Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree, Full-Time Program, and a Major Concentration in Energy
Program Learning Outcomes for the MBA Degree
Upon completing the MBA degree, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding and application of the foundational frameworks and tools of all business disciplines, including accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, and strategic management.
- Develop, evaluate, and implement complex business strategies and operational solutions holistically, integrating management principles across the functional areas.
- Function effectively in a team setting both as a leader and a contributor.
Requirements for the MBA Degree, Full-Time Program
The MBA degree is a non-thesis master's degree. For general university requirements, please see Non-Thesis Master's Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the full-time MBA degree program must complete:
- A minimum of 60 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
- A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
- A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory).
- A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of full-time graduate study at Rice University.
- A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab. Additional Information regarding Exchange Program transfer credit can be found in the Student Handbook under Campus Groups.
- A Required Work Experience (MGMT 500) during summer between the first and second year of enrollment in the degree program.
- A Global Field Experience (MGMT 789) during the first year of enrollment in the degree program.
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 or higher in all Rice coursework.
- A minimum program GPA of 3.00 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree with a minimum grade of C (2.00 grade points) in each course.
Students who register for a standard course load of 9-18 credit hours per semester are considered full-time students. All registration and elective selection via add/drop is completed online through ESTHER. It is the responsibility of students to monitor and maintain their schedule and academic record.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor, or where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the department or program's Official Certifier. Additionally, these must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the MBA Degree, Full-Time Program | 60 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements 1 | ||
| MGMT 501 | FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING | 3 |
| MGMT 502 | MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING | 1.5 |
| MGMT 510 | ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR | 1.5 |
| MGMT 512 | LEADING CHANGE | 0.75 |
| MGMT 540 | MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS | 1.5 |
| MGMT 543 | FINANCE | 3 |
| MGMT 560 | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | 0.75 |
| MGMT 570 | COMPETITIVE AND INDUSTRY ANALYSIS | 1.5 |
| MGMT 571 | STRATEGY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION | 1.5 |
| MGMT 574 | OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT | 1.5 |
| MGMT 580 | MARKETING | 3 |
| MGMT 594 | STRATEGIC BUSINESS COMMUNICATION I 2 | 0.75 |
| MGMT 595 | DATA ANALYSIS | 3 |
| MGMT 596 | STRATEGIC BUSINESS COMMUNICATION II 2 | 0.75 |
| MGMT 710 | LEADERSHIP ILE 2 | 0.75 |
| MGMT 711 | NEGOTIATIONS ILE 2 | 0.75 |
| Work Experience Requirement | ||
| MGMT 500 | APPLIED BUSINESS EXPERIENCE 2 | 0.75 |
| Global Field Experience Requirement | ||
| MGMT 789 | GLOBAL FIELD EXPERIENCE 3 | 1.5 |
| Custom Core Courses: 4 | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 3-4.5 | |
| MANAGEMENT CONTROL | ||
| ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS | ||
| BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | ||
| ACTION LEARNING PROJECT | ||
| NEW ENTERPRISES | ||
| BUSINESS LAW | ||
| DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN BUSINESS | ||
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select an additional 27.75-29.25 credit hours from departmental (MGMP or MGMT) course offerings at the 500-level or above to reach 60 total credit hours 5, 6 | 27.75-29.25 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | The first year of the program is primarily dedicated to core courses in the basic functional areas of business. |
| 2 | MGMT 500, MGMT 594, MGMT 596, MGMT 710, and MGMT 711 are taken for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade and must be completed with a Satisfactory grade. As S/U courses, they do not apply to the requirement of a minimum grade of C (2.00 grade points) in each required course. |
| 3 | Students participate in a required global field experience during the first year of enrollment in the degree program. Additional costs apply towards this global experience. |
| 4 | The custom core courses are taken during the second semester of the first year. |
