Master of Business Administration (MBA)

 

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed rapid development in all sectors of the economy.  To accommodate these developments, the need for a cadre with a high degree of professionalism has emerged.  Also, the increasing number of graduates with bachelor degrees and the growing number of missionee students studying abroad for higher education in business administration has prompted King Saud University to launch the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The Department of Business Administration, College of Administrative Sciences at King Saud University has an important role in contributing to the managerial development in Saudi Arabia through the MBA program.

I. Degree:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

II. Program Objectives:

A)    To prepare graduates for positions in the management and leadership of complex organizations, whether it be in the public or private sector.

B)     Enhance the  academic background for  those interested in  pursuing higher degrees in business administration.

C)     Develop the managerial skills of the students by balancing the academic and modern applied methods in business administration in ethically consistent manner.

III. Admission:

A)      The applicants should fulfill the Deanship of Graduate Studies’ admissions conditions.

B)     The applicant must possess a bachelor of business administration or an equivalent degree studied on a full-time basis from approved universities and colleges.  Non-business majors can be accepted in the program. Applicants should have a minimum grade point average of "Very Good". Applicants with GPA of "Good" can, in some cases can be accepted.

C)     The submission of a score of at least 61 iBT (500 Paper-Based) in the TOEFL or Band 6 in the IELTS, and the submission of the GMAT score.

D)      The passing of the exams and interviews that are required by the Council of Graduate Programs in Business, with preferences given to those with work experience.

IV. Duration of Study:

The student should complete the program in no less than five semesters and no more than ten semesters, not including summer sessions.

V.  MBA Requirements:

A)     Coursework consists of 48 semester hours, 39 hours as core courses and 9 hours as major courses with cumulative GPA of no less than "Very Good" at the completion of the coursework.

B)      Completion of pre-requisite undergraduate courses, if required.

 

Detailed Course Structure

 

1. Core Courses Required For All MBAs:

39 Hours

 

A.  TOOLS (15 hours)

ACC 531                             Seminar in Managerial Accounting (3 hours)

ECON 503                           Managerial Economics (3 hours)

QUA 502                             Business Statistics (3 hours)

BUS 561                             Management Information Systems (3 hours)

BUS 565                             Management Science (3 hours)

 

B.  CONCEPTS (18 hours)

BUS 511                           Organizational Behavior (3 hours)

BUS 512                           Human Resource Management (3 hours)

BUS 521                           Financial Management (3 hours)

BUS 541                          Marketing Management (3 hours)

BUS 551                          International Business Management (3 hours)

BUS 571                          Operations Management (3 hours)

 

C.  SYNTHESIS (6 hours)

BUS 597                         Strategic Management (3 hours)

BUS 598                         Research Project (3 hours)

 

2.  MAJOR AREAS: 9 Hours

Besides taking a core course in each of the following tracks, the student has an option to major in any of these tracks by taking 3 courses (9 hours) in that area:

* General MBA

* Marketing

* Finance

* Human Resource Management

* Operations Management

 

Major Courses

 

General MBA Track Major Courses		Hrs
BUS 513	Human Resource Development	3
BUS 523	Investment Analysis	3
BUS 549	Strategic Marketing Planning	3
BUS 578	Advance Topics in Operations	3
Total Hours		9

 

Marketing Major Courses		Hrs
BUS 542	Consumer Behavior	3
BUS 543	Marketing Distribution Channels	3
BUS 545	Marketing Research	3
BUS 549	Strategic Marketing Planning	3
Total Hours		9

 

Finance Major Courses		Hrs
BUS 523	Investment Analysis	3
BUS 524	Financial Institutions and Markets	3
BUS 525	Corporate Finance	3
BUS 528	Advanced Topics in Finance	3
Total Hours		9

 

Human Resources Management Major Courses		Hrs
BUS 513	Human Resource Development	3
BUS 515	Staffing and Human Resource Planning	3
BUS 518	Advanced Topics in Human Resource Management	3
BUS 519	Compensation Management	3
Total Hours		9

 

Operations Management Major Courses		Hrs
BUS 572	Project Management	3
BUS 573	Quality and Productivity Improvement	3
BUS 574	Operations Planning and Control	3
BUS 578	Advance Topics in Operations	3
Total Hours		9

