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Program Director: Dr. Michael Messina
Phone: 814-871-5755
Email: Messina001@gannon.edu

Offerings

Gannon University offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree, a specialized Five Year Bachelor Degree with an MBA Degree Program, the Gannon Online Degree (GOLD) MBA Program, the Three-Year MBA Bridge Program and a number of Graduate Certificates (e.g. Environmental Sciences, Human Resource Management, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Leadership and Public Administration).  In addition, Gannon provides customized packages of graduate courses in business administration (and related topics) for working professionals who wish to upgrade skills or retrain.  The Gannon MBA can be designed either as a general degree or with a concentration.  Concentration areas are designed for the student who can take advantage of course offerings to allow for a specialization in a specific area.  These concentrations include Finance, Human Resource Management, and Marketing.

 

The Gannon MBA Program may be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis.

 

Introduction

Gannon University is a student-oriented teaching university.  This philosophy guides our approach to curriculum design, teaching, and advising.  We recognize and understand the dramatic changes ongoing in the world of business.  The mission of the Gannon MBA Program is to provide students with the vision, values, and skills required to lead successful professional and rewarding personal lives within this exciting new world.  Our approach is to pay careful attention to each student, challenge them to grow, and help them to reach their own personal and career objectives.  Courses in the Master of Business Administration Program (MBA) are rigorous and challenging by design, but the faculty is prepared to work with each student to build the skills needed for the business world of the 21^st century. 

 

Our experience as the region’s first and largest graduate school of business has taught us some important lessons.  Simply having a master’s degree, regardless of the type of degree or apparent status of the degree-granting institution, is no assurance of success or happiness.  To succeed in business, individuals need real skills, an understanding of the world of business and an appreciation for life.  Our network of over 1,400 MBA alumni is a proud testament to Gannon’s ability to make success happen for its graduate students.  Gannon MBA Alumni include Presidents/CEO’s, Vice Presidents, CFO’s, Treasurers, Business Consultants and Managing Partners.  In addition, over 60 have earned advanced degrees, including doctorates from some of the most prestigious academic institutions in North America.  More than 45 Gannon MBA’s are currently teaching in colleges and universities.

 

One of the common dreams of graduate business students has traditionally been to own a business.  Our alumni currently include over 75 individuals who are owners/operators of their own businesses.  Gannon has continued to provide both instruction and motivation for these entrepreneurs and our faculty is proud of its supportive efforts in helping these alumni businesses to succeed.  The affiliation of the MBA program with Gannon’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Erie Technology Incubator (ETI) at Gannon University continues to facilitate this thrust.

 

Accreditation

The Business Administration program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) an international accreditation body for business schools.

 

Admission Requirements

For all students:

·          A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university

·          A GMAT score (this requirement is waived for students with a 3.2 GPA or higher)

·          A completed application for admission

·          A complete resume

·          Official transcripts from all prior institutions

·          Three letters of recommendation

·          TOEFL scores if English is not a first language

               

Degree Status is awarded to students whose undergraduate grade point average was 3.2 or higher or who score at least 1050 using the  following formula:  200 x (Undergraduate GPA) + GMAT Score

 

Provisional Academic Status may be awarded at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Programs to students who show academic promise but do not achieve 1050 on the formula above.  These students may petition for Degree status after completion of 9 credits with at least a 3.0 GPA.

 

Non-Degree Status is awarded to students who, in the opinion of the admissions committee, show academic promise and are seeking professional development. A maximum of 9 credits may be taken as a non-degree student.

 

Curriculum

The Gannon MBA is a professional degree program.  Students begin studies with a wide variety of academic and work backgrounds.  MBA curriculum requirements range from 30 to 48 credits depending upon these experiences.  Courses are presented in three general categories:

 

·          From 0 to 18 credits of MBA Foundation courses.  This series is designed to bring all students up to the same preliminary level before commencing with the common body of coursework.  Foundation courses are waivable (or challengeable) on the basis of academic experience.

·          Twenty-one (21) credits of MBA Core courses. The Gannon MBA Core represents the common body of topics and skills that MBA’s are generally expected to possess. 

·          Nine (9) credits of MBA Elective courses.  MBA Elective courses allow students to customize a curriculum or build a concentration in finance, human resource management or marketing.

