WELCOME TO
The NUS Business School
MBA Orientation 2008
Professor Nitin Pangarkar
Academic Director, MBA Program
My Job
As the Academic Director, I oversee all
academic aspects of the MBA program
For all academic matters, you can consult
me
I work closely with Yue Wen, Celia & the
MBA Office
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Calendar
Curriculum
Academic performance requirements
Specializations
Ground rules—in class behavior and
academic integrity/ honesty
6. Exchange programs
7. Questions??
Calendar
• The calendar consists of two ‘regular’ semesters and two
‘special’ terms
• Special terms are half the duration of normal, so the classes are
twice as frequent (2 classes per week)
• Schedule for 2007-2008
•
•
•
•
Semester 1—11th August to 6th December, 2008
Semester 2– 12th Jan to 9th May, 2009
Special term I—11th May to 20th June, 2009
Special term II—22nd June to 1st August, 2009
• Every semester or special term has its own
add/drop/withdrawal dates (refer to the student
handbook)
• Please adhere to those since exceptions won’t be made unless
there are medical type of reasons
Curriculum (1)
• You need to complete the equivalent of 17 full
modules (total of 68 Modular Credits (MCs)) to
complete the degree
• Most modules are either 2 MCs or 4 MCs each
• To provide you great flexibility, the curriculum
consists of 32 MCs of core modules and 36 MCs
worth of electives
• You can determine your own pace at which you
advance through the program
• 12 months, 17 months or longer
• Maximum period of candidature—4 years (FT) and 6 years
(PT)
Curriculum (2)
Full Time only
• You (FT) will complete 22 MCs of core modules by the
end of semester 1
– 2 MCs worth before the semester begins (intensive)
– 20 MCs worth of modules during Semester 1
• Financial Accounting (BMA 5003), Operations Management (BMA
5010A), Statistics (BMA 5002A), Financial management (BMA
5008), Marketing Management (BMA 5009) and Managerial
Economics (BMA 5001)
– Another 2 MCs on an intensive basis before semester 2.
– Remaining 8 MCs of core modules can be taken anytime later
• Corporate Strategy (BMA 5013), Asia Pacific Business (BMA 5112)
• The cohort design (3 groups of about 45 students each)
means that you will be a fixed group of peers in the first
semester
• Stronger bonds/ friendships
• Better class dynamics based on ‘understanding’
Curriculum (3)
Part Time
• Program requirements are identical
– You can determine your pace of study
– Minimum of 2 MCs per semester
– Special terms are optional
• You may enroll in day classes if work permits
• All resources and options in the program are available to
you, including Career Services, exchange program,
overseas visits, etc.
Academic
performance
• Throughout the program, you must maintain
minimum academic performance
– Cumulative Average Point (CAP) of 2.5 or higher for
two consecutive semesters
– CAP of 3.0 or higher for three consecutive semesters
• A CAP of less than 3.0 in any semester will
result in a warning
• To graduate, you must have a CAP of 3.0
• Students cannot receive a F grade in modules
worth more than 8MCs (two full modules)
Pace of study
• Many of you are eager to finish the program in the
shortest possible time
• FT—12 months versus 17 months
• PT—2 modules per semester versus more than 3 modules
• Be aware that rapid pace gives you less time to digest
the material and gain from the other aspects of the
program (networking, internships etc.)
• For students wishing to switch industries/ careers,
accelerated pace is not recommended
• FT students will be asked to choose between 12 versus
17 months program in Semester 1 Course planning
will be based on these choices
Specializations
• You can pursue any one of the following specializations
•
•
•
•
•
Finance
Marketing
Strategy and Organization
Healthcare
Real Estate
– Specializations will not be recorded on the degree scroll but will
be recorded on the transcript
– Specializations are optional
• To complete a specialization, you need to complete 24
MCs in the subject area (including core modules) with a
minimum GPA of 3.5 in those modules
• Failure to attain the CAP no specialization recorded
Cross faculty
modules
• You may choose graduate electives
offered by other faculties/Schools in NUS
• Actual enrolment will depend on the spaces
available & satisfaction of pre-requisites
• Maximum outside BIZ is 8 MCs
• Provided that these electives are relevant,
you will receive credit towards your degree
requirements
Etiquette
•
•
•
NUS MBA admits only ‘mature’ students with a clear
thinking that this maturity will be reflected in the
learning environment
Remember, you already have served in responsible
corporate roles (managers)
In terms of classroom behavior:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
•
Be punctual
Turn off your handphones
Don’t bring any food; drinks are ok
Don’t surf the web/ chat while discussions are going on
Behave professionally – as a guide, as you would in your job
Be culturally sensitive and tolerant—unprofessional behavior
cannot be excused on cultural grounds, though!
But do focus on your learning, interaction and participation
Maintain professionalism while interacting with alumni/
similar parties
An interesting
quote
• Gary Lineker—a professional soccer
player who captained England and
scored 48 goals for England, on his first
coach Jock Wallace
• “He taught me a lot about living properly,
giving myself the best chance at succeeding
at sport, not wasting my talent.”
