Master of Business Administration, M.B.A.
With a focus on preparing students to make a positive impact in their organization and community, the Master of Business Administration program enables students to hone their values and transform their career path as an inclusive, creative business leader empowered to face the challenges in today’s emerging markets. Students will cultivate their own unique leadership style and learn how to solve complex business problems through the strategic integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and incorporating and inspiring creativity in the workplace. Through collaborative, hands-on learning students will build business acumen, sharpen their critical thinking skills, enhance their written and visual communication skills, and learn how to put their ideas into action. Additionally, students will build their business knowledge, skills, and network through the university’s collaborative partnerships, guest speakers, and partner programming.
The MBA program is accredited through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
This program is conveniently offered in both online and blended formats.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze organizational issues, evaluate possible alternatives, and determine appropriate actions through application of the discipline areas of finance & accounting. (IACBE: Finance & Accounting)
PLO2. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze organizational issues, evaluate possible alternatives, and determine appropriate actions through application of the discipline area of economics. (IACBE: Economics)
PLO3. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze organizational issues, evaluate possible alternatives, and determine appropriate actions through application of the discipline area of strategy. (IACBE: Strategy)
PLO4. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze organizational issues, evaluate possible alternatives, and determine appropriate actions through application of the discipline area of organizational & human resources. (IACBE: Human Resources)
PLO5. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze organizational issues, evaluate possible alternatives, and determine appropriate actions through application of the discipline area of marketing. (IACBE: Marketing)
PLO6. Students will develop an enhanced awareness of their own strengths and potential as organizational actors and change agents. (IACBE: Leading in a Dynamic Environment)
PLO7. Students will apply critical thinking skills such as problem solving and logical analysis. (IACBE: Problem Solving/Analytical Skills)
PLO8. Students will demonstrate effective communication skills. (IACBE: Communication)
PLO9. Students will demonstrate the ability to participate effectively in teams. (IACBE: Teamwork Skills)
PLO10. Students will analyze the ethical components of organizational decisions. (IACBE: Ethical Responsibility)
In addition to the Graduate School of Business and Leadership Admissions Requirements, program requires:
- Official transcripts from all institutions where a degree was earned and from all institutions for the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours of undergraduate coursework
- Written statement of academic and professional goals (850 to 1200 words). Submit a written statement addressing 1) one of the three questions below and 2) your academic and professional goals and how the MBA program will assist you in reaching these goals. The strength of our program depends on personal and academic integrity. Plagiarism is a serious offense and should be avoided in written statements.
- Reflect on a time when you made an impact in a community or organization. What prompted your behavior and what was the outcome.
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve using your creative skillset. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what creative steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
- Minimum of two professional or academic letters of recommendation. They must be written by a source that is able to comment on the candidate's qualifications for graduate business study. Letters should also speak to one or more of the following: candidate’s ability to make a positive impact in their organization or community, their value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and/or their creative mindset.
- Faculty review
Program Details:
- Requires 36 SH for completion
- Students may complete one or more concentrations listed below. Student choosing one of those concentrations are not required to complete MBA 521, MBA 526, and MBA 529.
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Fundamentals of Design Thinking
- Health Services Administration
- Human Resource Management
- Nonprofit Management
MBA Program Requirements - 36 SH
Gateway Courses
| MBA 505 | Leadership and Fostering Diversity and Inclusion | 3 |
Core Courses
| MBA 507 | Creativity and Business Innovation | 3 |
| MBA 509 | Essentials in Economics | 3 |
| MBA 511 | Finance for Decision-Making | 3 |
| MBA 514 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| MBA 521 | Market Research | 3 |
| MBA 522 | Strategic Marketing and Storytelling | 3 |
| MBA 526 | Project Management | 3 |
| MBA 529 | International Management | 3 |
| MBA 532 | Technology and Leadership | 3 |
| OBD 533 | Organizational Effectiveness and Development | 3 |
Capstone Courses
Accounting Concentration - 9 SH
Entrepreneurship Concentration - 9 SH
| BUS 576 | Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Innovation | 3 |
| BUS 577 | Small Business Management | 3 |
| BUS 598 | Entrepreneurship Laboratory | 3 |
Fundamentals of Design Thinking Concentration - 9 SH
| DTE 501 | Innovation through Empathy | 3 |
| DTE 502 | Ideation and Communication | 3 |
| DTE 503 | Prototyping and User Testing | 3 |
Health Services Administration Concentration - 9 SH
| MHA 505 | Health Care Origins, Policies and Trends | 3 |
| MHA 508 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care Administration | 3 |
| MHA 522 | Health Care Business Operations | 3 |
Human Resource Management Concentration - 9 SH
Students must choose HRM 541 and additional HRM and/or OBD course from the list below:
| HRM 541 | Employment Law and Regulations | 3 |
| and | |
| HRM 513 | Total Rewards | 3 |
| HRM 520 | Performance Analysis and Measurement | 3 |
| HRM 521 | Talent Acquisition and Retention | 3 |
| OBD 515 | Training and Development | 3 |
| OBD 533 | Organizational Effectiveness and Development | 3 |
| OBD 550 | Culture of Learning Organizations | 3 |
| OBD 551 | Diversity and Inclusion in the Organizational Culture | 3 |
Nonprofit Management Concentration - 9 SH
| MGT 534 | Nonprofit Organization, Governance, and Management | 3 |
| MGT 535 | Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy | 3 |
| LAP 693 | Seminar in Program Evaluation | 3 |
Note: The M.B.A. graduates with coursework in Health Services Administration Concentration may apply the maximum of 15 SH to the M.H.A. program if interested in pursuing a second master's degree. Interested graduates must have received a min grade of “B” in the courses that have been taken no more than six years before graduate admission. Please speak to your Enrollment Specialist about the details.