 

1. MBA Foundation Courses (0-18 credits – courses may be waived on a course by course basis based on academic background at the discretion of the Program Director)

                GMBA 501              Financial Accounting                                           3

                GMBA 525              Statistical Analysis                                              3

                GMBA 521              Quantitative Techniques                                      3

                GMBA 531              Management and Marketing Concepts                 3

                GMBA 561              Fundamentals of Financial Management              3

                GMBA 571              Economic Environment of the Firm                       3

 

2. MBA Core Courses (21 credits)     

                GMBA 601              Managerial Accounting                                        3

                GMBA 631              Organizational Culture, Creativity and Change    3

                GMBA 641              Operations and Supply Chain Management         3                                                                            

                GMBA 651              Strategic Marketing Management                         3

                GMBA 661              Financial Management                                          3

                GMBA 686              Leadership and Business Ethics                          3

                GMBA 799              Business Policy and Strategy                               3

 

3.  MBA Elective (Select 9 credits of free electives or a concentration in finance, human resource management or marketing)

               

Total Credits 30-48

 

Waiver of Courses

 

The “500” level foundation courses may be waived in either of the following two ways:

 

1. Waiver by Transcript

Students should make an appointment with the MBA office to determine if any foundation courses can be waived.  A waiver request is based upon previously completed undergraduate or graduate courses which are equivalent to the foundation course in question.  The student must demonstrate the equivalency of the prior courses by completing a Course Waiver Form. The form is completed and returned to the MBA Office.  To waive a foundation course the student should have taken specific courses within 7 years and obtained at least a grade of B (where two courses are listed, a grade of at least a B must be achieved in both courses). Below are the foundation courses and the undergraduate courses required to waive each by transcript.  International students with a three (3) year bachelor degree will be required to take all 18 credits of the Foundation level as well as other designated courses and may not waive nor challenge these courses.

 

GMBA 501 Financial Accounting

                2 courses in Introductory Accounting

GMBA 521 Quantitative Techniques

      1 course in Algebra for Business or Calculus 1

GMBA 525 Statistical Analysis

                1 course in Statistics

GMBA 531 Management and Marketing Concepts

                1 course in Principles of Marketing and 1 course in Principles of Management

GMBA 561 Fundamentals of Financial Management

                1 course in Financial Management or Corporate Finance

GMBA 571 Economic Environment of the Firm

                1 course in Introductory Micro Economics and 1 course in Introductory Macro Economics

 

2. Waiver by Proficiency Examinations

Students who have taken the equivalent courses in the past, and do not meet the requirements in number one, above, but feel that they have a strong background in an area which is not reflected on their transcript (i.e. the courses were taken more than 7 years prior to admission or the student did not achieve the appropriate grade) may request challenge exams to demonstrate their proficiency.  Proficiency exams are offered through the purchase of study materials through a vendor with whom the University has contracted to provide the same.  Please see the Director of Graduate Programs for more information.

 

Gannon’s Online Degree (GOLD) Graduate Program in Business Administration

Gannon’s Online Degree (GOLD) Graduate Program in Business Administration uses an internet delivery system for a robust teaching and learning experience for students who work full-time and may have travel schedules and/or family obligations.  Gannon uses the ANGEL delivery mechanism.  With ANGEL, students have access to all their course materials, collaborative workspaces and online resources.  Courses require that students work both independently and interdependently with their instructors and with fellow students.  Participants in these courses must maintain their own internet access and have Microsoft Word or compatible word processing software.

 

All courses are three credits and will be delivered in efficient seven-week sessions.  There is an expectation that the student will stay current with the course, remain engaged in all learning activities, and if necessary, seek help in a timely fashion.  Students can begin their studies in any seven-week session and may either take one class per session as a part-time student or may take two classes in a session as a full-time student.

 

While applications may be submitted at any time, Gannon reviews applications on a rolling basis.  Please contact our admissions representative to discuss details about our next start date and how to apply.  Students must complete the application process prior to the start date of a given session.

 

Gannon’s On Line MBA Program consists of 18 credits of foundation courses, 21 credits of core courses and 9 credits of free electives or concentration courses.  MBA concentrations are available in finance, human resource management and marketing.  A student may enroll in the Gannon Gold MBA Program on a full-time or part-time basis.

