Purpose of the MBA Program
The MBA program provides a strong foundation of business concepts, models, skills, and methods with which to face immediate and future managerial challenges. The basic program aims at creating a general management (rather than a functional specialist) perspective. Pragmatic in approach, the focus is on problem analysis and synthesis, decision making, action taking throughout the functional areas of business, and understanding the international context of business. The Lucas Graduate School of Business prepares students through a broad curriculum of functional, cross-functional and integrative core courses, and elective courses.
Educational Objectives
The educational objectives of the Donald and Sally Lucas Graduate School of Business MBA are threefold: to provide a solid base of interdisciplinary business theories and techniques; to apply theory and analytic tools to the practical improvement of organizational performance; to explore personal beliefs and values as they affect ethical and economic organizational practices. Key processes involve: investigating opportunities and problems; defining causes or contributing factors to problems, including those that cut across organizational units; generating alternatives from which feasible programs of action are selected and implemented; and monitoring and changing, where necessary, the progress of enacted decisions.
These skills are developed using a combination of approaches including the case method, experiential exercises, computer simulations, team projects, and problem sets. Students are expected to develop competencies both as action-oriented leaders and as logical decision-makers.
Benefits of the MBA
The program is geared to the professionally-oriented person who aspires to move into middle management or to undertake greater managerial responsibility. It is designed to aid those who have the capabilities or potential to be action initiators. The MBA program accommodates students with a variety of educational and work backgrounds.
Lucas MBA Programs
Although SJSU grants one unique MBA degree, the Lucas Graduate School of Business offers two distinct MBA programs that differ according to student profile, flexibility, degree completion time, admission cycle, and cost.
The Early Career MBA program is tailored to students who have fewer than five years of work experience. Classes are conducted in a hybrid format with a mix of in-person classes on the SJSU campus and online classes. Classes meet during evenings and Saturdays in eight-week sessions during the Fall and Spring semesters and five-week sessions during the Summer semester. The Early Career Program offers three tracks that vary in length and pace: Accelerated Track (12 months), Full-Time Track (21-24 months), and Part-Time Track (33-36 months).
The MBA for Professionals is designed for working professionals with more than five years of work experience. This program offers a high level of flexibility in order to accommodate professionals with demanding life and work schedules. Classes are conducted in a hybrid format with a mix of in-person classes held on the SJSU campus and online classes. Classes meet during evenings and Saturdays in eight-week sessions during the Fall and Spring semesters and five-week sessions during the Summer semester.
Admission Requirements
Requirements for Admission to Classified Standing
To be fully accepted into classified standing, an applicant must have:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited university in the U.S. or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree earned from a recognized institution if the degree was earned outside of the U.S.
- A preferred GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Taken an English language proficiency examination if the previously earned degree was from an institution in which the principal language of instruction was not English. The university's minimum entrance score for the TOEFL is 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet-based). The minimum score required on the IELTS is 6.5, and the minimum PTE score is 53.
- (Optional) Taken the GMAT or GRE. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are strongly encouraged to take the GMAT or GRE to demonstrate their readiness for graduate work.
- Completed two prerequisite courses (Economics and Statistics, with a grade of B or higher). The economics course may be one of the following: Introduction to Microeconomics, Introduction to Macroeconomics, or Principles of Economics. An applicant may be admitted to the MBA program on a conditional admission basis prior to completion of these two courses but will need to provide proof of completion of all prerequisites before the day of orientation.
- A personal statement of one to two pages explaining how an MBA can help to achieve the applicant's career objectives.
- A resume detailing the applicant's professional and academic experiences.
- (Optional) Two letters of recommendation.
The Lucas School does not follow a set formula for determining admission to the MBA programs. Our goal is to admit academically qualified candidates who show potential for completing the program and advancing into a successful business career. We seek to admit students whose backgrounds will enable them to contribute to the academic excellence and the demographic, educational, and experiential diversity of each class.
An applicant's academic profile - undergraduate major and institution, any graduate-level work, GPA, and optional GMAT or GRE scores - is a major factor in the admission decision. Other important areas of evaluation include a personal statement, work experience, letters of recommendation, writing skills, and extracurricular, community, and professional activities. From this overall review, we assess an applicant's potential for success and compatibility with our MBA program.
The average GPA of admitted candidates is 3.3. Ideally, a candidate's GPA will be at 3.0 or above. Many circumstances may exist which offer an explanation for a GPA below 3.0; candidates are encouraged to submit a statement of explanation if this is the case. However, please note that an absolute minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for graduate admission at San José State University.
Program of Study Requirements for the MBA Degree
To earn the MBA degree, all students must satisfy the following requirements: