Business Administration (Great Valley)

The Penn State Great Valley M.B.A. is a general business degree program emphasizing the development of planning and problem-solving skills crucial in middle and upper management in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. A special focus of the program is a holistic approach towards developing managers who will promote use of ethical frameworks, global perspective, and data to make decisions in their workplace.

The M.B.A. program is geared toward the needs of working professionals. Students may be employed full time, take courses part time, and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the classroom. Others may be full time students.  Courses in the program are offered at Penn State Great Valley campus. For the convenience of adult learners, most courses are scheduled in the evening on weekdays, and offer a blend of synchronous in-person and asynchronous online learning.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Applicants are evaluated on their portfolio of academic performance, relevant work experience, quantitative and analytical skills as evidenced from coursework and/or work experience. Scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are waived.

Admission decisions are based on the quality of the applicant's credentials in relation to those of other applicants. Evaluation criteria include:

• professional and academic accomplishments noted in a resume
• one letter of recommendation
• a personal statement that provides indications of future academic and professional potential

Application filing dates: Penn State Great Valley's M.B.A. program has a rolling admission policy. New students may start classes in fall, spring, or summer sessions.

Required Core courses provide an overview of key business processes and functional areas of organizations. Based on the student’s educational background, one course may be exempted from the Required Core if the student meets these requirements: a grade of B or better and within the last 7 years.

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Degree Requirements

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

Completion of the MBA degree will require 33 credits of course work at the 400, 500, and 800 level. This includes 21 credits of Core Courses, 3 credit capstone course, and 9 credits of open electives. A student may receive 3 credits of waiver from core courses based on the student’s educational background and with approval of the graduate program.

All Penn State Great Valley MBA students must meet SARI (Scholarship and Research Integrity) to meet graduation requirements.

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policy GCAC-218 Minors.

Student Aid

Refer to the Tuition & Funding section of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School's website. Students in this program are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

Financial aid for students in on-campus programs is in the form of student loans and a limited number of small scholarships, as described on the Penn State Great Valley website.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MBA program, our graduates will:

• LO 1: Solve Complex Business Problems
  • LO 1.1: Analyze and solve complex problems in dynamic environments using theories and practices from key business functions—including accounting, finance, marketing, operations, supply chain, and management. (Primary: Know, Other: Apply/Create)
• LO 2: Make Ethical Business Decisions and Lead Change
  • LO 2.1: Employ management theories and ethical frameworks to make responsible business decisions. (Primary: Professional Practice, Other: Apply/Create)
  • LO 2.2: Apply theories to effectively lead change. (Primary: Professional Practice, Other: Apply/Create)
• LO 3: Communicate Effectively with Stakeholders
  • LO 3.1: Present business problems and solutions effectively to stakeholders through oral communication. (Communicate)
  • LO 3.2: Articulate business problems and solutions effectively in written communication. (Communicate)
• LO 4: Apply Data Analytic Skills
  • LO 4.1: Utilize data analytics to assess business processes. (Primary: Think, Other: Apply/Create)
  • LO 4.2: Use data-driven insights to support evidence-based business decisions. (Primary: Apply/Create, Other: Think)
• LO 5: Manage in Multicultural Environments
  • LO 5.1: Demonstrate knowledge of effective management practices in multicultural settings. (Primary: Know, Other: Professional Practice)
  • LO 5.2: Demonstrate leadership skills to successfully manage multicultural teams. (Primary: Apply/Create, Other: Professional Practice)

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