Graduate Study in the Sykes College of Business

Sykes College of Business

The Sykes College of Business (COB) offers graduate degree programs designed to help students become distinguished business practitioners. The degrees offered include the following:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Professional MBA (PMBA)
• Executive MBA (EMBA)
• Master of Science in Accounting (MS-ACC)
• Master of Science in Business Analytics (MS-BAN)
• Master of Science in Cybersecurity (MS-CYB) 
• Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (MS-ENT)
• Master of Science in Information and Technology Management (MS-ITM)
• Master of Science in Finance (MS-FIN)
• Master of Science in Marketing (MS-MKT)

Vision of the College of Business

To be recognized as the leading business school in the Southeast for preparing future world business leaders.

Mission and Values

Preparing students to succeed in the global marketplace through educational excellence.

Values and Goals

People First: We attract, develop and support talented students, faculty and staff.

Teaching Excellence: We focus on teaching excellence and high-quality student-centered learning.

Dynamic Programs: We offer academically challenging graduate and undergraduate programs that prepare students for the dynamic local, regional and global workplace.

Scholarship: We enhance faculty teaching effectiveness and advance business knowledge through intellectual contributions and scholarship.

Partnerships: We form strong partnerships and alliances with universities, communities and businesses on a local and global basis.

Accreditation

The Sykes College of Business is accredited by AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

Tuition and Graduate Fees

Graduate tuition is $655 per credit hour for the part-time and full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA), Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA), and the Master of Science (M.S.) business programs. A $40 student service fee is assessed each term for the aforementioned programs.

The Executive MBA program is $51,570 for the fall 2020 entering cohort (payable in five equal installments due at the beginning of each academic term) and includes books, some meals, the student services fee, parking and a substantial portion of the international study trip.

Tuition for audited courses is 50 percent of the graduate tuition rate (see the Continuing Studies section of this catalog for additional information on auditing courses).

Admission

Admission to UT’s Sykes College of Business graduate programs is competitive. The University takes a holistic approach to admission and examines all materials in an applicant’s file. Our goal is to accept students with a high likelihood of success in our program. Part-time and full-time MBA, PMBA, MS-ACC, MS-BAN, MS-CYB, MS-ENT, MS-ITM, MS-FIN and MS-MKT applications are continually processed, with admissions deadlines for fall, spring and summer terms. Executive MBA applications are for fall sessions only. Individual interviews may be required in some cases and are required for all EMBA program applicants. All students admitted must have earned a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university. A specific undergraduate major is not required.

Application materials should be sent to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Applicants can check www.ut.edu/graduate/business/requirements for all deadlines and requirements.

Students entering the programs are expected to be competent in mathematics, to have strong communication skills (both written and oral) and to be competent with the use of computers. It is the student’s responsibility to develop these proficiencies through coursework and self-study. Students entering the Executive MBA program are expected to have seven years of relevant work experience and pass the assigned preliminary online module(s) with at least a 75 percent prior to the semester in which the course is taken.

How to Apply

To be considered for graduate admissions, each applicant must submit a $40 application fee along with the following:

• Completed application.
• Official transcripts for all previous college work (must be received directly from each institution).
• Important: Transcripts must show specific subjects taken and the grade earned in each. If grades are expressed in other than the American system (A, B, C, D, F), a statement from the school must accompany the transcript showing conversion to the American system. Diplomas, certificates or general letters indicating attendance at a school will not substitute for transcripts.
• Applicants who have attended foreign colleges or universities may be asked to submit their transcripts and documents to a recognized international transcript evaluation consultant (e.g., World Educational Services Inc. or Josef Silny & Associates Inc.) for multipurpose evaluation of the undergraduate degrees earned and the institutions granting them. Application forms for evaluation by these services are available from Admissions in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
• GMAT score report (required for all business graduate programs unless waived).
• Two personal reference forms.
• A résumé that provides details of education and work experience.
• Personal statement that discusses professional objectives, significant professional or academic achievements and demonstrated leadership abilities.
• TOEFL or IELTS score report (international applicants only).
• Financial certification with appropriate supporting documents.
• Portfolio of work and professional accomplishments (required for MS programs and PMBA and EMBA applicants who are not submitting GMAT scores; otherwise, recommended).
• MS-CYB: For thesis-track consideration, a writing sample is required. This can be any significant writing the applicant wants to share, such as a course paper or publication.  Entrance is competitive and a GMAT or GRE score is recommended but will be waived for applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and a B or better in the required foundation courses (ACC, QMB, FIN, ECO).
• MS-ENT: Instead of a personal statement as described above, applicants must submit the following: 1) 3-5 minute video pitch (content to include an explanation of entrepreneurial experience and its relevance to the program) and 2) 1-page written pitch (content to include how the program will benefit applicant’s entrepreneurial goals).

