Master of Business Administration (MBA) 

Marshall University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). In addition, the Lewis College of Business (LCOB) is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This accreditation includes the LCOB and the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business.

Other Colleges of Business that have AACSB accreditation include West Virginia University, University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville and University of Kentucky, among others. AACSB is the gold standard of business accreditation.

The duration of the program is 11-months, and the cost of the program is $26,000 for in-state students or $28,000 for out-of-state students.

Included in the cost of the program: books, required introductory preparatory courses, required professional development modules (PDMs) and the cost of the international business trip (excluding travel from and to the USA). Scholarships may be available to traveling students to offset flight costs.

Program Format

The 11-month MBA is a cohort-style program. Students start and complete the program at the same time (provided all requirements are fulfilled). Students who exit the program midway can rejoin the next cohort at a near-similar point. Students work in the same team throughout their core courses.

The program consists of six terms plus an international business experience. Each term is approximately 5-weeks with one-week breaks between each term. In some instances, a term may be broken up because of federal, state or university mandated holidays or for other compelling reasons.

Class Times

Classes take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for most of the program. Classes typically begin at 5:45 p.m. and finish at 9:30 p.m., unless otherwise notified. Given the shortness of the program, punctuality and attendance is of great importance.

Some electives may also be offered on Tuesday and/or Thursday, in addition to the core courses.

It is possible that a Friday class, in a given term, could be delivered in an online format to acquaint students with online work formats similar to those now offered by many workplaces.

Core and Elective Courses

Term 1: 3 Core Courses total credit Hours = 4.5

Term 2: 3 Core Courses total credit Hours = 4.5

Term 3: 3 Core Courses total credit Hours = 4.5

Term 4: 3 Core Courses total credit Hours = 4.5                   Total Core Credit Hours = 18

Term 5: 3 Elective Courses total credit Hours = 4.5

Term 6: 3 Elective Courses total credit Hours = 4.5             Total Elective Credit Hours = 9

International Business Experience

Following Term 6 there is an international business experience with travel to another country (or countries). This experience counts for 3 credit hours.       Total International Credit Hours = 3

Professional Development Modules

Four Professional Development Modules (PDMs), each of 0.5 CRH, are required to be taken during the program. They will be offered on a Saturday and will usually begin at 9 a.m. and finish at 3 p.m. Please set aside time for these 4 PDMs.

They cover:

(a) Teamwork

(b) Career Development

(c) Business Etiquette – Dinner at 5:30 p.m. follows this PDM.

(d) Cultural Immersion – Held in preparation for the international trip, and will likely finish by 5 p.m.

Total PDM Credit Hours = 2

Thus, to successfully complete the program a student must complete 32 Credit Hours (18 CRH Core + 9 CRH electives +3 CRH International trip + 2 CRH PDMs).

Students are required to take at least three elective courses in Term 5 and three elective courses in Term 6, for a total of six elective courses.

Students are allowed to take more than the minimum three electives in a given term if their schedule permits. It is possible that additional electives will be offered on Tuesday and/or Thursday.

If possible, electives will be available in a pattern of business disciplines to enable a concentration (e.g., 2 elective courses in marketing such a Digital Media in Term 5 and Social Media Marketing in Term 6). Such patterns are subject to student demand (a minimum is needed in each class), faculty resources and financial consideration. The LCOB reserves the right to make changes for these and other reasons.

Currently, there are no available 11-month programmatic scholarships. However, students are urged to seek other funding sources available at the university and talk to the university’s financial aid office for assistance. See the Marshall University portal (myMU) for this information.

The program seeks to make available competitive, paid internships.

While the College of Business does its best to provide internship opportunities to students, there are no guarantees that internships will be available. Because internships are competitive, students will likely be required to interview for available positions. If a student is successful at the interview, the hosting company may choose to offer the student an internship. The MBA program will do its best to match student interest with the internships offered, but there is no guarantee that this match will be the case.

Internship pay and available hours is determined by each company hosting internships and varies by company and position.

The international trip is approximately 2 weeks long. Generally, it will involve six business visits and four cultural visits. A trip can involve one or two destinations.

Typically, students will be given a selection of three trips and the two most popular trips will be selected.

Given cost structures, it is important that the trips carry a balance (in terms of travelers) to both destinations. Thus, when the trips are offered, student priority for each destination will be determined by the timing of the student selection response to the trips. Students not selecting by the closing date/time for selection will be assigned to one the trips (keeping in mind that we will endeavor to preserve a balance in terms of number of travelers in such cases).

If the non-response to international trip selection is related to non-travel, the non-travelling students can take (2) additional electives to cover the missed credit hours.

The international trip (included in the tuition), covers hotel costs, meal costs (except dinner on 4 days), travel within the country, travel from destination 1 to destination 2 (if the trip involves two destinations), tips, and entry to paid attractions.

Please note that if circumstances dictate, we may adjust the travel calendar. There must be a recognition that such travel always requires an understanding of flexibility and the awareness of the occurrence of unanticipated circumstances that have to be accommodated.

The students will be notified of the trip destinations by the last week of November (or latest by the first week of December). Given that the trip takes place in mid-May this should give travelers adequate time to purchase airline tickets. Ticket costs vary by time of purchase. Purchasing too soon or too late might not be optimal. Talk with a travel agent or with an experienced traveler for assistance.

The program reserves the right to make changes to the international business experience if circumstances dictate.

The new building, the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation, opened in January 2024. Classes and events are being held in the building.

Graduation dinner is tentatively scheduled to coincide with or to be within days of Marshall University’s Spring Commencement Ceremony in May.

The graduation dinner is a formal event and business attire is required. Students are welcome to bring one free guest to the event. If students want to bring additional paid guests, the College needs to be informed by March 30 of the graduation year. Due to space constraints, students are limited to a maximum of four paid guests.

Students also have the option to participate in Marshall University’s traditional spring graduation ceremonies in May of the graduation year.

Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or the Graduate Admissions website: www.marshall.edu/admissions/graduate.

Applicants must submit a copy of their resume and must have the following:

1. An undergraduate degree in business from an accepted, accredited institution with an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on the bachelor’s degree transcript. scale for all previously completed undergraduate coursework.
   OR
2. An undergraduate degree from an accepted, accredited institution with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university work, and, in addition to the bachelor’s degree transcript and resume, 2 letters of recommendation. The applicant may also submit additional documents such as a statement of purpose, test scores, etc.
   OR
3. Have a doctoral degree from an accepted, accredited institution.
   Students without an undergraduate or graduate degree in business must complete the non-credit Foundational Course for Quantitative Methods (non-credit MBA 600), which meets two weekends before the program starts.

Abbie McElroy
Program Coordinator
mcelroy18@marshall.edu

Dr. Marc Sollosy
Executive Director Gradate Programs
sollosy@marshall.edu

Dr. Deepak Subedi
Associate Dean for Academic Programs
subedi@marshall.edu