Curriculum

The MBA degree program requires the completion of 60 credits.

The program begins with a set of core requirements (the Common Professional Component) ensuring that students in the program will have familiarity with the fundamental areas of business practice and competency and will be able to apply a standard set of professional skills considered to be the baseline for persons entering careers in management or entering a program of advanced study. The curriculum model for the Master of Business Administration degree follows a traditional framework used throughout the United States for MBA programs, which has become standardized at schools of business.

Following this basic training, students will select an area of specialization, called a concentration, from the four offered in this program (i.e. management of nonprofit organizations, healthcare management, international business, or the comprehensive business track). Each area of concentration requires 18 credits of advanced coursework with a narrow focus on a particular career area. At the end of the program, students complete a set of capstone courses which cover the areas of business strategy, professional ethics, and global issues. The final curriculum component involves an applied business project, called the Business Decision Laboratory.

Since MBA programs are traditionally designed to permit an individual with any undergraduate major to enter and complete the program, it must contain courses covering the basic areas of business competency, such as marketing and accounting.

Undergraduate business majors, however, may waive up to 30 credits in this core MBA curriculum. The Chair of the Department will determine course waivers on a case by case basis. Generally, undergraduate studies in business must have been completed with a grade of B or better.

Additionally, undergraduate business majors at the University of Mount Saint Vincent have the opportunity to pursue a 4 plus 1 BS/MBA program through careful planning with academic advisors from both programs.