Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Program Overview

The Bluefield State University Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, housed in the W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business, is designed to provide students with a solid theoretical base for understanding modern business and managerial principles, and to equip them with advanced strategies, tools and techniques needed to facilitate the implementation of these principles.  The program has an emphasis on organizational development and is designed to strengthen the managerial and leadership capabilities of managers operating within all sectors of the economy.  The program is designed for both business and non-business majors, with non-business majors needing to complete required foundational courses or complete modules for leveling up as needed. The program requires the completion of 30 credit hours and is offered in an online or in person format that caters to the needs of working professionals.  The courses are offered in an accelerated, eight-week format, enabling full-time students to complete the program within one calendar year. 

Note: 9 credit hours is considered full time.Maximum of 12 credit hours per academic semester. 

 

Programmatic Outcomes

The W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business at Bluefield State University is fully committed to enhancing the knowledge and skills needed to manage and lead organizations in all sectors of our dynamic economy.  Graduates of the MBA program (Organizational Development emphasis) will:  

PLO 1: Acquire the skills needed to motivate employees, build effective work teams, and create innovative and effective organizational change. 
PLO 2: Develop the analytical and technical knowledge and skills needed to lead 21st century workplaces. 
PLO 3: Integrate theories and concepts from various business and economics disciplines to enhance managerial and strategic decision making and performance. 
PLO 4: Demonstrate effective professional communication and presentation skills, both verbally and in written form. 
PLO 5: Understand and appreciate the dynamic global environment that is characterized by diversity in cultures, values, customs, perspectives, and business practices. 
PLO 6: Understand the crucial role that legal and ethical responsibilities play in meeting the strategic objectives of organizations and their leaders. 

 

Program Delivery/Structure

The Bluefield State University MBA program will be delivered in a compressed format that will enable students who enter the program with all foundational prerequisites to complete the program within a calendar year.  Part-time students will find degree planning and completion to be convenient and efficient as the annual three-semester cycle will be repeated each year.  Classes will be offered in eight-week sessions (two sessions during the fall and spring semesters, one during the summer), with two courses offered during each session.  The courses will be offered in an online and in seat format. 

 
MBA 511- This will be the first class in which MBA students will be enrolled. The inbound exam will be administered during the first week of the 8-week course. Students will be introduced to Write and Cite APA 7th edition and be required to complete the module over the 8-week course.

  
MBA 600- This course will be the last class the MBA student will complete.  During the course, the student will be administered the outbound exam during the last two weeks of the course. Capstone Project: The MBA program culminates in a capstone project, where students apply their knowledge to real-world business challenges or research, in collaboration with a faculty mentor. This course must be taken at Bluefield State University. 

 

Admission Process 

The MBA program has specific requirements for admission to the program that are covered on the website and academic catalog:  

 

• The Bluefield State University MBA program is open to both business and non-business majors. Applicants with a non-business undergraduate degree must first complete the required foundational coursework before they can be fully admitted and begin graduate-level classes. 

• Students entering the MBA program without having completed all program foundational courses will be admitted on a provisionary basis and will qualify for full admission upon successfully completing foundational courses or the leveling up modules.
• Students are expected to have earned a minimum 2.75 Grade Point Average (GPA) at their undergraduate institution. However, students with GPAs below 2.75 will be considered for admission if their academic performance during their final 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework demonstrates the potential to be successful in a graduate program.   

• Students may satisfy the foundational prerequisites by taking the required course, completing the appropriate College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test, Leveling Up Onboarding Modules, demonstrating equivalent academic preparation, or receiving a waiver of a prerequisite course based on extensive, documented work experience in the course discipline. 

Applicants who have not yet fulfilled the foundational requirements for admission to the MBA program will be granted Provisional Conditional Acceptance. To support students in meeting the foundational requirements, BSU offers an onboarding initiative known as the Level Up Modules. 

The Leveling Up Modules are designed to equip students with the essential knowledge and skills needed for success in the MBA program. The modules must be completed successfully by the specified date below to allow adequate time for review. Upon successful completion, applicants’ admission status will be re-evaluated for full acceptance into the MBA program. The resources remain available to students for two years. The Level Up Modules not only fulfill foundational requirements but also serve as a valuable launchpad for your academic and professional journey in the MBA program. 

Prerequisite Foundational Requirements 

Applicants who have not completed an undergraduate degree in business administration or the following prerequisite foundational courses (MGMT 210, MRKT 210, ECON 211, or ECON 212, ACCT 202, BUSN 310, and BUSN 350) may satisfy the requirements by one of the following methods: 

• The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test may be taken to meet the foundation requirements.  
• Receiving a waiver for a prerequisite course based on extensive, documented work experience in the course discipline. 
• Effective June 30, 2025, all non-business majors and business majors who do not meet the foundational course requirements for the MBA must complete the Leveling Up bundle during the admission process two weeks prior to the semester admissions deadline. Upon successful completion of each Leveling Up Module, the student must pass the posttest with a 70% or above.

 

Minimum GPA Requirements: 

• Good Academic Standing: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to remain in good academic standing. 
• Academic Probation: If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, they will be a given a warning and if over the next 8 weeks the student’s GPA has not improved, the student will be placed on academic probation for the next 8-weeks.  During probation, the student must demonstrate improvement by raising their GPA to 3.0 or higher by the end of the probation period.  
• Dismissal: Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA after the probation period will result in dismissal from the program. Students will be eligible to reapply after one year.  

 
Grade Requirements: 

• Any grade of F requires the course to be retaken at the earliest opportunity. 
• Incomplete can only be granted if 70% of the course work has been completed. The student must have earned a “C” or better in the course at the time the Incomplete Grade Contract is signed. 
• The student must complete all remaining work within a specified timeframe, by the end of the following 8 weeks, or the “I” will be converted to an “F.”. 
• If a student has an incomplete grade, they will only be permitted to take one course until that incomplete is satisfied.  
• No more than two Cs are allowed, and the student must maintain a 3.0 or higher. A cumulative 3.0 GPA is required to meet the graduation requirement. 

 

Transfer of Credits Information:

• Students transferring to Bluefield State University from another MBA accredited program may request to have a maximum of six (6) credits transferred. In order to be considered, the course description(s) and course objective(s) must be comparable to the MBA courses offered at Bluefield State University. 

• Transcripts, course descriptions/course objectives and test scores will be reviewed by the MBA Director on an individual basis, who will determine the appropriateness of the transfer course(s). Only courses with a grade of a “B” or above are considered for transfer credit.

Career Opportunities:

Students graduating from the MBA program will have a wide range of employment opportunities, both in West Virginia and throughout the world.  Since the MBA degree is pursued by many individuals who majored in non-business fields as undergraduates, the graduates of this program will find employment opportunities in many diverse fields and industries such as:

• Accounting 
• Financial services
• Human Resource management
• Public Relations
• Retailing
• Marketing Management
• Information Technology
• Consulting
• Government
• Not-For-Profit Sector
• Education

Admission Procedure and Personal Statement Information:

• Complete the MBA admission application

• Submit 2 letters of recommendation (It is recommended that the letters of recommendation be written by current or former faculty and/or business professionals who have prior work-related experience with the applicant.)

• Provide a Statement of Purpose 1-2 pages in length (double spaced), in which you discuss your career goals and specify reasons why you want to pursue an MBA.

• Request official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions and graduate institutions if applicable be sent to the admission department at the University.  

• Click on the following link to visit the MBA web page to complete Admission Requirements:

https://bluefieldstate.edu/academics/degrees/master-business-administration-mba/standards#appReq    

The Bluefield State University MBA Curriculum (Organizational Development Emphasis) is as follows: