Executive Master of Business Administration (E.M.B.A.) - Banking and Financial Institutions

The Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) in Banking and Financial Institutions program at Sam Houston State University is designed to develop and enhance a candidate’s skills that are necessary for a position of leadership in a financial institution or regulatory agency. The program emphasizes the integration and synthesis of various disciplines to develop a student’s ability to function and make sound administrative decisions in a dynamic financial institution environment. The EMBA program is suited for qualified students from any academic discipline who have experience in the financial institutions field.

The EMBA is a two-year cohort program with a new cohort beginning each fall semester. It is an online program with an annual one-week residency requirement prior to the start of each fall semester with one weekend session each spring semester. During the residency period, students receive foundational instruction for the six courses to be completed during the upcoming academic year. Up to nine hours of coursework may be transferred into the EMBA program from the Southern Methodist University Graduate School of Banking or the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

Applicants must submit the materials listed under the admission requirements directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The deadline to submit a complete application is May 31.

Admission Requirements for Domestic (U.S. Citizens)

Prospective candidates for the Executive MBA in Banking and Financial Institutions Online Program must submit to the Office of Graduate Admissions the following items:

• Graduate Application
• Application fee
• Official transcript from an accredited baccalaureate degree granting institution
• Current resume
• Official GMAT score (Students with an undergraduate GPA of 2.50 or higher are eligible for a comprehensive review of academic performance and consideration for a GMAT waiver.)

If GMAT is not waived, one of the two admission formulas set out below must be met.
200 X (undergraduate GPA from degree granting institution) + (GMAT score) >= 1,100
200 X (advanced hours GPA) + (GMAT score) >= 1,150

If the student does not have a baccalaureate degree in business, it is necessary that the student have at least three years work experience in a banking or regulatory position. This experience negates the requirement for prerequisite work as required in the conventional MBA.

Domestic students’ additional requirements for admission:

• Access to a computer with a configuration to be provided.
• Ability to work with Internet-based technology.
• An interview with the Associate Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Business Administration or the Chair of Banking either in person or via telephone.
• If the student does not have a baccalaureate degree in business, a statement indicating the positions held in banking or regulation is required.
• Ability to attend an annual one-week residency session prior to the start of each fall semester with one weekend session each spring semester and work on the web-based sessions.
• Students who are not in good standing at another college or university are not eligible for admission.

Admission Requirements for International Students (defined as non-U.S. Citizens, except those that hold permanent residency status)

Prospective candidates for the Executive MBA in Banking and Financial Institutions Online Program must submit to the Office of Graduate Admissions the following items:

• Graduate application
• Application Fee
• Official transcripts from an AACSB accredited baccalaureate degree granting institution
• Resume

International students' additional requirements for admission:

• A business administration degree from an AACSB accredited baccalaureate degree granting institution.
• For those students whose degree is in an area other than business administration from an AACSB accredited college or university, it is necessary that the student have at least three years work experience in a banking or regulatory position.
• A statement of support from student’s employer to ensure the ability to attend the annual one-week residency session and work on the web-based sessions.
• A professional resume or a statement indicating the positions held in banking or banking regulation.
• An interview with the Associate Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Business Administration or the Chair of Banking either in person or via telephone.
• Ability to work with Internet-based technology.
• Access to a computer with a configuration to be provided.
• Students who are not in good standing at another college or university are not eligible for admission.
• Consistent with university policy, international students (defined as non-U.S. citizens, except those that hold permanent residency cards) must take and successfully complete the TOEFL test with a score of at least 79, IELTS score of at least 6.5, or Duolingo EPT score of at least 105.
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with a score of at least 500.
• Ability to attend an annual one-week residency session prior to the start of each fall semester with one weekend session each spring semester and work on the web-based sessions.

All immigration requirements must also be satisfied prior to admission.

The degree program requires a minimum of thirty-six hours of graduate credit.

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FINC 5395 is a capstone course that satisfies the comprehensive exam requirement. A grade of "B" or better is required for graduation. 

​​​​The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The EMBA is designed to prepare business professionals for leadership roles within commercial banks or regulatory agencies. Specific marketable skills include:

• Effective communication: Graduates will be able to demonstrate language and content that suits the intended audience and organize content in a logical sequence.
• Effective critical thinking: Graduates will be able to distinguish relevant and non-relevant information regarding a business or banking problem and develop a valid argument in support of a conclusion.
• Effective strategic decision-making: Graduates will be able to consider different strategic options using available evidence through the lens of organizational goals and generate applicable solutions for business and banking problems.