The Kelley College of Business at Hardin-Simmons University offers the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree. The MBA degree program is designed to meet the needs of today's working professionals and tomorrow's organizational leaders.
The objective of the MBA program is to prepare managers and leaders to manage successfully in a dynamic business environment. More specifically, the program provides intense study in all functional areas of business: accounting, computer science, economics, finance, marketing, and management. In addition, the program is designed to help students further develop and refine such important broad skills and abilities as analytical thinking, problem-solving, computer applications, communication, and teamwork.
Classes When You Need Them
Whether you are a career professional or a traditional student, HSU offers the flexibility that meets your needs.
- fall, spring, or summer admission
- 15 required courses (three may be waived for those with undergraduate business degrees)
- a convenient evening class schedule (5:30 to 8:15 p.m. weekly)
- evening classes in the summer in an accelerated format
The Curriculum
The MBA program consists of 36 semester hours for students with a Bachelor of Business Administration or 45 hours for those without an undergraduate background in business. The curriculum covers various elements of business in depth and gives students a firm understanding of the domestic and global environments of business, including social, political, legal, environmental, and techonological.
Foundational Courses
Five foundational courses cover the spectrum of business disciplines.
- Business Reporting and Finance
- Issues in Management and Marketing
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Business
- Decision Systems
- Economic Analysis
Three foundational courses may be waived for students who have satisfactorily completed similar courses previously.
The MBA Core
The core courses of the MBA build on the foundation above.
- Managerial Accounting
- Economics
- Financial Management
- Marketing Strategy
- Quantitative Research Methods
Electives
Elective courses are available in finance, marketing, management, and organizational behavior. A thesis can be completed in lieu of two electives.
Advanced Business Certificate
The Advanced Businesss Certificate Program is designed for the student with career opportunities in business but whose undergraduate degree is in an unrelated field. The program provides graduate level presentation of essential business knowledge and consists of the five Foundational Courses in the MBA Program.
While enrolled in the certificate program, a student is not eligible for registration in any MBA courses other than the Foundational Courses. Upon satisfactory completion of the certificate program, however, a student may apply for full admission to the MBA Program. Since the certificate program consists of the MBA Foundational Courses, the student could then complete an MBA with an additional 30 hours of Core, Capstone, and Elective courses.