 

Five Year Bachelor's Degree/MBA

The Five-Year Bachelor’s Degree/MBA Degree Program is designed to allow outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to earn both an undergraduate degree in many disciplines and an MBA within a five year period.  Students from any major may apply and should do so before they begin their junior year.  Working with both the undergraduate advisor and Director of Graduate Programs, the student will customize a schedule in which foundation coursework will be completed during the undergraduate years. These MBA courses will be used as substitutes for undergraduate requirements, electives, or cognates.  At the completion of the undergraduate work, provided the student has taken the appropriate coursework in their undergraduate career, the 18 credits of foundation work will be met and the student will need only 30 more graduate credits to earn an MBA.  Applicants to the program must have a 3.2 undergraduate GPA with no grades in business courses below a C.  Retention in the program requires that the student maintain a minimum of a 3.2 GPA for their undergraduate studies.

Concentrations

Although it is not necessary to work toward a concentration with the MBA curriculum, many students do so in an effort to become more attractive in the job market.  A concentration consists of the student taking three courses in one of the following cognate areas:  Finance, Human Resource Management, or Marketing. 

 

The Concentration in Finance requires 9 credits and is outlined as follows:

GMBA 761 Advanced Financial Management

GMBA 764 Investments

GMBA 767 Security Analysis and Portfolio Management

 

The Concentration in Human Resource Management requires 9 credits and is outlined as follows:

GMBA 735 Employee Relations and Employment/Labor Law

GMBA 736 Human Resource Management

GMBA 774 Strategic Management

 

The Concentration in Marketing requires 9 credits and is outlined as follows:

GMBA 752 Consumer Behavior

GMBA 753 Marketing Research

GMBA 754 International Marketing

 

Internships and Cooperative Education

Gannon MBA students may, with permission of the Director of Graduate Programs, accept placements in fields that are related to their academic studies.  The University generally has a number of professional opportunities available students that can be valuable resume and portfolio builders for graduate students.  Placements range from short term assignments to full-time positions and are often administrated in cooperation with either the Co-op Office or the Small Business Development Center.  Interested students are advised to check with both for placement opportunities.  In some circumstances, these placements can be credit bearing and substituted for an elective course.  Students may take up to 3 credits of internship/cooperative education for credit with the permission of the Director of Graduate Programs, provided the experience adds to the student’s knowledge and ability in their chosen field of study.

 

Dual MBA/MPA Program

A student who has earned an MBA or MPA can obtain the second master’s degree with a reduced number of courses.  See the Director of Graduate Programs for more information.

 

Graduate Level Certificates

Gannon University offers graduate certificates in a number of business disciplines.  Most certificate students are graduate students who are unable to commit to a degree program but wish to bundle a select group of courses that leads to a particular expertise.  However, a number of certificate students are individuals who already have a master’s degree but wish to upgrade skills or retrain.  The certificate programs include the completion of 15 credits of graduate work.  For details, see the Director of Graduate Programs.

 

Admission Requirements

 

For all students:

·         A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university

·         GMAT score (this requirement is waived for students with a 3.2 GPA or higher)

·         A completed application

·         Official transcripts from all prior institutions attended

·         Three letters of recommendation

 

Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management

The Graduate Human Resources Certificate provides the student with a concentrated study in organizational theory, human resource management and labor management.

                GMBA 531              Management and Marketing Concepts                                3 credits

                GMBA 631              Organizational Culture, Creativity and Change                   3 credits

                GMBA 686              Leadership and Business Ethics                                        3 credits

                GMBA 735              Employee Relations and Employment/Labor Law               3 credits

                GMBA 736              Human Resource Management                                           3 credits

                                                                                                                                          15 credits

 

Graduate Certificate in Finance

The Graduate Certificate in Finance provides the students with a concentrated study in investment management.  Students study functioning of financial markets and pricing of financial assets.  The pricing efficiency of financial markets is also studied.

                GMBA 501              Financial Accounting                                                           3 credits

                GMBA 561              Fundamentals of Financial Management                             3 credits

                GMBA 661              Financial Management                                                         3 credits

                GMBA 764              Investments                                                                         3 credits

                GMBA 767              Security Analysis and Portfolio Management                      3 credits

                                                                                                                                          15 credits

 

 

Graduate Certificate in Marketing

The Graduate Certificate in Marketing offers the student the opportunity to earn a credential that demonstrates a specialization in this field.

                GMBA 531              Management and Marketing Concepts                                3 credits

                GMBA 525              Statistical Analysis                                                              3 credits

                GMBA 651              Strategic Marketing Management                                        3 credits

                GMBA 753              Marketing Research                                                            3 credits

                GMBA 752              Consumer Behavior                                                             3 credits

                                                                                                                                           15 credits