MBA for CPAs: Program Details

The MSU College of Management Graduate Admissions Committee reviews applications only after receiving all of the application materials.

Mail your completed application and additional materials to:

Shana Von Ruden
Graduate Programs Office
Metropolitan State University
1501 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403-1897
shana.vonruden@metrostate.edu
612-659-7290

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	Graduation requirements

To receive your MBA, you must complete all required courses and achieve a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better.

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	Core competencies

A catalyst for your continued professional and personal growth, the MBA for CPAs' curriculum consists of courses that teach the core competencies you need to succeed as a leader in your profession.

Throughout the program, you develop the ability to:

• Give and exchange information within meaningful context and with appropriate delivery and interpersonal skills.
• Influence, inspire, and motivate others to achieve results.
• Link data, knowledge, and insight together to provide quality advice for strategic decision-making.
• Anticipate and meet the changing needs of clients, employers, customers, and markets better than competitors.
• Interpret and provide a broader context using financial and non-financial information.
• Utilize and leverage technology to provide value-added services to clients, customers and employers.

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	Course descriptions

» Course schedules

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
What's the best way to handle your organization's assets? What do you need to know to make sound decisions about financing? Through the extensive use of case studies and spreadsheets, explore the many facets of financial management, discover how to optimize financial performance, and consider the international and ethical implications of financial decisions. 
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

• Financial decision-making
• Financial markets
• Risk
• Valuation
• Long-term and short-term financing
• Investing

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
There are all kinds of decisions to be made - statistical, operational and technical - and not all will be based on just financial information. Find out what you need to know to make sound decisions in these areas and then successfully set them in motion. In addition, explore the role of financial and non-financial information in a strategically focused decision environment. Case studies shed light on the key concepts of this course. 
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

• Strategic cost management
• Cost analysis
• Behavioral and cultural roles of accounting data

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS)
Paper and pencil now take backseat to technology and the information highway. Learn about the integral and powerful role of management information systems (MIS) within today's organizations. Engaging case studies, real-world examples and additional reading breathe life into the concepts and techniques revealed in this course. 
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

MANAGEMENT: STRATEGY AND POLICY
Everything you've learned so far comes together in this capstone course. Discover how to integrate analytical tools and knowledge from the various functional areas of management, previous graduate courses, work experience and strategic management theories. Case studies and readings open the door to analyzing past and current strategies so that you can formulate and implement new strategies for various types of organizations.
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

• Strategic analysis, formulation, and implementation
• Social responsibility of organizations
• Corporate governance and asocial responsibility
• Strategies for competing in globalizing markets

MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS AND STRATEGY
Expand your knowledge of traditional microeconomic theory and learn how to apply its economic principles to managerial problems. You can improve your long-term planning and strategic decision-making skills when you better understand the full implication of traditional microeconomic theory taught in this course. 
(2 semester credits / 30 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

• Analysis of demand
• Costs
• Capitalization and strategy

MARKETING MANAGEMENT
Do you know your organization's market? Who is the target audience? What are its needs? Examine the variety of activities through which private, nonprofit and government organizations provide goods, services or ideas to serve a selected market segment's defined needs. Enhance your understanding of methods used by organizations to perpetuate themselves in their environment and increase your ability to contribute to your organization's success. 
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT FOR SERVICES AND MANUFACTURING
Take a closer look at the key elements of designing, implementing and running operations systems within service, nonprofit and manufacturing organizations. Focusing on the important concepts and techniques of operations management, this survey course uses case studies, real-life examples and readings to help guide you through many of today's issues. 
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
No two people are alike. No two organizations are alike. Learn how individual differences, group interactions and managerial processes impact an organization's dynamics. Plus, develop essential skills for effectively managing in a variety of contexts. 
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

PRACTICAL RESEARCH METHODS FOR MANAGERS
Find out what practical knowledge is needed to conduct successful research in business and nonprofit areas. Gain practical experience by applying the procedures and techniques learned in this interactive class to a variety of areas of interest, including marketing, finance, management and operations in businesses and nonprofits. 
(2 semester credits / 30 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
From start to finish, find out what skills you need to become a successful project manager and team member. Learn how to plan a project, monitor its progress and follow through to its successful completion. 
(4 semester credits / 60 CPE credits)

Course highlights:

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	CPE credits

The Minnesota Board of Accountancy rules allow for 15 hours toward the CPE requirement for each semester credit.

Over the duration of this program, you can earn 600 hours of CPE credit.

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	Accreditation

Metropolitan State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, Member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; 30 North LaSalle, Suite 2400; Chicago, IL 60602-2504; 312-263-0456.

The Higher Learning Commision is part of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Association was founded in 1895 as a membership organization for educational institutions. It is committed to developing and maintaining high standards of excellence. The Association is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States. Through its Commissions it accredits, and thereby grants membership to educational institutions in the nineteen-state North Central region. The Higher Learning Commission is recognized by the Secretary of Education and the Committee on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA, now continued under the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, or CHEA).

Metropolitan State's College of Management is an assembly member of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business and subscribes to its curriculum standards

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	Program fees

APPLICATION - $20
A $20 nonrefundable application fee must be submitted with your completed application for admission and supporting documentation.

The application deadline for the Class of 2010 MBA for CPAs program is August 4, 2008.

The application fee is payable to Metropolitan State University.

TUITION
Tuition for the entire Class of 2010 MBA for CPAs program is $15,295 for MNCPA members and $16,295 for nonmembers.

A $1,000 deposit toward your tuition is due by August 11, 2008 and will be applied toward the final term's tuition. Remaining tuition payments are due upon the completion of each term.

Tuition fees are payable to the Minnesota Society of CPAs.

MATERIALS
Books and supplemental course materials are not included in your tuition.

You can purchase these items through the following online sources:

• Metropolitan State University
• Amazon.com
• Barnes and Noble

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	Withdrawal policy

Because the MBA for CPAs program was developed as a whole curriculum, enrollment is for the entire program, not course by course.

Tuition and other fees are not refundable if you choose to withdraw prior to completing the program.

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	Who to contact

For information regarding program details or to discuss special needs, please contact:

Heidi Janssen, Program Coordinator
MNCPA Professional Education
Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants
mba@mncpa.org
952-885-5511

For information regarding MSU policies, application procedures, admission requirements, or loans, please contact:

Shana Von Ruden, Program Contact
Graduate Programs Office
Metropolitan State University
shana.vonruden@metrostate.edu
612-659-7290

For information regarding financial aid programs, please contact:

Financial Aid Office
Metropolitan State University
finaid@metrostate.edu
651-793-1414

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