Pre-Master Business Administration

Pre-M.B.A.

Are you interested in a career in business? The Beacom School of Business develops current and future leaders for business, industry, and government while giving students the flexibility to elect courses to best enhance their career path. The program emphasizes decision making, problem solving, understanding the role of business in society, developing leadership ability and social responsibility, analytical and critical thinking skills, and preparing students for executive-level responsibility.

Any major can apply and be successful in the MBA program. An applicant who does not have a conferred undergraduate degree in business will have six credits of Business Essentials coursework as part of the 33 credit hours for the MBA. As an undergraduate student, you may choose to take the pre-MBA courses to allow for six credits to be used for electives or a specialization. 

Suggested Pre-M.B.A. Coursework:

• ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (C)  
• ACCT 211 - Principles of Accounting II (C)  
• BADM 220 - Business Statistics (C)  
• ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]  
• ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]  
• BADM 310 - Business Finance (C)  
• BADM 369 - Organizational Behavior & Theory  
• BADM 370 - Marketing (C)  

This general M.B.A. does not require a specialization.

• Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Optional specializations are available. See the following:

• Business Administration - Artificial Intelligence for Business Analytics (M.B.A.) 
• Business Administration - Business Analytics Specialization (M.B.A.) 
• Business Administration - Business Leadership Specialization (M.B.A.)
• Business Administration - Finance Specialization (M.B.A.)
• Business Administration - Health Services Administration Specialization (M.B.A.)  
• Business Administration - Marketing Specialization (M.B.A.)   
• Business Administration - Operations and Supply Chain Management Specialization (M.B.A.)  
• Business Administration - Sustainability Specialization (M.B.A.)

Pre-M.B.A. - B.B.A. / M.B.A. Accelerated Option

Beacom School of Business undergraduate majors meeting requirements for entry into the M.B.A. program may opt to complete both the B.B.A. and M.B.A. concurrently. Students who pursue this accelerated option will be awarded their undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously, upon completion of the two programs.

Students may apply for admission to the M.B.A. program using the standard graduate application process after completing 75 credit hours. Students applying to the B.B.A. / M.B.A. program are not required to provide a GMAT exam score for application to the fast-track program.

The accelerated option will confer special student status to those admitted, who will then be eligible to take 700-level courses in the graduate program of study and may be eligible for graduate assistantships. Students must complete the requirements of the B.B.A. program in accordance with the undergraduate catalog and the requirements for the M.B.A. program in accordance with the graduate catalog.  All prerequisites for courses in the M.B.A. program apply to students in the B.B.A. / M.B.A. program.

Dr. Jewel Goodman Shepherd
Associate Dean for Business Graduate Program
Beacom School of Business, 120
605.658.6548 Office
Jewel.Shepherd@usd.edu