Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
College: Daniel L. Goodwin College of Business
Department: Business
Student Type: Graduate Semester
Degree: Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Campus: Lisle Campus
Mission and History
The mission of the M.B.A. program at Benedictine University is to provide a collaborative educational experience that imparts superior management skills and best practices while instilling a sense of responsible and personal commitment to allow business leaders to continuously improve the leadership and success of businesses and organizations.
For 40 years, Benedictine’s M.B.A. programs have been preparing students for executive and managerial positions in both the private and public sectors. Leaders in the 21st century must make their way through the maze of market uncertainty, global competition, ethical challenges and constant change. The Benedictine M.B.A. has prepared more than 7,000 students to meet these challenges.
Learning Goals of the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Upon completion of Benedictine’s M.B.A. program, students should possess critical and creative thinking skills to solve problems, identify opportunities and make reliable decisions in domestic and global environments using the business concepts embodied in the disciplines of finance, accounting, management, operations, marketing and economics.
Why Enroll in our M.B.A. Degree?
The M.B.A. is widely recognized as a powerful professional credential in business and other organizations. The M.B.A. combines quantitative and qualitative courses to prepare you for the demands of contemporary business leadership in a complex, uncertain environment. The M.B.A. conveys practical knowledge and competence to better run organizations in a competitive environment. Essential skills needed in management include accounting, economics, project management, finance, strategy, marketing and ethics. The M.B.A. is an essential factor for your career growth and leadership development.
4+1 Master of Business Administration Program
Well-qualified Benedictine University students who complete a B.B.A. or B.S. degree may be eligible to complete the M.B.A. degree in approximately one additional year of full-time graduate study. Students in other majors are encouraged to discuss curricular options with the department chair. The full-time 4+1 Program is developed specifically for recent college graduates. Admission to the program is not automatic and an application must be completed during a student's senior year of undergraduate coursework.
Program Format
Benedictine University’s M.B.A. program is designed for working adults. The program’s classes are ideal for those who seek flexibility in their course schedules and plan to register as either a full- or part-time student.
To earn the M.B.A. degree, students complete the 30-credit program consisting of ten three-credit core courses. The program also consists of four three-credit foundation courses that are either completed or waived before starting the core courses.
Additional elective courses beyond the 30-credit core provide students with the option adding a concentration.
Students must complete all courses with a grade of C or better. A course with a grade of less than a C must be repeated. None of the ten core courses may be waived. Students must graduate with a 3.000 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Course Waivers and Transfer Credit
Course Waivers: Waiver of one or more Foundation courses may be determined by the department chair/program director on a case-by-case basis. Students with equivalent undergraduate coursework completed within seven years from the date of application to the program with a grade of “B” or higher may be eligible for a foundation course waiver. Students with a relevant graduate degree or a professional or industry certificate/licensure (e.g. Certified Public Accountant, Project Management Professional, etc.) may also be eligible for a waiver of a foundation course.
Transfer Credit: Graduate transfer credit may be granted should the student have successfully completed a graduate course in the same field of study from another regionally-accredited graduate program with a grade of “B” or better within the last seven years of application to the program. A maximum of two courses are allowed as graduate transfer credit. The student shall provide a copy of the course descriptions and syllabi of courses taken for confirmation of comparability to Benedictine University M.B.A. courses as part of the application packet.
Course waivers cannot be awarded for professional work/life experience.
All requests for course waivers and transfers are subject to approval by the department chair/program director.
Starting the Program
Because your M.B.A. requires a significant commitment, your initial advising appointment is very important. All students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment before enrolling in their first M.B.A. course. An advising appointment provides students with important details about their curriculum sequence, establishes the academic plan for program completion, and makes students aware of essential graduate policies and M.B.A. resources.
Student Type: Graduate Quarter
Campus: Lisle Campus
Students may not enter the M.B.A. program on quarters after the Spring 2021 term. Where possible, existing quarter M.B.A. students were converted to semester M.B.A. students as of Summer 2021.
Existing students should refer to original catalog of entry for appropriate academic requirements. College of Business academic advisors can clarify appropriate quarter to semester course requirement conversions. Quarter credits convert at a 3 quarter credits to 2 semester credits ratio. Required courses and earned credits will be applied at the 3:2 ratio. Partial credits are not rounded up.
Our M.B.A. quarter programs include:
- Traditional On-Campus M.B.A.
- Online M.B.A.
- 4+1 M.B.A. Program
- International M.B.A. Program
- Hybrid Cohort M.B.A.
