Business Administration, M.B.A.
S. Kim Sokoya, Program Director
(615) 898-2352
Kim.Sokoya@mtsu.edu
The University offers a Master of Business Administration degree which requires courses in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, and marketing.
Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Business Administration program requires the following:
- an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.75 or higher; and
- a minimum Index Score of 1000 calculated using (GPA x 200) + GMAT (or GRE equivalent).
The GMAT/GRE requirement may be waived for applicants that meet any of the following conditions:
- an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with GPA 3.0 or higher (International transcripts must have an official evaluation by a NACES member.)
- an earned bachelor's degree with a GPA of 2.75 or higher and five (5) or more years of professional/managerial work experience (resume required)
- an earned graduate or professional degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Foundation Courses
The following foundation prerequisite courses or their equivalents are required before enrolling in core M.B.A. courses:
- ACTG 3000 - Survey of Accounting for General Business
- BIA 6000 - Quantitative Methods Survey
- FIN 3010 - Principles of Corporate Finance
Students may complete prerequisite courses after admission to the M.B.A. program if needed.
In addition to the requirements outlined above, international applicants must submit proof of English language proficiency that meets the University requirement.
NOTE: Students admitted into the MBA program who do not have a background in business education or those who think they may need some tutorial courses are advised to use any of the resources listed below. Please note that the program does not require prerequisite courses outside the listed foundation courses above (ACTG 3000, BIA 6000, and FIN 3010 or their equivalent).
The following is a list of self-paced, online programs that can be helpful. Students who think they may need to refresh their knowledge in the functional areas of business such as marketing, management, economics, finance, accounting, statistics, or using Excel are advised to make use of any of the following resources before taking the core classes.
It is the responsibility of the student to avail themselves of the resources listed above.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Priority deadlines for completed applications: Fall - June 1; Spring - October 1; Summer - April 1. Completed application packages received after the priority deadline will be evaluated based on the date received.
Applicant must
- submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
- submit official scores on the GMAT or GRE examination;
- submit official transcripts of all previous college work;
- submit a current resume, if applicable (see admission requirements above).
Degree Requirements
The Master of Business Administration requires completion of 36 semester hours.
MBAM 6925 - Strategic Business Consulting, the capstone course, is taken in lieu of a comprehensive written examination for the M.B.A. This course should be taken during the student's last semester and after completing all other courses in the curriculum with the exception of the elective courses.
Curriculum: Business Administration
The following illustrates the coursework requirements.
Core Courses (30 hours)
MBAA 6815 - Accounting Information for Managers
2credit hours
Prerequisites: ACTG 3000 or ACTG 2110 and ACTG 2120 and FIN 3000 or FIN 3010 or permission of department. Principles, concepts, and tools in financial and managerial accounting, including product costing, budgeting, decision making tools, performance measurement, financial accounting concepts, financial statement analysis tools, and reporting responsibilities of management. Not open to M.Acc. students.
MBAM 6825 - Leading Organizations
2credit hours
Explores current management thought and experience on how to effectively lead/manage the people within an organization in a changing world. Emphasis on self-assessment, skill improvement, and problem solving of the current challenges organizations face.
MBAE 6865 - Economic Decisions for Managers
2credit hours
Prerequisites: FIN 3000 or FIN 3010 and ACTG 2110 and ACTG 2120 or ACTG 2110 and ACTG 2125 or ACTG 3000; BIA 6000 or equivalent. Focuses on the applications of microeconomic principles for making rational management analysis and decisions. Covers the guiding principles undergirding demand, supply, cost theories, and their relevance to business strategic pricing and output decisions. Explores the interaction of information, economic incentives, market competition, and how these interact to determine prices, products, profits, and patterns of trade and organization.
MBAB 6805 - Professional Development Seminar: Introduction
1credit hours
Current topics and issues focusing on developing managerial and leadership skills and preparing a professional/career development portfolio.
MBAF 6845 - Managerial Finance
2credit hours
Prerequisites: ACTG 3000 or equivalent, FIN 3010 or FIN 3000 or equivalent, and BIA 6000 or equivalent. Topics include evaluating capital investment proposals, measuring managerial performance, performing cash flow analysis, interpreting and evaluating financial information, and applying the capital asset pricing modeling (CAPM). Not open to students enrolled in the M.S. in Finance program.