• Jock: “Whatever you do, give it your best
shot and do it properly. Never look back with
any regrets.”
• Our rules about etiquette are similar in
spirit to Jock Wallace’s rules for Lineker
My First Job, Reader’s Digest, August 2008
Exams
• We are very serious about tests and
examinations and have zero tolerance for
breach of rules
• Make sure that you observe all the rules
specified by the invigilator (examination
administrator)
– Bring your own calculators and notes/ handouts (for
open book exams)
• Details are in the Student Handbook.
• Report any behavior that breaches rules—peer policing is
one of the best means to ensure that the rules are followed
• The minimum punishment for cheating is a 0
grade in the particular assessment; the
maximum is expulsion from the program
Academic
honesty
• Academic integrity is becoming a key concern
with the emergence of internet
• Lots of information available on the web temptations
• Note the stiff penalties at NUS for plagiarism—
claiming somebody else’s work as your own
(aka cut and paste)
• All students must complete an online module
that clearly defines the rules about Academic
Integrity
– www.emodule.nus.edu.sg/ac/
• Please treat the honor code you will sign with
the utmost seriousness
Exchange
programs
• We have a large portfolio of exchange partners around
the world
• Going on exchange is one of the most enriching
experience in the program
• There is a competitive process for awarding exchange
places
• You should plan on an exchange in the next semester
• It is possible to have exchanges in Semester 1 of your second year,
but this may hinder placements
• Look out for “summer” exchanges, during Special terms
• While on exchange, you are ambassadors of the NUS
Business School onus on you to enhance the
reputation (academically as well as otherwise)
Other Options
• An MBA is more than classes, so explore all
options on campus
– School events, overseas visits, local and overseas
case competitions, industry visits and talks, and
seminars
• Many opportunities to meet and work with
alumni & industry leaders. Note the
Management practicum. (More details later)
• Take on a leadership role in the MBA Clubs
• Beyond your academic hard work, exploit the
other opportunities in Singapore!
Other Issues
• You may need to make many adjustments to
ease into the MBA program, NUS and
Singapore.
– Understanding the environment & institutions in
Singapore will be an excellent first step for you
– We will try our best to help you make the transition
• But we do need to adhere to a set of rules that are designed
to ensure fairness & equal opportunity to all students, on a
merit basis. This may constrain us from responding to all
individual circumstances
– Please work with us
• As a first guide, refer to the Student Handbook,
and to mba.nus.edu
Invaluable
resources
Marketing
Marketing
specialization
courses
Four MC modules
Two MC modules
BMA5501 Competitive Marketing Strategy
BMA5514 Selected
Topics in Marketing
BMA5502 Consumer Behavior
BMA5503 Promotional Management
BMA5505 Services Marketing
BMA5506 Product and Brand Management
BMA5515 Marketing Research
BMA5523 Customer Relationship
Management
BMA5511 Channels and Pricing Strategies
BMA550 Database Marketing and
Consumer Analytics
BMA5526 Seminars in Marketing
Finance
specialization
courses
Four MC modules
Two MC modules
BMA5301 International Financial
Management
BMA5307 Options and
Futures
BMA5302 Investment Analysis and
Management*
BMA5310 Corporate
Governance
BMA5303 Financial Statement Analysis
BMA5313 Private Equity
BMA5308 Fixed Income Securities
BMA5313A Bank Risk
Management
BMA5309 Fund Management
BMA5314 Selected
Topics in Finance
BMA5312 Advanced Corporate Finance
BMA5317 Managerial Accounting
BMA5315 Seminars in Finance
Strategy and
organizations
specialization
courses
Offered by Business Policy Department:
BMA5102 Legal Issues in Business
BMA5011 Macro &
International Economics
BMA5104 Global Strategic Management BMA5118 Selected Topics in
Business Policy
BMA5108 Technopreneurship
BMA5251 Management of Technological
Innovation
Seminars in Business Policy
Offered by Management & Organizations Department:
BMA5405 Managing Change
BMA5406 Negotiations
BMA5407 Managing Human Capital in
Organizations
BMA5015 Managerial
Communications
BMA5409 Seminars in Management &
Organization
BMA5410 Selected Topics in
Management & Organization
Grades and
corresponding
average points
Grade
Points earned
A/A+
5.0
A-
4.5
B+
4.0
B
3.5
B-
3.0
C+
2.5
C
2.0
D+
1.5
D
1
F
0
16 month
schedule
Full Time only
25
Exchange?
22
24
22
20
15
Internship
10
5
0
0
Sem 1
Sem 2
Special Terms
MCs completed
Sem 3
12 months
schedule
Full Time only
30
25
26
22
20
20
15
10
5
0
Sem 1
Sem 2
MCs completed
Special Terms