- Dual Degrees (M.B.A./M.S. in Management and Organizational Behavior, M.B.A./Master of Public Health, and M.B.A./M.S. in Nursing)
- The M.B.A. Program:
The M.B.A. curriculum includes 16 courses, 13 required and three electives, totaling 64 quarter credit hours. M.B.A. students are required to complete the foundation courses at a grade of “B” or better and successfully complete the 13 required courses plus 12 hours in elective coursework, at a 3.000 or higher cumulative GPA. All coursework with a grade below "C" must be repeated for the course to apply toward graduation and/or certificate requirements. Courses designated as foundation courses, as identified in the catalog, require a grade of a "B" or better to apply toward graduation/certificate requirements. Each of the 13 required courses are offered year-round. Traditional On-Campus evening M.B.A. classes typically meet one evening per week, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Classes are scheduled in quarters that last 10 weeks. Online M.B.A. classes are offered year-round and typically run six sessions a year, with each session lasting eight weeks.
Lisle Main Campus, Traditional M.B.A. Program
Benedictine University’s Traditional M.B.A. program is designed for working adults. The program’s classes are ideal for those who seek flexibility in their course schedules and plan to register as either a full- or part-time student. Most classes are conducted one evening per week per class on the main campus in Lisle starting at 6:30 p.m. Select courses may be offered in a weekend format.
The M.B.A. program consists of six foundation courses that provide preparation for the managerial-level core courses. Students with prior undergraduate business coursework may be waived from four foundation courses. To be eligible for course waivers, prior undergraduate coursework must have been taken within the last seven years, pending department chair approval. This means you can complete your degree in less than two years.
Students in the Traditional On-Campus M.B.A. program are allowed to select between several required course options to best suit their career goals. Students may select from concentrations to fulfill degree requirements. The M.B.A. program may accept up to 16 quarter credit hours in waivers and 32 quarter credit hours in transfer credit toward the master’s degree for graduate coursework completed at another accredited institution. The combination of waiver and transfer credit cannot exceed 32 quarter credit hours.
4+1 M.B.A. Program
Well-qualified Benedictine University students who complete an undergraduate degree may be eligible to complete the M.B.A. with one additional year (four additional quarters) of full-time graduate study (12 quarter credit hours per quarter). Students are encouraged to discuss curricular options with the program director. The full-time 4+1 Program is developed specifically for recent college graduates. Admission to the program is not automatic and an application must be completed during the student's senior year of undergraduate coursework.
Online M.B.A. Program
Benedictine University offers a high-quality, fully online M.B.A. The interactive online format of the Online M.B.A. allows you the flexibility to complete your coursework around busy work and personal schedules; and earn your master’s degree from an established, reputable university.
Hybrid Cohort M.B.A. Program (offered in Northern and Central Illinois and Southwestern Arizona)
Benedictine University’s cohort M.B.A. program offers an evening, blended-style program to working adults. The M.B.A. degree is completed in less than two years while attending classes one evening per week, at a location close to home or work. The cohort delivery is a hybrid format, with courses offered in-class and fully online in D2L. Cohorts start regularly throughout the year.
International M.B.A. Program
Benedictine partners with international universities. Benedictine’s International M.B.A. Program prepares students to enter today’s dynamic global workplace with the assurance of superior personal and intellectual development, along with the important understanding of today’s multicultural environment. Students complete 64 quarter credit hours in 13 core M.B.A. courses, plus three courses focusing on international business. Those students interested in a truly international experience have the opportunity to take their concentration courses at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), an exchange partner institution of Benedictine University. Summer sessions at partner institutions offer coursework in an accelerated 12 to 21 day format.
The Asian M.B.A. program is run in partnership with Shenyang University of Technology. The M.B.A. program is also being offered in partnership with University of Economics and Business and at Dong A University in Da Nang. The M.S. MIS program is offered at Shenyang Jianzhu University (SJZU). The Higher Learning Commission approved Benedictine University to offer M.B.A. and Master of Science (M.S.) in Management Information Systems programs throughout China and Vietnam.
Dual Degree M.B.A. Programs
Benedictine University offers the following three dual M.B.A. degrees: M.B.A./M.S. in Management and Organizational Behavior, M.B.A./Master of Public Health, and M.B.A./M.S. in Nursing. Dual degree programs prepare students to take leadership roles and pursue a myriad of career opportunities. Dual degree programs generally require 96 quarter credit hours and may be completed in as little as 36 months. Application and admission is required to each graduate program, and students must fulfill all requirements for each program in the selected dual degree. Students admitted to a graduate business administration program may apply to a dual degree program at any time during their initial degree program or up to five years after completion of the initial degree program. Approval of both program directors and the Department of Graduate Business Administration chair is required. Should a returning Benedictine student exceed the five-year time limit required to apply to a dual degree program, the student may petition the department chair to consider their prior academic performance and professional development in order to be considered for the dual degree program. These applications will be considered on an individual basis. The residency requirement for a dual degree is 64 quarter credit hours.