MBAK 6895 - Marketing Strategy
2credit hours
An analytical, managerial approach to the marketing activities of a business enterprise. Emphasis on problem solving and decision making in marketing environments.
MBAI 6835 - IT Applications for Decision Making
2credit hours
(Same as INFS 6835.) Prerequisite: BIA 6000 or BIA 2610 and 3620. Focuses on application development using electronic spreadsheets to improve decision making efficiency and effectiveness. Uses a hands-on approach to develop skills in electronic spreadsheets and modeling applied to a variety of business situations. Not acceptable for credit toward the degree requirements for the M.S. in Information Systems but may be required as a prerequisite at the discretion of the program coordinator.
MBAA 6885 - Decision Making in Accounting and Finance
3credit hours
(Same as MBAF 6885.) Prerequisites: MBAA 6815, MBAF 6845, and MBAI 6905. Make real-world decisions using financial modeling created from primary and secondary sources and tools. Sources include databases, case studies, accounting information, and executive feedback. Tools include financial statement analysis and risk analysis. Recommendations presented in a way that is credible to executive decision makers.
MBAF 6885 - Decision Making in Accounting and Finance
3credit hours
(Same as MBAA 6885.) Prerequisites: MBAA 6815, MBAF 6845, and MBAI 6905. Make real-world decisions using financial modeling created from primary and secondary sources and tools. Sources include databases, case studies, accounting information, and executive feedback. Tools include financial statement analysis and risk analysis. Recommendations presented in a way that is credible to executive decision makers.
MBAM 6875 - Supply Chain Operations
3credit hours
Prerequisite: MBAI 6835. Overview on the integration between supply chain operations strategies/decisions and their impact on other business functions in an organization.
MBAI 6905 - Applied Business Analytics
3credit hours
(Same as BIA 6905.) Prerequisites: BIA 6000 and MBAI 6835 or BIA 2610 and BIA 3620; permission of department. An applied approach to the understanding, development, and application of prescriptive and data analytic tools to model and analyze business data. A hands-on focus utilized with both commonly-used spreadsheet software and specialized business intelligence software for the student to develop skills for self-service business analytics.
MBAK 6915 - Integrated Marketing and Management Decision Making
3credit hours
Prerequisites: MBAK 6895 and MBAM 6825. Offers an applied approach to the integration of marketing strategy and management fundamentals to address current business challenges. Explores the nexus between external-focused marketing and internal-focused management practices. Working in teams, students will develop solutions to current marketing challenges and internal management challenges and present their solutions for feedback.
MBAM 6915 - Integrated Marketing and Management Decision Making
3credit hours
Prerequisites: MBAK 6895 and MBAM 6825. Offers an applied approach to the integration of marketing strategy and management fundamentals to address current business challenges. Explores the nexus between external-focused marketing and internal-focused management practices. Working in teams, students will develop solutions to current marketing challenges and internal management challenges and present their solutions for feedback.
MBAB 6807 - Professional Development Seminar Conclusion
1credit hours
Prerequisites: MBAB 6805, MBAK 6915/MBAM 6915, MBAA 6885/MBAF 6885, MBAM 6875, and MBAI 6905. Current topics and issues focusing on development of soft skills and professionalism in the workplace for business professionals.
MBAM 6925 - Strategic Business Consulting
4credit hours
Prerequisites: MBAB 6805, MBAK 6915/MBAM 6915, MBAM 6875, MBAA 6885/MBAF 6885, and MBAI 6905. Capstone course integrating the entire College of Business curriculum. Specifically focuses on applying analysis tools to real companies and the strategic issues they face.
Approved Electives (6 hours)
- Approved electives (5000/6000 level) 6 credit hours
NOTE: The elective course requirement can be satisfied if a student takes an approved graduate course, approved internship, or an approved study abroad course. The course taken to satisfy this elective requires prior approval of the associate dean for Graduate and Executive Education.
Program Notes
Core courses may not be satisfied by independent study.
A student who has had substantial undergraduate instruction in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, or marketing may be required, as determined by the director, to take an alternate 6000-level course in the same area of instruction in lieu of the required graduate course.
Students may transfer up to six credit hours of approved graduate coursework from another AACSB-accredited institution.