| 5 | To fulfill the remaining requirements for the full-time MBA degree program, students must complete an additional 27.75-29.25 credit hours from departmental (MGMP or MGMT) course offerings at the 500-level or above to reach 60 total credit hours. (MGMT 703, MGMT 704, and MGMT 705 are not accepted as electives.) Students take two elective courses during the spring semester of the first year. The second year of the program is dedicated entirely to elective coursework. Although the Jones Graduate School of Business offers a variety of courses for students to take as electives, students may wish to take courses from other departments at Rice University. Most courses offered outside of the Jones Graduate School of Business (MGMP or MGMT course offerings), will not count toward earned MBA hours, but students may petition for special permission if they believe the courses are applicable to their MBA. The petition process can be found by visiting the student program page at https://jones.campusgroups.com/jgsbreg/about/. Electives are offered on the daytime schedule, the evening schedule, and the weekend schedule. Students who chose to complete an optional MBA Major Concentration (Full-Time program-only) can count those credit hours toward Elective Requirements. |
| 6 | Students in the coordinated MBA/Master of Science degree from the PSM (professional science master's) program must complete the Core Requirements, Global Field Experience, and Custom Core Requirements as listed above for the full-time MBA degree program. For students in those coordinated programs, the Elective Requirements are 12.75-14.25 credit hours from departmental (MGMP or MGMT) course offerings at the 500-level or above to reach a total of 45 credit hours. (MGMT 703, MGMT 704, and MGMT 705 are not accepted as electives.) The second year of the program is dedicated entirely to MBA elective coursework. Although the Jones Graduate School of Business offers a variety of courses for students to take as electives, students may wish to take courses from other departments at Rice University. MBA electives are offered on the daytime schedule, the evening schedule, and the weekend schedule. |
Major Concentration: Energy
The major concentration in Energy provides commercial acumen and leadership perspective to students with a technical background and develops their capability for taking additional responsibilities and higher-level management roles at companies in the energy sector. This is accomplished by engaging students in a curriculum that addresses three distinct, but inter-related, career paths which are widely regarded as conduits to leadership positions in energy industry midstream and upstream organizations: finance, operations, and product/customer focus.
Students pursuing the major concentration in Energy must complete:
- A minimum of 9 credit hours as listed below to satisfy major concentration requirements*
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | ||
| MGMT 610 | FUNDAMENTALS OF THE ENERGY INDUSTRY | 1.5 |
| MGMT 611 | GEOPOLITICS OF ENERGY | 1.5 |
| Environment Course | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 1.5 | |
| ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 1 | ||
| BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 1 | ||
| MINDFULNESS AND PERFORMANCE IN THE WORKPLACE | ||
| Application and Context Courses | ||
| Select 4.5 credit hours from the following: | 4.5 | |
| INTERNATIONAL ENERGY SIMULATION 2 | ||
| ENERGY FINANCE | ||
| ENERGY MARKETS IN TRANSITION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO THE ENERGY SECTOR | ||
| ENERGY MARKET ORGANIZATION | ||
| ENERGY DERIVATIVES | ||
| ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND RENEWABLE FUEL CHOICES | ||
| MOBILITY AND ENERGY TRANSFORMATION DYNAMICS | ||
| PRICING STRATEGIES: OIL & GAS INDUSTRY | ||
| PROCESS MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT | ||
| MANAGING ENERGY ASSETS: PRINCIPLES | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENERGY FINANCE | ||
| ENERGY TRANSITION INVESTING | ||
| POLITICAL RISKS IN ENERGY INVESTMENTS | ||
| SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT LAB 3 | ||
| INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION | ||
| RENEWABLES AND THE ENERGY TRANSITION LAB | ||
| CAPITAL THEMES IN CLIMATE TECH | ||
| FROM FOSSIL TO RENEWABLE: MANAGING ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES IN ENERGY TRANSITION | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | The courses listed are approved to satisfy the requirements for the Energy concentration for the current academic year only. In certain instances and with appropriate approvals, courses not on this official list may be processed for substitution by the Jones Graduate School of Business Registrar Department. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken with the Jones Graduate School of Business Associate Registrar. |
| 1 | MGMT 541 or MGMT 561 can be applied if the course is not used to satisfy the Custom Core requirement. |
| 2 | MGMT 600 is taken for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade and must be completed with a Satisfactory grade. As an S/U course it does not apply to the requirement of a minimum grade of C (2.00 grade points) in each required course. |
| 3 | The lab project for MGMT 752 Supply Chain Management Lab must be energy-oriented for this course to fulfill the major concentration. |
Policies for the MBA Degree Programs
MBA Admission Requirements
Admission to the MBA degree program is open to students regardless of their undergraduate major, but the program is highly selective and access is limited to those who have performed with distinction across all areas of the application. A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited undergraduate institution is required. Applicants participate in an interview by invitation as part of their admission requirements.
