American Public University Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• MBA - Accounting
• MBA - Analytics
• MBA - Business Project Management
• MBA - Cybersecurity
• MBA - DoD Project Management
• MBA - Event Planning and Management
• MBA - General
• MBA - Global Supply Chain Management
• MBA - Government Contracting & Acquisition
• MBA - Healthcare Administration
• MBA - Human Resource Management in a Global World
• MBA - Information Technology Management
• MBA - Leading the Digital Workplace
• MBA - Marketing
• MBA - Operational Crisis Management
• MBA - Operational Technology Management
• MBA - Sports Management

By Bernd Geels Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore

Updated October 9, 2025

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Retired Marine Corps officer James P. Etter founded American Military University (AMU) in 1991. AMU is noteworthy for its distance education programs designed specifically for military learners who often need flexible academic programs to accommodate their careers and other needs.

In its first decade, AMU created a number of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to prepare its students for leadership roles within the military as well as post-military careers. AMU was reorganized into the American Public University System (APUS) in 2002. American Public University (APU) was created that same year, and began providing quality education possibilities to a larger pool of working adults. In the present day, the American Public University System is one of the largest providers of online higher education programs. The mission of APU is to provide quality higher education specifically designed for the United States’ military and public service communities that prepares students for service and leadership roles.

The APU online MBA program offers students a wealth of options to develop specialized business skills. The APU MBA program offers a 17 specializations: information technology management, marketing, sports management, analytics, government contracting and acquisition, accounting, cybersecurity, healthcare administration, business project management, event planning and management, digital workplace leadership, Department of Defense project management, operational crisis management, operational technology management, global supply chain management, human resource management in a global world, and a general MBA program. APU’s MBA degree programs train students in the various competencies critical for success in the global business community.

Admission Requirements: To be offered admission, applicants must submit a complete admissions application, documentation of award of at least a bachelor’s degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation via official transcripts, and a photocopy of a valid government-issues photo ID.

State Restrictions: APU welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds such as international applicants and military personnel.

APU is the top-ranked provider of higher education to the U.S. military as well as the top choice nationwide for veterans using their GI Bill benefits. Military applicants complete an application process somewhat similar to domestic and other applications. Military applicants from all service branches must submit their government-issued military transcript. Military transcripts are reviewed not just to verify admissions eligibility but also to determine what academic transfer credit an applicant may be eligible to receive. Military applicants of the APU MBA program may receive such credit for professional military education or military service. Military applicants are not required to complete entrance exams and also pay no transfer credit and application fees.

International students are also welcome to complete the APU MBA program. Because international students are not required to reside in the USA to attend APU online programs, APU does not issue I-20 or DS-2019 forms for F-1 or J-1 student visas. Depending on their country of citizenship, some international applicants may be required to demonstrate English language proficiency. Details on this requirement can be found on the APU English proficiency requirement webpage.

International applicants who have completed at least a portion of their education outside the USA must have their non-US transcripts evaluated by an approved credential evaluation agency if these transcripts are required for admission and/or transfer credit decisions. For more details on this requirement, you can also find them online.

Study Plan: Students can complete these MBA degrees in as little as 24 months. Students interested in completing their program of study over a more extended time period should contact APU to verify the current policy regarding degree study planning. The course duration is typically eight to 16 weeks.

MBA Curriculum: MBA students of all tracks complete a 33-credit-hour curriculum consisting of 18 credits of core coursework, three credit hours of coursework to fulfill institutional requirements, nine credit hours of concentration coursework, and a three-credit-hour final program experience (capstone course). Core coursework consists of six courses covering the following topics: artificial intelligence practices in business; strategic management; legal and ethical issues in management; managerial economics; corporate finance; and marketing management. The institutional requirement is fulfilled by completing a course in fundamentals of business analysis. Upon program completion graduates will have further developed their competencies in subjects such as marketing, management, leadership, finance, legal and ethical issues, business analytics, and human resources.

Concentration coursework for the eighteen APU MBA specializations is noted below.