 

Model Program Schedule MBA Program Department of Business Administration

 

 

Semester (1)		Hrs
BUS 511	Organizational Behavior	3
QUA 502	Business Statistics	3
ACC 531	Seminar in Managerial Accounting	3
Total Hours		9

 

Semester (2)		Hrs
BUS 512	Human Resource Management	3
BUS 565	Management Science	3
ECON 503	Managerial Economics	3
Total Hours		9

 

Semester (3)		Hrs
BUS 521	Financial Management	3
BUS 541	Marketing Management	3
BUS 571	Operations Management	3
Total Hours		9

 

Semester (4)		Hrs
BUS 551	International Business	3
BUS 561	Management Information Systems	3
BUS xxx	Major Course (1)	3
BUS xxx	Major Course (2)	3
Total Hours		12

 

Semester (5)		Hrs
BUS 597	Strategic Management	3
BUS 598	Research Project	3
BUS xxx	Major Course (3)	3
Total Hours		9

 

 

LISTING OF ALL MBA COURSES

BUS 511    Organizational Behavior

BUS 512    Human Resource Management

BUS 513    Human Resource Development

BUS 515    Staffing and Human Resource Planning

BUS 518    Advanced Topics in Human Resource Management

BUS 519    Compensation Management

BUS 521    Financial Management

BUS 523    Investment Analysis

BUS 524    Financial Institutions and Markets

BUS 525    Corporate Finance

BUS 528    Advanced Topics in Finance

BUS 541    Marketing Management

BUS 542    Consumer Behavior

BUS 543    Marketing Distribution Channels

BUS 545    Marketing Research

BUS 549    Strategic Marketing Planning

BUS 551    International Business Management

BUS 561    Management Information Systems

BUS 565    Management Science

BUS 571    Operations Management

BUS 572    Project Management

BUS 573    Quality and Productivity Improvement

BUS 574    Operations Planning and Control

BUS 578    Advanced Topics In Operations Management

BUS 597    Strategic Management

BUS 598    Research Project

ACC 531    Seminar in Managerial Accounting

ECON 503  Managerial Economics

QUA 502   Business Statistics

MBA Course Descriptions Arranged Sequentially

 

BUS 511  Organizational Behavior (3 hours)

The purpose of this course is to introduce the students to advanced behavioral concepts and theories, and to develop their analytical skills in diagnosing, analyzing and solving behavioral problems in work situations.  The course consists of three main parts: at the individual level the course focuses on the individual motivation, attitude, satisfaction, abilities and individual differences; at the group level the course focuses on such issues as group dynamics, leadership, conflict and communication; at the organizational level, the course focuses on organizational structure, organizational environment, organizational change and organizational development. In  addition  to  presenting  concepts  and  theories,  experiential  learning  is  emphasized  through  the  use  of exercise and analysis of cases.

 

BUS 512  Human Resource Management (3 hours)

This course covers a wide array of human resource related subjects, including human resource planning techniques, financial compensation methods, performance management strategies, staffing policies, and job analyses.  In addition to presenting concepts and theories, experiential learning is emphasized through the use of exercises and analysis of cases.

 

BUS 513  Human Resource Development (3 hours)

Approaches to employee development are the focus of this course.  The course relates performance appraisal, career path design, promotion policy, training, and leadership to organizational sustainability and growth.  The use of HR information systems in HR development is reviewed.

 

BUS 515  Staffing and Human Resource Planning (3 hours)

The focus of this course is on the staffing process, including human resource forecasting, analysis of labor markets, analysis of legal environments, recruitment, selection, and socialization.  The course addresses the use of HR information systems in all stages of the staffing process.

 

BUS 518  Advanced Topics in Human Resource Management (3 hours)

This course addresses concurrent developments in the fields of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior.  The course includes subjects at the micro and macro levels.  At the micro level, the subjects addressed are typically related to performance management, including work motivation, job design, position descriptions, performance appraisal, feedback, incentives and leadership.  At the macro level, the subjects addressed are typically related to organization design, including organizational forms, organization development and organization change.

