A. Entry into the FEMBA program is only allowed in the Summer term of each year.
This is done to encourage students to continue through the program together, as a
cohort, which has demonstrated to significantly enhancing a positive outcome for students
in the program.
A. Financial Aid is available and awarded to qualifying students based on demonstrated
financial need. For more information on Financial Aid please visit www.csusm.edu/finaid
A. Yes, if the admissions committee approved to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement.
You can petition to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement if you have 5 years or more of
professional work experience. Please fill out the GMAT/GRE waiver form and email it and your resume to mba@csusm.edu. Please make sure resume indicates a clear start and end date for each job.
A. The MBA office recommends that you research your options for study guides and
prepare with tools that you are most comfortable with. The GMAT club has this outline for students preparing for the GMAT.
If you are a self-directed student, you can purchase a GMAT/GRE Test Preparation book.
There are several: Barron's, Kaplan's, Peterson's, Princeton Review, etc. The GMAT/GRE
is a standardized and computerized test. Practicing taking the test within the time
allowed is the best way to feel comfortable with the pace of the exam. You should allow 2 -3 months of concentrated study to do well on the GMAT/GRE. Studying
for more than 3 months has been known to reduce success.
Some students prefer to have a test preparation course to help them study. Currently
these range from about $400 to $1,400 and usually more cost results in more individualized
attention. Several test preparation locations can be found in the San Diego area which
includes:
GMAC, the company that runs the GMAT test, also has an on-line tutorial that is available
to you once you register at their website. Most students have found that the on-line tutorial is inadequate on its own to prepare
well for the test.
Be sure to study—typically students who take the test with minimal studying do not
receive the score they are looking for.
A. If you do not feel adequately prepared in terms of college level calculus, it
is advisable for you to learn that material prior to entering the MBA program. Our
program is designed to provide the business education background at a graduate level.
A. Students may petition to waive up to 6 units or two courses of the thirteen core
courses. To request to substitute a course from another university, please indicate
the course taken and the CSUSM course you would like to receive credit for on your
application to the program. You will also be required to submit a syllabus for the
course taken with your application.
If you are planning to waive a course please notify the MBA office at mba@csusm.edu or 760-750-4267. You will be notified with your admission decision if the course
is approved for credit.
A. Students are highly encouraged to take the FEMBA classes with their cohort. In
the experience of the FEMBA program, learning is greatly enhanced when students progress
through their classes with the same cohort. However, students may elect to take 1
or 2 courses per term, according to their own requirements. BA 650—Strategic Management
in the Global Environment and BA 680 Master's Project can only be taken after advancement
to candidacy, which requires having no more than 11 units (including BA 650, BA 671,
BA 673 and BA 680) outstanding. Students have a maximum of five years from entering
the FEMBA program to complete their degree.
A. Yes, all applicants face the same guidelines, namely three years of professionally relevant work experience*. Our average, in fact, is over nine years per student. There are two reasons for
this: first, we want to be sure you receive the full benefit of our program, which
is obtained when students have enough work experience to relate what is taught in
class with what they have experienced in the business world. The second reason is
that half of the learning in a good MBA program is from the students bringing to the
class what they have seen and done in the business world—their contributions and "war
stories" are invaluable.
*Professionally relevant work experience means that you have seen how management in an organization works; for example, being
a waiter or waitress has a strong customer service requirement, but that person is
not likely to have seen how the business/restaurant is run, where as a restaurant
manager would know more about business operations
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