Master of Business Administration

The purpose of the Master of Business Administration is to prepare students for successful and rewarding careers in a diverse, global business environment in which “intrapreneurial” cultures must be the norm and organizational complexity is a way of life. Business faculty and staff members work closely with students to equip them with the business knowledge, highest level of critical thinking/decision-making skills, and social connectedness aptitude that are essential strengths for future employment and leadership opportunities. Students will practice learning through real-world projects that will hone individual, specific skill development in areas such as: leading creatively; building strong customer relationships; marketing messaging and sales; innovating cultures; and servant leadership through values.

MBA Admissions

All applicants for the DBU MBA program must meet the following criteria: 

1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution

2. Evidence of sound moral character and compatibility with DBU’s mission
   In addition, the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee will review the following criteria as it strives to take a holistic view of the applicant in order to determine the likelihood of success in the MBA program:

3. A likelihood for academic success as demonstrated by a GPA of 3.0 or higher. (The Master’s Degrees Admission Committee may take into consideration the student’s performance in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework as it reviews undergraduate performance.)

4. A minimum GMAT score of 425

5. Five or more years of significant, substantive managerial/leadership experience that may be evidenced through résumé review, applicant interview, or employer recommendations.

6. 12 hours of graduate work from an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Full Admission

Applicants who meet criteria 1, 2, and 3, in combination with one of criteria 4-6, may be granted Full Admission.

The Master’s Degrees Admission Committee strives to take a holistic view of the applicant in order to determine the likelihood for success in the MBA program. Applicants who show potential for graduate study, but who do not meet the criteria for Full Admission may be admitted for up to 12 hours under Provisional status. 

Provisional Admission

Applicants admitted under Provisional Admission must fulfill the conditions of this status as identified by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee in order to continue in the program past 12 hours. Students under Provisional Admission must maintain a 3.0 GPA and receive no grades below “B.” Students admitted under Provisional Admission will be granted Full Admission upon successful completion of 12 credit hours and fulfillment of the conditions of their admission as determined by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee.

Deferred Admission

Applicants meeting criteria 1 and 2, though not meeting criteria 3 and one of 4-6, may be determined by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee to show potential for graduate study. These applicants will be asked by the committee to complete certain requirements, such as prerequisite coursework and/or an entrance examination before an admission decision will be made. These applicants must fulfill all requirements which are determined by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee as necessary prior to final committee review and admission decision.

Note: Applicants for whom there is no evidence to demonstrate a likelihood for success in the MBA Program may be denied admission to the program. 

MBA Foundational Requirements

All graduate business students are required to complete the foundational courses for the appropriate program through undergraduate or graduate coursework. Students who have not completed appropriate undergraduate business courses will be required to take equivalent courses (may be 5000 or 6000 level depending on deficiency) upon acceptance to the program. Students who have completed equivalent business courses may have any (or all) of the prerequisite courses waived, if courses taken meet the waiver criteria: 

• The completed undergraduate course is equivalent to the 5000/6000 level course. 

• The course grade is at least a grade earned of B. 

• The course is taken at a regionally accredited institution. 

• Foundational courses from non-U.S. universities in foreign countries may not be considered for waiver.

• Foundational courses will not be accepted if completed through correspondence, life and work experience, CLEP, or other standardized testing.

MBA Foundational Courses

(The courses listed below are requisites and may be satisfied through undergraduate credit) 

[Courses listed in brackets are the undergraduate equivalent classes]

These courses do not satisfy the 36-credit-hour requirement of the MBA program.  

* Courses offered online.

MBA Concentration Options

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW - MBA students must complete a minimum of 36-credit-hours (Standard Track core of 24 credit hours and 12 hours within chosen concentration; Specialized Track of variable core and concentration credit hours with core and concentration totaling 36 credit hours). Accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs: BA-BS/MBA, BBA/MBA, and BBS/MBA students must complete a minimum of 150 credit hours.

To satisfy minimum degree requirements, all single concentrations require a minimum of 36 credit hours, and dual concentrations require a minimum of 60 credit hours. Students are responsible for not repeating courses waived, transferred, or previously taken.

 MBA Required Core Curriculum (24 hours): 

* Courses offered online.

+ Not required of students completing the Accelerated BBA/MBA in Accounting  

Total Credit Hours Required:  Minimum 36 hours

Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.

(S-L) = Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.