Master of Business Administration Business Administration (MBA)
Overview
Martin Goossen, Program Director
Shanna Wood, Associate Program Director
Everett Judd, Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Old Dominion University is designed to present broad but thorough insights into the issues relevant for effective business management. The curriculum incorporates contemporary business topics yet stresses the core competencies every business professional must possess. Throughout the program, students develop the skills needed to be successful participants in a rapidly evolving, and increasingly global, business environment.
The Old Dominion University (ODU) MBA is offered on campus and online.
The program is accredited by the AACSB International.
Admission
The Strome College of Business’s MBA program welcomes applicants who have earned bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited institutions. Admission to the program is competitive and is granted only to those who show high ability and likelihood of success in graduate business education.
Criteria used for admission include the candidate’s undergraduate coursework GPA, graduate coursework GPA (if available), relevant work experience/resume/CV (if available), scores on GMAT or GRE tests (if available), career statement (essay form), and two letters of recommendation.
To apply, submit the following to the Graduate (for domestic applicants) or International (for visa bearing applicants) Admissions Office:
- Official transcripts of all awarded degrees (required). Initially, unofficial transcripts can be used but official transcripts are required after admission.
- Two letters of recommendation (required).
- Career statement in essay form (required). This statement should outline career goals and how the MBA helps toward achieving it.
- Evidence of English language skills (for non-native English speakers).
- Overview of prior work experience/resume/CV (optional).
- Test scores for GRE or GMAT test (optional).
For further information and questions concerning applications, contact:
ODU MBA Admissions
+1 (757) 683-3585
mbainfo@odu.edu
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Business Foundations | ||
| (Business Foundations can be waived. See Conditions below) | ||
| MGMT 500 | Managing Organizations | 3 |
| ECON 510 | Economics for Managers | 3 |
| MBA 520 | Spreadsheet Modeling | 1 |
| BNAL 530 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| ACCT 540 | Introduction to Accounting | 3 |
| Total Hours | 0-13 | |
| Core Courses | ||
| MBA 610 | The Problem-Solving Manager | 3 |
| ECON 620 | Economic Decision-Making | 3 |
| IT/BNAL 630 | Intelligent Systems & Business Analytics | 3 |
| ACCT 645 | Accounting for Decision Making | 3 |
| MGMT 650 | Leadership Development | 3 |
| FIN 660 | Corporate Finance: Value Management and Creation | 3 |
| OPMT 670 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| MKTG 680 | Marketing and Customer Value Management | 3 |
| INBU 685 | International Business and Trade | 3 |
| Total Hours | 27-40 | |
| Capstone | ||
| MGMT 690 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30-43 | |
Curriculum
Business Foundations
The Business Foundations courses can be waived through equivalent undergraduate or graduate coursework, professional licenses and certificates, or alternative exams. Because the ODU MBA program is designed for both business and non-business undergraduates, the foundational courses are included to provide all students the same elementary knowledge in accounting, economics, management, spreadsheets, and statistics. When students can demonstrate mastery of the fundamental business concepts in these areas, they satisfy the foundational courses with sufficient prerequisite knowledge and these courses will be waived. The decision to waive foundational courses rests with the MBA Program Office based on the supporting documents provided by the student. Contact the MBA Program (mbaadvisor@odu.edu) for more information.
Sequence of Course Offerings
Students are strongly encouraged to follow one of the plans outlined on the MBA website (www.odu.edu/mba) for the most effective learning plan that meets an individual’s schedule requirements. These plans are designed to both accommodate typical student program time-to-completion needs and ensure a successful path through the coursework to program completion. If unable to follow one of the prescribed degree completion plans, the student needs to contact the MBA Program Office (mbaadvisor@odu.edu) to discuss an alternative path to degree completion.
Additional Requirements
Prior Learning, Internship and Independent Study
Students may apply a maximum of 6 credit hours earned through any combination of prior learning, internship, or independent study (a maximum of 3 credit hours applies to each category).
- Prior learning offers students the opportunity to translate their professional work knowledge into academic credit. 1-3 credits allowed.
- Internship opportunities offer on-the-job experiences to well-qualified students and are limited to those who have already made significant progress toward the completion of their MBA degree. 1-3 credits allowed.
- Independent study courses afford students the opportunity to work with a graduate-certified SCB faculty member on a topic of mutual interest, and must be arranged in advance. Faculty are not obligated to accept a student’s petition for independent study. Independent study is reserved for students whose academic accomplishment is meritorious and whose potential for successful independent study is deemed sufficiently high. 1-3 credits allowed.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 12 credit hours may be transferred from another AACSB-accredited program, other ODU graduate courses outside of the Strome College of Business, and/or prior learning coursework (including 6 credit hours earned through prior learning, internship, or independent study as noted above) and applied toward the MBA course requirements.
Transfer credit is approved at the discretion of the MBA Program Office in consultation with the corresponding department faculty in the major field of study of the coursework to be reviewed.
Continuance Policy
The MBA Program follows the University's Graduate Continuance Policy.
Non-Degree Seeking Students
Old Dominion University permits non-degree seeking students to take up to 12 credit hours (see the Graduate Catalog section on Non-Degree Seeking Applicants). The non-degree seeking or visiting student needs to be approved by the MBA Program to take Business Foundations and Core Courses. The process to be approved: submit a non-degree application and transcripts from all awarded degrees. Visiting students also need to submit a transcript from their current school along with a letter of good standing for the program.
Linked/Dual Dominion Program (BA/BS-to-MBA)
Combining an undergraduate degree with an MBA prepares students for jobs that require disciplinary knowledge with business skills. To facilitate that, the MBA Program allows for early entry for promising students to take graduate-level courses while still completing their undergraduate degree. Specifically, students may take up to 12 credits of MBA Business Foundations courses during junior and senior years counting toward both degrees. To qualify for this opportunity, the student must normally have fulfilled all general education requirements, be in junior standing, have completed 24 credit hours at ODU, and maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Interested students should contact the MBA Program Office (mbainfo@odu.edu) four semesters prior to anticipated graduation to take advantage of this opportunity.
Professional Advancement Coaching
As part of the MBA program, each student participates in four sessions of individual professional advancement coaching aimed at personalized career development and preparing for the next steps in their professional life. These sessions are integrated in the MBA curriculum and need to be completed at specific stages. Details regarding each coaching session and when it is to be completed are outlined in the MBA program handbook.