Course Waivers, Transfers and Substitutions
Waivers: M.B.A. course waivers may be granted to one M.B.A. course should the student successfully complete two undergraduate courses in the same field of study from a regionally accredited undergraduate program with a grade of “B” or better within the last seven years of application to the program. The maximum M.B.A. courses allowed to be waived is four. Four Benedictine M.B.A. courses equals 16 quarter hours. A student may also be eligible for an M.B.A. course waiver should the student have a current valid professional certification such as CPA or PMP.
Transfers: M.B.A. course transfers may be granted to one M.B.A. course should the student successfully complete one graduate course in the same field of study from another regionally accredited graduate program with a grade of “B” or better within the last five years of application to the program. The maximum M.B.A. courses allowed to accept a transfer is eight. Eight Benedictine M.B.A. courses equals 32 quarter hours. The student shall provide a copy of the course descriptions and syllabi of courses taken from another regionally accredited university master’s program for confirmation of comparability to the Benedictine M.B.A. courses as part of the application packet.
Substitutions: A Benedictine M.B.A. course may be granted a substitution to accept another Benedictine M.B.A. course in its place from the same Benedictine University M.B.A. program. A request to substitute one M.B.A. course for another M.B.A. course within the Benedictine University program shall be approved by the department chair. All substitutions will be reviewed in order to insure the integrity of the Benedictine degree is not compromised, and all Benedictine degree program objectives are met.
M.B.A. Program Electives
Students in the M.B.A. program can select 12 quarter credit hours as electives. Electives should be chosen to advance individual professional development and career goals. Academic advisors assist students in making these important decisions. Elective courses are offered at least once a year, and advanced academic planning is recommended to incorporate preferred electives.
M.B.A. Program Concentrations
A unique feature of the Benedictine M.B.A. program is the option to earn one or more concentrations. A concentration is earned by completing 12 elective quarter credit hours from the specific courses designated for each concentration. Earning a concentration is optional. Students must comply with all course prerequisites when planning a concentration. Those students wishing to earn two or more concentrations must complete a unique set of courses for each concentration. An elective cannot be used to meet the requirements of two different concentrations.
Application for Admission
- $40 non-refundable application fee.
- Official transcripts from all universities/colleges attended. Official electronic transcripts can be emailed to e-transcripts@ben.edu.
- Two letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s professional or academic work, excluding family or personal friends.
- A one- to two-page essay addressing educational and career goals and how completion of the M.B.A. program will help achieve those educational and career goals.
- Current résumé listing chronological work history and academic degrees.
- Personal interview may be required prior to an admission decision.
- Students are recommended, but not required, to submit an official copy of their GMAT or GRE test scores.
- Students who have completed any foreign postsecondary education (college, university, etc.) are required to submit an official credit evaluation. Students may submit a detailed evaluation from Educational Perspectives at edperspectives.org/benedictine, World Education Services (wes.org), or a course-by-course evaluation from Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) at ece.org. Official reports must be mailed directly to Benedictine from Educational Perspectives or ECE or submitted electronically directly to Benedictine from Educational Perspectives or ECE. Please contact the Enrollment Center for more information.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses 1 | ||
| Introduction to Financial Accounting | ||
| Analytical Tools for Management Decisions | ||
| Economics | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| ACCT 6201 | Managerial Accounting for Decision Makers | 3 |
| ECON 6101 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FINA 6101 | Techniques in Financial Decision Making | 3 |
| MKTG 6101 | Brand and Marketing Management | 3 |
| MNGT 6206 | The Global Environment | 3 |
| MNGT 6301 | Human Resources and Talent Management | 3 |
| MNGT 6401 | Leadership and Ethics in a Global Environment | 3 |
| MNGT 6501 | Operations Management | 3 |
| MNGT 6601 | Project Management | 3 |
| MNGT 6801 | Global Strategic Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
May be waived.
