Master of Business Administration

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

The Master of Business Administration program at Sam Houston State University is designed to develop candidates for positions of leadership in modern organizations. Managerial procedures and practices are continually changing. Therefore, the program emphasizes the integration and synthesis of various disciplines to develop a student’s ability to function in a dynamic environment and make sound administrative decisions that maximize the value and contributions of an organization. The MBA program is suited for qualified students from any academic discipline. The program provides the candidate with a basic managerial background through the core requirements while providing individualized adaptation through elective courses.

The MBA requires 36 graduate hours including 27 hours of core courses and 9 hours of electives.

Core and elective courses are available to complete our MBA program entirely online. Please see the current schedule of classes for the course offerings.

The MBA program may be completed in as few as four semesters; however, it is not recommended that students who are working attempt more than six hours in a semester. A more realistic timeline would be approximately two years.

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Business Administration program must:

  1. Complete the online graduate application form.
  2. Pay the application fee.

Additionally, applicants must submit the following material directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

  1. Official transcript(s) from all previous college work (except SHSU graduates).
  2. An official GMAT score. Undergraduate GPA1 of 2.75 or higher allows for a comprehensive review of academic performance and consideration for a GMAT waiver.
  3. A current resume.

International Students must submit all of the above information plus:

  1. Official TOEFL score at least 79 (or IELTS score or at least 6.5).
  2. English translations and evaluation of official transcripts.

Graduate Application Deadlines

U.S. Citizens

  • Fall - August 1
  • Spring - December 1
  • Summer - May 15

International Students

  • Fall - June 25
  • Spring - November 12
  • Summer - April 9

Admission Criteria

Degree from a U.S. university

  • Meet or exceed one of the following admission formulas:

    • 200 (Undergraduate GPA) + GMAT Score >= 11001
    • 200 (Advanced Hours Undergraduate GPA) + GMAT Score >= 11502

Degree from a non-U.S. university

  • Students who earned a baccalaureate degree from a university located outside of the United States must satisfy all of the following to be considered for admission into SHSU's MBA program. 

    • GMAT score of at least 500.
    • TOEFL score of at least 79 or IELTS score of at least 6.5.
    • English translations and evaluations of official transcripts.

GMAT Waiver Requests

  • Undergraduate GPA1 of 2.75 or higher allows for a comprehensive review of academic performance and consideration for a GMAT waiver.

  • Applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 from their degree granting U.S. institution and have at least three years of significant managerial and professional experience may be admitted without a GMAT score, typically through a review of the applicant's resume. Normally, the required experience is earned after completion of the undergraduate degree. A committee will assist, if needed, in determining if the applicant's experience meets the "significant managerial and professional experience" threshold.
  • Applicants who have an undergraduate degree granted by a non-U.S. institution will not be considered for a GMAT waiver.
1

The undergraduate GPA is the GPA from courses taken at the degree granting institution. Transfer grades are not used in the computation of this undergraduate GPA.

2

The advanced hours undergraduate GPA is the GPA from junior and senior (3000 and 4000) level courses taken at the degree granting institution. Transfer grades are not used in the computation of this undergraduate GPA.

Prerequisite Coursework Requirements for Non-Business and Non-Accounting Graduates

Prerequisite courses for graduate business courses are required for students who did not take the equivalent courses as part of their baccalaureate program or for students with a baccalaureate degree from a non-U.S. university. The graduate prerequisite courses (courses listed as 5300) do not apply to the 36-hour graduate credit hour requirement of the MBA degree.

Prerequisite Course Requirements
ACCT 5300Analysis of Accounting Informa3
BANA 5300Quantitative Tools For Busines3
ECON 5300Economic Principles And Policy3
FINC 5300Business Finance Environment3
MGMT 5300Foundations Of Strategic Mgt3
Total Hours15

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

Master of Business Administration
Specified Courses
ACCT 5304Accounting For Management3
BANA 5368Tchnqs Of Statistical Analysis3
BUAD 5310Managerial Communication3
FINC 5310Financial Management3
MGMT 5315Seminar Operations Management3
MGMT 5345Seminar In Team Leadership3
MGMT 5390Seminar-Strategic Mgt & Policy 13
MKTG 5330Marketing Management3
Prescribed ECON/COBA Electives OR Concentration12
ECON/COBA Electives
Select one ECON 5XXX (any 5000 level ECON course, excluding ECON 5080 and ECON 5300)
Select three General Electives (may choose from: All graduate courses in the College of Business Administration) 2
Concentration
Select from Concentration options below
Total Hours36
1

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

2

Excluding ACCT 5300, BANA 5300, ECON 5300, MGMT 5300, and FINC 5300.

MBA Concentrations

For those students that would like to concentrate on specific disciplinary areas, the ECON and COBA electives can target the following course options. Students wishing to add a second concentration would need to complete additional coursework beyond the minimum 36 hours required within the MBA program.

Concentration Options

Economics 

Economics Concentration
Choose 4 from the following:
ECON 5301Mathematical Methods for Applied Economics3
ECON 5305Microeconomics3
ECON 5307Macroeconomics3
ECON 5325Econometrics3
ECON 5340International Economics3
ECON 5348Development Economics3
ECON 5350Applied Topics in Health Economics3
ECON 5351Seminar In Labor Economics3
ECON 5352Energy Economics3
ECON 5357Smnr Managerial Economics3
ECON 5360Economic Analysis Of Strategy3
ECON 5370Economic Theory3
ECON 5373Urban Economics3
Total Hours: 12

Finance 

Finance Concentration
FINC 5310Financial Management3
Plus, choose 3 from the following:
FINC 5333Financial Statement Analysis3
FINC 5340International Finance3
FINC 5345Seminar in Investments3
FINC 5370Admin Problems in Finance3
Total Hours: 12

Human Resource Management 

Human Resource Management Concentration
MGMT 5345Seminar In Team Leadership3
MGMT 5355Sem Human Resource Mgmt3
MGMT 5360Staffing Organizations3
MGMT 5365Seminar In Compensation Mgt3
Total Hours:12

Management  

Management Concentration
MGMT 5315Seminar Operations Management3
MGMT 5345Seminar In Team Leadership3
MGMT 5390Seminar-Strategic Mgt & Policy3
Plus, choose 1 from the following:
MGMT 5316Supply Chain Management3
MGMT 5318Quality Management3
MGMT 5320Mgt Of Innovation & Technology3
MGMT 5323Tools of Project Management3
MGMT 5325Project Management3
MGMT 5330Operations Planning & Control3
MGMT 5350Leading Organiztnl Change& Dev3
MGMT 5355Sem Human Resource Mgmt3
MGMT 5360Staffing Organizations3
MGMT 5365Seminar In Compensation Mgt3
Total Hours:12

Project Management  

Project Management Concentration
MGMT 5315Seminar Operations Management3
MGMT 5325Project Management3
Plus, choose 2 from the following:
MGMT 5318Quality Management3
MGMT 5323Tools of Project Management3
MGMT 5330Operations Planning & Control3
Total Hours:12

Supply Chain Management 

Supply Chain Management Concentration
MGMT 5315Seminar Operations Management3
MGMT 5316Supply Chain Management3
Plus, choose 2 from the following:
MGIS 5360Managing Busi Sys Desgn Projct3
MGMT 5318Quality Management3
MGMT 5330Operations Planning & Control3
MGMT 5375Erp Business Proc Integration3
Total Hours:12

The MBA is designed to prepare business professionals for leadership roles within the business, governmental, or non-profit sectors. 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 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 problems.