MBA Program Academic Information

USF’s MBA Program (MBA) is designed for students who want to earn an MBA while working, raising a family or pursing other personal interests.

Four concentrations are offered in the MBA Program:  Management, Healthcare Administration, Innovation and Marketing, and Organizational Leadership.  Most classes can be completed either on campus or online. A few concentration classes are only offered either online or on campus. 

All classes are 3 credits and 7 weeks in length. The program can be completed in either 12-months or 21-month, depending on the track chosen.  Either program can either be accelerated or slowed down based on student choice.

WHAT IS ACCELERATED LEARNING?
Accelerated classes use special instructional techniques chosen for their ability to help students learn and retain large amounts of information.. This means that students complete a significant amount of work outside of the classroom. Study times vary from class to class and student to student.Normally, students can expect to spend approximately 15 to 20 hours a week outside of class, reading, working on class projects or writing papers.


WHAT TYPE OF STUDENT IS BEST SUITED FOR ACCELERATED CLASSES?
Accelerated classes require highly-motivated students. This means students take responsibility for their own motivation and do not blame the materials or the instructors. Students in accelerated classes should be in the workforce so they will have work and life experiences to bring to the table.

We want you to be successful; a key to being successful in college is knowing what type of learner you are. Typical learner characteristics that foster success in an accelerated format include the following:

• Self-motivation
• Self-direction
• Ability to work independently
• Effective time management skills


ATTENDANCE
• Students are expected to be in all on-campus classes unless work, illness or emergency circumstances prevent their attendance. 
• It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor of any absence (including illness) in advance of class if at all possible. Some class activities are hampered significantly if attendance is not full. 
• The MBA attendance policy allows one absence per 7-week course. 

• Students are expected to participate in all activities in online classes.  Assignment due dates are set for each week.
• Students are expected to check course portal before an online or on-campus class begins because there may be an assignment due on Day 1 of class.

TEXTBOOKS
• Do not wait until a class begins to order textbooks.
• For information and help getting your textbooks, please go to the "3. Get Ready for Your First Class" page.


ASSIGNMENTS AND DEADLINES
• Assignments are due as stated by the instructor. If work is not turned in on time, full credit may not be received. Credit is awarded at the discretion of the instructor.


RETAKING COURSES
On occasion, students may find it necessary to re-take courses in the MBA Program under the following situations: 
• A student missed more than one class meeting in a course. 
• A student’s cumulative grade point average for the major falls below 3.0. 
• A student fails a course. 


WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASSES
The student must contact the Director of the MBA Program to drop/withdraw from a class.

 

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM
Students who find it necessary to withdraw either temporarily or permanently should be aware of the following policies:

• A student must submit an Online Withdrawal Form (found on the Forms Page) to the MBA Program Director. The withdrawal form should state the last date of attendance, the student’s plan to re-enter and how future payment will be handled.  

MBA PROGRAM REFUND AND WITHDRAWAL CALENDAR
Refunds to institutional charges are calculated based on the class drop date .  Students are responsible for notifying the MBA Program Director when they intend to drop a class.  Lack of attendance does not constitute a drop.  Students are responsible for notifying the MBA Program Director when they intend to completely withdraw from the program.

The following refund schedule will apply to both a partial withdrawal (when a student withdraws from one or two classes, but remains enrolled at USF) and a complete withdrawal.

Each class has an official start date.  Day one of each class is the official start date, as listed in the academic calendar.  Students enrolled in an on-campus class or an online class must drop before midnight on Day 8.

Drop on calendar days 1-8   [100% Refund]
Drop on or after calendar Day 9  [No Refund]

 

STUDENTS RECEIVING FEDERAL AID
For students who begin attendance during a term and then withdraw or stop attending classes before completing 60% of the term, a portion of the total federal aid received (excluding work study) will need to be returned.  The amount which must be returned is determined by the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV Funds.  The amount to be returned is determined by dividing the number of calendar days completed in the term by the total number of days in the term.  Weekends and holidays are included in the number of days, but breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded.  This regulation also specifies the order in which funds are to be returned to the financial aid programs from which they were awarded.

 

Next Up:  Page 3. Get Ready for your First Class