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

Benedictine University offers an online MBA with optional concentration options in digital marketing, project management, change management, and talent 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 includes 500 practicum hours.

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 attention 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 an optional concentration in digital marketing, project management, change management, or talent 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 Benedictine University’s online MBA, dual MBA-MPH, and dual MSN-MBA programs must submit an online application, official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities, a resume detailing professional work experience, and a letter of intent. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.5 and 2.9 may be considered for conditional admission based on other aspects of their admissions file. None of the three programs requires an application fee or GRE or GMAT scores.

For the online MBA, students may apply to waive up to six transfer credits after acceptance. Eligible courses must have been completed with a grade of B or higher within the past five years at a regionally accredited school with an equivalent curriculum. Students with a business educational background may also be eligible to waive up to four foundation courses.

The dual MBA-MPH and dual MSN-MBA programs require applicants to be accepted into both degree programs. Graduate-level transfer credits may be considered if the course was completed with a grade of B or better within the last five years at a regionally accredited college or university and is approved by the faculty, department chair, or program director.

Applicants to the dual MSN-MBA program must hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. International applicants to any of the three programs who hold a three-year bachelor’s degree must provide a foreign transcript evaluation showing that the degree is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. They must also meet English language proficiency requirements through TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Study Plan: The online MBA requires 30 credits and 10 courses if foundation classes have been waived. Students in the traditional track take one course per term and can finish in just under two years, typically 22 to 24 months. Students in the accelerated track take two courses per term and can graduate in 12 to 18 months. Students may also add an optional concentration, which requires additional credits and extends the program. With a concentration, the MBA takes about two to two and a half years and requires 33 to 39 credits, depending on the concentration. The online MBA offers six start terms per year, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year.

The online dual MBA-MPH requires 64 credits and 21 courses for students who qualify to waive three MBA foundation courses; otherwise, it includes 24 courses. The program takes three to three and a half years to complete. Each term lasts eight weeks, and students may study full-time or part-time. The program includes a supervised master of public health internship that provides 240 hours of field experience at a health-related agency.

The online dual MSN-MBA requires 60 to 69 credits and 18 to 21 courses. It takes about three and a half years to complete. Students first take the MSN nursing leadership courses, followed by MBA courses, and earn two diplomas upon completion. The program includes clinical hours, which students can complete conveniently at their workplace. Students may study full-time or part-time depending on their schedules.

Curriculum: Foundation courses include an introduction to financial accounting; analytical tools for management decisions; economics; and organizational behavior. The 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; and advanced content marketing, automation, and Google Analytics
• Project Management: organizational behavior: theory and contemporary practice or organizational behavior; project cost and scheduling; PMP preparation; and project management
• Change Management: organization development; groups and team building; and process consultation
• Talent Management: human resources and talent management; leadership and ethics in a global environment; and business intelligence

Dual MBA-MPH Curriculum: 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. In addition to the 30 credits for the online MBA, students complete MPH courses such as introduction to public health; introduction to biostatistics; introduction to epidemiology; health systems, law, and policy; leadership and management in health organizations; health behavior theory; research methods in public health; and community health analysis.

Dual MSN-MBA Curriculum: In addition to MBA courses, students complete the MSN curriculum, including 24 credits of MSN foundation courses and six credits of MSN practicum (advanced nursing practice I and II) courses. MSN courses include the scope of nursing practice; research and evidence-based practice in nursing; informatics and technology for healthcare; leading an environment of quality and safety; financial management in healthcare systems; promoting accountability for person-centered care; organizational and community partnerships to improve population health; and professionalism and leadership in nursing.

Online Experience: Benedictine University delivers its online MBA and dual-degree programs through the D2L Brightspace learning management system. Courses use an asynchronous format, allowing students to study when and where they prefer while balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Students can access course syllabi, assignments, and other resources through the system, and can connect with faculty and classmates through live chat, discussion boards, virtual coffee chats, webinars, and online student groups.

Online students also receive support from enrollment counselors and student services coordinators, along with academic resources such as faculty office hours, library services, study skills support, career services, and alumni networking.

On-Site Requirements: The online MBA and dual MBA-MPH programs can be completed fully online. The dual MBA-MPH includes a supervised master of public health internship with 240 hours of field experience at a health-related agency; students may complete this internship with their current employer. The dual MSN-MBA includes clinical hours, which students can complete conveniently at their workplace.

Paying for the Benedictine University Online MBA, Dual MBA-MPH, and Dual MSN-MBA

Benedictine University online MBA tuition numbers are detailed in the tables below. 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. Prospective online students should contact the admissions department of Benedictine University for cost clarifications and updates.

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.