Business Administration, M.B.A.

Duke Thompson, Ph.D., Graduate Program Director

Purpose

The Master of Business Administration is a degree designed to equip its graduates for success and enhancement in the workplace. Through a flexible program structure, elective courses for specialization and a hybrid delivery format, students receive all of their education and skills for advancement in their career at a location close to home in the Northern Kentucky area. The program is aimed toward full-time working professionals, and classes are held during the week in the evening.

The MBA program curriculum is comprised of three major areas:

1. Business Essentials (core) - 8 foundational courses in the business disciplines, including: Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Strategy, Information Systems, Business Law/Ethics, and Operations. The essentials total 16 hours.
2. Two “stacks” (focus areas) - students will complete two stack areas made up of multiple classes totaling 6 hours for each stack. The stacks give students the opportunity to develop depth of knowledge in current, high interest topical business areas. Stack course offerings will vary each semester, topics may range from leadership, data analytics, finance, innovation and/or another area of the student’s election, designed with program director approval. The stacks total 12 hours.
3. A capstone experience - this is a team project where students complete a major organizational project with a local organization. These projects are student-designed and student-run, providing MBAs an opportunity to consolidate and apply some of the major learning from their program to the real world. The capstone will span 2 semesters for a total of 5 hours.  

The complete program is 33 credit hours.

Admission

Admission Information

A portfolio approach is used in evaluating prospective students for acceptance into the MBA program. Factors considered for admission include:

• Online application and fee
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from accredited institutions with a minimum undergraduate overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75.  Acceptable transcripts should show evidence of successful completion of quantitative courses.*
• Current resume with 3 years of professional work experience.
• No longer than one page (single spaced) essay stating your motivation for pursuing an MBA.
• If an international applicant, IBT, TOEFL or equivalent with a minimum score of 550 or IELTS minimum score of 6.5 must be submitted to the NKU Office for International Students and Scholar Services.

*Students are required to take the GMAT or GRE if their transcripts do not show evidence of successful completion of quantitative courses.  Although scores make up only one factor in the admissions process, it is anticipated that successful applicants will have a minimum overall score of 520 on the GMAT (comparable GRE scores will also be considered). 

All documentation (applications and admissions materials) should be submitted by July 1 to be considered for the Fall term and December 1 to be considered for the Spring term.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.