Master's Degree Programs - Master of Business Administration (Full-time)

In accordance with the accreditation guidelines of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the core knowledge for Master of Business Administration study within the Isenberg School of Management consists of basic coursework in economics, statistics, accounting, finance, marketing, operations/information systems and organizational behavior. Any baccalaureate degree holder is eligible to apply for the program.

Two Master’s degrees are offered within the MBA Program in the Isenberg School: the Full-time MBA program (minimum of 37 credits), and the Online/Blended MBA program (37 credits).

The Master of Business Administration Degree (Full-time)

Accredited at the highest standard for business schools by the AACSB, the program is designed to provide candidates with a broad base of business knowledge and the opportunity to focus in a professional area of interest. The Master's degree requires a minimum of 37 credit hours (34 core credits, plus 3 elective credits).

Beyond the minimum core credit requirements (34 credits), students can customize their degree by taking 9 credits of interest-area electives to graduate with a focus. Elective courses may also be taken outside the Isenberg School by those students interested in other non-business areas in which a managerial component is desirable. Students can also opt to participate in the MBA consulting project known as Practicum (3 or 6 credits)

Core courses may be waived upon approval of the instructor and graduate program director but an elective must be taken to replace the waived course. Students may also transfer up to 6 credit hours of graduate courses obtained from accredited institutions within the past three years with a grade of B or better with approval of the graduate program director as long as those courses have not previously been used for another graduate degree.

Admission to the Full-time Master’s program is for the fall semester only and all students take the common core courses. In the selection of candidates, no one academic background is favored and students with degrees in science, business, engineering, and liberal arts have joined the program. Work experience, GMAT or GRE performance, academic history, interview by invitation, motivation, aptitude for graduate-level work, and managerial experience are all taken into consideration.

Further information is also available online at www.isenberg.umass.edu/mba.