Business Administration

The principal objective of the Master of Business Administration degree program is to enhance the quality of management practice. In order to successfully meet the scheduling needs of the working student, classes are scheduled for the evening on Monday through Thursday throughout the year—during the Fall semester, Spring semester, and two Summer terms. Students who apply and are approved for admission to the program may begin their enrollment during the Spring or Fall semester.

MBA Degree Requirements

Foundational Courses (12 credit hours – waived with a completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration). Students who have not taken courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, microeconomics, or statistics are required to complete four foundational courses in addition to the 36 credit hours required in the program. These courses must be successfully completed prior to attempting the associated MBA course. A grade of at least a “C” or a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for successful completion of the foundational business courses.

MBA Admission Requirements

1. Earn a baccalaureate degree in business administration from a regionally accredited institution or a baccalaureate degree in another major with successful completion of foundational business courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, micoreconomics and statistics.
2. Submit:
   • A completed online application and $45 nonrefundable fee
   • Official transcript from college/university where bachelor’s degree was conferred and from college/university where prerequisite courses were taken
   • GMAT scores taken within the past five years
   • A current resume
   • Two letters of recommendation
3. Faculty interview - Once candidates submit all required documents, the complete application is reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee to determine invitations for an interview.

Standards for Academic Progress

Grade Forgiveness

Grade Forgiveness permits graduate students to repeat a single course and have the repeated grade and hours earned computed into his/her GPA in place of the original grade and hours earned. A graduate student who earns an “A-” grade or a “B” grade (B+, B, B-) in a course will not be permitted to repeat the course to raise the grade. A student who receives a grade lower than a “B-” will be permitted to repeat the course to raise the GPA by earning a higher grade. The repetition of any course must be accomplished by taking the same course at PBA. A Directed Study may not be employed to repeat a course for grade forgiveness.  Grade forgiveness is permitted for one course only.  A student may not repeat a course after he or she has graduated.

A student will be placed on Academic Probation at the end of a term if he/she does not meet the cumulative 3.0 GPA. Students placed on Academic Probation must meet and be cleared by their advisor prior to registering for the next term. Students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.25 must also meet and be cleared by their academic advisor before they are allowed to register for the next term.

Global Business Trip

This is an opportunity to learn and experience a country’s business, economic and cultural environment. Student interested in combining global business course work with an international business trip should discuss this with the MBA Director. Global business destinations change annually. The business trip’s cost is not included in the student’s projected annual tuition costs.