Optional Concentrations
Project Management
Project management is an in-demand skill set, spanning all industries and sectors of business. Project management leadership is a highly sought-after skill as intense global competition demands that new projects and business development be completed on time and within budget. Courses offer the student an understanding of organizational behavior as it relates to the individual, effective team-building skills, conflict management and resolution, as well as skills to effectively manage the financial side of projects.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MNGT 6101 | Organizational Behavior: Theory and Contemporary Practice | 3 |
| or MNGT 5101 | Organizational Behavior | |
| MNGT 6601 | Project Management | 3 |
| MNGT 6602 | Project Cost and Scheduling | 3 |
| Optional Course | ||
| PMP Preparation | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
DIGITAL MARKETING
Digital marketing uses social media platforms to engage your audience—customers, clients, stakeholders—to build your brand. Increased web traffic leads to increased sales. Advertising on various social media platforms is analyzed. Publishing content on social media platforms is considered. Listening to your audience is also examined.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MKTG 6101 | Brand and Marketing Management | 3 |
| MKTG 6102 | Advanced Search and Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG 6103 | Advanced Content Marketing, Automation, and Google Analytics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Change Management
A recent Future of Jobs Report projected that jobs leveraging “human” skills such as training and development, and Organization Development specialists to increase. This concentration in Change Management will provide knowledge to prepare adults for the world of change. Exposure to the role of consulting, the ability to work and improve teams, and understanding the role of the organization development practitioner will be explored.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses (each course is 3 credits) | ||
| MNGT 6201 | Organizational Development | 3 |
| MNGT 6202 | Groups and Team Building | 3 |
| MNGT 6203 | Organizational Development - Consulting Skills | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
TALENT MANAGEMENT
The three-course concentration provides students with knowledge and skills in human resource functions, exploring cutting-edge concepts in talent management, business intelligence and ethics. This concentration is appropriate for students or working professional in the Human Resources and Talent Management arena.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses (each course is 3 credits) | ||
| MNGT 6301 | Human Resources and Talent Management | 3 |
| MNGT 6401 | Leadership and Ethics in a Global Environment | 3 |
| MNGT 6701 | Business Intelligence | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Traditional On-Campus M.B.A. Program Quarter Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| MBA 5510 | Economics | 4 |
| MBA 5541 | Analytical Tools for Management Decisions | 4 |
| MSA 6500 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| MBA 6520 | Leadership & Business Ethics in the Global Environment | 4 |
| MGMT 6530 | Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| MBA 6639 | International Business | 4 |
| Managerial Process | ||
| MSA 6601 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| MBA 6611 | Managerial Economics | 4 |
| MBA 6630 | Operations Management | 4 |
| MBA 6651 | Financial Management | 4 |
| MBA 6661 | Marketing Management | 4 |
| MBA 6671 | Strategic Management | 4 |
| MBA 6669 | Project Management | 4 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 12 elective quarter credit hours, confirmed with your academic advisor | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Concentrations offered in the Traditional On-Campus M.B.A. program include: Accounting, Business Analytics, Health Administration, and Organizational Leadership.
Online M.B.A. Program Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| MBA 5510 | Economics | 4 |
| MBA 5541 | Analytical Tools for Management Decisions | 4 |
| MSA 6500 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| MBA 6520 | Leadership & Business Ethics in the Global Environment | 4 |
| MGMT 6530 | Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| MBA 6639 | International Business | 4 |
| Managerial Process | ||
| MSA 6601 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| MBA 6611 | Managerial Economics | 4 |
| MBA 6630 | Operations Management | 4 |
| MBA 6651 | Financial Management | 4 |
| MBA 6661 | Marketing Management | 4 |
| MBA 6671 | Strategic Management | 4 |
| MBA 6669 | Project Management | 4 |
| Electives Courses | ||
| Select 12 elective quarter credit hours, confirmed with your academic advisor | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Hybrid Cohort M.B.A. Program Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| MBA 5510 | Economics | 4 |
| MBA 5541 | Analytical Tools for Management Decisions | 4 |
| MSA 6500 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| MBA 6520 | Leadership & Business Ethics in the Global Environment | 4 |
| MGMT 6530 | Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| MBA 6639 | International Business | 4 |
| Managerial Process | ||
| MSA 6601 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| MBA 6611 | Managerial Economics | 4 |
| MBA 6630 | Operations Management | 4 |
| MBA 6651 | Financial Management | 4 |
| MBA 6661 | Marketing Management | 4 |
| MBA 6671 | Strategic Management | 4 |
| MBA 6669 | Project Management | 4 |
| Electives Courses | ||
| MBA 5551 | Strategic Managerial Communications | 2 |
| MBA 6559 | Entrepreneurship | 4 |
| MGMT 6581 | Team Building | 2 |
| MBA 6633 | Legal Issues in the Workplace | 4 |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
The electives in the Cohort program do not lead to a specific concentration. Concentrations may be added via additional elective coursework upon advisement and availability is dependent on location.
