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Graduate Programs

Master of Business Administration

The MBA program provides a solid academic foundation for professional careers in management. The curriculum is particularly strong in international business and focuses on developing the skills and breadth of judgment required of top-level managers and executives in both the private and public sectors. Students may select electives that fit their individual needs and interests. These may include student exchange programs at foreign institutions.

The environment within which managers operate will undoubtedly undergo many changes during the coming decades. The MBA, therefore, stresses the development of analytical skills and their application to decision-making rather than simply reviewing current practices.

Classes are held in the evening during the academic semesters and during each of the two summer sessions.

Students may pursue their studies on a part-time or full-time basis and may switch their rate of taking classes. Part-time students may enroll in one 6-credit-hour core module each semester over four semesters. Full-time students typically complete their degree requirements in two years. Part-time students benefit from integrating their educational experiences with their present employment. Depending on the number of courses taken each term, part-time students usually complete the MBA in four to five years.

Candidates for the MBA may choose either the thesis or non-thesis option. A total of 42–48 credit hours is required, depending on undergraduate background. Students who have earned a BBA from an AACSB-accredited institution within five years of enrollment in the University of Hawai'i MBA are permitted to waive BUS 610 (6 credit hours).

Executive MBA

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program is a 22-month degree program in business administration that closely parallels the regular MBA in curriculum content. A total of 48 credit hours is completed during this accelerated degree program. Classes are uniquely scheduled to allow working individuals to participate with maximum convenience to themselves and their sponsoring organizations. The program consists of a one-week residence session at the start of each of the two academic years, with classes meeting every Tuesday evening and alternate Saturdays. The program seeks highly motivated managers who want to increase their knowledge and acquire the skills needed to assume broader corporate responsibility. An undergraduate degree, GMAT exam, five years of progressively successful work experience, and a current management position are required for admission. Sessions begin in August of every year.

Japan-and China-Focused MBAs

The Japan-focused MBA (JEMBA) and the China-focused MBA (CHEMBA) are unique 15-month international education programs developed by the College of Business Administration and the Japan-America Institute of Management Science (JAIMS). The curricula are tailored for highly motivated individuals who desire programs that effectively balance the practical and theoretical aspects of doing business with Japan or China. These programs lead to an AACSB-accredited MBA totaling 48 hours of academic credit. These programs begin in August of each year and consist of one year of class work at the University of Hawai'i and at JAIMS, plus a 14-week internship program in Japan or China. The programs are designed for English-speaking participants who come from a wide spectrum of national and cultural backgrounds.

Master of Accounting

The master of accounting (MAcc) degree provides an advanced education in taxation, financial accounting, and auditing necessary for students to pursue leading positions in public practice, business, government, and related fields. 

The program offers students the opportunity to adequately prepare for today's multifaceted accounting practice by strengthening one's understanding of the body of accounting knowledge, as well as preparing them for the complexities and new technology facing the accounting profession. The program is also designed to improve the accounting students' oral and written communication skills and to develop their analytical skills.

Master Of Human Resource Management

The master of human resource management degree is for individuals who are in human resource management (HRM) functions and want to upgrade their skills, or individuals who want to move into the profession.

Over the last several decades, HRM has become a much more demanding profession, requiring specialized training and appropriate work experience. Job specialties in HRM include training, staffing, compensation and health fringe benefits, health and safety, organizational development, and career development. Each of the specialties is overseen by demanding legislation and the push to optimize the competitiveness of the organization. The human resource management curriculum is interdisciplinary in its approach. In the past, it was taught as a formal function. Today the courses tend to integrate other disciplines – especially organizational behavior, management systems, and labor and employment legislation.

The preferred admission criteria are 500 or above on the Graduate Management Admission Test, a 3.0 or higher in coursework leading to a bachelor's degree (BS, BBA, BA, or equivalent), and one year of professional work experience, which indicates a capacity for graduate level study. 

The program consists of thirty academic credit hours, or ten courses. The curriculum will include the foundation courses (compensation, staffing, training, industrial relations, and health and safety) plus leadership, organizational development, negotiations, and an integrative capstone experience plus an elective. The master of HRM is a cohort program (students will go through the entire program as a group). The classes will be offered on Saturdays plus one evening per week. The program should take approximately 18 months.