All applicants to the MBA degree program must submit the following:
- an online application and application fee
- scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT),* the Graduate Record Examination (GRE),* or the Executive Assessment (EA)
- transcripts (or marksheets) from all degree-granting institutions**
- professional resume with complete work history or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- essays
- two professional letters of recommendation***
Notes:
*A GMAT/GRE test waiver request may be submitted to determine eligibility to apply without test scores. Resumes and transcripts are necessary to submit this form.
**If an applicant completed schooling outside the US, a copy of the diploma certificate showing degree earned is also required.
***For applicants to the MBA Degree, Full-Time Program or applicants to the MBA degree, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), only one letter of recommendation is needed if the letter is from a current or previous direct supervisor.
MBA Degree, Full-Time Program, Deferred Enrollment Program Admission Requirements
Admission to the MBA Deferred Enrollment program allows college seniors to secure a spot two to five years after graduation in the Full-Time MBA Program at Jones Graduate School of Business. International students and students pursuing all majors are welcome to apply during their final year of university studies. Eligible students must be employed during the interim years to hold onto their space. A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited undergraduate institution is required. All applicants must conduct an interview as part of their admission requirements. The program is highly selective and access is limited to those who have performed with distinction across all areas of the application.
Academic and Professional Standards
Students must meet both academic and professional standards to continue academic work and to graduate. In accepting admission to the MBA program, all students agree to be governed by the standards and procedures for dismissal or disciplinary action stated below.
Academic Standards
A minimum overall grade point average of 3.00 (B) is required for graduation. All courses taken for the MBA degree (including approved courses taken at the university, but outside the JGSB) are counted in the overall grade point average calculation.
Students with an overall grade point average lower than 3.00 at the end of any semester will be notified of academic standing. Students not meeting the 3.00 requirement will be provided specific instruction and guidance on the next steps specific to their academic situation. In some cases, students may submit an appeal to the JGSB Academic Standards Committee, requesting to be placed on academic probation. The committee reviews all academic cases, and may consult the dean's office for counsel and/or suggestions on proposed handling of the case. The committee will decide, based on the circumstances of the appeal, whether the student may resume studies on academic probation; is to be academically suspended for one semester or an academic year; or is to be dismissed from the MBA program.
A student may be placed on conditional academic probation with conditions determined by the dean’s office and approved by the chair of the Academic Standards Committee. Students on conditional academic probation must receive special approval to 1) seek association or club officer roles, 2) serve as a teaching assistant, 3) apply for learning experiences off-campus, including global and experiential learning, 4) hold a fall or spring internship, 5) apply for co-curricular opportunities including Leader as Coach or Rice Alliance treks.
Students are removed from academic probation only upon achieving an overall grade point average of at least 3.00.
Students on leave who are not in good academic standing who wish to return must submit an appeal to the Academic Standards Committee and be approved to resume studies. If permitted to return, the student will pay the current rate of tuition based upon the class of student they are joining.
Students proposing to return after a period of academic suspension must apply to the Academic Standards Committee and receive permission to be readmitted. If permitted to return, the student pays the current rate of tuition, based upon the cohort s/he is joining.
Only courses in which a grade of C or above is earned are counted for credit toward graduation. If students receive a grade below C in a course required for graduation, they must repeat the course. If students receive a grade lower than C in an elective course, they need not repeat the specific course, but they must make up the credit hours. If the required course is not offered again prior to graduation, the student will be permitted to take the course the following academic year, but will be charged the current pro-rated tuition for the program in which the additional coursework is completed. Students may not take any course for which the failed course is a prerequisite until they pass the prerequisite course. Students who fail a course twice will be notified of dismissal.
JGSB students may not take courses pass/fail to count toward their degree requirements. JGSB students may audit courses with departmental and professor approval. The courses do not count toward the MBA, but will appear on the transcript.
