Business Administration, M.B.A.

Minimum Totals for Graduation: 30 - 48 hours

The MBA program's mission is to prepare graduate business students for leadership positions in today's global economy. The program features an active student learning environment with a curriculum that meets the needs of both part-time and full-time students all over the world. Accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the program is designed to meet the needs of three groups of people:

1. individuals whose business careers have focused on specialized areas and who seek to develop a more general management perspective in anticipation of further advancement;
2. individuals with previous education and work experience in areas other than business who seek a general business education that will allow them to move into management positions; and
3. individuals with limited work experience who plan to use the MBA as a foundation from which to begin their careers.

This program is approved for online delivery for the emphases in Information Systems, Logistics Management, and Value-Driven Organization, Marketing, and Human Resource Management.

The College of Business Administration offers the online program for working professionals who seek career-enhancing education but are not able to take classes in Mt. Pleasant. This online MBA is equivalent to our traditional MBA in that it has rigorous coursework from an AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - accredited business school.

In existence for over 40 years, the curriculum receives constant review to keep pace with emerging business trends. The graduate business faculty are not only well educated but also have substantial business experience. The faculty are committed to a program that emphasizes:

1. integration of the functional core areas of business;
2. providing the perspective required to manage in a global world;
3. awareness of ethical issues and standards and their influence on business decisions;
4. ability to work in teams through group projects and collaborative learning;
5. enhancement of oral and written communication skills integrating the most current technology;
6. application of theory and concepts to the solution of business problems through the use of cases, business exports, consulting projects, simulations and the study of real world business practice;
7. integration of business concepts in an applied project.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Admission Requirement Snapshot

GPA: See below

Entrance Exam: GMAT (see details below)

Internat'l Application Deadline: March 15 (Fall), November 15 (Spring)

See Admission Requirement Details Below

Admission Requirements

Minimum GPA: 2.7; Minimum GMAT: 450.

To be considered for admission to the MBA program, an applicant must first be admitted to Graduate Studies. The application should be submitted online at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the first semester of anticipated enrollment in classes.

GMAT requirements will be waived for applicants who meet one of the following conditions:

1. Applicants with a Doctorate Degree obtained from U.S. universities.
2. Applicants with a Masters’ Degree obtained from U.S. universities with an overall GPA of 3.0.
3. Applicants with an undergraduate degree with no work experience: Degree obtained from U.S. universities with an overall GPA of 3.0.
4. Applicants with an undergraduate degree with no work experience: Degree obtained from U.S. universities with an overall GPA of 3.25 for the last 60 provided the overall undergraduate GPA is at least 2.7.
5. Applicants with an undergraduate degree with five (5) years professional work experience: Degree obtained from U.S. universities with an overall GPA of 2.9.
6. Applicants with an undergraduate degree with five (5) years professional work experience: Degrees obtained from U.S. Universities with an overall GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 hours, provided the overall undergraduate GPA is at least 2.7.

GMAT will not be waived for applicants who earned their academic degree from foreign universities:

1. Applicants who have all their academic degrees from foreign universities.
2. Applicants who only have a bachelor’s degree and that degree is granted by a foreign university.

Regular Admission. To be granted regular admission to the Master of Business Administration program, an applicant must meet the university requirements for admission to Graduate Studies; if necessary, possess an acceptable GMAT score; meet the minimum GPA, and have successfully completed the prerequisite courses or equivalent. Applicants who need to complete the prerequisite courses may be granted non-degree admission only.

Conditional Admission. Applicants who have satisfied the GMAT requirement (if necessary), but are lacking only prerequisites are allowed to enroll in a maximum of 12 credit hours of MBA degree requirements while completing prerequisite requirements.

Any exceptions to the above admission requirements must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee of the College of Business Administration.

Program Requirements I (0-18 hours)

Foundation Courses (Prerequisites)

Applicants must present evidence of a working knowledge of advanced business applications in spreadsheet, database, and presentation graphics.

In addition, the following courses or equivalents may be completed before or after admission to the MBA program.

MBA 503	Professional Business Communications	2(2-0)
MBA 504	Using Financial Accounting Information	2(2-0)
MBA 505	The Economic Environment of Business	2(2-0)
MBA 506	Legal Environment of Business	2(2-0)
MBA 507	Introduction to Marketing Management	2(2-0)
MBA 508	Management and Organization	2(2-0)
MBA 509	Production/Operations Management	2(2-0)
MBA 510	Financial Management and Analysis	2(2-0)
MBA 511	Statistics for Managerial Decisions	2(2-0)

Degree Requirements II (27 hours)

MBA Program Core Courses

MBA 610	Managing Information Systems in a Global Economy	3(3-0)
MBA 620	Managerial Accounting: A Management Perspective	3(3-0)
MBA 630	Managing and Leading Individuals and Groups in Organizations	3(3-0)
MBA 640	Data Analysis for Managers	3(3-0)
MBA 650	Marketing-Based Management	3(3-0)
MBA 660	Global Business and Sustainability	3(3-0)
MBA 670	Financial Analysisand Risk Management	3(3-0)
MBA 680	Global Economic Environment	3(3-0)
MBA 690	Strategic Management: Integrative Experience	3(3-0)

Plan B Requirement. The Plan B requirement is fulfilled through successful completion of MBA 690.

Degree Requirements III (8-16 hours)

Areas of Emphasis

Select one of the following areas, to be approved by a graduate advisor:

Accounting

Business Economics

Consulting

Finance

General Business

Health Systems Leadership

International Business

Information Systems

Marketing

Human Resource Management

Value-Driven Organization

Logistics Management (currently offered only online)

Minimum 35-43 Total Hours for MBA Degree

(35-61 hours, with prerequisites)

Accelerated Master of Business Administration: Accounting Emphasis

Students admitted to the Master's Degree Program who are studying an emphasis in accounting may earn up to 6 hours of credit for 500-level accounting courses taken. These courses will count both toward their undergraduate degree and toward their MBA Degree with an Accounting Emphasis.

Admission: Generally, students will apply during their junior year for admission into the Master's Degree Program to begin Fall Semester in their senior year.

Admission Requirements: GPA of 3.25; and have completed ACC 302 and ACC 370; plus, meets the regular admission requirements of the MBA Program.

Plan of Study: For students admitted to the MBA with an accelerated Accounting emphasis, ACC 501 and ACC 531 with minimum grades of B will be counted toward both the undergraduate degree and will count as 6 hours of the 8 elective hours on the MBA Degree with an Accounting Emphasis. At least one 600- or 700- level accounting elective, not including ACC 689, must be taken.