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Program Director: Dr. Duane (Rick) Prokop, M.B.A, DSL  
Phone: (814) 871-7576
Email: prokop001@gannon.edu

Offerings

We offer the Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree, a specialized Five Year Bachelor’s Degree MBA Program, and a number of Graduate Certificates (Human Resource Management, Investments, Marketing, Public Administration). In addition, we provide customized packages of graduate courses in business administration (and related topics) for working professionals who wish to upgrade skills or retrain. The MBA can be designed as either a general degree or with a concentration. Concentration areas are designed for the part-time student who can take advantage of course offerings to allow for a specialization in a specific area.  These concentrations include Environmental Sciences, Human Resources Management, Information Systems, Investments, Marketing, Pastoral Ministry, Public Administration.  Some concentrations may require courses to be taken during the datime.  Please contact the program director for more information.

The MBA program may be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis. Due to course prerequisites and frequency of course offerings, concentrations and graduate certificates are designed primarily for part-time students. These programs may only be available to full-time students who meet certain prerequisites. Full-time students interested in concentrations and graduate certificates should contact the program director for more details.

Introduction

Gannon is a student-oriented, teaching university.  This philosophy guides our approach to curriculum design, teaching and advising.  We recognize and understand the dramatic changes in the world of work.  Our mission 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 objectives.  Courses are rigorous and challenging by design, but the faculty is prepared to work with each student to build the skills needed in the business world.

Our experience as the region’s oldest and largest graduate school of management 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’s MBA alumni include Presidents/CEOs, Vice Presidents, CFOs or Treasurers, Managing Partners, and Consultants.  In addition, more than 40 have earned advanced degrees, including doctorates from some of the most prestigious academic institutions in North America (Indiana University, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School & Stanford University to name a few).  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 50 individuals who are owners/operators of their own businesses.  Gannon has continued to provide both instruction and motivation for these prospective 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) continues to facilitate this thrust.

Objective

To help students achieve long term professional success in combination with personal growth, happiness, and fulfillment.

Accreditation

The Business Administration program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a national accreditation body for business schools.

Admission Requirements

For all students:

• A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
• GMAT score (this requirement is waived for students with a 3.2 GPA or higher in a business field)
• A completed application
• A complete resume
• Official transcripts from all prior institutions attended
• 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 Status is awarded 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 are seeking professional development. A maximum of 9 credits may be taken as a non-degree student.

Curriculum

The 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 45 credits depending upon these experiences.  Courses are presented in four general categories:

• From 0 to 15 credits of Foundation (500 level) classes.  This series is designed to bring all students up to the same preliminary level before commencing with the common body of course work.  Foundation courses are waivable (or challengeable) on the basis of academic and professional experience.
• Twenty-four (24) credits of Core I and Core II (600 level) classes.
• The 600 sequence represents the common body of topics and skills that MBA’s are generally expected to possess.
• Three (3) credits of Elective (700 level) courses allow the student to customize a curriculum or build a concentration.
The three (3) credit Business Policy Course (GMBA799) is designed to integrate the curriculum, teach teamwork, and challenge MBA students to make real world applications of their MBA skills. The Business Policy course must be taken at Gannon and may not be transferred in from another institution.
Note: New students should attend the MBA orientation held at the start of every semester to review their prior academic coursework and determine the particular courses they are required to take.
1. Foundation Series (0-15 credits - courses may be waived on a course by course basis based on academic and professional background at the discretion of the program director.)
    GMBA 501 Financial Accounting (3)
    GMBA 525 Statistical Analysis (3)
    GMBA 531 Management and Marketing Concepts (3)
    GMBA 561 Fundamentals of Financial Management (3)
    GMBA 571 Economic Environment of the Firm (3)
   

2. Core I Series (15 credits - up to three credits substitutable with a 700-level elective based on academic and professional background.)
    GMBA 601 Managerial Accounting (3)
    GMBA 631 Organizational Behavior (3)
    GMBA 651 Marketing Management (3)
    GMBA 661 Financial Management (3)
    GMBA 671 Managerial Economics (3)

3. Core II Series (9 credits)
    GMBA 681 Global Business (3)
    GMBA 686 Leadership & Ethics (3)
    GMBA 696 Business Information & Communication (3)
4. Elective 700 Series (3 credits - 6 credits if the student has a course in the Core Series I substituted based on academic and professional background.)
   To be selected with permission of the MBA Director or advisor from the regular MBA (or other department) offerings of the graduate school. Any 600 or 700 level GMPA course may be taken to satisfy the requirements of the Elective Series.
5. Capstone Course (3 credits)
    GMBA 799 Business Policy and Strategy (3)