M.B.A. Concentrations
Accounting
This concentration provides the skills and knowledge necessary for accounting positions in a variety of settings. The Accounting option includes courses that will prepare students for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA) examinations and for a variety of positions in corporate accounting. Students who successfully complete certificates in Accounting will fulfill this concentration. You may earn this concentration by selecting 12 or more quarter credit hours from the list below:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSA 5504 | Corporate Accounting Theory and Practice I | 4 |
| MSA 5506 | Corporate Accounting Theory and Practice II | 4 |
| MSA 5513 | Auditing Theory and Practice | 4 |
| MSA 5515 | Advanced Accounting | 4 |
| MSA 6603 | Cost Analysis, Profit Planning and Control | 4 |
| MSA 6604 | Theory and Practice of Financial Reporting | 4 |
| MSA 6605 | Tax Influences on Decision Making | 4 |
| MSA 6606 | Forensic Accounting | 4 |
| MSA 6607 | Fraud Examination | 4 |
| MSA 6608 | Fraud and the Legal Environment | 4 |
| MSA 6609 | Computer Fraud | 4 |
Business Analytics
The Business Analytics concentration leverages information technology and business thinking to turn data into actionable intelligence. The concentration is designed for students who have an interest in quantitative methods, exploring and uncovering relationships through data analysis and using data to solve business problems. You may earn this concentration by selecting 12 or more credits from the list below, including the asterisked course:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSBA 6641 | Optimization Techniques for Management Decisions | 4 |
| MSBA 6659 | Business Analytics (required) | 4 |
| MSBA 6663 | Machine Learning | 4 |
| MIS 6674 | Database Management Systems | 4 |
| MIS 6677 | Decision Support and Knowledge-based Systems | 4 |
| MSBA 6685 | Data Visualization | 4 |
| MSBA 6686 | Analytics for Big Data | 4 |
| MSBA 6687 | Data Warehousing | 4 |
| MSBA 6691 | Business Analytics Lecture Series | 1-4 |
Health Administration
The Health Administration concentration examines how financial, legal and marketing activities are transformed when applied in health care organizations. Integration of the systemic view of U.S. health care into the decision-making process prepares students to become mid- and senior-level health executives who are able to combine the analytic tools of business with an understanding and appreciation of the human side of health care. You may earn this concentration by selecting 12 or more quarter credit hours from the list below:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 6002 | Public Health System | 4 |
| MPH 6005 | Environmental Health | 4 |
| MPH 6064 | Marketing of Public Health | 4 |
| MPH 6080 | The Business of Healthcare | 4 |
Organizational Leadership
The practice of leadership has undergone revolutionary change during the last decade. Managing a for-profit or not-for-profit organization requires competence in the behavior sciences, which is the basis for this concentration. The courses listed below offer knowledge and skills for students to redesign the organization’s work systems and create an effective leadership role for themselves. This concentration is earned by selecting 12 or more quarter credit hours from the list below, including the asterisked course:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MGMT 6532 | Organization Development | 4 |
| MGMT 6553 | Organization Design | 2 |
| MGMT 6557 | Organizational Culture | 2 |
| MGMT 6580 | Group Dynamics | 4 |
| MGMT 6581 | Team Building | 2 |
| MGMT 6582 | Conflict Management | 2 |
| MGMT 6585 | High Performance Work Systems/Large Group Interventions | 2 |
| MBA 6626 | Strategic Business Communications | 4 |
| MGMT 6634 | Strategy, Structure, and Decision Making (required) | 4 |
Certificate in Internet Marketing (16 quarter credit hours, available through Online M.B.A. program only):
Students may not declare this program after the Fall 2018 term.
Refer to original catalog of entry for appropriate academic requirements.
Accounting
Business Analytics
Economics
Finance
Management
Marketing
Students in the Masters in Business Administration program will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate mastery over key business functional areas.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: Identify and solve business problems in organizations.
• University SLO: 4. Information Fluency
Student Learning Outcome 3: Form a sense of social intelligence and ethics to lead individuals, teams, and organizations to achieve goals and create a sustainable competitive advantage.
• University SLO: 7. Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
Student Learning Outcome 4: Integrate quantitative and qualitative analyses to recommend ethnical business decisions that support financial and strategic goals.
• University SLO: 5. Analytical Skills
Student Learning Outcome 5: Apply knowledge about the differences among global economies, institutions, and cultures to understand the implications these have on global management.
• University SLO: 6. Global Awareness and Cultural Competence