India MBA with concentration in Business Analytics

Description:

Scheduled to launch in January 2024, the India Cohort Program in Business Analytics is designed to prepare new and recent university graduates from India to develop decision models, engage in quantitative analysis, and deploy computing power to formulate or recommend appropriate business decisions. Business analysts work at all levels of business organizations and in all of the functional areas of business. It will feature one year of face-to-face coursework at La Sierra University as full-time students. The MBA in Business Analytics is a STEM designated program (CIP code: 30.7102). Applicants must be pre-approved by Rex GBE Services to qualify.

The MBA in Business Analytics is a partnership between La Sierra University and Rex GBE Services in India, a business entity dedicated to developing young talented professionals to become successful global business entrepreneurs. Rex GBE Services is backed by a group of highly experienced and successful business leaders. 

The curriculum focuses on building analytics skills in the context of business, perfectly suited for 21st century opportunities and needs in the global market. It will grow students’ acumen in business and artificial intelligence, data visualization, and decision making, as well as leadership, creative problem solving, and other core business skills.Students enrolled in the Business Analytics program may have the opportunity for part-time student jobs on campus. Although not guaranteed, many student jobs are available. Students will also have the opportunity to make connections and develop relationships with businesses and business people in Southern California and throughout the United States. The Zapara School of Business fosters these connections through networking events hosted by the Zapara School, such as our annual Meet the Firms Night, or by outside entities that come to campus throughout the year for lectures and interviews, during the course of their program. The  Zapara School encourages all students to take full advantage of participating in these events and also to actively engage on LinkedIn. And while the School does not directly place all students, it will also assist students with job placement upon completion of their program. Since the program is STEM designated, students enrolled in the Business Analytics program will also have the opportunity for a three-year Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon completion of their program.

La Sierra University – 100 years strong!
La Sierra University was founded in 1922 in sunny Riverside, California, USA, on approximately 300 acres of gently rolling hills, and has been celebrating its 100th birthday over this past year! We are a diverse, four-year Christian liberal arts university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees through the College of Arts and Sciences and three professional schools: the School of Education, the HMS Richards Divinity School, and the Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business. The university has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for more than 75 years, as well as by the Adventist Accrediting Association, and is a member of numerous regional and national higher education associations. Named numerous times by the Wall Street Journal as the most diverse college campus in the United States, our students come from more than 50 countries and represent every major religion, enhancing the education and global citizenship of our entire campus community. Current enrollment at the university is just under 1600, with some 300 graduate and undergraduate students in the Zapara School of Business. 

Located in business-friendly Southern California, our campus is just one hour from Los Angeles, beaches, mountains, and the desert, and a short 45-minute drive from Disneyland. We enjoy mild climates year round, with average annual temperatures between 40°F/4°C and 65°F/18°C in the cooler months November - March, and between 50°F/10°C and 100°F/37°C in the warmer months April - October. Peak highs during the warmest summer months July - September can reach up to 110°F/43°C. 

The 60,000 square-foot award-winning Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business building – where the Dean’s door is always open – opened  in September of 2013 and features a wide variety of human-center designed classrooms, in styles from amphitheater to modular, as well as an Innovation / Maker Lab, a Finance and Trading Lab, the Dennis and Carol Troesh Conference Center (350-seat auditorium), and beautiful open spaces to gather and study. The Zapara School of Business is also in candidacy for AACSB accreditation, the premier accrediting body for schools of business globally.

Courses

Foundation (0-16 units)

• Economic Concepts for Business Decision Making
• Resources for Decision Making
• Accounting and Financial Reporting for Managers
• Business Law, Society, and Ethics in a Global Context
• Marketing and the Value Chain for Decision Making

The requirement that a student complete any of these courses may be waived on the basis of prior coursework or experience.

Integration (32 units)

• Leadership Colloquium
• Decision Making and Uncertainty
• Leadership, Creativity, Organizational Dynamics
• Management Skill Intensive
• Creativity, Design Thinking, and Problem Solving
• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Strategic Financial Management
• Strategic Marketing Management
• Values in the World of Business

Concentration (16 units, to be selected from among the following):

• Analytics for Pricing and Revenue Management
• Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Management
• Business Process Analytics
• Data Mining
• Data Visualization for Analytics
• Enterprise Application of Business Intelligence

The specific courses delivered to a given cohort will be selected by the Zapara School in light of the needs of the students in the cohort.

• Bachelor's degree (in any area) from accredited university
• Satisfactory combination of GPA and GMAT score
• Students with GPA of 3.0 US equivalent, or above, may waive the requirement for a GMAT
• No maximum of backlogs for repeated coursework as long as overall GPA is satisfactory for admission
• No maximum gap between receiving Bachelor’s degree and starting MBA program
• External Evaluation is required for all International Students (recommended services: WES, ECE)
• Applicants with an earned Master’s degree may receive automatic admission
• International students who have studied at an institution where English is the language of instruction or in a country where English is an official language do not need to submit an English language proficiency score.
• Interview with Zapara School of Business team required

Applicants must be pre-approved by Rex GBE Services to qualify. Rex GBE Services will provide qualified applicants with an exclusive Application link.

Cost: 

MBA tuition is $777 USD per unit

Total cost for 48-degree units:  $37,296 USD.

Additional cost for 0-16 foundation units, as needed.

Scholarships from the university are not available for this program; however, students are welcome to apply for scholarships from outside entities.

