Master of Business Administration

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The Bertolon MBA program provides students with diverse undergraduate degrees and work experiences the opportunity to attain a graduate business degree. This degree program enables students to expand existing competencies, achieve professional goals, realize intellectual pursuits, and serve their communities. The program focuses on serving working adults from businesses, non-profit organizations and communities in northeastern Massachusetts. The curriculum blends the student’s professional experience with core business concepts and skills. Through a set of core courses and a variety of electives, the curriculum permits flexibility. The pedagogical approach emphasizes learning by combining experience, business concepts, comprehensive analysis, and communication and team skills. This approach is achieved through lectures, experiential exercises, cases and field-based studies. Using cross-functional techniques, the program provides an integrated examination of the implications of an interconnected global economic environment, technological change, ethical and social responsibility, racial and ethnic diversity, and organizational transformation towards managing a business. The MBA Graduate Faculty is committed to teaching and learning as their primary responsibility with secondary emphasis on research, scholarship and instructional development.

Admissions Requirements

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general Admission requirements linked above, the MBA admissions process requires a résumé be submitted.

To ensure prospective graduate students are prepared for the graduate coursework, their application materials (e.g., transcripts) must demonstrate sufficient knowledge in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Decision Sciences. For more details, consult the Graduate Program Coordinator and review the Plan of Study. Applicants lacking a sufficient background in an area will need to complete the relevant coursework to ensure an adequate foundation (see details below).

MBA COURSE: Undergraduate Coursework required, with grades of 3.0 (“B”) or better

ACC 720: At least two courses in accounting (SSU equivalent = ACC106 + ACC202)
FIN 720: At least two courses in Corporate Financial Management (SSU equivalent = FIN301 + FIN309)
MGT 780: A course in Management and a Business Policy/Strategy course (SSU equivalent MGT231 or MGT332, plus BUS470)
MKT 720: A course in Marketing and a Business Policy/Strategy course (SSU equivalent = MKT241 plus BUS470)
ODS 710: A course in Business Statistics or Quantitative Methods in Business (SSU equivalent = MAT247 or ODS262)

Program Requirements

Upon acceptance into the program, you will complete a tentative Plan of Study in consultation with the program coordinator. You must request that any transfer credits be considered at this time. Please note that no more than three courses taken at Salem State University before admission can be counted towards this program. You should meet regularly with the program coordinator to discuss your progress and revise your plan of study as needed.

Foundation Courses

(note that up to 10 credits of foundation courses may be required depending on applicant’s degree discipline and work experience)

Core Courses (24 credits)

Electives

Three elective courses chosen in consultation with the MBA program coordinator (9 credits)

Total Credits: 33-43

Graduating MBA students are required to take and pass a comprehensive exam that covers the major themes covered in the program.

Variable Credit

Variable credit programs are designed to address a student’s academic plan while adhering to the program requirements and standards of the profession. Based on their background (e.g., prior coursework, select endorsements), some students may be approved for the minimum number of credits of the program and other students may need additional coursework. Students will work with the Graduate Program Coordinator to determine the best fit of courses within the structure of the program and propose the Plan of Study to the School of Graduate Studies for review and approval.