Administration M.S.A. (Core Program)

College of Education and Human Services
334 EHS Building; 989-774-6525

Course Designator:

MSA - Master of Science in Administration

Program Handbook

Minimum Totals for Graduation: 36 hours

The Master of Science in Administration (MSA) is an interdisciplinary graduate program offered in flexible in-person/online/hybrid formats, and is designed for professionals seeking advanced preparation for administrative and leadership roles. across various sectors and content areas. Grounded in theory and focused on applied practice, the program develops the knowledge, competencies, and practical skills required for effective administration across organizational settings.

The curriculum includes a core foundation of administrative knowledge and competencies, specialized coursework aligned with students’ professional interests, and a culminating applied project that integrates theory with real-world organizational contexts.

This program leads to an MSA degree and is identical whether on-campus or through Global Campus. Credit for course work in either program is interchangeable.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards 

Admission Requirement Snapshot

GPA: 2.7

Entrance Exam: N/A

International Application Deadline: July 1 (Fall), Oct. 1 (spring)
See Admission Requirement Details Below

Admission

To be admitted to the Master of Science in Administration program, a candidate must meet the requirements for regular admission to Graduate Studies at CMU (a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 or, optionally, 3.0 in the final 60 semester hours of graded coursework toward the bachelor's degree). At least 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework must be graded. Applicants who possess an undergraduate GPA less than 2.7 may be considered for regular admission with stipulations. Those students not meeting the requirements for regular admission to the MSA program must provide a resume and a statement of purpose explaining both their undergraduate performance and their success strategy. A maximum of 6 hours taken before admission to the MSA program may be counted toward the degree.

Satisfactory Progress

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to remain in good standing. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. Students on probation will be allowed an opportunity to raise the cumulative GPA to a 3.0 according to Graduate Studies policy. Students dismissed from the program may petition for readmission no sooner than one academic year after the semester they were dismissed. Coursework which is over seven years old may not be used toward the MSA degree and certificates.

English Language Requirements for International Students

Applicants with TOEFL scores of 213 CBT, 550 PBT or 79 iBT and above or IELTS scores of 6.5 and above may be granted Regular admission to the MSA Program. Students with TOEFL scores between 500 and 549 PBT or 173 and 210 CBT or 61-78 iBT or IELTS scores of 5.5 or 6 should review the International Student Admission section on TOEFL scores in this Bulletin. Applicants who have satisfactorily completed a 4-year baccalaureate degree entirely in the United States qualify for English Proficiency. All students from non-exempt countries lacking proof of English Proficiency must be assessed by CMU’s English Language Institute. All exceptions must be approved by the MSA Director’s office.

Online Courses and MSA International Students

International students on student visas must obtain departmental approval in order to take online courses.

Advising

Upon admission to the MSA program, the student will be assigned an advisor. The student is required to meet with his or her advisor to discuss core area requirements and to select the courses to meet the concentration's requirements. The advisor will develop a degree plan in the Degree Progress System.  Course substitutions must be approved in advance by the advisor and the MSA Director. Students are also strongly encouraged to take MSA 600 before the mid-point of their program.

Graduate Transfer Credit

The MSA Program will consider graduate transfer credit for courses taken by correspondence. Courses must either be recommended by ACE for graduate credit or graduate level courses taken at a regionally accredited institution. Credit will be based on applicability of the courses to the student’s concentration and the MSA Program. Students should also review the Graduate Transfer Credit policy found in this bulletin for additional requirements.

Prior Learning Assessment Credit 

MSA students may use up to 12 hours of prior learning assessment credits on the Master of Science in Administration degree program.  Application of prior learning credit to the degree plan is determined by the MSA office.  For more information about prior learning, contact [e-mail]

 

Program Requirements

All Master of Science in Administration degree students are required to take six core courses: MSA 600, MSA 601, MSA 602, MSA 603, MSA 604, and MSA 698 or MSA 699.

To qualify for graduation, candidates for the Master of Science in Administration degree or Graduate Certificates must meet all of the requirements found in the Degree Requirements section of the Graduate Bulletin and the following requirements:

1. Earned a minimum of 36 semester hours of acceptable graduate credit (15-18 semester hours of which must be in the area of concentration).
2. Earned a minimum of 18 semester hours from Central Michigan University.
3. Submitted evidence of scholarship by meeting the Plan B paper requirement by completing the integrating experience (MSA 699 or MSA 698). This includes all Institutional Review Board (IRB) or research review application requirements.
4. Successfully completed these required courses: MSA 600, MSA 601, MSA 602, MSA 603, MSA 604, and MSA 698 or MSA 699.
5. Applied no more than 15 semester hours of College of Business Administration courses on the program plan. College of Business Administration courses are:
   1. Courses carrying designators ACC, BIS, BLR, BUS, FIN, HSA, MGT and MKT.
   2. MSA 601, MSA 602 OR MSA 634 or MSA 635, and MSA 660.
   3. Prior learning assessment credits identified as having business school content.
   4. Courses transferred from a school of business or management which would be considered College of Business Administration courses at CMU.
6. Have an approved program plan on file.
7. Completed all requirements for the degree within seven years of the awarding of the master's degree.

