The following are the degree objectives for the Master of Business Administration. Upon completion of the degree students will have:

• Gained an appreciation of the local, domestic, and global environments as they relate to business management
• Enhanced their business judgment and identified sound management methods including the ability to think critically and strategically
• Attained an understanding of, and ability to appropriately leverage interpersonal relationships and team work
• Developed analytical expertise and functional frameworks drawn from a broad range of managerial skills including accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, and law
• Acquired an ability to incorporate appropriate quantitative and qualitative data, including an appreciation for the value and costs of obtaining data, into management decisions
• Established outstanding, multi-method communication skills
• Recognized the value of effective and ethical leadership so they can lead themselves, others, and organizations

Admissions

The general requirements for admission to graduate studies at APU are found at the beginning of the section describing graduate programs. In addition, there are several specific requirements for the MBA program and the MBA/HSA program as follows:

1. Resume. Submit a current resume.
2. Letters of Recommendation. Submit three current letters of recommendation, using the Recommendation Forms in the admissions packet.
3. All applicants to the MBA programs will be required to be approved by a departmental admissions committee after completing a personal (either in-person or web-based) interview.
4. Official Transcripts. Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions. General graduate admission standards for APU are a 3.0 or better for completed baccalaureate work.
5. Essay. Please submit a 500-800 word essay addressing your personal and professional goals as they relate to your motivation to obtain an MBA or a MBA with a concentration in Health Services Administration.
6. Application Deadline. Application deadline: August 1 for Fall semester, December 1 for Spring semester, and April 1 for Summer semester.

Admissions decisions are generally based on academic records of undergraduate, upper division, and graduate work, or alternative indicators of success including innovative leadership or accomplishments in a career field, civic activity, or professional achievement.

Prerequisites

Students are adequately prepared for MBA entry if they have a bachelor’s degree in business or a related discipline which includes courses in accounting, finance, economics, and management, with math competency through algebra and statistics. The faculty encourages students with a wide variety of undergraduate experiences to apply for admission. Students with non-business majors are welcome. If, however, a student’s undergraduate transcript does not demonstrate adequate preparation in mathematics and business, the student may be admitted and required to take prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses do not count toward the MBA MBA/HSA, or MBAICT degrees. Students may also demonstrate that they have acquired prerequisite knowledge through work experience or self-study.

MBA Course Format 

The format for courses (except Summer MBA Core courses – see below for details) is:

• 6 weeks of one 2.5-hour class/week: webcast or archived recording
• Asynchronous readings, discussions, exercises
• 3 full days in class (in person classes scheduled Saturday-Monday, Tuesday-Thursday, or Friday-Sunday.  Courses will alternate days of the week each year, so no student will be required to take classes Tuesday-Thursday).
• 2 weeks to complete course projects asynchronously.

 MBA Degree Requirements