Benedictine University Online MBA, Dual MBA-MPH, and Dual MSN-MBA

• Dual MBA-MPH
• Dual MBA-MSN
• Masters in Business Administration
• MBA - Digital Marketing
• MBA - Project Management

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Benedictine University offers an online MBA with concentrations in digital marketing and project management. Additionally, the online MBA can be combined with a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for a dual degree.

The dual degree programs are dubbed the dual MBA-MPH and dual MSN-MBA. Students in these programs can complete both programs in less time than it would take to complete them individually. One degree is completed in full before the second degree is begun. Upon graduation, students earn two diplomas. The dual MBA-MPH program requires the completion of an internship with a health-related agency. The dual MSN-MBA program requires a 70 hour practicum in a supervised healthcare setting.

Ambitious professionals who wish to quickly (yet effectively) complete an online MBA program can do so by taking two courses per term. Such MBA students can earn their degrees in just 12 months. The online MBA takes 22 months to complete when students take one course at a time.

Benedictine University is located in Lisle, IL, about a 30-minute drive from downtown Chicago. The University consistently attracts notice for the quality and growth of the MBA program, offering students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in business leadership. Students gain exposure to technological advances, business and leadership skills, and hands-on learning through business simulations and mini capstone experiences.

Foundation courses may need to be taken in addition to the MBA courses, but may be waived depending on prior schooling or experience. These courses cover financial accounting, economics, organizational behavior, and analytical tools. Core courses aim to establish a foundation in business management, covering topics such as leadership, ethics, managerial accounting, managerial economics, operations management, marketing management, global strategic management, and more.

Students can add on an optional concentration in digital marketing or project management. Each week, students have specific learning objectives that can be added to a resume, such as financial skills, business strategy knowledge, fundamental economics theory, project management experience, and analysis, among other areas.

MBA students who complete the project management concentration may prepare to take the Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM) exam or the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam, offered through the Project Management Institute (PMI). The Master of Public Health degree program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the Benedictine University online MBA program must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applicants must submit an online application, application fee, official college transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, two letters of recommendation, a resume, and a letter of intent. There is no GMAT/GRE or work experience required, however, work experience is preferred). International students must prove English language proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS scores, and have foreign transcripts evaluated by WES, ECE or Educational Perspectives.

Applicants to the dual MBA programs must apply to and be accepted into both programs. MPH applicants must submit official transcript with proof of completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher with a preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited institution. In addition, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, a career path essay, and an additional letter of recommendation if they have a GPA between 2.75 and 2.999. Those under 2.75 will be reviewed by the Public Health Admissions Committee and may receive conditional admission, or need to participate in a personal interview, submit an additional essay, or submit a comprehensive portfolio. Note that students must earn a B or higher in all core classes to receive credit for the course.

Dual MSN/MBA students must hold a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher. Proof of RN licensure, one letter of recommendation, a resume, and a statement of goals. MSN applicants must also have proficiency in word processing, email, and online library searches.

Study Plan: Benedictine University online MBA students may graduate in as little as one year by taking two classes each session or in 22 months by taking one class per session. These time frames are for applicants with the necessary background courses. A culminating capstone experience is included in each concentration. Those without the prior business knowledge or schooling must take four additional foundation courses. There are six start dates offered: January, March, May, June, August and October.

The dual MBA-MPH program can be completed in 3.5 years; the dual MSN-MBA in four years.

MBA Curriculum: The Benedictine online MBA consists of 30 credits. Adding a concentration lifts that to 39 credits. Foundation courses include introduction to financial accounting; analytical tools for management decisions; economics; and organizational behavior. The 30 credits of core courses include managerial accounting for decision makers; managerial economics; techniques in financial decision making; brand and marketing management; the global environment; human resources and talent management; leadership and ethics in a global environment; operations management, project management; and global strategic management. Optional concentration courses follow:

• Digital Marketing Brand and marketing management; advanced search and social media marketing; advanced content marketing, automation, and Goggle analytics
• Project Management Organizational behavior: theory and contemporary practice or organizational behavior; project cost and scheduling; PMP preparation

Dual MBA-MPH Curriculum: The online MBA-MPH dual degree requires the completion of 64 credit hours. This includes 30 credits for the MBA and 34 credits for the MPH, although some students may need to complete foundational courses for the MBA. There is a culminating internship which includes 240 contact hours and a capstone experience that comprises seven credit hours. In addition to the 30 credits for the online MBA, students complete MPH courses such as data analytics for public health; health behavior and theory; environmental health; quantitative and qualitative research in public health; community health analysis; biological aspects of public health; health systems, law, and policy; leadership and management; and MPH internship and capstone.

Dual MSN-MBA Curriculum: The online MSN-MBA dual degree comprises 69 credits including 33 credits for the online MBA if foundational courses are needed, and 36 credits for the MSN Nurse Executive Leader. In addition to MBA courses, students complete the MSN curriculum, including MSN foundation courses and nurse executive leader courses: health promotion and interprofessional collaboration; ethical and culturally competent healthcare professional; evidence-based nursing practice: research and process improvement; healthcare policy and advocacy; quality improvement and safety in healthcare systems; building effective communication and relationships; professionalism and executive career development; advanced knowledge of healthcare systems; leadership and systems thinking; financial management and resource allocation; advanced nursing practice: clinical immersion; advanced nursing practice: capstone project implementation.

Online Experience: Benedictine University uses the Engage Learning Management System (LMS) for online learning. The program is easy to use, facilitates innovation in instruction and delivery, and makes the online experience engaging and enjoyable. Students can interact live with faculty and peers, participate in virtual coffee chats, watch virtual webinars, participate in online student groups, use multimedia tools, and more. Faculty maintains weekly office hours, make themselves available on discussion boards and through live chat, and are generally very available to students. The Benedictine online learning MBA program also involves hands-on learning through business simulations and mini capstone experiences.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the Benedictine online MBA as the program is 100 percent online. The MSN-MBA includes a 70 hour practicum and the MBA-MPH includes an internship in a health-related agency.

Paying for the Benedictine University Accelerated Online MBA

Benedictine University charges $800 per quarter credit for the online MBA. Other fees may apply. In the event that per-credit tuition differs between programs for dual MBA degrees, tuition is charged at the higher rate of the two programs. As tuition changes from one year to the next, online students should contact the admissions department of Benedictine University for updated costs.

Benedictine University offers two scholarships to graduate MBA students. The Alumni Scholarship offers $1,000 toward a student’s first graduate course for returning Benedictine students. The Graduate Merit Scholarship pays for the student’s final graduate course. Qualifications include having a 3.75 or higher graduate GPA and completion of the degree within three years.

Students may also apply for federal financial aid and graduate student loans through FAFSA. Another option is to seek outside help to pay for an MBA degree, such as from professional groups, community organizations, churches, and the like. Students should also check if their employer offers a tuition reimbursement program for earning an MBA. Students can find out more about financial aid through the Benedictine University Office of Financial Aid.