24 SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Mission The School of Business facilitates business education to a diverse population of students, with its major focus on the territory of the United States Virgin Islands and the Caribbean region, providing students with the skills to succeed in a global environment. The business school is dedicated to the cultivation of leadership, intellectual query and discovery, social responsibility and lifelong professional development and growth through excellent teaching, scholarship and responsive community service. Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Description The School of Business-Executive MBA program (EMBA program) responds to the needs of business entities in the 21st century global economy. It helps to satisfy the demand for informed, resilient, and flexible thinkers in top and middle management positions whose lead- ership will promote competitiveness and steadily increase corporate value. For micro econo- mies like the Caribbean region where frequent economic and natural shocks occur, this need is even more pronounced. Accordingly, this program presents concepts and approaches that foster the required knowledge and skills. The program will recruit persons already working primarily but not exclusively, from the USVI, the Continental USA and the English-speaking Caribbean. It will include a residency require- ment of at least three weeks over the program duration but during pandemics or emergen- cies, this requirement may be waived. Residency means that students will be physically present on one of the UVI campuses for at least three weekends. (One weekend counts as one week.) The program is cohort-driven and may be completed in one calendar year. It targets middle managers and supervisors already employed or experienced in business. It will build on their managerial experiences and in a collaborative, collegial setting, analyze and solve problems encountered in their unique business environments. Its curriculum covers organizational development and culture, leadership, ethics and general business knowledge in accounting, finance, and computing against the background of an increasingly important global environment where abilities in risk management, supply chain, logistics and project management are in great demand. It prepares participants for the com- petitive challenges of global markets, technological paradigm shifts, and fosters the mental flexibility to adapt to rapid and abrupt changes in the business environment. However, the theories will be interpreted within the context of the unique experiences that each participant brings to the learning space and will always focus on application. In sum, the EMBA experience will produce transformative outcomes. The graduate will return to work with increased confidence, the ability to see his/her organization with new eyes and be equipped to propose workable solutions to issues and problems. Each EMBA alumnus will improve as managers in their current positions and be empowered to assume broader responsibilities such as project managers, or logistics and supply chain specialists. It is expected that they will play pivotal roles in the development of economies, businesses, and international economic relations. Admission Criteria In addition to meeting the general requirements, applicants seeking admission to the EMBA program must meet the prerequisites to all UVI EMBA courses that will be determined at the discretion of the admissions office in consultation with UVI EMBA Committee. In general, the Graduate Bulletin 25 University of the Virgin Islands business or government management leadership experience prescribed in the admissions criteria is sufficient. However, if a particular skillset or background knowledge is missing, a prerequisite course(s) can be required.* The program will encompass the business skills and knowledge needed to act in a leadership capacity in small to large organizations. UVI seeks to admit students who have demonstrated the potential to succeed in business and government and have shown evidence of their managerial and leadership capability at the supervisory, tactical and strategic levels. Criteria for admission include such qualities as demonstrated management and leadership performance, competency in English, work/real life business experience and achievements combined with leadership and creativity. Specifi- cally, the following criteria shall be applied: At least a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university; Evidence of experience in a supervisory/leadership position within business or government; Demonstrated proficiency in English; Letter(s) of reference; Stated commitment to the program *A basic foundation in financial accounting, microeconomics, corporate finance, operations manage- ment, organizational behavior, and marketing Required Courses Credits EMBA 520 Organizational Behavior and Development 3 EMBA 521 Applied Managerial Marketing and Economics 3 EMBA 522 Finance and Investment Decisions 3 EMBA 523 Accounting and Finance: Theory and Applications 3 EMBA 525 Business Intelligence and Data Analytics 3 EMBA 526 Logistics and Supply Chain Management 3 EMBA 527 Operations Management and Project Management Fundamentals 3 EMBA 531 Leadership and Ethics 3 EMBA 534 Global Businesses: Innovation and Risk Management 3 EMBA 600 Capstone Project 3 Capstone Project The capstone project is a requirement for graduation and is the culminating experience for this academic journey. Participants are required to choose a topic based on a real issue fac- ing their organization. Participants may be asked to make an oral presentation of their report to a panel of faculty. The entire Executive MBA cohort will attend. Certification A participant who completes at least 60% of the program and is in good standing may peti- tion the School of Business for the award of a certificate. He/she may be admitted to a later cohort within five years and complete the remaining courses for the award of the full degree. The participant must accept any changes to the program on readmission. Master of Accounting (MACC) Description The Master of Accounting (MACC) is a program designed for students who desire profes- sional careers in public accounting, corporate accounting, government accounting, manage- ment accounting, financial analysis, consulting and similar endeavors. Students obtain an in-depth knowledge of highly technical financial accounting standards, financial and account- ing research and analysis, auditing standards, tax statutes, business law and other business regulations. One of the program’s objectives is to prepare graduates for professional exami- 26 nations, such as the CPA (Certified Public Accountant). The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) and the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) tracks will be offered once a cohort of students has been identified. For undergraduate accounting majors, completing the MACC demonstrates a serious com- mitment to a professional career as a financial and accounting professional. