Business Administration - MBA
The John L. Grove College of Business MBA program at Shippensburg University is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. The program can be completed on a part-time basis in two years, taking two courses a semester, and two courses in the summer. Videoconferencing technology provides students with the opportunity to attend class at either Shippensburg University or the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg, or at Snyder's of Hanover.
The Program
Two-thirds of each course is taught in an electronic classroom and broadcast to the remote sites via videoconferencing technology, thus, providing students the opportunity to interact with the professor and other students face-to-face from multiple sites. Students spend two-thirds of each course in the electronic classroom and one-third on web-based activities, providing students with flexibility and convenience in completing coursework. Each class meeting is videotaped, so that if students cannot attend class due to work requirements, they may view the missed class online via video streaming. Employers desiring to have their electronic conference room added as a videoconferencing site for the Shippensburg MBA program should contact the MBA director. Additional teleconferencing sites will be added dependent upon demand and available resources.
The program consists of 30-46 credits, depending on the extent of undergraduate coursework in business. Typically, individuals with an undergraduate business degree take 30 credits (10 courses), and individuals with a non-business undergraduate degree take 46 credits (14 courses). The curriculum covers critical elements of business management in today's hypercompetitive and global business environment.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate course work, degree, and relevant work experience will be evaluated and form the basis for admission. To be eligible for admission to the MBA program applicants must:
- Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Present a current resume.
- Submit a personal goals statement indicating your reasons for pursuing an MBA, your future goals, and why you chose Shippensburg's MBA (maximum 500 words).
- Letters of recommendation and a practicum are optional.
- Applicants will be evaluated on grade point average, course content, work experience, job level, leadership ability, team skills, suitability of goals, and whether they graduated from an AACSB-accredited college. If additional evaluation is needed, the applicant will be advised to take the GMAT and achieve a score of 450 or higher.
In addition, applicants are required to meet the following prerequisites:
Work experience or undergraduate credits in:
- quantitative analysis,
- computer usage, and
- oral and written communications.
These areas are covered in the following courses offered at Shippensburg University:
- ENG101 College Writing
- SCM200 Statistical Applications in Business
- ISM142 Business Computer Systems
- HCS100 Basic Oral Communication
To go directly into the Upper Level MBA course, applicants must have the 18 semesters hours of prerequisite knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, organizational behavior, marketing and operations management.
These areas are covered in the following courses offered at Shippensburg University:
- ACC 200 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
- ECN 113 Principles of Economics
- FIN 311 Financial Management
- SCM 330 Operations Management
- MGT 305 Organizational Behavior
- MKT 350 Principles of Marketing
Foundation courses can be substituted for some or all of the above prerequisites.
New students will be required to attend an orientation session at Shippensburg University. All students must be computer literate and have routine access to the Internet and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access), in order to complete the 1/3 web-based component of the program.
New students that do not have a business degree can request admittance to a 46-credit program which would include the following:
Foundation Courses (16 credits) - or equivalent coursework
BSN510 Economic and Information Systems Environment
BSN511 Business Operations and Analysis
BSN512 Essentials of Accounting and Finance
BSN513 Organizational Behavior and Marketing
The Foundations Courses may be waived if an applicant has 18 semester hours of prerequisite knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, organizational behavior, marketing, and operations management. These areas are covered in the following courses offered at Shippensburg University:
ACC200 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
ECN113 Principles of Economics
FIN311 Financial Management
SCM330 Operations Management
MGT305 Organizational Behavior
MKT305 Principles of Marketing
Upper-level Required Courses (24 credits)
MBA502 Managerial Accounting
MBA529 Global Managerial Finance
MBA552 Entrepreneurship
MBA554 International Business
MBA556 Organizational Leadership
MBA565 Information Management and Analysis for Decision Making
MBA577 Supply Chain Management
MBA593 Strategic Management
Possible Electives (6 credits)
MBA533 Business Operations and Logistics Planning
MBA534 Buyer Behavior
MBA536 Ethics in Organizations and Business
MBA547 Management Information Systems and Applications
MBA561 Human Resources and Development
MBA570 Marketing Management
MBA572 Marketing in a Technological Environment
MBA590 Change Management and Business
MBA594 Selected Topics
MBA596 Business Practicum
MBA599 Independent Studies
Electives from Arts and Science and Education are also available with the MBA Director's approval.
MBA Foundation Course Tentative Schedule
For the schedule of upcoming MBA courses, please contact the MBA office:
MBA Director or MBA Secretary
College of Business
Grove Hall 324
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
(717)-477-1483
E-Mail: mba@ship.edu
Faculty
Larry N. Bitner, D.B.A. The George Washington University. Managerial and Cost Accounting. Research Interests: Earnings Management and Performance Measurement.
Sarah K. Bryant, Ph.D., University of South Carolina. Global Financial Management, Essentials of Accounting and Finance. Research Interests: International Finance and Economic Development, Mortgage Markets.
Louise Hatfield, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University. Strategic Management, Leadership, Change Management. Research Interests: Strategic Management, Leadership, Change Management, New Venture Creation and Management.
Jonathan Kohn, Ph.D., New York University. Information Management and Analysis for Decision Making, Supply Chain and Operations Management, Quality Management and Continuous Improvement. Research Interests: Logistics Management, Distance Education.
Shelley Morrisette, Ph.D., University of Mississippi. Entrepreneurship, Marketing Management. Research Interests: Corporate Entrepreneurship, Corporate Strategy.
Robert O. Neidigh, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University. Business Operations & Analysis. Research Interests: Production Scheduling, Math Optimization, Logistics.
William D. Oberman, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh. Leadership, Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior, Ethics, Business & Society. Research Interests: Corporate Public Affairs & Political Strategy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Network Analysis, Resource-Based View of the Firm.
Robert D. Stephens, Ph.D., Indiana University. International Business, European Business Environment. Research Interests: International Strategic Alliances, Organizational Commitment, International Management Strategy.
Joanne Tucker, Ph.D., University of North Texas. Supply Chain Management. Research Interests: E-commerce and Pedagogical Methods. Reviewer for the International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences and The Decision Science Journal of Innovative Education.
John L. Grove College of Business
The John L. Grove College of Business has been accredited by AACSB International since 1981, which certifies the quality of the curriculum, faculty, and support services. The Grove College of Business is one of approximately 500 institutions worldwide that have earned this designation.