificate in Business Analytics (BUAL-GC)
- Graduate certificate in Management (MGMT-GC)
- Graduate certificate in Business Information Systems (BINS- GC)
- Graduate certificate in Business (BUSX-GC)
- Graduate certificate in Human Resources and Organizational Psychology (HROP-GC)
The COB partners with the Bowen School of Law to offer a concurrent MBA-JD programs and with UAMS to offer a concurrent MBA-PharmD program. A brief description of each of these programs follows.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is for students with liberal arts, scientific, or other professional backgrounds as well as students with prior business studies. At the completion of the MBA program, students should be able to demonstrate the following:
- an understanding of the strategically interrelated functional areas of business;
- the use of analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and technology to solve contemporary business problems;
- an understanding of the impact of diversity and global issues in business; and
- effective teamwork, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
The MBA with Concentration in Human Resource Management (BUSAHR) provides MBA students with an interest in pursuing a career in the field of HRM or who want to extend their knowledge of HRM practices with an in-depth knowledge of legal and ethical principles related to HR activities, fair and accurate staffing procedures, efficient and equitable pay and benefit programs, employee relations, and strategic HRM practices. Six of the nine required credit hours for the HRM concentration count as electives in the MBA program.
The MBA with a Concentration in Organizational Communication (BUSAOC) is designed to equip students with specialized knowledge of communications in organizations. Students will learn how to investigate and analyze instances of effective and ineffective crisis communication and act accordingly in a crisis situation, analyze conflict situations and effectively communicate in difficult conversations, use negotiation and/or other communication techniques to resolve or manage conflict situations, and develop and present an intervention for an organizational communication program. Six of the nine required credit hours for the OC concentration count as electives in the MBA program.
Students interested in the MBA program should call the Associate Dean for Graduate Business Programs at (501) 569-3356 or email mbaadvising@ualr.edu.
The Concurrent MBA Programs (MBA-JD and MBA-PharmD) allow students to concurrently complete the requirements of their primary professional program (JD or PharmD) and the MBA. Attorneys and pharmacists find that the business skills provided by the MBA are extremely useful in their professional practices. Students in these concurrent programs can count six hours from their primary program as MBA electives, and six to nine hours from the MBA program are allowed as electives in their primary program. Law students interested in the MBA-JD should contact the associate dean of the Law School. Pharmacy students interested in the concurrent MBA-PharmD program should contact the program coordinator at (501) 686-6498 or email mbaadvising@ualr.edu.
The Master of Science in Business Information Systems (M.S. in BIS) is designed to integrate knowledge of information technology (IT) and the functional areas of business with emphasis on strategic IT applications and the development of project management, team, and communication competencies vital for IT managers. In addition, the program integrates the development of business analytics skills. The program can be customized to meet varying career goals for those with or without previous technology or business course work. The goal of the program is to position graduates for advancement in the information systems field. Students interested in the MS in BIS program should contact the Chair of the Department of Business Information Systems at (501) 569-8854.
The Graduate Certificate in Management (MGMT-GC) is a 12-credit program designed to develop conceptual, interpersonal, and practical problem-solving skills that apply to the management of for-profit, non-profit, and governmental organizations. Students in this program will learn to demonstrate the ability to apply relevant managerial models and theories/approaches in situational analysis, an understanding of the principles of human resources management, and an ability to apply the concepts underlying effective interpersonal relations and group/team leadership skills. Students interested in the certificate program should contact the Associate Dean for Graduate Business Programs at (501) 569-3356 or email mbaadvising@ualr.edu.
The Graduate Certificate in Business Information Systems (BINS-GC) is a 12-credit program designed to provide a focused collection of course work in business information systems, providing students pertinent knowledge and skills necessary to enter into or progress their careers in the information systems field. The program is designed for post-baccalaureate students and working professionals who are interested in enhancing their current technical and managerial skills for career advancement or preparation for entering a master’s program. Course work completed for the certificate may be applied to the Master of Science degree in BIS. Students interested in this certificate program should contact the Chair of the Department of Business Information Systems at (501) 569-8854.
The Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics (BUAL-GC) is a 15-credit program designed to provide students with skill development in the high-demand field of data analytics. Program requirements include courses from both the Department of Business Information Systems and the Department of Information Science. The program focuses on competency development related to the following areas:
- Information Technology-understand structure, transmission, and manipulation of business data
- Data Analysis-use analytics tools and techniques in the big data environment
- Decision Making-apply analytics-based knowledge in a business context
The Graduate Certificate in Business (BUSX-GC) is a 12-credit program designed to provide students with a general overview of the major functional areas of business. It will provide foundational knowledge of business to those who do not have a business education background. Course work completed for the certificate may be applied to the MBA. MBA students are not eligible for the GC in Business. Students interested in this certificate program should contact the Associate Dean for Graduate Business Programs at (501) 569-3356 or email mbaadvising@ualr.edu.
The Graduate Certificate in Human Resources and Organizational Psychology (HROPGC) is an 18 credit program designed to equip students with a specialized knowledge of human behavior in the workplace and in the application of this knowledge to human resource functions. Students interested in this certificate program should contact the Associate Dean for Graduate Business Programs at (501) 569-3356 or email mbaadvising@ualr.edu.
A list of courses available within the College of Business can be found here.