Admission Classification

Full Degree-Seeking Students

In order to be considered for acceptance as a full degree-seeking student, the following is recommended:

1. Competitive verbal and quantitative scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required for all business graduate programs. The GMAT and GRE may be considered for waiver for the following applicants:
   • MS-CYB applicants who have a business degree from an AACSB-accredited institution with competitive grades in relevant coursework and a competitive GPA. A GMAT or GRE score is strongly recommended for all students considering the thesis track.
   • MS-ENT applicants who submit relevant entrepreneurial /business experience and sufficient quantitative skills.
   • MS-FIN applicants who have a business degree from an AACSB-accredited institution with competitive grades in relevant coursework and who have passed any level of the CFA exam or have three or more years of relevant, sufficiently documented professional work experience within the past five years.
   • MS-ITM applicants who have a business degree from an AACSB-accredited institution with competitive grades in relevant coursework and a competitive GPA.
   • MS-MKT applicants who submit sufficient evidence of three or more years of relevant professional work experience within the past five years and who have a business degree from an AACSB-accredited institution with competitive grades in relevant coursework.
   • PMBA applicants who have five or more years of full-time professional work experience and a competitive GPA.
   • EMBA applicants who submit sufficient evidence of seven or more years of relevant professional work with competitive grades in relevant coursework.
   • Students who have completed a relevant master’s degree at a regionally accredited institution may petition the admissions committee to be waived from the GMAT requirement.
   • UT students who have a baccalaureate degree from the Sykes College of Business may qualify for a GMAT waiver if they meet the following requirements:
     • Overall GPA of 3.50 or higher
     • Competitive grades in each of the following undergraduate business classes:
       • MBA: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Business Statistics, Management and Marketing Management
       • MS-ACC: Intermediate Accounting I, Intermediate Accounting II, Cost Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, Federal Tax Accounting, Law and Society, Auditing and Attestation I. For UT undergraduates, a recommendation by the Accounting Department Chair may also support the GMAT waiver request in the MS-ACC program.
       • MS-FIN: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Business Statistics
       • MS-MKT: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Business Statistics and Marketing Management
2. Competitive GPA for all previous college work.
3. For international applicants, a TOEFL score between 560-577 (paper-based test) or 83-91 (Internet-based test) is recommended.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Non-degree seeking status is available for MBA, MS-ACC, MS-BAN, MS-CYB, MS-ENT, MS-ITM, MS-MKT and MS-FIN applicants. Those who have completed an undergraduate degree with a competitive GPA, but who have not taken the GMAT, may be considered for acceptance as non-degree seeking students. In this case, a student may take no more than 8 credit hours of approved courses and will be required to submit GMAT scores to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies before continuing enrollment.

Acceptance as a non-degree seeking student does not ensure acceptance into the respective program, regardless of grades received. Once the GMAT score has been received, the student’s admission status will be reevaluated. If, at that time, the student meets the criteria for acceptance, the status will be changed to full degree seeking. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for University or federal financial aid. International students are not eligible for non-degree seeking status.

General Information About Graduate Admission

The Graduate Admissions Committee of the University may, upon request, review the documents of any applicant and, based upon individual circumstances, make exceptions to the requirements mentioned in the above sections.

Falsification of information on an application for admission may result in dismissal or non-admission. The University reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant or readmission to any student, or to dismiss any student whose conduct is judged detrimental to the University program.  Students whose final semester grades (college undergraduate or graduate) are deemed below average by the admissions committee may have their admission to the university rescinded.

No portion of an applicant’s academic record from another institution should be withheld; this may result in a permanent dismissal without credit for work completed at The University of Tampa.

A condition of any admission to the University is that students must certify that he or she will not unlawfully possess, use, sell, purchase, manufacture, deliver or possess with intent to sell, purchase, manufacture or deliver any controlled substance while enrolled at UT.

