The Fisher Graduate School of International Business offers the Master's of Business Administration in International Management. The focus is on International Business. Students are not required to declare a "major". Most students self-select an area of concentration based upon their interests and use their elective course requirements accordingly.
In some cases, a student may find it beneficial to pursue a more formalized "Specialization" to meet future career goals. Specializations vary from student to student, and should be carefully thought out and designed with the assistance of the MBA Academic Advisor. Early in your academic career, start discussing your specialization with the MBA Academic Advisor. Define your career goals and do some research on topics of interest. Review courses available and descriptions on the Monterey Institute website. Speak with alumni working in the field to obtain input.
The following guidelines must be followed when designing a Specialization:
- In all courses, whenever you have a chance to choose a project, it should be tied to your area of Specialization. Keep copies of all projects to build a portfolio.
- If possible, participate in an International Business Plan project directly related to your Specialization. At minimum, your role in the IBP should incorporate skills that tie to your Specialization (i.e. perform the financial analysis if your Specialization is "Finance", etc)
- An internship in which you are gaining skills directly related to your Specialization is highly recommended.
Specialization Topics
The following is a list of Specialization topics recently pursued. You may click on the various titles for a detailed outline of the specialization. Students may also design other topics as appropriate. For details about various Specialization tracks, please contact the MBA Academic Advisor.
Requirements for Specialization
Specializations should comprise a minimum of 5 courses AND the equivalent of 15 credits. Semester-length courses, workshops, and directed studies, may be included. You may supplement with courses from other graduate programs if they tie into your topic. Details of Specialization requirements may be found on the documents linked in the list above. Partial credit may be granted for some courses not on approved lists with approval from the Dean.
Specialization Proposal
Once the Specialization topic is identified, a written proposal should be submitted to the MBA Academic Advisor. This proposal must be presented during the first semester for Advanced Entry students, and during the second semester for Two-Year students. The proposal should include the following information:
- Your proposed topic
- How will this Specialization help you reach your future career goals
- The courses you intend to take to meet the credit requirements
- Any internship that is tied to your Specialization
- Any student clubs or organizations in which you have performed duties or focused on your topic
Once reviewed and refined with the MBA Academic Advisor, your proposal will be submitted to the Fisher School Dean. Upon the Dean's approval, the Specialization must be registered with the Office of Records and Research, for use in degree audits. The Specialization will appear upon your permanent Transcript upon successful completion of all approved courses and projects. A grade of "B" or higher must be achieved for coursework to be included. No audited coursework will be included in consideration.
Remember, pursuing a Specialization is a privilege. Careful planning is necessary in the design of your proposal and planning for appropriate courses. Do not wait until your last semester and assume you can package a Specialization in hind-sight. Specializations may require additional time and expense, particularly for Two-Year students.
For more information on MBA Specializations, contact the MBA Academic Advisor. |
