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 must select a concentration from business analytics, finance, human resource and strategic management, marketing, 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, entrepreneurship, global business, leadership and strategy, and strategic performance management, or any of the approved concentrations. Courses for joint program degrees must be approved by the Director of the full-time M.B.A. Program. Courses from other colleges may also be used with the approval of the Director of the full-time M.B.A. Program.
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 and an enrichment experience during the intervening summer. 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:
- Submit to the Director of the full-time M.B.A. Program a completed full-time M.B.A. application packet that is available at www.mba.broad.msu.edu.
- Take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and have the scores submitted to the Broad School. 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.
- Complete the required personal interview with a representative of the full-time M.B.A. Program Office.
Minimum standards for admission are:
- A bachelor's degree from a recognized educational institution.
- An academic record equivalent to at least 3.00 (B) in the last two years of undergraduate work.
- Scores on the GMAT that reflect a general aptitude for success in graduate study.
- Personal attributes such as demonstrated management potential and maturity.
- 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.
Each full-time M.B.A. student is required to have a personal laptop computer with a minimum configuration approved by the Director of the full-time M.B.A. Program.
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
- Complete 61 credits including:
- All required core courses which include courses in the following functional and critical skill areas: accounting, business communication, career management, economics, finance, management, marketing, statistics, and supply chain management.
| MBA |
802 |
Financial Accounting and Reporting Strategy |
1.5 |
| MBA |
804 |
Applied Data Analysis for Managers |
1.5 |
| MBA |
808 |
Leadership and Teamwork |
1 |
| MBA |
812 |
Accounting for Decision-Making and Control |
1.5 |
| MBA |
814 |
Applied Economics |
1.5 |
| MBA |
816 |
Managerial Communication Strategy and Tactics |
1.5 |
| MBA |
817 |
Designing and Delivering Impactful Business Presentations |
1.5 |
| 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 |
843 |
Career Management |
1 |
| MBA |
845 |
Integrative Action Projects |
4 |
| MBA |
850 |
Strategic Management |
1.5 |
- A concentration in business analytics; corporate, social responsibility and sustainability; entrepreneurship; finance; healthcare management; human resource and strategic management; marketing; or supply chain management (12 credits) or other approved concentration approved by the Director of the full-time M.B.A. program. Students may take two concentrations if their schedule permits.
- At least 3 credits of international business selected from courses approved by the Director of the full-time M.B.A. program.
- 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 Director of the full-time M.B.A. program. Exceptions must be approved by the Director of the full-time M.B.A. program.
- Enrichment Experience
Each student is required to participate in an enrichment experience approved by the Director of the full-time M.B.A. Program. Generally, the student participates in the enrichment experience during the summer between the first and second years of the program. The enrichment experience may involve a domestic or international internship, intensive foreign language study, an international or domestic study trip, a field or consulting project, or an approved graduate assistantship. Some of these options may involve additional costs to the student and may be able to accommodate only a limited number of students.
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 Director of the full-time M.B.A. Program. A policy statement containing additional information relative to academic standards is available from the Director.
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.