The University of Tampa takes student postings on social media sites seriously. Students who post illegal behavior or threatening comments on social media sites may have their admission to the University rescinded or may be permanently dismissed from the University.

Readmission Policy

Students must apply for readmission to College of Business Graduate Programs under two circumstances:

1. Students who have not been enrolled in classes for one calendar year or longer must reapply for readmission.
2. Students who have been dismissed for academic reasons and have been through the academic appeals process, may appeal to the Graduate Appeals committee for readmission after one year of their dismissal date. Readmission is contingent upon documentation that the circumstances that lead to their dismissal have significantly changed and evidence that they will be able to successfully meet the GPA requirements required for graduation.

Readmission is contingent upon documentation that the circumstances that lead to their dismissal have significantly changed and evidence that they will be able to successfully meet the GPA requirements required for graduation.

Academic Certificates

Earning the certificate does not guarantee admission into any UT graduate program or waiver of foundation requirements. 

Certificate in Cybersecurity. The University of Tampa Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity prepares students for careers in the dynamic cybersecurity industry. This program develops the student’s knowledge so they can successfully protect information assets for organizations, regardless of industry and business. This certificate program covers critical topics, such as cloud systems security, risk assessment, contingency planning, and incident response management. Additionally, students take an elective in an area such as penetration testing, secure software design, technology governance and security leadership.

Certificate in Nonprofit Management. This graduate-level certificate program is offered in partnership with the Nonprofit Leadership Center. It is a high-quality academic program taught by doctoral degree faculty in partnership with leading nonprofit practitioners. The courses are delivered as intensive cohort-based, one-week seminars representing 12 credit hours of graduate-level instruction. Scholarships are available. Admissions requirements and additional program information can be found at www.ut.edu/graduate/nonprofit.

Earning a Dual Graduate Degree from the Sykes College of Business

Students enrolled in business graduate programs may earn a concurrent degree by completing the appropriate 24 credit hours of 600-level courses. Students must meet all admissions requirements for the two degrees being pursued. In order to graduate with both degrees, students must earn a 3.0 for each degree. Contact the Graduate Business Programs Office or the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies for more details.

4+1 B.S./MBA Program

The 4+1 B.S./MBA program combines an undergraduate business degree and an MBA degree so that students can earn both degrees in five years. Degrees are conferred simultaneously at the end of the MBA program. This combined program decreases the number of required hours to complete both degrees by 8 credit hours and requires two internships. A total of eight graduate-level credits may be applied toward the total credit hour requirements for a bachelor’s degree. MGT 615 replaces MGT 431, and MGT 598 replaces a general elective course.

Students can file an initial application to demonstrate intent as early as freshman year but cannot be formally admitted until their junior year. All required undergraduate core business classes must be completed in order to evaluate their eligibility for the program. A “B” or better in select core classes and a GPA of 3.25 is required for admission. (See previous section on Admission Classification for the specific criteria for UT students to waive the GMAT for the MBA program.) No student will be allowed to take graduate classes until fully admitted to the MBA program. Students may also decide to earn a concentration in the MBA program.  

Dual Undergraduate Enrollment

Undergraduate students within 8 credit hours of undergraduate graduation from The University of Tampa may take 8 credit hours of graduate credit if they have a minimum GPA of 3.275 and meet the requirements for acceptance into the relevant graduate program, including the GMAT or GRE requirement. 

Graduate Business Academic Advising

Graduate Business Programs Office academic advisors are available to assist students in evaluating course options and in planning successful completion of educational goals. Major responsibilities include 1) making information about academic policies and requirements available to every student; 2) referring students, as appropriate, to one of the many academic support services available; and 3) helping students process the following forms: Degree Application Form, Transient Student Status Form, Request for Change of Program or Concentration, Special Permission for Class Overload, Registration for Classes, Dropping/Adding of Classes and Petition of Academic Appeals.

Transfer and Transient Credit Policy

A maximum of 8 credit hours of graduate-level credit beyond Business Essentials courses can be transferred from other AACSB-accredited institutions. Only credit earned with a grade of “B” or better will be considered for transfer.

