Program Overview
The Bluefield State College Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, housed in the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business, is designed to give students 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 in 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. The program requires the completion of 30 credit hours and is offered in a hybrid/online 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.
Programmatic Outcomes
The W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business at Bluefield State College 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:
1. Acquire the skills needed to motivate employees, build effective work teams, and create innovative and effective organizational change.
2. Develop the analytical and technical knowledge and skills needed to lead 21st century workplaces.
3. Integrate theories and concepts from various business and economics disciplines to enhance managerial and strategic decision making and performance.
4. Demonstrate effective professional communication and presentation skills, both verbally and in written form.
5. Understand and appreciate the dynamic global environment that is characterized by diversity in cultures, values, customs, perspectives, and business practices.
6. Understand the crucial role that legal and ethical responsibilities play in meeting the strategic objectives of organizations and their leaders.
Admissions and Performance Standards
The Bluefield State College MBA program is open to both business and non-business majors. In order to be accepted into the program, students must verify their graduation from a regionally accredited college or university by having transcripts forwarded directly from that institution to Bluefield State College. Students’ performance in their undergraduate program will be evaluated by the MBA Program Admissions Committee. To be admitted into the program, students are expected to have a minimum 2.75 grade point average; 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 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 satisfactory completion of the foundational courses with all grades being a C or higher. These foundational courses are: ACCT 202 Principles of Accounting II , BUSN 310 Applied Business Statistics , BUSN 350 Financial Management , ECON 211 Principles of Economics I Macroeconomics , ECON 212 Principles of Economics II Microeconomics , MRKT 210 Principles of Marketing , and MGMT 210 Principles of Management .
Students may satisfy the foundational prerequisites by taking the required course, completing the appropriate College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test, demonstrating equivalent academic preparation, or receiving a waiver of a prerequisite course based on extensive, documented work experience in the course discipline.
Students transferring into the MBA program from another graduate-level business program may request to have a maximum of six (6) credits transferred. In order to be considered for transfer credit, the course description(s) and course objectives(s) must be comparable to those of the MBA courses offered at Bluefield State College. Transcripts and course descriptions will be reviewed by the Director of the MBA program, who will determine the appropriateness of the transfer course(s). In order to be considered for transfer credit, the grade earned in the course cannot be below a B. In order to graduate from the MBA program, students must complete all courses with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher. If a student receives a course grade lower than a C, he or she will be required to retake the course and pass it with a grade of C or higher. No MBA course can be repeated more than once.
Program Delivery
The Bluefield State College 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/hybrid format. In the case of hybrid courses, students will have the option of attending some class sessions “in seat” if desired. However, it is important to note that students will be able to complete all degree requirements completely online if they elect not to come to campus.
Career Opportunities
Students graduating from the Bluefield State College 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, including accounting, financial services, human resource management, public relations, retailing, marketing management, information technology, consulting, government, the not-for-profit sector, and education.
Applying for Admittance into the Bluefield State College MBA Program
Students applying to the School of Business MBA program must complete the MBA program online application form. As part of the application process, students will be required to have all of their undergraduate transcripts forwarded to the Bluefield State College Registrar’s Office. Applicants will also be required to have two letters of recommendation submitted to the Director of the MBA program. (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.) In addition, applicants must submit an essay, 3-5 pages in length (double-spaced), in which they discuss their career goals and specify reasons why they want to pursue an MBA.
The Bluefield State College MBA Curriculum (Organizational Development Emphasis) is as follows: