18: Master’s level degree in general management (e.g., MBA) programs:  Knowledge and skills.  Participation in a master’s level degree program presupposes the base of general knowledge and skills appropriate to an undergraduate degree.  Learning at the master’s level is developed in a more integrative, interdisciplinary fashion than undergraduate education.

The capacities developed through the knowledge and skills of a general master’s level program are:

• Capacity to lead in organizational situations.

• Capacity to apply knowledge in new and unfamiliar circumstances through a conceptual understanding of relevant disciplines.

• Capacity to adapt and innovate to solve problems, to cope with unforeseen events, and to manage in unpredictable environments.

Adapting expectations to the school’s mission and cultural circumstances, the school specifies learning goals and demonstrates master’s level achievement of learning goals for key management-specific knowledge and skills in each master’s level general management program. [MASTER’S LEVEL GENERAL MANAGEMENT LEARNING GOALS]

Basis for Judgment:

• For each master’s level general management degree program the school defines learning goals for key general and management-specific knowledge and skills identified by the school.  The learning goals include the capacity to apply and adapt knowledge.
• For each master’s level general management degree program the school demonstrates that students meet the learning goals.  Or, if assessment demonstrates that learning goals are not being met, the school has instituted efforts to eliminate the discrepancy.
• The school is responsible for the quality of learning counted toward satisfying degree requirements regardless of where or how it takes place.

Guidance for Documentation:

• Define the learning goals for each master’s level general management program—this includes both conceptual and operational definitions.
• Show that students meet all of the learning goals for master’s level general management programs. Or, if assessment demonstrates that learning goals are not being met, describe efforts that have been instituted to eliminate the discrepancy.