Students who have completed the required number of hours for the MBA degree, the coordinated MBA/Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree program, or the MBA/MD dual degree program, but who have an overall grade point average below 3.00, are dismissed without graduation. If, in an appeal to the Academic Standards Committee, a student can substantiate a claim of extenuating circumstances, i.e., those beyond the student’s control, the student can take additional coursework at the university within the next year to raise his or her grade point average to 3.00. Coursework completed outside of a semester when full tuition is paid is billed at the current pro-rated rate for the program in which the additional coursework is completed.
Professional Standards
MBA students are held to the highest standards of professional conduct expected of managers—standards substantially exceeding those expected of them simply as students. Students may be dismissed or suspended for failure to meet professional standards, as defined in the University Code of Conduct. The dean may place a student on disciplinary probation for unacceptable conduct, giving oral and written notice that future misconduct will lead to filing specific charges. This probationary notice, however, is not required as a precondition for filing specific charges.
Scholarship continuation or reinstatement is not guaranteed for students who do not maintain continuous active status - and good academic and professional standing - at the Jones Graduate School of Business and Rice University. In cases where a student does not maintain active status, and/or does not maintain continuous good standing, students may need to request reinstatement of their scholarship. Scholarships may be discontinued for students who are on academic probation or receive university conduct sanctions (including suspension).
Class Attendance Policy
Students are expected to be in class on the first day of each term. The instructor reserves the right to exclude from their course a student who is absent on the first day. Students should refer to the specific attendance policy for each program. This information can be found in the Jones Graduate School of Business Student Handbook, which is referenced below. For special circumstances, students should see the Director of Advising in the Office of Academic Programs and Student Experience and the instructor.
Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy
Continuous enrollment between admission and the completion of degree work is the norm. In some cases, however, circumstances may compel a student to interrupt their studies temporarily. The Jones Graduate School of Business may grant students in the MBA Degree, Executive Program, Hybrid Program, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), Full-Time Program a leave of absence for up to one year; or for students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice), for up to four quadmesters (one year). Leaves of absence may only be requested twice during the program. A leave of absence does not suspend or alter the 5-year time limit during which a student must earn the MBA.
Students should request to be approved for leave of absence (LOA) prior to the first day of class for the semester (or prior to the first day of class for the quadmester, for students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice)). Requests are reviewed by the MBA program and the student is notified of approval or non-approval. Students who are not in good academic standing (i.e., students whose GPA is below 3.00) are considered to be on “provisional LOA” and must petition the Academic Standards Committee to return to the program, prior to resuming their enrollment. Students who do not return from LOA within one year must petition the Academic Standards Committee to return.
A leave of absence requested after the first day of class (“late LOA”) is only considered in verified extreme or exceptional personal circumstances. Late LOAs result in W on the transcript and are subject to the tuition refund schedule on the Academic Calendar as of the request date. A student requesting a late LOA should expect to be on leave the following semester as well (or for students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice) the following quadmester). Students requiring a leave of absence for medical reasons should review the Medical Leave of Absence policy for all graduate students.
A student who does not qualify for a late LOA may withdraw from the university at any point (subject to the tuition refund schedule on the Academic Calendar).
Returning from a Leave of Absence (LOA)
MBA Degree, Executive Program, Hybrid Program, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), Full-Time Program
Students must pay any unpaid balance prior to requesting to return from a leave of absence. Students who are requesting to return from a leave of absence must submit return requests no later than:
- July 1 for Fall semester reinstatement
- November 1 for Spring semester reinstatement
- March 1 for Summer semester reinstatement
Students in the MBA Degree, Executive Program, Hybrid Program, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), and Full-Time Program should contact mbaadvising@rice.edu to be advised of steps to return (including petition to return from provisional LOA or a leave of absence longer than one year).
MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice)
Students must pay any unpaid balance prior to requesting to return from a leave of absence. Students who are requesting to return from a leave of absence must submit return requests no later than:
- May 15 for Summer Quadmester reinstatement
- August 15 for Fall Quadmester reinstatement
- November 15 for Winter Quadmester reinstatement
- February 15 for Spring Quadmester reinstatement
Students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice) should contact studentsuccess@onlinebusiness.rice.edu to be advised of steps to return (including petition to return from provisional LOA or leave of absence longer than one year).