Please see Office of International Student Services (OISS) website for additional fees and other costs at:https://lasierra.edu/oiss/pre-i-20-requirements/

• October 2 - November 1, 2023 - Priority Pre-selection and Interviews
• November 1, 2023 - Priority Application Deadline
• November 1, 2023 - Priority Documents Deadline
• November 2 - December 8 - Late Interviews & Applications Deadline
• January 2, 2024 - Arrive on campus no later than this date
• January 3-5, 2024 - International Student Orientation (required)
• January 8, 2024 - Classes Begin for Winter Quarter

• Time to receive I-20 after acceptance and receipt of all documents: 10-15 days
• Deadline for Application: November 1, 2023 (Priority)
• Deadline for Documents: November 1, 2023 (Priority)
• I-20 Checklist for required documents (see link below)
• F-1 visa interviews must take place within 120 days of active I-20
• Bank statement and other financial information (see link below)
• International Student Fee of $3100 USD required before I-20 is issued
• Fee may be fully refunded upon request within 2-4 weeks if visa is not granted or if student does not attend
• If a student begins their program at La Sierra and then chooses to withdraw from their courses during their first term, they will be entitled to receive a $1000 refund of the $3100  international student fee. If a student withdraws before their first quarter begins they will receive a refund of the full $3100 fee, or if they leave the program  after they have completed their first quarter, they will be entitled to receive $3000 refund of the international student fee
• Any refund of tuition will be considered on a case-by-case basis and only in case of genuine extreme situations where a student cannot pursue studies. Tuition refunds are processed within 4 weeks of withdrawal.

For complete information about these and other questions, please visit the Office of International Student Services Pre-I20 webpage.

While English language proficiency is assumed for students coming from India, we realize some may still face difficulty because of the linguistic demands of the MBA program. If a student’s grades are lower than a B (80%) during their first and/or second quarters of admission, they will be required to take an ESLC (English Language and Culture) class, at their own expense, in the area of deficit in which the Zapara School of Business determines the student needs significant improvement in order to succeed in the program, such as in: composition, reading, grammar and syntax, pronunciation and conversation, vocabulary, etc.

Many sources explain the requirements to obtain an F-1 Visa for students planning to study at any university in the United States. Shorelight is a trusted, helpful source for information on obtaining your Visa. Here are the steps Shorelight outlines for when you are ready to apply for your Visa:

"There are several F-1 visa rules to keep in mind if you plan to apply for a F-1 student visa. You must meet these requirements for your application to be accepted:

Institution certification—The college or the university where you plan to study needs to be approved by SEVP Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

Full-time enrollment—You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution while your academic term is in session.English language proficiency—You must meet the required English language proficiency score of the institution you are attending or be enrolled in courses that will help you improve your English proficiency.

Sufficient funding—You must prove you have sufficient funds available to finance your studies and living expenses while in the US.

Valid passport—Your passport should be valid for US travel for at least six months after your program completion date.

Home country residency—You are required to have a residence in your home country to return to following the completion of your degree.”

Source: https://shorelight.com/student-stories/student-visa-usa-f1/

Our Office of International Student Services (OISS) is happy to help you navigate through the Visa process and will provide you with detailed instructions for logging into the portal where you’ll upload your documents and provide your e-signature. Once you are admitted and have paid your International Student Deposit ($3,000 USD) and I-20 fee ($100 USD), you’ll receive an email from OISS with instructions and the link to your portal.

Here is a list of the documents you’ll need to submit to obtain your I-20:

• Affidavit of Support if you have additional sponsors for your finances;
• Copy of your Bank Statement (must be 2-3 months old) or a letter of an Approved Bank Loan for the full amount of your study and living expenses;
• Copy of your passport and/or visa;
• $3,000 International Student Deposit receipt;
• $100 International Student Processing Fee (I-20 processing fee) receipt;
• If you plan to live in the dorm, a $150 Dorm Deposit.

For additional information, please visit our Office of International Student Services Pre I-20 Requirements webpage (scroll down toward the bottom of the page) at:

https://lasierra.edu/oiss/pre-i-20-requirements/

Please note: No university scholarships apply for the MBA in Business Analytics program at this time.

 

La Sierra University is situated in a diverse cross-roads of Southern California, where people from all over the world come together to create a vibrant and inclusive community. With its close proximity to Riverside, CA, La Sierra offers students a unique opportunity to experience different cultures, cuisines, and faith communities. From African to Asian, Hispanic, and European, you'll find a melting pot of cultures represented here. This cultural diversity is reflected in the local cuisine, with international restaurants located just a few minutes from campus. Whether you're in the mood for Thai, Mexican, Indian, or Italian food, you're sure to find something to satisfy your taste buds.

But the diversity in and around La Sierra is not just about food. There are also many faith communities in the area, offering our students – who themselves come from a rich diversity of faiths – a chance to explore different religious traditions and practices. At La Sierra University, we believe that embracing cultural diversity is essential for creating a more inclusive, welcoming, and compassionate world. In addition to our home church, the La Sierra University Church (a Seventh-day Adventist Christian denomination), there are a number of faith communities in and around Riverside including Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir (Hindu), Islamic Society of Corona ISCN Corona Masjid (Muslim), Temple Beth El (Jewish), Sikh Center Riverside (Sikh), and Suddhavasa Buddhist Meditation Center (Buddhist).

We encourage our students to explore the many different perspectives in and around our campus, so they can gain a better understanding of the world around them. With so much to discover and explore, there's never been a better time to join our community and experience the rich diversity that surrounds us.