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) requires aspiring CPA’s to fulfill a 150-hour requirement. This may be satisfied by either taking another 26 to 30 credit hours in under- graduate courses or students can earn their MACC by completing 30 hours at this institution. Preparation for the CPA exams is integrated throughout the program. Students who have completed undergraduate accounting degrees from accredited schools can complete the degree in five semesters (including summers), by taking 10 courses and earning 30 credit hours. All students must complete the MACC core requirements as well as the core require- ments for one of the tracks below: • CPA Track • General Accounting Track Dual Master of Business Administration and Master of Accounting (MBA/MACC) Students have the option of doing a dual MBA and MACC degree. Students have to com- plete the requirements for the MACC degree with a specified core and complete the required core courses of the MBA degree and one elective. Students must apply for both the MBA degree and the MACC degree separately. This option cannot be completed in five semesters and students should examine the options and their priorities carefully. Admission Criteria** In addition to meeting the general admission requirements, all applicants seeking admission to the Master of Accounting program must have successfully completed course prerequi- sites. Students that do not satisfy the admission criteria may be admitted to the program and have to complete the prerequisite courses prior to registering for the MACC Core require- ments. (Prerequisites are course specific and are stated under course descriptions at the end of this document.) **GMAT score is not required with either (1) 15 accounting hours with ≥ 3.00 GPA (Students planning to take additional accounting prerequisite courses may be admitted to the MACC program subject to the condition that their accounting course grades subsequently satisfy this standard.) or (2) 5 years accounting experience. International students must demonstrate adequate English proficiency. Prerequisites may be required before student can enter into the MACC program if certain criteria are not met. Core requirements Credits ACC 501 Advanced Accounting Information Systems 3 ACC 523 Accounting for Planning and Control 3 ACC 550 Financial Reporting and Analysis 3 Core requirements: CPA track Credits ACC 520 CPA Exam Preparation: Business Environment and Concepts 1 ACC 521 CPA Exam Preparation: Regulation 2 ACC 522 CPA Exam Preparation: Financial Accounting and Reporting 2 ACC 524 CPA Exam Preparation: Auditing and Attestation 1 ACC 542 Audit and Tax Practice Administration 3 ACC 543 Advanced Auditing and Assurance Services 3 ACC 544 Entity Taxation 3 Graduate Bulletin 27 Credits ACC 545 Accounting Ethics and Related Regulatory Issues 3 BUS 551 Advanced Business Law 3 Core requirements: General Accounting track Credits ACC 544 Entity Taxation 3 ACC 545 Accounting Ethics and Related Regulatory Issues 3 BUS 551 Advanced Business Law 3 FIN 522 Financial Administration 3 MGT 537 Management Policy and Strategy 3 Electives: General Accounting track (Select 2 courses from the following or other electives approved by the chair of the department.) Credits ACC 502 Professional Research for Accountants 3 ACC 506 Forensic Accounting 3 ACC 530 International Accounting 3 ACC 540 Taxation Regimes in Caribbean States 3 ACC 542 Audit and Tax Practice Administration 3 ACC 597 Selected Topics in Accounting 3 FIN 597 Selected Topics in Finance 3 Master of Business Administration (MBA) Description The graduate program in business administration, Master of Business Administration (MBA), is designed to prepare students for leadership and management careers in all levels and functions of government, in community service agencies and in the business community, and to provide well-qualified graduates who are highly motivated to seek long-term leadership and management careers in the public and private business sectors. The program consists of core courses which are required for graduation and elective courses. Students take specialized courses reflecting the concerns of their particular area of interest. The program consists of three basic academic areas: 1. Core courses which are required for graduation. 2. Elective courses 3. A thesis option. Admission Criteria In addition to meeting the general admission requirements, all applicants seeking admis- sion to the business administration program must have successfully completed the following courses or their equivalents: DSC 325 Statistics for Management Decisions and ECO 221, 222 Introduction to Macro- and Micro-Economics or MAT 235 Introduction to Statistics or SSC 327-328 Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences University of the Virgin Islands 28 Graduate Bulletin Core requirements Credits ACC 523 Accounting for Planning and Control 3 CIS 525 Information Systems 3 DSC 521 Quantitative Methods in the Decision Sciences 3 DSC 527 Operations Management 3 FIN 522 Financial Administration 3 MGT 520 Administrative Theories and Practices 3 MGT 534 International Business 3 MGT 537 Management Policy and Strategy 3 MKT 524 Marketing Management 3 Electives Students who elect the thesis option must enroll in BUS 600 Thesis and DSC 539 Manage- ment Research and Decision Analysis. All other students must select 9 credit hours from the following courses, (with the exception noted below).*** Credits MGT 528 Small Business Ownership 3 MGT 531 Group Processes and Leadership 3 MGT 532 Government, Business and Society 3 MGT 533 Human Resources Management 3 MGT 536 Selected Topics in Business Administration 3 MKT 538 International Marketing 3 ***MBA students are permitted to take one MPA course in partial fulfillment of the MBA elec- tive requirements. Thesis The Master of Business Administration program requires a total of 36 credit hours for completion. If a thesis is written, the credits must be distributed as follows: 27 hours of core courses plus DSC 539 and Business 600. For students whom elect not to write a thesis, the credit distribution must be as follows: 27 hours of core courses and 9 hours of graduate level elective courses approved by the School of Business. Comprehensive Examination All students must take and pass the comprehensive exam as scheduled in either the fall or spring semester. Also, candidates must pass all core courses prior to making their first at- tempt at the exam. Further, students are reminded that eligibility for graduation is dependent on passing the comprehensive exam and fulfilling all other course requirements.