Please note: International students should request to return from a leave of absence earlier than the dates listed above to ensure enough time to secure a new visa.
Guidelines for Appealing Academic Dismissal
The Process
A student who wishes to appeal a dismissal should address the following issues in a letter to the Academic Standards Committee. The student must address the letter to the chair of the Academic Standards Committee and submit it to mbaadvising@rice.edu. The following questions should be answered in the appeal letter. Students may also include any additional information that they deem relevant in the appeal letter.
- What circumstances led to your academic performance last semester and to what degree were those circumstances beyond your control?
- If your performance in a particular course(s) last semester was below par, describe any circumstances specific to that course that explain your performance.
- Do you expect the circumstances that created the problems for you last semester to change next semester? If so, how? If not, why?
Timing
The student must inform mbaadvising@rice.edu immediately of the intention to appeal. The appeal letter to the committee must be filed no later than the date stated in the dismissal letter (typically within one week of notification). If a student plans to appeal, he/she should attend classes while the appeal is pending. It is important to keep up with courses during the appeal process.
Appeals
Appeals beyond the Academic Standards Committee must go to the dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business, who may seek guidance from other constituents of the school. All decisions rendered by the dean are final.
Confidentiality
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and amendments govern the records of actions related to appeals.
Grade Appeal Process
Once a course grade has been assigned by an instructor, it is generally considered final and is rarely changed for any reason. Student appeals shall be limited to calculation errors or an alleged failure of the instructor to follow the grading norms set forth in the course syllabus. The procedure below outlines the process by which a student may appeal a course grade. Appeals to the Academic Standards Committee cannot be made until a course grade is assigned; grading questions concerning a particular assessment within the term should be addressed following whatever formal or informal process the instructor has outlined for the course (see step 1).
- The student should first pursue any grading question with the instructor following whatever formal or informal process the instructor has outlined for the course.
- If the matter is not resolved in step 1 above, the student must file (via email) a written appeal to the instructor, copying the senior associate dean of degree programs. This written appeal must be filed no later than 30 days after the last day of finals for the term (mini-term) in which the course was offered. If the instructor feels further discussion is warranted based on the written appeal, the instructor may discuss the appeal with the student directly. Within two weeks of receiving the written appeal, the instructor should notify (via email) both the student and the senior associate dean of their opinion regarding the appeal.
- If the issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of both the student and the instructor within two weeks of the student’s written appeal in step 2, the student may appeal to the Academic Standards Committee by emailing a written notice to jgs-academic-standards@rice.edu describing the grounds for the appeal, copying the instructor and the senior associate dean. This appeal must be sent within four weeks of the student’s initial written appeal in step 2.
- The Academic Standards Committee will consider the appeal based on information provided by the instructor and the student. At its discretion, the Committee may hold a hearing to further consider the matter. The decision of the Academic Standards Committee will be rendered within four weeks of receiving a written notice of appeal (step 3).
- The decision rendered by the Academic Standards Committee is generally final, except for extraordinary cases in which there was a procedural error or major information omission in the steps above. Appeals beyond the Academic Standards Committee must go to the dean of the JGSB, who may seek guidance from other constituents of the school. All decisions rendered by the dean are final.
- In the event that the protested grade is necessary for the student to graduate, an accelerated schedule will be followed.
More information can be found in the in the Dispute Resolution section for graduate students, including guidelines set forth by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). The Committee on Examinations and Standing (EX&S) has established faculty guidelines on grading. Additional information can be found in the Faculty Grading Guidelines section.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and amendments govern records of these actions.
MBA Elective Course Add/Drop Policy and Procedures
Due to the unique term schedule followed by the Jones Graduate School of Business MBA programs, MBA students have special procedures they must follow to make schedule changes. The Jones Graduate School of Business Registrar Department administers an add/drop policy which allows students to add or drop elective courses at various times throughout the semester. For all elective courses, student may not add or drop a course after the deadline for the appropriate term.
Withdrawal Policy
A Jones Graduate School of Business student, participating in any offered program, may voluntarily withdraw from school at any time. Upon withdrawal, Rice University applies a sliding scale to tuition, which is noted in the university's Academic Calendar.