• General MBA Program Curriculum: General program students may complete nine credit hours from a large variety of concentration courses offered within the entire APU MBA program roster of courses.
• MBA Accounting Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: advanced cost accounting; managerial accounting; and accounting theory and concepts.
• MBA Analytics Curriculum: Students complete courses in the topics of advanced analytics I and II (2 courses) and applied advanced analytics.
• MBA Business Project Management Curriculum: Students complete three of the following courses: project management for the business professional; advanced business project schedule and scope management; advanced business project risk and quality management; advanced business project integration, resource, and stakeholder management; and advanced business project cost controls.
• MBA Cybersecurity Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: telecommunications and network security; and information security management; and another course in either intrusion detection and incident handling, or computer crime.
• MBA Department Of Defense Project Management Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: program and acquisition management; program manager’s skills; and executive program manager’s decision making skills.
• MBA Digital Workplace Leadership Curriculum: Students choose three courses from the following course topics: sustainability and crisis management; artificial intelligence and crisis management; crisis management for the business leader; human resource management; organizational crisis management; and leadership.
• MBA Event Planning And Management Curriculum: Students choose three courses from the following course topics: event coordination and management; financial planning and management for events; event risk management and safety; leadership in meeting and event planning; and sports event management.
• MBA Finance Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: investment management; international finance; and entrepreneurship finance.
• MBA Global Supply Chain Management Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: sustainable supply chain strategy; managerial supply chain risk management; and supply chain analytics.
• MBA Government Contracting And Acquisition Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: advanced business solutions for mission support; program manager’s skills; and executive program manager’s decision making skills.
• MBA Healthcare Administration Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: business of healthcare; healthcare finance; and operational quality in healthcare.
• MBA Human Resource Management In A Global World Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: employment law and labor relations; human resource policy; and strategic human resource management practices.
• MBA Information Technology Management Curriculum: Students take a course in information technology project management and complete two courses from the following topics: strategic human resource management practices; computer forensics; computer networks and data systems; telecommunications and network security; intrusion detection and incident handling; information assurance; and information security management.
• MBA Marketing Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: principles of e-commerce; strategic internet marketing; and global marketing strategy.
• MBA Operational Crisis Management Curriculum: Students complete three courses from the following topics: legal, policy, and ethical issues of crisis situations; business continuity; sustainability and crisis management; artificial intelligence and crisis management; crisis management for the business leader; economics of disaster; crisis action planning; risk communications; and organizational crisis management.
• MBA Operational Technology Management Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: artificial intelligence and crisis management; business intelligence analysis; and information security management.
• MBA Sports Management Curriculum: Students complete courses in the following topics: the sports industry, and sports marketing, promotion, and public relations. Students complete a third course in one of the following topics: sports law; sports finance; and sports entrepreneurship.

Online Experience: All APU online MBA degree programs are offered fully online. There are no on-campus coursework or other participation requirements to complete this program. APU embraces an online learning delivery model as a way to accommodate the diverse needs of the military student community its programs are especially designed to serve.

On-Site Requirements: As noted above, the APU MBA degree program is offered fully online. There are no on-campus requirements.

Paying for the APU Online MBA Degree Programs

The tuition figures for the online MBA degree programs are listed in the tables below. Prospective students should carefully review the tuition information and contact APU for additional support with applications and any questions they may have.

Many students ultimately use a variety of resources to finance their education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a widely used form that serves as the primary application for determining eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid. The FAFSA is issued annually, and universities typically provide robust support to help students understand and complete the FAFSA. Financial aid eligibility determinations generated by the FAFSA and other applications are often generated based on a number of factors, such as academic achievement, talent, financial need, and family background.

Given its emphasis on educating military-affiliated students, it is no surprise that APU offers many financial resources to serve this particular student background. Examples of such resources include APU’s preferred military tuition rate, multiple GI Bill benefit programs, veteran readiness and employment service benefits, military tuition assistance (TA) programs, the veteran tuition grant, military-specific scholarships, the West Virginia higher education grant, and much more. All prospective students are advised to thoroughly research the APU website to guide them in formulating their strategy for financing their education.

Bernd Geels

Writer

Bernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].