Online MBA in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

The term enterprise resource planning (ERP) refers to the integrated management of core business functions like marketing, human resources, inventory, business intelligence, client databases, and more. Specialized software and hardware now allow employees or consultants to utilize ERP to improve an organization’s overall efficiency and performance.

Effective ERP goes deeper than simply managing a database better; it aims to streamline all of a company’s key systems so all departments can operate smoothly and contribute to the overall functioning and profitability of the business. It can include projections of future activity and analytics of past and current initiatives.

ERP is certainly complex but in the right hands, it can help businesses remain competitive. That means well-trained ERP specialists are increasingly essential for extracting and making sense of data. Although ERP is relatively new, many master of business administration (MBA) programs have adopted an ERP concentration to impart the skills of this in-demand discipline.

To accommodate a growing number of professionals seeking more flexible scheduling for class times and assignments, online MBA programs are on the rise. Earning an online MBA in ERP can pay off. In fact, these degree-holders can use this expertise to advance in the workforce as a manager, consultant, or even a database administrator, three of the many roles seeking candidates with ERP skills.

Read on to discover what to expect from an online MBA-ERP program, including information about the curriculum, tuition, and three standout professors.

Featured ERP Programs
Lamar University Online MBA - Enterprise Resource Planning View Full Profile
The University of Scranton MBA - Enterprise Resource Planning View Full Profile
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Admission Requirements for Online MBA Programs

Every institution may vary in its standards, but there are often similar requirements for students seeking ERP programs, including:

  • A bachelor’s degree in a related program, especially business
  • A certain GPA, often a 3.0
  • Letters of recommendation
  • GMAT scores, (which can be waived if a person has a certain amount of professional or academic experience, such as another master’s degree)
  • Personal statement/essay describing interest and background
  • TOEFL, STEP, or IELTS scores for international students

Online MBA in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Programs

The University of Scranton MBA includes an enterprise resource planning concentration in partnership with SAP, the world’s largest ERP software company, providing real-world experience and educational training. After completing the program and another ERP class, students have the opportunity to participate in the SAP Boot Camp, an intensive two-week certification session.

The MBA course includes core classes in accounting, economics, finance, operations, information management, management, and marketing. The ERP specialization also features nine credits of electives, including integrated enterprise management systems; business intelligence; customer relationship management; production planning & control; treasury management; and accounting integration and configuration. Students may complete this MBA degree fully online.

Admission requirements to the program include a completed application, an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0, official transcripts from all previously attended universities and colleges, a professional resume, three years of professional or supervisory experience, a statement of intent, and three letters of reference. GMAT or GRE scores are not required for admission.

At the end of the program, graduates can pursue roles such as management consultants, audit managers, hospital directors, SAP business analysts, business development directors, certified public accountants (CPA), and directors of operations.

Location: Scranton, PA
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Expected Time to Completion: Full-time (24 months); part-time (36 months)
Estimated Tuition: $965 per credit

Widener University’s online MBA program prepares students for leadership roles and allows them to tailor the MBA curriculum to career goals. The 33-credit program includes core academic coursework in information systems and data analytics; marketing; accounting and managerial decision making; and strategic financial management. The program connects with industry partners like DuPont, Thomson Reuters, and Comcast.

A concentration within the program focuses on business process innovation. Students in this BPI specialization will be prepared to lead organizations to greater efficiency and superior outcomes by developing skills in process innovation, data design, modeling and analysis, project management, and more. Coursework covers topics such as business process management: modeling to monitoring; business process analysis and process automation; and business process strategy and innovation.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must submit a completed application, a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.7, a personal statement, one letter of recommendation, official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended, and GMAT or GRE scores (waivers available).

Location: Chester, PA
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: $1,132 per credit

Lamar University’s MBA in enterprise resource planning provides core business skills focused on data analytics and technology platforms that integrate all business functions. The fully-online program features six specialized courses as well as standard MBA courses. Students also have the opportunity to complete a two-week SAP ERP Academy to gain a certification in business process integration.

Comprising 30 credits, the curriculum includes core courses such as managerial accounting; managerial decision making; managerial economics; financial management; and an ERP overview. Courses in enterprise resource planning include ERP E-commerce; business intelligence; data mining and predictive analytics; and enterprise systems/CRM.

Applicants to the program must submit an online application along with official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended and hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum grade point average of 2.5. GMAT or GRE scores are waived if students have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in a non-business area may be required to take two leveling courses: financial accounting and foundations of finance.

Location: Beaumont, TX
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: Residents ($420.86 per credit); non-residents ($887.24 per credit)

Boston University offers an online MS in enterprise risk management (MSERM) introducing students to the essential theories and tools needed to think strategically in complex business situations, provide technological and analytical solutions that mitigate risk across entire enterprises, and lead change. Students in this program are provided with the concepts and tools necessary to plan for, prevent, and successfully respond to disruptions in business operations.

Students can also take graduate certificate programs that serve as building blocks to a master’s degree. Boston University’s graduate certificate in enterprise risk management shares courses with the master’s in ERM program, giving students the option to take this certificate on their path to a master’s degree.

Made up of 40 credits, the MS program includes courses such as financial concepts; quantitative and qualitative decision-making; project management; developing new products and services; business continuity management; disaster management; and enterprise risk planning and compliance.

Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); New England Commission of Higher Education
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 20 months
Estimated Tuition: $955 per credit
5Central Michigan University, College of Business Administration

Central Michigan University’s master of business administration degree with an ERP emphasis and an information systems concentration requires completing 36 credits. In addition to core MBA coursework, students study topics like enterprise systems for management using SAP enterprise software, business intelligence, and enterprise system configuration. Students also attend a two-week SAP TERP 10 Boot Camp, including an MBA project.

The university also offers a graduate certificate in enterprise systems where students can learn more than how to use SAP software. This certificate comprises 16 credits including courses in enterprise systems for management using SAP software; enterprise analytics using SAP software; enterprise system configuration using SAP software and integration of business processes for management using SAP software.

After completing this certificate, credits successfully earned with this certificate program may be used towards the information systems (SAP emphasis) concentration in the MBA program.

Location: Mount Pleasant, MI
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $758 per credit

Missouri University of Science and Technology’s online MBA program includes 15 credits of electives in a 36-credit program. Ideal for working executives and professionals, this AACSB accredited program is focused on developing disciplined leaders. Applicants to the MBA program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and submit GRE or GMAT scores.

Working professionals who wish to earn their master’s degree, but don’t have time to take the GRE or GMAT can start with a graduate certificate program. The GRE is not required to enter a certificate program, and credit earned may be applied toward a master’s degree. One such graduate certificate is available in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

The 21-credit core MBA curriculum includes courses such as team building & leadership; international marketing; managerial accounting & control; and supply chain and project management. The graduate certificate in enterprise resource planning involves courses such as enterprise resource planning systems design and implementation; ERP in small & mid-size enterprises; performance dashboard, scorecard, and data visualization; use of business intelligence; enterprise resource planning: systems config and integration; and enterprise application development and software security, among others.

Location: Rolla, MO
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 to 36 months
Estimated Tuition: $1,200 per credit

The University of North Alabama’s 34-credit MBA program offers regular and executive MBAs for those with significant business experience. This MBA program can be completed entirely online and is an ideal choice for working professionals in various careers and life stages. Providing maximum flexibility, the program allows two options for ERP aspirants: create their MBA degree plan by choosing three electives instead of a concentration or choose the information systems concentration.

Core courses in the curriculum include accounting information for strategic decision making; information systems design and project management; analytical tools for strategic decision making; corporate financial strategy; and strategic management and competitive analysis.

In addition to 25 credits of core MBA foundation courses, students pursuing the information systems concentration can take courses such as software engineering for the enterprise; information systems management; business process integration with ERP systems; and electronic commerce.