   In addition:

   1. MSA Certificate programs may not use more than 33% of their credits in College of Business Administration courses;
   2. MSA Certificate programs must be completed within seven years prior to the awarding of the graduate certificate;
   3. Business courses taken on any certificate program will not apply to any business degree at CMU; and
   4. Courses with MSA designators may not be used toward an MBA degree at CMU and CMU courses with MBA designators may not be used toward the MSA degree.

Program Requirements (Core)

 

Required Core I (15 hours)

MSA 600	Research Methods for Organizational Leaders	3(3-0)
MSA 601	Organizational Behavior and Leadership	3(3-0)
MSA 602	Financial Fluency for Leaders	3(3-0)
MSA 603	Leading through Strategic Planning and Implementation	3(3-0)
MSA 604	Inclusive and Intercultural Leaders	3(3-0)

Required Core II (3 hours)

Select one of the following:

MSA 698	Applied Research and Professional Development Capstone Project	3(3-0)
MSA 699	Applied Research Capstone Project	3(Spec)

M.S.A. Concentrations

Select one of the following Concentrations:

Digital Management

Engineering Management

General Administration

Health Services Administration

Human Resources Administration

Leadership

Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations

Project Management

Public Administration

Talent Development

M.S.A. Graduate Certificates

Digital Management Certificate

Engineering Management Certificate

Executive Management Certificate

General Administration Certificate

Health Services Administration Certificate

Human Resources Administration Certificate

Leadership Certificate

Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations Certificate

Project Management Certificate

Public Administration Certificate

Talent Development Certificate

Accelerated Master of Science in Administration

(Currently enrolled CMU Undergraduate students only)

• This program is available to students with the following signed majors: Any Major

• This program may work especially well for students with the following signed majors:
Administration, Organizational Leadership, Community Development Option, Human Resource Management, Industrial Engineering Technology, General Management, Information Systems, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Event and Recreation Management, Exercise Science (Clinical Exercise Option, Health Fitness and Performance Option or Kinesiology Option), Family Studies, Finance, General Business Administration, Applied Business Communication Concentration, General Management, General Business Administration: Applied Business Communication Concentration, Information Technology, Integrative Public Relations, International Business, Logistics Management, Marketing, Marketing: Professional Sales Concentration, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Media Arts, Nursing, Outdoor and Environmental Recreation, Personal Financial Planning, Photojournalism, Public and Applied Liberal Arts, Public and Nonprofit Administration, Public Health: Public Health Education Concentration or Pre-Health Professional Concentration, Purchasing and Supply Management, Sport Management, Traditional Nursing

• The Accelerated Master of Science in Administration program allows students to double-count a maximum of 18 credits towards both the undergraduate degree and the graduate degree. Financial aid may be affected for these courses. Contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at [e-mail] or (989-774-3674).

•Courses eligible for double-counting (18 credits of the following): MSA 501, MSA 502, MSA 503, MSA 504, MSA 506, MSA 510, MSA 520, MSA 521, MSA 522, MSA 530WI, MSA 540, MSA 555, MSA 573WI, MSA 600, MSA 601, MSA 602, MSA 603, MSA 604, MSA 607, MSA 608, MSA 609, MSA 611, MSA 612, MSA 618, MSA 643, MSA 647, MSA 660, MSA 677

• After completing the undergraduate degree, students will need to take a minimum of 18 credits to complete the MSA. If students do not earn 18 double-counted credits prior to completing the undergraduate degree, they will need more than 18 credits to reach the total 36 credits required for the MSA.

• Graduate assistantships may be available to students after completing the undergraduate degree. (Contact [e-mail] for more information)

Admission requirements

1. Application Deadlines: The recommended deadlines for applications are March 15 to begin in Summer or Fall, and October 15 to begin in Spring. The final deadline is four weeks prior to the start of the first approved course that will be double-counted towards the accelerated graduate degree.
2. Completion of at least 15 credits at CMU with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time they apply.
3. Exceptions to the minimum 3.0 GPA are possible if a student can demonstrate why they are prepared to be successful in graduate coursework in a written Statement of Purpose with their updated resume/CV.
4. Students must have completed a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits (including transfer and AP credits) before starting coursework in the accelerated MSA program.

Admissions process

1. Apply for admission to the accelerated Master of Science in Administration program.
2. Meet with the graduate program advisor to identify courses that will be double-counted on the Accelerated Graduate Degree Program Acknowledgement and Approval form. This form is on the Office of Graduate Studies website.
3. Students will also need approval from the undergraduate advisor.

Retention and Termination

1. Students must earn an average of a 3.0 (B) in all double-counted courses that will apply to the graduate degree. Grades are monitored each semester, and students who do not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement will be removed from the accelerated MSA program unless the student obtains an exception from Graduate Studies. Exception requests require the approval of the graduate program advisor and a plan for how the student will achieve the minimum 3.0 average in double-counted courses prior to completion of the undergraduate degree.
2. If a student earns an E in a double-counted course, they will be removed from the accelerated MSA program.
3. If a student is removed from the accelerated MSA program, all completed courses may still be used towards the undergraduate degree, but those credits cannot subsequently be used towards a CMU graduate degree. Students dismissed from the AGDP have the option of applying for readmission into the regular graduate program.