Business Administration, P.M.B.A.
Admission
Requirements for admission to the program conform to the general regulations of The Graduate School and the accreditation standards of AACSB International-the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Each candidate’s application is reviewed holistically, taking into account factors such as experience, standardized test scores, trends in academic performance, rigor of both undergraduate institution and degree program, grades in courses requiring quantitative, analytical and communication skills, letters of reference, leadership activities and personal statement, as well as other potential indicators of maturity and motivation. Experience is weighted heavily during the application review process. GMAT/GRE test scores are optional for applicants who do not already have these test scores on file with USC but may be recommended for some applicants without relevant work experience or academic backgrounds. Please contact our recruiting team to discuss your individual circumstances. Prospective students can apply online.
International applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the PTE Academic or IELTS International Academic Course Type 2 exam. Otherwise-qualified candidates are required to achieve a TOEFL score of at least iBT 100 or 600 paper-based or a score of at least 7.0 on the IELTS exam. The TOEFL is not required of international students who have a degree from an American college or university. Graduates of foreign universities or colleges who have completed an academic program equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution are encouraged to apply for admission.
Please visit the Professional MBA program's website for admissions information.
Degree Requirements (48 Hours)
Coursework (27 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 725 | Financial Accounting for Professional MBA Students | 3 |
| ACCT 726 | Managerial Accounting for Professional MBA Students | 3 |
| MGSC 711 | Quantitative Methods in Business | 3 |
| ECON 720 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FINA 760 | Financial Policies | 3 |
| MBAD 702 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| MGMT 770 | Competing Through People | 3 |
| MGSC 791 | Operations Management | 3 |
| MKTG 701 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 27 | |
Elective Courses in the Moore School of Business (21 Hours)
These electives are chosen from a number of approved elective offerings of the Moore School of Business.
International Business Concentration
The international business specialization develops skills in doing business across national boundaries and diverse cultures. Course offerings include a study abroad experience to learn firsthand how business is conducted in other countries, international management, international finance and foreign legal systems.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| IBUS 750 | Exploring Global Business | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
Any IBUS 700-level course | ||
| Human Resources and the Global Firm | ||
| Global Sourcing: Strategies and Applications | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Finance Concentration
An emphasis in finance will prepare students for senior positions in financial service industries such as banking and investment management firms, as well as corporate finance positions. Finance courses provide a core set of skills in financial modeling, valuation, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, financial reporting and analysis.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FINA 761 | Advanced Financial Management | 3 |
| FINA 762 | Investment Management | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Derivative Products and Analysis | ||
| Risk Management | ||
| Financial Statement Analysis | ||
| Management of Financial Institutions | ||
| Real Estate Finance | ||
| Fixed-Income Securities | ||
| Project Finance | ||
| Entrepreneurial Finance and the Dynamics of Emerging Ventures | ||
| International Financial Management | ||
| International Mergers and Acquisitions | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Concentration
The innovation and entrepreneurship concentration focuses on providing PMBA students with the skills and competencies needed to excel in the following areas:
- developing and launching new ventures, whether as standalone entities or as new businesses within established corporations
- managing and funding small businesses and scalable new ventures
- directing the development of new products and services
- ensuring that appropriate strategies are in place to protect/appropriate the value associated with these new ideas and initiatives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| International Intellectual Property Management | ||
| International Innovation and Entrepreneurship | ||
| Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation | ||
| Strategic Analysis and Application of Innovation | ||
| Strategic Innovation Planning and Processes | ||
| Innovation and New Venture Analysis | ||
| Small Business Management | ||
| Entrepreneurial Finance and the Dynamics of Emerging Ventures | ||
| Innovation and Design | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Marketing Concentration
Marketing managers must see customers, products and services as assets. The PMBA Marketing Concentration builds skills in marketing strategy, research and consumer behavior. Courses in customer relationship management/datamining and internet marketing are also offered.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Marketing Research | ||
| Consumer Behavior | ||
| Marketing Communications | ||
| Product and Branding Policies | ||
| Customer Relationship Management and Data Mining | ||
| Topics in Marketing Thought and Practice | ||
| Pricing Strategy and Analysis | ||
| Fundamentals of Marketing Analytics | ||
| Social and Digital Media Strategies for Businesses | ||
| Business to Business Marketing | ||
| Sales: Process, People and Performance | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Human Resources Management Concentration
Four courses are to be selected from the following list. Not all courses will be available at all times. Electives targeting Human Resource Management include:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Human Resources and the Global Firm | ||
or IBUS 717 | Managing Cross-border Teams | |
| Management of Human Resources | ||
| Management of Compensation | ||
| Staffing | ||
| Labor Relations | ||
| Human Resource and Business Strategy | ||
| Consulting and Organizational Development in MNCs | ||
| Negotiations | ||
| Employee and Leadership Development | ||
| Organizational Misconduct | ||
| Special Topics in Business (If special topics course focuses on human resources; when in doubt, students should check with PMBA student services) | ||
or IBUS 790 | Specialized Study in International Business | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Note: While all courses listed count toward the HRM concentration, for those committed to pursuing a career in HRM we strongly encourage taking three of the following four courses: MGMT 718, MGMT 720, MGMT 726 and MGMT 772.
Operations and Supply Chain Management Concentration
To complete the concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management, students must take a minimum of four of their electives in that area (12 total credit hours). Not all courses will be available at all times.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The following two courses are required for the concentration: | ||
| MGSC 771 | Global Sourcing: Strategies and Applications | 3 |
| MGSC 776 | Supply Chain Modeling | 3 |
| Select two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Project Management | ||
| Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain | ||
| Revenue Management | ||
| Innovation and Design | ||
| Service Operations Management | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
P.M.B.A. Banking Track (39 Hours)
The banking track of the Professional MBA program is designed for students and graduates of several graduate schools of banking with whom the program has signed Memoranda of Understanding. Students in the banking track are required to take the same 9 required courses and plus 4 electives for a total of 39 credit hours.