Location: Florence, AL
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: Full-time (12 to 18 Months); part-time (24 to 30 Months)
Estimated Tuition: $19,890 total

Enterprise Resource Planning Graduate Certificate Programs

Some universities also offer graduate ERP certificate programs, presenting similar coursework to the MBA concentration. Students wanting to enter the workforce with some training but not an entire degree can save time and money by pursuing an ERP certification for fewer credits and a shorter period of time, usually under a year. Two standout online ERP certificate programs include:

UNC Greensboro’s Bryan School of Business and Economics offers an online graduate certificate in enterprise resource planning providing students with a process-oriented and integrative understanding of ERP systems within distributed and global organizations. Offering concepts and theories in ERP, the curriculum of this program provides students with a hands-on experience in tools like SAP.

The curriculum of this 12-credit program includes courses such as principles of enterprise resource planning using SAP; principles of supply chain management; analytics for logistics and distribution management; and information systems management.

Location: Greensboro, NC
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: within 12 months
Estimated Tuition: In-state ($541.67 per credit); out-of-state ($1,333.33 per credit)

The online graduate certificate program in enterprise resource planning is offered by the University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management, which has a long-standing partnership with SAP (the world’s largest business software company). This fully online program consists of four courses that utilize SAP’s ERP software. It is ideal for working professionals who wish to enhance their technical and managerial skills without having to leave their homes or interrupt their careers.

All applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to apply. This 12-credit curriculum includes courses such as integrated enterprise management systems; production planning and control; treasury management; and accounting integration and configuration.

After successfully completing this program, graduates will be eligible to participate in a week-long boot camp offered through the SAP University Alliances Program.

Location: Scranton, PA
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Expected Time to Completion: 8 months
Estimated Tuition: $965 per credit

Professors to Know in Online MBA-ERP Programs

  • Kerri C. Brannen, PhD Widener University

    Dr. Kerri C. Brannen is an associate professor at Widener University who teaches or has taught classes such as understanding and working in organizations, leadership in business, and international human resource management. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in finance from La Salle University, an MBA in international business from La Salle University, and a PhD in human resources administration and organizational behavior from Temple University.

    Notably, she has published influential research in the Organization Management Journal, Leadership in Health Services, and the Journal of Global Mobility. Dr. Brannen's awards include SBA’s “Distinguished Research Professor” and Widener University’s “Faculty Development Options Award.”

  • Ahmed Gomaa, PhD University of Scranton

    Dr. Ahmed Gomaa is an associate professor of operations and analytics at the University of Scranton where he teaches courses such as entrepreneurial resource acquisition and management; business statistics; and business information management. His educational background includes bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting information systems from the University of Alexandria in Egypt. He went on to earn an MBA and a PhD in management (information technology) from Rutgers University.

    Before coming to the University of Scranton, Dr. Gomaa taught at Marywood University and Rutgers University. He also was the founder of iMediaStreams and director of online marketing for JumpTV.com. His publications are in the areas of cryptocurrencies, FinTech, entrepreneurship, and blockchain. His research has been published in prominent journals such as the Journal of Applied Business and Economics, Journal of International Technology and Information Management, and Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting.

  • Bih-Ru Lea, PhD Missouri University of Science & Technology

    Dr. Bih-Ru Lea is an associate professor of business & information technology, director of the center for ERP, and the SAP campus coordinator at Missouri University of Science & Technology. She currently teaches courses such as supply chain management systems in an ERP environment; data modeling & visualization prototyping for enterprise decision dashboards; introduction to enterprise decision dashboard prototyping; and enterprise resource planning: systems config and integration.

    Her research interests are in the areas of supply chain management, ERP architecture, enterprise resource planning (ERP), ERP implementation, and management accounting systems, among others. She completed her PhD and master's degree from Clemson University, and a bachelor’s degree from Tamkang University.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani
Writer

Farheen Gani is an expert in online MBA programs, having covered MBA programs in computer science, economics, healthcare management, and fraud and forensics, among others, since 2018. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).