Undergraduate Degree

The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) full-time, two-year degree program is designed to prepare students for management and leadership roles in global business organizations, from entry–level management positions to top executive roles.  Specifically, the program is designed to create an understanding of the strategic positioning of the firm, its value chain, and how business activities contribute to the firm's total performance; to develop critical leadership and business analysis skills; and to build a high level of competence across all business functions plus deep knowledge in at least one discipline to prepare the student for a successful career in business.

Full-time M.B.A. students may select a concentration from business analytics, corporate, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource and strategic management, marketing, social responsibility and sustainability, or supply chain management. They have flexibility to choose preferred elective course work to support their career goals such as risk management, talent development, insights and analytics, product and services innovation, consulting, global business, leadership and strategy, and strategic performance management, or any of the approved concentrations. Courses for joint program degrees or from other colleges must be approved by the Assistant Dean, M.B.A. Programs, or designee.

Only Plan B (without thesis) is available to students who are enrolled in the M.B.A. degree programs.

For information about the Master of Business Administration degree program with a major in Integrative Management offered on weekends for fully-employed professionals, refer to the Master of Business Administration Degree:  Program in Integrative Management statement.

For information about the Master of Business Administration degree program with a major in STEM offered full-time, refer to the Master of Business Administration Degree:  STEM statement.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

The full-time M.B.A. program normally extends over 21 months and consists of two fall and spring semesters. Applicants are admitted to the program for fall semester only. 

A strong education in any field is good preparation for graduate study in business administration. Prior academic work in business is helpful, but not required. Students with undergraduate degrees in the sciences, engineering, economics, and the liberal arts are encouraged to apply.  Two or more years of work experience after completing a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended.

To be considered for admission to the full-time M.B.A. program, an applicant must:

1. Submit to the M.B.A. Program office a completed full-time M.B.A. application packet that is available at www.mba.broad.msu.edu.
2. Take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and have the scores submitted to the Broad College. The test must be taken not more than five years prior to the submission of the application for admission to the program. Equivalents may be considered with the approval of the Director of Admissions.
3. Complete the required personal interview with a representative of the M.B.A. Program Office.

Minimum standards for admission are:

1. A bachelor's degree from a recognized educational institution.
2. An academic record equivalent to at least 3.00 (B) in the last two years of undergraduate work.
3. Scores on the GMAT that reflect  a general aptitude for success in graduate study.
4. Personal attributes such as demonstrated management potential and maturity.
5. Personal qualifications of sound character, intellectual curiosity,  perseverance, and a drive to succeed.

Admission to the program is competitive, and meeting the minimum standards listed above does not guarantee admission. Although all of the above minimum standards must normally be met, the applicant's overall record is considered.

Students who are admitted to the full-time M.B.A. program must participate in a non-credit orientation program designed to prepare students for success in the team-based management education program and curriculum.

Requirements for the Master of Business Administration Degree

1. Complete 54 credits including:
   1. All required core courses which include courses in the following functional and critical skill areas: accounting, business communication, career management, economics, finance, management, marketing, and supply chain management. 

      MBA	802	Financial Accounting and Reporting Strategy							1.5
      MBA	806	Social Issues in Management							1.5
      MBA	808	Leadership and Teamwork							1.5
      MBA	812	Accounting for Decision-Making and Control							1.5
      MBA	814	Applied Economics							1.5
      MBA	816	Managerial Communication Strategy and Tactics							3
      MBA	820	Marketing Management							3
      MBA	821	Introduction to Supply Chain Management Concepts							3
      MBA	822	Corporate Investment Decisions							3
      MBA	824	Managing the Workforce							1.5
      MBA	850	Strategic Management							1.5

   2. Students may use their remaining elective credits to design an academic program to support their professional goals using courses across business college disciplines, including completion of concentrations (of 9 credits minimum) in business analytics; corporate, social responsibility and sustainability; entrepreneurship; finance; healthcare management (MBA/DO/MD students only); human resource and strategic management; marketing; or supply chain management (12 credits) or other approved concentration approved by the Assistant Dean, M.B.A. Programs or designee.
   3. At least 3 credits of international business selected from courses approved by the Assistant Dean, M.B.A. Programs or designee.
2. Students may use remaining elective credits to design an academic program to support their professional goals using courses across the business college disciplines. Students may select electives outside the college with the approval of the Assistant Dean, M.B.A. Programs or designee.

Academic Standards

Students are expected to (1) maintain a minimum grade–point average of 3.00 each semester, (2) maintain a minimum cumulative grade–point average of 3.00, and (3) complete all courses listed on the Candidacy Form. A student's academic progress is monitored by the M.B.A. Programs office. A policy statement containing additional information relative to academic standards is available from the Assistant Dean, M.B.A. Programs or designee.

A student who does not maintain a cumulative 3.00 grade–point average will be placed on final probation. Such a student will be given the next semester of enrollment to achieve a cumulative 3.00 grade–point average; otherwise, dismissal from the program will result.

Transfer Credits

For a student who is pursuing a full-time M.B.A. degree from MSU jointly with a Juris Doctor degree from the Michigan State University - College of Law, a maximum of 12 credits from the Michigan State University College of Law may be transferred to the full-time M.B.A. degree program.

For a student who is pursuing a full-time M.B.A. degree from MSU jointly with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Michigan State University - College of Human Medicine, a maximum of 12 credits from the MSU College of Human Medicine may be transferred to the full-time M.B.A. degree program.

For a student who is pursuing a full-time M.B.A. degree from MSU jointly with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from Michigan State University - College of Osteopathic Medicine, a maximum of 12 credits from the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine may be transferred to the full-time M.B.A. degree program.