MBA in Venture & Innovation Development

What We Need From You

• Completed application form
• An official transcript indicating a bachelor’s degree conferred from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• For applicants whose native language is not English, a minimum TOEFL test score of 600 on the paper-based test, a score of 250 on the computer-based test, or score of 100 on the internet-based test for international applicants (Minimum passing score may vary as the ETS revises the exam.)

Still completing your bachelor’s?

Send all official transcripts for all colleges attended and an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution of higher education showing all undergraduate coursework completed and a letter from the school’s registrar on letterhead validating the anticipated degree and degree completion date.

How to send transcripts to Baker.

Students will be admitted to the MBA program with one of the following statuses:

• Full admission: Applicants who meet admissions requirements and have earned a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) from all colleges and universities attended.
• Conditional admission: Applicants who meet admissions requirements but have earned a cumulative grade point average below 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) from all colleges and universities attended. Students accepted conditionally must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA upon completing 9 credit hours in the MBA program to be granted full admission.
• Provisional admission: If an SPGS graduate applicant is lacking an official final transcript as described in the admission requirements, the applicant may be admitted on a provisional basis. Students admitted provisionally have until the last day of the first course to submit all admission documents required to be granted either full or conditional admission. Failure to satisfy this provision results in administrative withdrawal from the program.

Based on reasonable projections of faculty availability and appropriate curriculum considerations, the following courses can change as deemed necessary by Baker University to fulfill its role and mission. Students can finish the curriculum requirements in 18 to 20 months. Some students finish in 12. Students may take one or two courses at a time but must maintain a 3.50 grade point average if doubling up.

Pre-MBA Courses | 6 credit hours

MBA 500 Fundamentals of Business Administration
This course provides the knowledge, resources, and essential skills for success at the business graduate level. Students will demonstrate an understanding of common professional components (e.g., marketing, business finance, accounting, management, legal environment of business, economics, business ethics). (3 credits)

MBA 501 Fundamentals of Business Economics and Finance
Students will gain a foundational understanding of business economics and finance to prepare them for their graduate business studies. This course will cover the basics of supply and demand, comparative advantage, opportunity costs, maximization of profit, money, banking, investments, and financial planning. (3 credits)

Foundational Courses | 9 credit hours

MBA 553 Marketing Management and Strategy
This course examines the issues facing today’s marketing managers in a dynamic competitive global environment. The course assesses responsive marketing strategies measured by industry-recognized key performance indicators. Students will explore the various contemporary functions of marketing and build competency for making effective decisions in the area of marketing management. (3 credits)

MBA 557 Accounting Applications for Managers
Students will examine and apply key financial and managerial accounting concepts necessary to effectively operate a business. Students will learn the importance of financial planning and control, and they will understand how costs behave and how to determine financial success. Students will be asked to interpret financial statements, formulate strategies for making sound financial decisions, and build the skills required to effectively evaluate and report business performance. (3 credits)

MBA 554 Managerial Finance
Students learn about methods for determining the optimal volume and composition of firm assets, liabilities, and equity in this course. The focus is on the theory and practice of capital budgeting and asset financing. (3 credits) Prerequisite MBA 557 Accounting Applications for Management

Core Curriculum | 9 Credit Hours

MBA 542 Business Data and Analytics
This course provides students with the ability to comprehend, analyze, and solve business challenges using data from internal and external sources. Students will apply the latest data analysis techniques to support effective organizational decision-making across industries. (3 credits)

MBA 580 Executive Leadership
This course presents a broad survey of theory, research, and the practical application of effective leadership in formal organizations.  Students will examine the major perspectives on leadership and think critically to apply leadership concepts related to leading change, influencing others and organizations, as well as the dyadic relationships between leaders and followers. (3 credits)

MBA 595 Strategic Planning for Competitive Organizations
This course is the capstone of the MBA core. Students will go through the actual strategic planning processes of an organization to identify the firm’s present situation, internal and external competitive positions, financial health, and overall market standing. Students will learn how to formulate realistic and attainable short- and long-term strategies for achieving organizational objectives. (3 credits)

VID 510 New Venture Management
In this course students will conduct extensive research and in-depth analysis for starting or expanding their own business venture. Major topics include new venture strategy, sources of capital, and growth management. (3 credits)

VID 520 Building and Sustaining Innovative Organizations
This course will offer a set of frameworks, tools, and concepts in to allow students to develop innovative strategies that support organizational needs. Students will learn how to advance as innovative and strategic leaders within various organizational settings. (3 credits)

VID 530 Venture Capitalism
This course will deal with the sources of capital for early-stage companies and the implications of the decisions a company makes to fund its operations. Students will explore issues in the valuation of ventures and how the achievement of milestones can impact that valuation. Accounting and finance techniques that are vital to monitoring the success of the enterprise will be discussed. (3 credits)

VID 570 Venture and Innovation Development
In this integrated course for the Venture and Innovation Development concentration, students will integrate their academic and professional experiences to analyze a situation concerning a new enterprise to develop and analyze the current business model. Students will analyze various aspects of the business model including the competitive environment, value proposition, revenue model, resources, and capabilities, taking the vantage point of the enterprise and developing a plan for a specific geography. (3 credits)

• Successful completion of the MBA curriculum (30 credit hours)
• A 3.0 overall GPA with no grades below C
• Completion of all coursework within six years of the date of initial enrollment
• Submission of intent to graduate form to the Office of the Registrar
• Payment of all tuition and fees
• Approval by the faculty and Board of Trustees