The MBA program offers a broad understanding of the corporate environment with immersion in each aspect of business. The 30-hour program is comprised of four 8-week and two 4-week fast-paced and intensive modules (the program can be taken at a slower speed to fit your lifestyle). Each module is designed to expose you to the latest business concepts and technologies. This unique approach provides a quality education that rivals any.

Program Mission
The mission of the MBA program at Mississippi State University is

1.to expand students’ knowledge of the business world;

2.to improve student’s business skills;

3.to help students integrate business knowledge;

4.to improve students’ ability to apply integrative knowledge and personal skills to real business problems.

The program includes a solid core of 24 hours in the areas of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Statistics, Management and Information Systems; a three hour elective; and a capstone Business Consulting Project course in which students apply what they have learned to a current business problem. Instructors in each of these courses have integrated teaching methods and course content to help students achieve the four broad objectives shown above.

Students may enter any semester (fall, spring, or summer). Students who have completed all undergraduate pre-requisites can finish the program in twelve months. Graduate-level survey courses are offered to streamline the requirements for those who do not hold undergraduate degrees in business.

Prerequisites and Foundation Courses
Students who do not have undergraduate degrees in Business Administration must complete the basic foundation or pre-requisite courses in order to earn the MBA. These may be taken prior to entering the program, or while enrolled. We offer graduate survey courses online in place of most undergraduate prerequisites. These are especially designed for non-business undergraduates. A description of the survey courses can be found here.

Credit for prerequisite courses can also be obtained in other ways. A student may take these courses at a local community college or university or obtain credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Some prerequisite courses are available through College Independent Study (correspondence courses) at Mississippi State University.

Course Requirements
Each core course in the MBA program has been designed to enhance the students’ knowledge and skills according to our mission. Click here for descriptions of the courses listed below.

Required MBA Courses

First Semester:

MGT 8112 Leadership Skills for Managerial Behavior BIS 8122 Multimedia Presentation and Communication MGT 8111 Human Resource Issues MKT 8153 Strategic Marketing Management EC 8103 Economics for Managers

Second Semester:

FIN Term 1 8112 Capital Acquisition & Allocation FIN Term 2 8122 Corporate Liquidity Analysis ACC 8112 Financial & Accounting Report Analysis BIS 8112 Management Information Technology & Systems BL 8112 Law, Business Ethics, & Dispute Resolution

Third Semester:

BQA 8233 Quantative Analysis & Business Research MGT 8123 Strategic Business Consulting 3 Hr-Elective

Minor
Students may opt to take an additional 6 hours, plus the elective to receive a minor. The program can be completed with a minor in twelve months, once the foundation requirements have been met.

Admission Requirements
Applicants for the MBA Program should hold a bachelor's degree from a fully-recognized four-year institution of higher learning. Admission is based primarily on results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), GPA over the last 60 semester hours of baccalaureate work, and past work experience.

Beginning in January, 2004, students with no career work experience will need to meet one of the following for regular admission to the MBA program: either a GPA of 3.00 out of a possible 4.00 and a GMAT of 510 or higher; or a score of at least 1110 on the formula 200X (Last 60 hours GPA) + GMAT. Students with at least two years of full-time career experience may be admitted with a formula score of 1100. Although some exceptions to these standards may be granted based on the strength of other materials contained in the student's application, reasonable minimum levels of performance must be achieved in both the applicant's GPA and GMAT scores.

International applicants not holding degrees from U.S. institutions must submit with their applications a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) report, from a test administered within the last two years in order to be considered for regular admission. A score of : Paper Based - 575; Computer Based - 233; Internet Based - 90 is required. An IELTS score of 6.5 may be substituted for the TOEFL.

Unclassified Admission
Unclassified admission is available for those desiring graduate-level study for purposes other than an advanced degree. A student may begin taking classes immediately as an unclassified student and may take up to nine graduate hours, which may be transferred into the MBA program.

Applicants opting for unclassified admission must have a minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.00 out of a possible 4.00. The GMAT is not required for unclassified admission but must be completed before regular admission to the program.

Transfer Credit
Up to six hours of graduate transfer credits may be accepted toward fulfilling the requirements for the master's degree, provided the credits have been earned in a recognized institution and are considered applicable to the student's graduate program. These credits are considered part of the student's program and must adhere to the six-year time limit restriction. Please note, however, that "C" grades are not acceptable, nor are extension credits from other institutions.

College of Business and Industry

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