Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Prerequisites

To ensure students are adequately prepared for the rigors of accelerated MBA-level coursework, six prerequisite courses must be satisfied prior to enrolling in MBA courses. At APU, these courses can be taken on a pass/fail (P/F) basis over two nine-week terms (summer or fall) and are designed to help students hit the ground running.

These classes must be taken at APU prior to beginning the MBA program, or they may be waived by establishing proficiency as follows:

Undergraduate business degree – Students who have completed an undergraduate business degree within seven years, and who have earned a B or better in a prerequisite course, will generally be able to waive the course. Submit a catalog course description and syllabus to the MBA program coordinator for consideration.

Transfer credit – Students may take prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university. To receive transfer credit, the course must have been taken for a grade and the student must have received a B or better. The transfer credit must be approved by the MBA chair before enrollment in MBA coursework. Submit a catalog course description and syllabus to the MBA program coordinator for consideration.

CPA exam – Students who have passed the CPA exam are not required to take the accounting prerequisite. Submit a copy of examination results or CPA Certificate to the MBA program coordinator.

Waiver exam – Students may take a competency exam (equivalent to a final exam) and receive a waiver if competency is demonstrated.

International Students – In order to comply with U.S. government regulations, students must take the online prerequisite courses either in their home country (before coming to the United States to start the MBA program) or they must come to the physical classroom to take these courses if they are in the United States.

Orientation

Preceding the fall and spring semesters, there is a required half-day orientation to the MBA Program. This orientation is required prior to taking classes. Students meet each other and the faculty, are briefed on key elements of the program, and are exposed to career development strategies that are most effective when begun early in the program. The objective of orientation is to ensure that each student begins with a mindset and plan that will help achieve his/her ultimate goal(s). As such, the orientation is an integral part of the MBA program.