University of Saint Mary Online MBA

• MBA - Accounting
• MBA - Business Analytics
• MBA - Finance
• MBA - General Management
• MBA - Health Care Management
• MBA - Human Resources Management
• MBA - Leadership and Organizational Health
• MBA - Marketing and Advertising

The University of Saint Mary offers a one-year, online MBA with eight online concentrations: accounting, business analytics, finance, general management, healthcare management, human resources management, leadership and organizational health, and marketing and advertising. This accelerated program can be completed in just one year by taking two courses per eight-week session. Students can mix and match the number of courses taken to fit their own pace.

The University of Saint Mary is located in Leavenworth, Kansas. Their online MBA focuses on ethics, corporate responsibility, critical thinking, and awareness of how one person’s actions affect others in the workplace, community, and globally. The real-world experience of the faculty allows them to introduce discussions on these subjects into their online lessons, assignments, and class interactions. Throughout the MBA, students learn business analysis skills, how to make ethical business decisions, communicate effectively, and think globally.

The USM one-year MBA is designed for those who wish to complete an advanced degree in less time. It requires intense, focused dedication to both work and school. Applicants without prior business education may need to take some prerequisite courses to prepare for the full MBA degree.

The eight concentrations allow professionals to gear their degrees toward their desired path. The accounting concentration prepares graduates for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and includes concentration courses in forensic accounting, international accounting, and data analytics. The Health Care Management concentration prepares graduates for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) board certification exam. As well, a key feature of the leadership and organizational health concentration is that USM is the first school in the world to incorporate the guidance of Patrick Lencioni, a best-selling author and well-respected business consultant who teaches effective teamwork, leadership, and employee interaction.

The highly interactive concentration courses may involve case studies, mock scenarios, videos, and personal assessment tools. Graduates of this MBA program may go on to leadership positions in healthcare, biotech, pharmaceuticals, information technology, marketing and sales, project management, consulting, finance, banking, education, and government, among other areas.

The online MBA through the University of Saint Mary is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the USM one-year, online MBA program must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75. The applicant checklist includes submitting official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate work, an online application, a current resume, two letters of recommendation (from either an employer, supervisor, or previous professor), and TOEFL scores for international students, if necessary. There is no GMAT/GRE required for the program, nor is work experience required, but it is considered.

Study Plan: The Saint Mary one-year online MBA is an accelerated program. It can be completed in as little as one year when students take two classes per term. The degree can be completed in two years by taking one course per term. A term consists of eight weeks. Students should expect to spend 15-20 hours per week, per course. A comprehensive final assessment may be included. This involves analysis, investigation, description, or explanation of an important business management issue. There are six start dates offered: January, March, April, May, July, and October.

Curriculum: The Saint Mary one-year online MBA consists of 36 credits: eight required courses and three elective courses. Please note that beginning fall 2020, this program began requiring the completion of 33 credits. Core courses include marketing management; legal environment and commercial transactions law; organizational management; managerial accounting; managerial economics; managerial finance; global management; and strategic management and ethics.

The concentrations include the following courses:

• Accounting: Forensic Accounting; international accounting; data analytics for decision-making
• Business Analytics: Introduction to business analytics; business analytics applications; demand and forecasting
• Finance: Three of the following: financial decisions; advanced financial topics; financial and capital issues; data analytics for decision making – finance and accounting
• General Management: Choices may include project management; management information systems; leadership; operations management; small business management; graduate internship; approved courses from other concentrations
• Healthcare Management: Healthcare informatics and technologies; leadership and business operations in healthcare; legal and ethical issues in healthcare
• Human Resource Management: Three of the following: human resource management; conflict management and negotiation; training and development; organizational change and development
• Leadership and Organizational Health: Strategic leadership and team building; leadership and organizational health; strategic communication and human performance services
• Marketing and Advertising Management: Taken in sequence: the advertising industry in the 21st century; buyer behavior and marketing research; advanced marketing strategy and planning

Accepted students with no business background may need to take the following foundational courses: corporate finance primer; financial accounting primer; managerial economics primer; and business math and statistics primer.

Online Experience: The University of Saint Mary uses the Engage learning management system for online instruction. Most activities are asynchronous so students can complete coursework on their own schedule; however, there may be some synchronous activities, assignments, and presentations. Through Engage, students can use live chat, watch recorded lectures, complete assignments, participate in discussion boards, and use multimedia tools. Students will need a computer that is capable of running a modern operating system, a decent amount of RAM, access to high-speed internet, a microphone, and a webcam. Final exams will be completed in the online classroom. USM offers a Personal Support Center for 24/7 technical support. Each student is also assigned a student services counselor throughout the program.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the USM one-year online MBA since the program is 100 percent online. A graduate internship is an option, however. Students are welcome to participate in graduation on campus in Leavenworth, Kansas, in May.

Paying for the University of Saint Mary Online MBA

The University of Saint Mary charges $598 per credit for the one-year online MBA, which includes a technology fee, for an estimated total tuition of $19,734. This is one of the most affordable MBAs in the nation. Tuition and fees are subject to change, so online students should contact the admissions department of the University of Saint Mary for updated costs.

USM offers financial aid packages in the form of scholarships, student loans, and grants, which are determined once students fill out the FAFSA and it is processed. They also provide payment plans. Students may also seek outside resources such as graduate MBA scholarships and help from community organizations, churches, professional groups, and others. Another option may be to seek out a tuition reimbursement program from the student’s employer. MBA candidates are encouraged to ask their company if this option is available.