Business Administration Program Information and Admission Requirements

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Master of Business Administration Degree

The College of Business and Technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) offers an AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accredited, 30 hour, Master of Business Administration degree. The MBA degree is a professional graduate degree designed to provide a challenging, experiential, educational experience for graduate students who desire to assume positions of increasing scope and responsibility in business, nonprofit or public service sectors. Required courses are offered primarily in the evening or online to accommodate students with time constraints.

The students in the MBA Program will develop skills to solve problems in Government Organizations (GOs), Non-governmental not-for-profit Organizations (NGOs) and businesses through integration of all organizational functions. The core emphasis of the program is on honing students' critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills within the context of both the US and global economy, and preparing students to meet the inherent challenges in the rapidly changing global and economic environment. The purpose of the program is to improve and enhance the student's management skills in GOs, NGOs and business sectors. The program is also suited to those with baccalaureate in areas other than business.

Admission Considerations

Applicants may choose to be considered for full, unconditional admission through any one of the following four options:

  1. A baccalaureate degree with less than 2 years of full time post-baccalaureate work experience
    • Undergraduate GPA: 2.75 overall
    • GMAT: Minimum 480 or equivalent GRE
    • Must meet a minimum score of 1100 on the following formula:
      (200*Undergraduate GPA) + GMAT = 1100
      (If applicant taking the GRE, the equivalent GMAT score will be used)
  2. A baccalaureate degree and at least 2 years of post-baccalaureate full time work experience
    • Undergraduate GPA: 2.75 overall
    • Take 9 hours of MBA graduate level classes, with at least 3 hours in a quantitative course, and maintain a 3.0 Graduate GPA or higher (If Graduate GPA<3.0, revert to Option 1)
      GMAT/GRE waived if Graduate GPA is 3.0 or higher in the 9 credit hours completed
  3. A baccalaureate degree and at least 3 years of post-baccalaureate full time work experience with meaningful managerial responsibilities
    • Undergraduate GPA: 2.75 overall
    • GMAT/GRE waived
  4. 4. Completed another Master degree or a Ph.D. or a terminal degree
    • Undergraduate GPA: 2.75 overall
    • GMAT/GRE waived

Meeting the minimum criteria only assures applicants the consideration of their application for admission to the MBA program. An application must be complete in all respects to be considered for admission to the program.

Those who fail to meet the minimal requirements may be considered for conditional admission to the MBA program. (Refer to the policy on Degree Admission Status, Conditional Admission, for more information.) Such an admission imposes certain academic limitations on the admitted students. This option is not available for international applicants. International students must be fully admitted to receive their I-20.

Additional Notes:

To apply to the MBA Program:

  1. Go to http://www.unk.edu/admissions.aspx?id=60252.
  2. Fill out the application.
  3. Submit a resume.
  4. Provide a 500-word personal essay, particularly addressing the following:
    • Professional and personal accomplishments
    • Personal strengths that helped accomplishment of the above
    • Personal values, including what is important in a career
    • Motivations to pursue a MBA at UNK
    • Anticipated contributions to enhancing the educational experiences of other students in the program
    • Post-MBA goals
  5. Ask two references (college professors, supervisors etc.) to complete their recommendation online. (Those applying for admission to the MBA program through options 2 and 3 must have at least one recommendation letter from their supervisor who has evaluated the applicant's performance within the past 2 years.) Candidates with significant professional experience may get an additional recommendation from a subordinate.

For information regarding the requirements for admission to the MBA Program, please contact:

MBA Program Policies

In addition to the academic policies listed in the front of this catalog that govern all graduate students, the following policies are specific to the MBA program:

  1. Students may need to complete up to 18 hours of MBA Supporting Core courses with a minimum grace of "C" in each.
  2. Students must be fully admitted to the program to take more than 9 hours of required "MBA core" courses or graduate level electives.
  3. Students shall maintain an average grade of at least "B" (3.0) in all graduate courses completed at the end of each semester or summer session. No more than two Cs, and no grades below C, will be accepted in the MBA graduate program. Students who receive a third "C" or below a "C" (C- or lower) will have to retake one of the courses to improve to a C+ or better.
  4. All academic policies of the Graduate School stated in this catalog and the MBA Student Policy Handbook will apply.

5 Sep 2012

gradcat@unk.edu