Charlton College of Business - University of Massachusetts Dartmouth - Overview
AACSB-Accredited MBA Program with a Wide Range of Specialties
The Charlton College of Business at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth offers 7 undergraduate Bachelor of Science degrees, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, and several graduate certificates. It also offers combined MBA/Juris Doctor (JD) and MBA/environmental policy degrees.
The college is the only AACSB-accredited public business school in the southern region of Massachusetts. AACSB-accredited institutions have a recognized level of quality, higher admission standards, and more research opportunities.
A Flexible, Customizable MBA Program
The Charlton College of Business MBA program is 30 credit hours and can be completed in 1 year of full-time study. However, many students elect to attend classes part-time while continuing professional careers and therefore require more flexible options, so classes are offered online and in the evenings to accommodate students schedules. In addition to the main campus at UMass-Dartmouth, MBA classes are offered at Fall River and Cape Cod Community College.
MBA students can choose between 11 different concentrations, each consisting of 3 classes: accounting, finance, marketing, organizational leadership, supply chain management and information systems, environmental policy, health management system, international business, public management, and sustainable development. Students can also build their own concentrations in areas of interest by choosing 3 approved electives.
MBA/JD Program -- Two Degrees in Less Time
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth also offers 2 joint MBA programs for students who wish to combine their MBA skills in combination with other fields such as law or environmental and ecological policy.
The MBA/JD program gives students the choice between full-time or part-time study by offering classes during the evenings and on weekends, as well as during the day. Full-time students can finish both degrees in about 3 years. Students applying to this program must satisfy the admissions requirements for both schools and apply separately to the Charlton College of Business and the UMass-Dartmouth School of Law.
Students completing the MBA/environmental policy concentration degree graduate with an MBA and a post-baccalaureate certificate in environmental policy, granted by the UMass-Dartmouth Department of Public Policy. Applicants do not apply to both programs; instead, they register for the environmental policy certificate classes after they have completed at least 15 credit hours in the MBA program.
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
All students in the UMass-Dartmouth MBA program take 7 core classes, including strategic management, advanced organizational behavior, and finance for decision making. Students then choose a concentration, taking 3 or 4 elective classes in that topic. Students entering the MBA program without an undergraduate degree in business are required to take 3 additional courses before beginning the program. These classes cover accounting, managerial finance, and statistical analysis.
Graduation from the MBA program requires completion of 30 credit hours, which include the 7 core classes and the 3 elective/concentration classes. All classes are taken at UMass-Dartmouth; however, up to 6 credits taken prior to enrollment may be transferred.
12-Credit Certificate Programs
The Charlton College of Business at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth offers graduate certificates for students who possess a bachelor's degree and want to develop specialized business skills without a complete MBA program. Certificate programs are 12 credits and are offered online or in the classroom. Areas of certification are similar to the concentration fields for the full MBA: accounting, business foundations, environmental policy, finance, international business, marketing, organizational leadership, supply chain management and information systems, and sustainable development.
Students who earn graduate certificates and enter the MBA program at later dates can apply the certificate credits (provided they earned "B's" or higher) toward earning an MBA.
Experienced Faculty Members with a Wide Range of Backgrounds
Classes are taught by a diverse group of faculty members who have a wide array of business experience and are leading scholars in their fields. Students take classes from faculty members with published research, such as Dr. Dan Braha, an expert in design, implementation, and dynamics of complex socio-engineered systems; and Dr. Duong Nguyen, PhD, who investigates asset pricing, microstructure, and corporate finance.
The Business Innovation Research Center at UMass-Dartmouth
The Business Innovation Research Center (BIRC) is a UMass-Dartmouth organization that provides individual companies with advice on a wide range of business issues, including technology, manufacturing, and service. Students enrolled in the MBA program have access to the workshops and lectures led by BIRC faculty members and can participate as graduate assistants on research projects.
Central to the purpose of the BIRC is collaboration between the faculty members, students, businesses, and community groups in building the economy through its programs and projects. The goal of the BIRC's research is to examine current and emerging concerns related to modern, international business and economics.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Students applying to the UMass-Dartmouth MBA program must already have a bachelor's degree. To be considered for the program, students must submit all previous college transcripts, GMAT test scores, 2 letters of recommendation each, and their current resumes. An essay describing an applying student's goals and reason for entering the program is also required.
The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth offers financial aid, scholarships, fellowships, and work/study programs to help graduate students pay for the cost of the MBA program. Close to 70 percent of MBA graduate students receive some form of tuition assistance.
A Beachside Location with Unlimited Cultural Opportunities
UMass-Dartmouth is one of the 5 universities in the public University of Massachusetts system. It offers more than 64 undergraduate fields of study and over 36 graduate programs. The 710-acre campus is located on the Atlantic coast in southern Massachusetts, referred to as the SouthCoast, just one hour from Boston and 35 minutes from Providence and Newport. The beach is minutes away.
The SouthCoast Massachusetts area is a popular tourist destination with a variety of beaches, parks, restaurants, and shopping venues. There are many art galleries, museums, and music events in the towns of New Bedford and Fall River, both only 10 to 15 minutes from campus.