General Policies and Guidelines
Application Deadlines for Graduate Business Programs
Completed applications with all required documentation must be received by the College of Business by the following deadlines:
- Summer Semester – April 15th
- Fall Semester – July 15th
- Spring Semester – December 10th
Prospective students are encouraged to submit their online application form and other documents well in advance of stated deadlines. (See ualr.edu/mba for application information.) Students may enter the graduate certificates, MBA, or M.S. in BIS program in any semester.
International Students
International students must present a score of 550 or more on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 213 or more on the computer-based version, or 79 or more on the Internet version. Alternatively, international students may present a score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Advising
Students entering graduate business programs should meet with their graduate program coordinator to discuss program requirements, course sequencing and program policies. Each semester, students must have their advising flags cleared prior to registering for the next term. To clear this advising flag, graduate students should contact their advisor. If you contact your advisor via email include your name, ID#, and a list of the courses you plan to take the next semester.
Electives
Students can count only one directed independent study course as an elective. No graduate business program currently requires a thesis for graduation. Students planning to enter a doctoral program are encouraged to enroll in an independent study course to acquire experience in academic research techniques.
While electives are generally graduate business courses, graduate business students may take up to six elective hours in other UALR graduate programs. Approval of your advisor is required for electives taken outside the COB. Foundation courses may not be taken as electives. Courses eligible for credit as electives are so designated in the course description.
Students simultaneously enrolled in the MBA and a certificate must meet the admission standards for both the MBA and certificate program.
Transfer Credits
A maximum of six hours of course work may be transferred from other AACSB-accredited programs to satisfy the course requirements in the MBA, or M.S. in BIS. Transfer credit must be no more than five years old and must have a letter grade of B or greater. Transfer credits cannot be used to waive program requirements for the Graduate Certificate programs.
Program Dismissal
A graduate business student receiving a grade of F in a graduate course will be permanently dismissed from the graduate program in which they are enrolled and will not be eligible for admission to other graduate business programs. If the F was received under extenuating circumstances, the student may appeal the dismissal to the college graduate committee within one year of receiving the failing grade.
Students receiving an F due to academic dishonesty will have no right of dismissal appeal once all levels of academic dishonesty and grade appeal processes have been exhausted.
Enrolling in Concurrent Programs
Applicants for the concurrent MBA-JD or MBA-PharmD programs must meet admission requirements for both programs. Once admitted to both programs, a student enters the joint program by filing a Declaration of Intent to Pursue a Concurrent Degree form. A student currently enrolled in one program may enter the concurrent program by obtaining admission to the other program and by filing the form referred to above. A student who has already completed one of the degrees in a concurrent program cannot enroll as a concurrent student.Concurrent enrollment in a COB Graduate Certificate program and the MBA program is permitted. Courses taken in fulfillment of the Graduate Certificate can be used as MBA electives. Concurrent MBA-Certificate students must meet the admission standards for both the MBA and certificate program.
Reenrolling in Graduate Business Programs
Former graduate business students, those students who have already graduated or who have become inactive, must reapply and meet current admission standards before returning for further graduate business studies. UALR COB graduates returning for a second master’s degree must complete at least 30 additional credits to receive a second degree.
Transient Students
Students admitted to the Graduate School in transient status may enroll for a maximum of six semester hours for transfer back to his or her original institution. To be enrolled with transient status, students must meet UALR admission standards and provide a letter of good standing from their current school.
Undergraduate Students in Graduate Business Courses
UA Little Rock seniors who are within 15 semester hours of completing baccalaureate degrees with a 3.0 GPA or higher and have a GMAT of at least 480 may enroll for a maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate business courses during their last undergraduate semester. UA Little Rock seniors who are within 15 semester hours of completing baccalaureate business degrees with a 3.25 GPA or higher or a baccalaureate non-business degree with a 3.5 GPA or higher may enroll for a maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate business courses during their last undergraduate semester. However, if these graduate business courses are applied towards undergraduate degree requirements they cannot also be counted towards graduate degree requirements.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete all required courses and earn an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate. Students failing to earn a 3.0 GPA after completing all required courses may enroll in a maximum of six additional semester hours to attain the required 3.0 GPA. A grade below a C provides no credit toward graduation, and the course must be repeated. Students must complete an Application for Graduation early in their final term. This application is available in BOSS.
Time Limit
All degree requirements must be completed within six years of admission to the program.
Financial Assistance
A limited number of graduate assistantships are offered each year to qualified students. Graduate assistants are expected to work 20 hours per week in the College. Duties may include assisting with faculty research projects and/or providing support services in the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Arkansas Economic Development Institue, or the online programs. Applicants must be regularly admitted to a graduate program, maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA, and enroll for at least nine graduate hours each semester. Applications for graduate assistantships must be submitted to mbaadvising@ualr.edu.
Definitions: An “attempt” is defined as either a full-term enrollment with a letter grade or Incomplete being posted or a partial-term enrollment that lasts beyond the drop deadline but ends with a withdrawal and a W being posted to the transcript. A “successful completion” is defined as a grade of B or greater in the course. If a student drops, withdraws, or requests an incomplete this will not be considered a successful completion.
Business Administration
Reynolds Center, Suite 304, (501) 569-3356
Business Information Systems
Reynolds Center, Suite 205, (501) 569-8854
Master of Business Administration
Graduate Certificate
College of Business
Department of Management
Master of Science
Graduate Certificate