Coursework completed more than seven years prior to admission may not be applied toward a master’s degree. Transient credit, correspondence credit and credit for extension courses are generally not accepted, except as may be specifically approved by the respective program director in the Graduate Business Programs Office.

Graduate Retention Standards

Sykes College of Business graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in their required courses and a cumulative 3.0 GPA to graduate. Students who fall below a 3.0 GPA are placed on academic probation and will have an 12-credit probationary period in which to raise their grades to a 3.0 GPA. Students failing to do so will be dismissed. Students on probation are limited to the 12 credit hour maximum course load. Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or lower will be dismissed with no probationary period. Conditionally admitted MBA, MS-ACC, MS-FIN or MS-MKT students who fall below a 3.0 GPA during their first 8 credit hours will be dismissed. No grade below a “C” will be accepted toward a graduate degree or certificate completion. Therefore, students must retake any class in which they earn a grade below a "C." It is important to note that the grade you earn from retaking the course will not replace the original grade and the quality points will be averaged into your overall GPA. Hence, the original grade will not be removed from your academic record. Any student who earns three grades of "C" or below will be dismissed with no probationary term. Students dismissed at the completion of the spring semester will be dropped from all courses including May intersession. If registered for the May intersession, withdrawal will be retroactive to the first day of classes. Students will not be allowed to continue in classes pending submission and appeal approved by the Graduate Appeals Committee.

Graduate Academic Appeals

Please refer to the University of Tampa Graduate Academic Appeals Process in the Graduate and Continuing Studies section of the catalog.

The student must submit written notification of the appeal no later than the completion of the seventh week of the term following the semester in which the grade was awarded. If the contested grade was awarded in the fall semester, this appeal procedure must be initiated no later than the end of the seventh week of the following spring semester. If the contested grade was awarded for the spring semester, May Term or summer session, this appeal procedure must be initiated no later than the end of the seventh week of the following fall semester. No course grades will be subject to change after final graduation certification.

Business Essentials Requirements

The Business Essentials courses are designed to prepare students with the fundamentals of business. In this sequence, they learn the basics of sound theory and practice. The Business Essentials requirements must be completed prior to taking any core courses. Applicants with baccalaureate degrees in business or economics from AACSB-accredited schools (or equivalent schools, as determined by the Business Graduate Curriculum Committee) may meet this requirement by demonstrating a "B" or better in the required undergraduate business courses. See individual degree requirements for specific courses.

These courses must have been completed within the previous seven years. Waivers are not given for professional experience, professional development courses or courses taken at professional institutes.

For all business programs, a student may demonstrate competency in a Business Essentials subject by passing a departmental subject (waiver) examination. Exams must be taken by the end of the student's first term and may be taken only one time. Deadlines for completion of waiver exams may be obtained from the Graduate Business Programs Office.

In order for a course from an international institution or from a domestic non-AACSB-accredited institution to be considered for a waiver of a Business Essentials requirement without examination, the following conditions must be met: 

 

• The student must be able to provide a course syllabus for at least two courses taken in the discipline.
• The student must indicate the textbook used for the course and provide a table of contents, if possible. 
• At least one course must have been completed at a more advanced level than the Business Essentials course being considered for a waiver.
• All courses completed in the discipline must have been completed with a grade of "B" or better.

International students who graduate from a three-year degree program may not waive Business Essentials courses.

M.S. Finance

For the M.S. in Finance program, passing level I of the CFA exam may waive some essential classes but determination will be made on a case-by-case basis depending on individual section test scores.  

M.S. Accounting

For the M.S. in Accounting program, students may waive the prerequisite courses if these courses were taken as part of their baccalaureate degrees or as post-baccalaureate students with a "C" or higher in the following undergraduate course(s) within the previous seven years from a regionally accredited college or university:

1. Intermediate Accounting I
2. Intermediate Accounting II
3. Cost Accounting
4. Accounting Information Systems
5. Federal Tax Accounting I
6. Auditing
7. Business Law I

For the MS-ACC program, if the student has completed the respective undergraduate course(s) with a "C" or higher, but it has been longer than seven years, the prerequisite may be waived if the student has current relevant work experience. Students who have completed any of the required courses at an AACSB-accredited college or university within the previous seven years with a "B" or better in the respective course will be required to substitute the course with an elective allowed within the MS-ACC program. Degree completion requires a minimum of 32 graduate credit hours, 18 of which must be accounting courses. 