PhD in Communication and Information Sciences

The PhD in communication and information sciences (CIS) is an interdisciplinary program integrating the academic disciplines of computer science, communication, library science, and management information systems. Because a broad knowledge base is required to support the interdisciplinary approach, the program also draws from such fields as political science, economics, engineering, operations research, behavioral sciences, and others. For detailed information regarding the PhD in CIS program, contact the chair of the interdisciplinary doctoral program in the Library and Information Science program, Hamilton Library, room 33, 2550 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822; phone: (808) 956-5815; fax: (808) 956-5835; e-mail: cisprog@ics.hawaii.edu

PhD in International Management

The PhD in international management provides opportunities for a select group of students to develop high-level research skills in international business, with a particular focus on Asia and the Pacific. The goal of the program is to encourage the highest level of scholarship so that graduates can look forward to career-long research productivity, education, and contributions to knowledge. 

Admission to the PhD program is extremely competitive. Selection is based on academic merit, scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), three letters of recommendation, and an analyses of applicants' essays. 

For detailed information, please contact the PhD program in international management, College of Business Administration, 2404 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822; phone (808) 956-8266; fax (808) 956-2774; e-mail phd@cba.hawaii.edu; or connect to the Web at www.cba.hawaii.edu/phd.

Admission Requirements

For admission into the graduate programs, CBA prefers applicants to have a score of 500 or above on the GMAT and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate work and all post-baccalaureate work. Admission is highly competitive as the college is not always able to admit all qualified applicants.

All applicants from foreign countries where English is not the primary language are required to take the TOEFL. The minimum score requirement is 500. Information about both the TOEFL and the GMAT can be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103. At least one year of post-baccalaureate, full-time work experience is preferred for admission to the MBA and required for the CHEMBA and JEMBA. Work experience of at least five years is required for the Executive MBA. CBA has found that individuals with work experience benefit the most from the program and contribute the most to it.

Admission requirements for the MAcc program are found in the "Accounting" section within the College of Business Administration.

For detailed information regarding the MBA, contact the CBA Office of Student Academic Services, 2404 Maile Way, BusAd B201, Honolulu, HI 96822; phone (808) 956-8266; fax (808) 956-9890.

For detailed information regarding the EMBA, CHEMBA, and JEMBA programs, contact the Asia Pacific Executive MBA Programs, 2404 Maile Way, BusAd B201, Honolulu, HI 96822; phone (808) 956-3260; fax (808) 956-2657. You can also reach the programs on-line as follows:

E-mail: EMBA@cba.hawaii.edu, CHEMBA@cba.hawaii.edu, JEMBA@cba.hawaii.edu
Web: www.cba.hawaii.edu/jcmba, www.cba.hawaii.edu/emba

MBA Requirements

All MBA students are expected to enter the program with computer competency and English language proficiency. Up to six courses of English as a second language may be required depending upon placement exam results. These courses must be completed prior to enrollment in BUS 613.

The MBA program consists of four required core courses: BUS 610 (B), (C), and (D); 613 (B) and (C); 614 (B) and (C); and 615 (B) and (C) (24 credit hours); electives (18 credit hours); and the capstone experience, which consists of BUS 660 Business Policy and Strategy (3 credit hours) and BUS 696 Field Studies in the Enterprise (3 credit hours).

Required Core Courses

• BUS 610B Accounting Tools for the MBA (2)
• BUS 610C Statistical Tools for the MBA (2)
• BUS 610D Economic Tools for the MBA (2)
• BUS 613B Organizational Behavior (3)
• BUS 613C External Environment of Asia-Pacific Business (3)
• BUS 614B Managerial Accounting (3)
• BUS 614C Managerial Finance (3)
• BUS 615B Marketing Management (3)
• BUS 615C Information Technologies (3)

Electives

Of the required 18 credit hours, only 6 hours may be at the 400 level. Students may also take graduate electives from outside the college as long as at least three electives are completed within the CBA.

Integrative Capstone

• BUS 660 Business Policy and Strategy (3)
• BUS 696 Field Studies in the Enterprise (3)

Thesis Option

A student may elect to do a research thesis in place of BUS 696 and one elective. Thesis students enroll in BUS 700 Thesis Research.

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