Jones Graduate School of Business Student Handbook
Generally, the Jones Graduate School of Business adheres to the academic regulations of Rice University. However, the Jones Graduate School of Business MBA program has unique policies and procedures that vary from the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies regarding, but not limited to, leave of absence, withdrawals and readmission, add/drop, and academic dismissal. A copy of the handbook is available on Campus Groups (for all programs except the MBA Degree, Online Program, MBA@Rice).
Financial Aid
Jones Graduate School of Business scholarships are awarded at the point of admission and are based on the merit of the application. Financial assistance is generally awarded for one academic year at a time. Continuation of assistance depends on maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with Academic and Professional Standards of performance, professional behavior, and is subject to the availability of funds. Academic or disciplinary probation, suspension, or general failure to maintain academic pace may result in the removal of all forms of financial assistance (i.e. scholarships, Federal/State student loans, etc.). Students have the right to appeal the suspension of financial aid, and all appeals will be reviewed by a committee.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Program Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the MBA degree should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guidelines:
- No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the degree.
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director on an individual case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Jones Graduate School of Business website: https://business.rice.edu/
Opportunities for the MBA Degree Programs
Independent Study
Minimum Hours Requirement
Each credit of independent study should contain approximately as much time content as a one-credit course at Jones Graduate School of Business, which is 12 hours of class time, plus an average of at least 24–36 outside-class hours, for a minimum total of 36–48 hours of work. Independent study projects can be accommodated in increments of 1.5 or 3.0 credit hours; 3.0 credit independent study projects are rarely approved. Occasionally, a group independent study project may arise, though most independent studies are undertaken by individual students.
The number of credits for an independent study must be determined at the beginning of a project. Increases to the number of project credit hours after the project overview has been filed with the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee. The committee will rely on input from sponsoring faculty in making its decision about ex post credit increases. Requests to increase the number of project credit hours must be made before the end of the second week of classes in the term in which the project begins.
Restrictions
No student may take more than three credit hours of independent study during the course of the MBA program without the approval of the Academic Standards Committee. If an independent study is proposed that would cause a student to exceed the 3.0 credit limit, the Academic Standards Committee will select two faculty members, other than the faculty member who will supervise the project, within the area most closely related to the study’s academic content to review and approve the study. Independent study exceeding 3.0 credits in total should consider current policies restricting use of independent study as well as the incremental value of additional independent study in light of past independent studies. If the study does not align with any of the Jones Graduate School of Business academic groups, the Academic Standards Committee will perform the review and make the final approval decision.
Independent study projects are for academic credit, not for hire. Students may not earn credit for paid work.
Faculty Sponsorship
Independent study projects normally are sponsored only by full-time Jones Graduate School of Business faculty; faculty typically sponsor projects only in their area of expertise. Students wanting sponsorship by a part-time faculty member must submit a project overview to the Academic Standards Committee and obtain the committee’s approval before the term in which the project is to begin.
Common Requirements
The goal of independent study projects is to advance or deepen a student’s knowledge or competency in a business discipline or activity.
To facilitate these goals, independent study projects generally fall into two broad categories:
- directed reading and study resulting in a research paper, or
- an experiential or hands-on project resulting in an outcome such as an empirical analysis with an executive summary of the “deliverable.”
While the content of individual independent study projects are at the discretion of a student and the sponsoring faculty member, to ensure relatively equal workloads per unit of independent study credit and some common requirements across independent study projects, students and/or sponsoring faculty should:
- Prepare and submit to the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar an overview of the independent study project with number of project credits, anticipated final results, and a broad timeline of anticipated project milestones.
- Meet to discuss the project, after the initial agreement on the project scope, at least once every two to three weeks.
- Prepare a final paper (in the case of directed reading and research projects) or complete a concrete deliverable (for example, computer program, survey results, empirical analyses, etc.) together with an executive summary of the project (in the case of experiential projects).
- File a copy of each student’s final paper, or executive summary, with the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar.
Applications
Independent study applications are available for interested students on Campus Groups. Completed independent study applications must be approved by the senior associate dean of academic affairs. Completed and approved applications are due to the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar by the first week of the term in which the project will be completed. The student will be registered for MGMT 700 independent study for the appropriate credit amount, only when the appropriate permissions have been obtained.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Jones Graduate School of Business website: https://business.rice.edu/