Core Course Requirements – Full-time MBA

First Year

The first year of the Ross MBA program immerses students in our broad based business core curriculum, and concludes with a seven-week Multidisciplinary Action Project – or MAP – enabling students to apply what they’ve learned in a real-life business situation. Students take their core courses in cohort sections.

Note:  Core courses must be taken in the prescribed order. Students cannot drop core courses.

Fall A
ACC 502: Prin of Fin. Accounting (2.25 cr)
BE 502: Applied Microeconomics (2.25 cr)
TO 502: Applied Business Statistics (2.25 cr) 
STRATEGY 502: Corporate Strategy (2.25 cr)
Winter A
ACC 552: Managerial Accounting (1.50 cr)
TO 552: Operations Management (2.25 cr) 
Optional Business Elective/Degree Requirement
Fall B
FIN 503: Financial Mngmt (2.25 cr)
MKT 503: Marketing Mngmt (2.25 cr)
MO 503: Leading People and Organizations (2.25 cr)
Optional Business Elective/Degree Requirement
Winter B
BA 553: Multidisciplinary Action Projects (7.5 cr) 

 

 

  • During Winter B of the first year, students participate in MAP (BA 553 – Multidisciplinary Action Projects). Students do not take additional coursework while enrolled in MAP due to time obligations and intensive group work, regardless of the MAP assignment location. We have identified a very few classes which do not require traditional class attendance during the MAP time frame, and these classes are the only exceptions to this MAP policy.

Second Year

The second year of the Ross MBA program allows students the freedom to customize their experience by selecting from a wide range of elective course work. A few final degree requirements (in addition to the year one sequenced core courses) are typically completed during the second year; however, these requirements are flexible, and can be completed at any time throughout the two-year program.
Students must take enough coursework to complete 57 total graduate credit hours during their two years here at Ross.

  1. Of the 57 credits, at least 25 may be taken as electives. Elective classes may be 1.5, 2.25, or 3.0 credits. Students may choose to focus on one functional area or tailor their experience by combining various functions for a more broad based management curriculum. At least 47 of the 57 credits must be made up of Business Administration coursework. To view examples of courses offered in the subject areas at Ross, click on the links below:
    Accounting Business Law Marketing
    Business Administration Entrepreneurial Studies Strategy
    Business Communication Finance Technology & Operations
    Business Economics Management & Organizations  
  2. MBA students may also choose to broaden their experience by electing up to 10 hours of graduate study in other units of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor campus).

Additional Degree Requirements:

  1. Competing in the Global Business Environment (STRATEGY 503 – 1.5 credits) is a core course which must be completed during the two year program. This course was formerly titled “World Economy.” 
  2. Business Law Competency Requirement: This requirement can be met by waiver request or by taking ONE of a selection of courses at any time during the two years. (Students who have earned a Juris Doctor degree are automatically waived from this requirement.) The following courses will satisfy the Business Law Competency requirement: BL/ES 504, BL 507BL 509, BL 511, BL 512, BL 513, BL 514, BL 516, BL 517, or BL 582.
  3. Management Communication Competency Requirement: The Management Communication Competency is a graduation requirement.  During the summer prior to the MBA 1 year, students submit writing and speaking communication samples for evaluation.  Based on summer assessment scores, students are placed in one of three groups:
    1. Students placed in Group 1 will receive a personalized email that includes assessment scores/profile and an attached list of classes/other opportunities to enhance management communication competency at Ross. After that point, the Management Communication Competency Requirement has been met.
    2. Students who place in Group 2 or 3 may fulfill the Management Communication Competency with one of the two options: Non-Credit Option; Satisfactorily complete online modules, For Credit Option; Register and pass an approved BCOM course: BCOM 521, BCOM 522, BCOM 524, BCOM 561.