Graduate Internships

Graduate students pursuing an MBA have the opportunity to gain practical experience towards the completion of their degree by participating in a maximum of four graduate internships. 
There are two options toward the fulfillment of the BUS 698 requirements in the MBA curriculum:

1. Take two internships for 2 credits each. For students doing two 2-credit internships, if both internships are at the same company, students cannot repeat the same internship twice. The internships must be different including a different set of learning objectives in order to be approved.
2. Take four internships for 1 credit each. For students doing four internships, no more than two internships can be with the same company. For internships at the same company, the internships must be two different internships and must have different sets of learning objectives. 

Only approved internships may be completed for academic credit. The employer must submit an Internship Request Form supplied by the Office of Career Services. Students wishing to pursue academic credit while participating in an internship must register for an internship course. Normal graduate tuition fees apply. All internship paperwork must be finalized prior to the start of the semester in which it will take place, and no retroactive credit is allowed. Grading criteria for internships include: final internship reports, weekly journals and an employer evaluation. Internships are graded as any other course in the graduate program and are assigned grades in accordance with University standards. 

Internship applicants must be taking graduate classes at The University of Tampa, must have completed a minimum of two semesters of graduate-level courses with no grade less than a “B” in the discipline and must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, to qualify for an internship, students must create a resume and attend the internship preparation workshop. A graduate student who has earned a bachelor’s degree at UT may, upon the recommendation of a UT faculty member, commence an internship after completing two graduate courses. The internship cannot be done with a student’s full-time employer.

International students must have maintained their immigration status for one academic year before they are eligible to apply for an internship, and they are limited to working a total of 20 hours per week for all positions while school is in session. They may work full-time during the summer. Regardless of whether internships are during the school year or during the summer, all internships for international students must be taken for academic credit. 

Students enrolled in the 4+1 program are required to complete two business internships for credit. 

For more information, students should contact the Graduate Business Programs Office at (813)253-6287. 

Independent Study and Special Studies Courses

Graduate students may apply to complete up to two independent studies as part of their graduate program. Independent studies are intended to allow a student to learn more in-depth about a particular topic with faculty oversight. The independent study must explicitly integrate academic content with specific learning outcomes that includes a graded written deliverable. The minimum length of time for an independent study is 12 weeks. Independent studies are independent inquiries into an area of academic interest. Independent studies are not a substitute for required courses or courses offered on a regular basis. They can be utilized as an elective for a course that is not regularly offered as long as the independent study proposal meets the academic criteria and is approved through the normal approval process. 

Independent studies will not be approved for work that the student is already doing. For example, work completed as part of a certification program or work that is part of a job is not an independent study. The independent study may have minimal overlap with work responsibilities but it must not be part of an assigned work project.

In order to participate in an independent study, graduate students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Graduate students must have prior approval from the department chair, the Associate Dean and the Director of Graduate Business Programs for all independent studies.

Student Organizations

Students in the full-time and part-time graduate programs have the opportunity to elect representatives to the graduate student organizations whose purposes are to provide feedback to the administration and to initiate activities and programs to enhance the overall educational experience.

Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Gamma Sigma is the international honor society for collegiate business programs at AACSB-accredited institutions. Members must be business majors in the upper 10 percent of the junior or senior class or the upper 20 percent of the graduate business class, be nominated by a BGS faculty member and be invited to join. See the Beta Gamma Sigma website at https://betagammasigma.org/.

UT-GOLD

Business graduate students are encouraged to participate in The University of Tampa Graduate Organization for Leadership Development (UT-GOLD). This is a student organization that represents all business graduate students and enhances the academic experience. UT-GOLD hosts social and professional events that provide students with the opportunity to network, socialize and engage with the community and each other.

Sykes Organization Graduate Alumni

Alumni are welcome to join the Sykes Organization Graduate Alumni (SOGA). This chapter of the UT alumni association was established to enhance the value of the business graduate programs and keep alumni connected to UT and each other.

SOGA fully supports the mission of the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa. SOGA develops and presents programs, services and networking opportunities that add value to the graduate business programs and facilitates ongoing relationships with alumni. For more information, contact the director of alumni and parent relations at (813) 253-6209 or the Graduate Business Programs Office at (813) 253-6287.