 

BUS 519  Compensation Management (3 hours)

This course goes in-depth in addressing traditional and modern approaches to financial compensation. The topics covered include job evaluation methods, benchmarking, salary scale design and administration, financial incentives (individual, group and company-wide) and benefits. The course highlights the principles of equity and long-term efficiency in designing compensation systems. The relationship between compensation systems and organizational structure, organizational culture, work motivation and employees’ attitudes are addressed. The use of HR information systems in compensation is reviewed.

 

BUS 521 Financial Management (3 hours)

Introduction  to  tools  of  financial  management  in  modern  corporation.  Topics  include  financial  s tatement analysis and tools of planning and control, valuation, risk-return tradeoff, capital investment analysis, working capital  management,  long-term  financing,  dividends,  and  additional  topics  in  financial  management.  The course will also involve the use of case problems.

 

BUS 523 Investment Analysis (3 hours)

This course examines the characteristics and analysis of individual securities along with the theory and practice of combining securities into portfolios. It includes investment settings, alternative investment vehicles, stock market indicators series, sources of market information-both published and online-aggregate stock market analysis based on fundamental and technical approaches, efficient market theory, and modern portfolio theory.

 

BUS 524 Financial Institutions and Markets (3 hours)

This course provides an overall view of the financing process and the role of financial markets. It covers the supply and demand of loanable funds, the money and capital markets, level and structure of interest r ates,forecasting financial flows and interest rates, assets/liabilities management, and effects of monetary and fiscal policies on financial institutions management.

 

BUS 525 Corporate Finance (3 hours)

This course places the student in the decision maker's role regarding key elements of managerial finance through an intensive analysis, by means of case study, of financial problems related to financial planning, asset management, cost of capital, capital structure, capital budgeting, long-term financing, and dividend policies.

 

BUS 528 Advanced Topics in Finance (3 hours)

This course will cover various topics in finance. It could cover some or more than the following topics: risk management, business valuation, options and futures, creative financing techniques and recent issues in financial management.

 

BUS 541  Marketing Management (3 hours)

This course emphasizes the managerial aspects of the marketing function.   The focus is placed upon the criteria, both quantitative and qualitative, used in evaluating marketing alternatives, choosing among these alternatives, and making marketing decisions. The course includes topics such as: analysis of the marketing environment and competition, marketing research, consumer analysis, product development and management, promotion, cost and demand analysis, pricing, and channels of distribution. Service and international marketing are emphasized in the course. Case analysis and projects are essential parts of this course.

 

BUS 542  Consumer Behavior (3 hours)

This course addresses theories and techniques in the area of consumer behavior with emphasis on the inter - disciplinary nature of the course. In particular, attention is given to the application of cultural, social, and psychological concepts to the behavior of consumers in the marketplace with implications for marketing strategy. Behavioral models of consumer decision making are presented and discussed.  Individual and group exercises and case analyses are utilized to demonstrate course concepts.

 

BUS 543  Marketing Distribution Channels (3 hours)

This course focuses on the strategies related to the management of marketing activities within the channels of distribution.  Emphasis is placed upon description of various marketing institutions (e.g., wholesalers and retailers), the evolution of channel systems, interorganizational management issues, how channels are organized, and how they should be organized.  Attention is also given to the analysis of physical distribution systems.  Readings and case studies are heavily utilized.

 

BUS 545  Marketing Research (3 hours)

This course aims at exploring the use of the scientific method in defining and dealing with problems in marketing management.  The course includes a detailed study of the role of information in marketing deci sion making; the role of marketing information systems; nature, scope and role of marketing research; types of marketing research studies; design and execution of marketing research projects and problems which may face researchers in conducting marketing research.

 

BUS 549  Strategic Marketing Planning (3 hours)

The course aims at defining the nature and role of the strategic planning process in marketing and the relationships between strategic marketing planning and strategic corporate planning.  The cours e includes a detailed study of the interaction between the elements of the strategic corporate plan and the elements of the strategic marketing plan, formation of the strategic marketing plan and the formulation of the plans of the elements of the marketing mix. The control techniques and procedures associated with the strategic marketing plan are also examined. The case method is essential teaching technique

 

BUS 551  International Business Management (3 hours)

This course is divided into two parts.  The first part provides the students with an intensive study of changing economic, political, and cultural environment in which the business conducts its affairs internationally. The second part of the course encompasses the specific problems with which international businessman must deal, such as marketing, community relationships, organization, financial management, operating policies, and the ways in which these problems may be approached.

