Business Administration, MBA

36 semester hours

The Master of Business Administration Program is an innovative program designed to meet the needs of practicing executives in profit and nonprofit settings. Offered in the popular face-to-face weekend degree program or online formats, the MBA focuses on sharpening skills in decision-making and problem-solving behavior for professional administrators. The program’s instructional design integrates scientific and technological advances with proven principles of management.

The MBA program requires a commitment to an intensive educational experience as well as a considerable degree of independence and discipline. The format enables successful managers to continue to grow professionally without interruption of their careers, thus enhancing their competitive positioning in an increasingly sophisticated economic environment. Typical students are junior and senior managers who work in financial institutions, oil and utility companies, insurance and communications companies and other businesses, as well as health care professionals such as doctors, nurses and administrators.

Both formats assume that adult students, given a structured set of learning objectives and a prescribed methodology, can independently master course content. Instructional contact hours are less than more traditional face-to-face programs. Most of the student’s work is teacher-directed learning outside the classroom. Some classes require team meetings for assigned projects outside scheduled contact hours. Graduate business program faculty expects students to complete work in a timely and professional manner.

Applications will be subject to the current Graduate Program Admissions Committee Approved Policies and Procedures.

Admission Application Requirements

Regular Admission

The University Graduate admissions GPA standard is

A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 system) of undergraduate coursework, or a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system) in the last 60 hours of the undergraduate degree.
A 3.0 from undergraduate coursework taken after completion of bachelor’s degree, in combination with the last 60 hours of undergraduate degree.

In addition to the requirements for graduate admission into Our Lady of the Lake University, applicants will provide:

Two letters of recommendation from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s managerial and/or professional performance.
A résumé highlighting managerial or professional work experience.
Evidence of at least three years of managerial or professional experience is encouraged for success in the MBA program.
Graduate Personal statement: Should be no longer than two pages addressing the following areas: motivation for graduate studies, background in field of study, expectations of the program, and professional goals.

A graduate exam is not required for admissions to the MBA

Conditional Admission to the MBA Program

Conditional acceptance is granted on the merits of each case. In some circumstances, applicants who do not meet all of the requirements for regular admission may be admitted conditionally, providing they fulfill the conditions listed in their letters of conditional acceptance within the period of specified time. If conditional acceptance is given because of missing official credentials, the period of time to provide those documents will not extend beyond the first term of attendance.

The Business Programs Graduate Admissions Committee grants conditional admission on the merits of each case for those applicants who do not meet all the requirements for regular admission. The decision of the committee regarding Conditional Admission acceptance cannot be appealed.

Students who do not have sufficient background knowledge in business are required to take certain leveling courses. These leveling courses will allowstudents to integrate into the program earlier and will help to improve their learning experience. Students can take these leveling courses before, or once they have started, the MBA program. Leveling courses are pre-requisites for specific MBA courses, and students do not need to complete them all to start the program.

Application for Admission Deadlines

Application deadlines for submitting a completed application for the MBA program are as follows:

Fall Entry Priority	March 1 (all non-business undergraduates should use this date).
Final	June 1

Spring Entry Priority	August 1 (all non-business undergraduates should use this date).
Final	November 1