 

BUS  561  Management Information Systems  (3 hours)

This course focuses on how to use and manage a variety of information technologies to revitalize business processes, improve managerial decision making, and gain competitive advantage. Thus this course demonstrates how the information technologies can give a business strategic technology platform that supports electronic commerce and enterprise collaboration among the internetworked enterprises in today’s globalbusiness environment. Topics include organizational and technical foundations of information systems, information support systems, developing information systems, and managing information systems.

 

BUS  565  Management Science (3 hours)

This course has a twofold purpose. First, it seeks to introduce simple models and ideas that provide powerful qualitative insights about a large spectrum of managerial problems. Second, it aims to give a feeling for the kinds of problems that can be tackled quantitatively, the methods and software available for doing so and the difficulties involved in gathering the relevant data. The emphasis is on models that are widely used in diverse industries and functional areas, including finance, operations, human resources and marketing. Topics include linear and integer programming, decision making under uncertainty, and simulation.

 

BUS  571  Operations Management (3 hours)

This course is designed to address the key operations and logistical issues in service and manufacturing organizations that have strategic as well as tactical implications. The specific objectives include:  to understand the role of operations management in the overall business strategy of the firm, to understand the interdependence of the operating system with other key functional areas of the firm, to identify and evaluate a range of tools appropriate for analysis of operating systems of the firm, to identify and evaluate comparative approaches to operations management in an international context.

 

BUS  572  Project Management (3 hours)

This course focuses on the systems and approaches that may be used to complete project s in a manner that is timely and not wasteful of resources, and which meets customer requirements and project goals. A core of the course  is  the  "project  management  system"  that  includes  tools  for  defining,  planning,  monitoring,  and managing projects. Several cases are studied and appropriate project management software is used.

 

BUS  573  Quality and Productivity Improvement (3 hours)

This course supports the drive for higher productivity and attention to the market by focusing on a mix of tools and practices such as customer focus, total participation and continual improvement. The course covers such topics as continuous process improvement, supplier partnership, performance measures, statistical process control, benchmarking, quality function deployment.

 

BUS  574  Operations Planning and Control (3 hours)

This course takes a quantitative approach to the topics of operations planning and scheduling, inventory management and operations control systems. The purpose of this course is to provide a framework f or designing and/or improving the systems used to plan, schedule and control the operations assets of the firm. The course has three major segments. The first segment deals with tools such as linear programming and heuristic problem solving. The second segment deals with systems for scheduling operations and managing inventories. The third segment deals with systems such as MRP and JIT for managing dependent demand inventories for engineered products.

 

BUS  578  Advanced Topics in Operations Management (3 hours)

This course highlights some important topics in operations management that may not get enough attention in previous courses. Such topics include (but are not restricted to) operations strategy, productivity improvement, process management, quality management, and operating decisions (supply chain management, inventory management, and project management).

 

BUS 597  Strategic Management (3 hours)

The primary objective of this course is to help students to develop a perspective of the top manager's funct ions and responsibilities from a conceptual as well as an operating standpoint.   The focus of the course is on strategy formulation and implementation in business firms.  The case method is the predominant mode of instruction.  Cases are drawn from firms of various sizes and industries.

 

BUS 598  Research Project  (3 hours)

This  course  intends  to  help  students  gain  an  understanding  of  the  nature  of  business  research  and  to determine when research should be used to aid decision making. The student will learn various concepts and techniques of sampling, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data from surveys, experiments, and observational studies. This course emphasizes, through experiential learning, the development of students’ abilities to evaluate, use, and present research findings.

 

ACC 531  Seminar in Managerial Accounting (3 hours)

The  purpose  of  this  course  is  to  provide  an  in-depth  understanding  of  managerial  accounting  in  an organization.  Emphasis is on accounting information and how to use it effectively in performing management functions. The course provides an opportunity to review the nature of planning, control, and decision making functions. Major topics are: accounting information and human behavior; information for tactical forecastin g and decision making; information for production and control; information for planning and evaluation.