TOTAL CREDITS 30-45

Waiver of Courses

Students must complete the waiver process by the end of their first semester of coursework.
The “500” level courses may be waived in either of the following two ways:

• Waiver by Transcript
  Students should make an appointment with the MBA office to determine which (if any) 500 level courses can be waived.  A waiver request is based upon previously completed undergraduate or graduate courses which are equivalent to the 500 level 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 500 level class the student must have taken the following 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 500 level 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 15 credits of the Foundation level as well as other designated courses and may not waive or challenge these courses.
GMBA 501 Financial Accounting
    2 courses in Introductory Accounting
GMBA 525 Statistical Analysis
    2 courses in Statistics (at least one course beyond the intro level)
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
    Introductory Microeconomics and Introductory Macroeconomics
• Waiver by Proficiency Examinations
  Students who have taken the equivalent courses in the past, and do not meet the requirements in 'waiver by transcript' 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 MBA office for more information.

Five Year Bachelor's Degree/MBA

This program is designed to allow outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to earn both an undergraduate degree and the 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 MBA Director, the student will customize a schedule in which 500 level course work (Foundation Series) will be completed during the undergraduate years.  These MBA classes will be used as substitutes for undergraduate requirements, electives, or cognates.  At the completion of the undergraduate work, the 18 credits of foundation work will be met and the student will need only 30 more graduate credits to earn an MBA.



Concentrations

Although it is not necessary to declare a concentration within the MBA curriculum, most students do so in an effort to become more attractive on the job market.  There is no hard-and-fast rule for the number of courses required to declare a concentration.  Instead, each student should consult his or her advisor (or the program director) prior to selecting elective course work so that a systematic plan including the choice of elective and a graduate project may be developed.

Internships and Cooperative Education

MBA students may, with permission of the Program Director, accept placements in fields which are related to their academic studies.  The University generally has a number of professional opportunities available for its graduate students, and for the younger, less experienced MBA’s these placements can be valuable resume and portfolio builders.  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, supervised by a graduate faculty member, and substituted for an elective course.

Second Master's Degree MBA/MPA

A student who has earned an MBA or MPA can obtain the second master's degree with a reduced number of courses. See Program Director for details.

Graduate Level Certificates

Competition in business is rapidly increasing.  As employers look for the talent needed to remain competitive, those who are credentialed will have the competitive edge in obtaining employment or advancing their careers.  For those who wish to demonstrate a broad masters level exposure to a given career field, a degree in that field is the appropriate credential.

However, often it is desirable to show a degree of specialization.  The certification program fills this need.  One who possesses such a credential is well-steeped in the refined practice of a particular field.

Students completing a graduate level certificate may apply all classes toward a Master of Business Administration at Gannon University.

Admission Requirements

For all students:

• A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
• A completed application
• Official transcripts from all prior institutions attended
• Three letters of recommendation
• TOEFL scores if English is not a first language

For degree or certificate seeking students: GMAT scores (for applicants whose undergraduate grade point average is less than 3.2)

Graduate Certificate in Financial Management

The Graduate Certificate in Financial Management provides the student with a concentrated study in various aspects of managerial finance. The curriculum provides a balanced theoretical approach to financial management decision making.
 GMBA 501 Financial Accounting (3)
 GMBA 561 Fundamentals of Financial Management (3)
 GMBA 661 Financial Management (3)
 GMBA 761 Advanced Financial Management (3)
 GMBA 762 Cases in Financial Management (3)
 Total: 15 credits


Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management

The Graduate Certificate in Human Resources provides the student with a concentrated study in organizational theory, human resource management and labor management.
 GMBA 531 Management Concepts (3)
 GMBA 631 Organizational Behavior/Theory (3)
 GMBA 733 Research in Organizational Behavior (3)
 GMBA 736 Human Resource Management (3)
 GMBA 773 Labor Management (3)
 Total: 15 credits

Graduate Certificate in Investments

The Graduate Certificate in Investments provides the students with a concentrated study in investment management. Students study the functioning of financial markets and pricing of financial assets. The pricing efficiency of financial markets is also studied.
 GMBA 501 Financial Accounting (3)
 GMBA 561 Fundamentals of Financial Management (3)
 GMBA 661 Financial Management (3)
 GMBA 764 Investments (3)
 GMBA 767 Security Analysis and Portfolio Management (3)
 Total: 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. A total of 15 credits is required. Consult the MBA program director before enrolling in coursework.
 GMBA 531 Management Concepts (3)
 GMBA 525 Statistical Analysis (3)
 GMBA 651 Marketing Management (3)
 GMBA 753 Marketing Research (3)
 GMBA 752 Consumer Behavior (3) or
 GMBA 754 International Marketing (3)
 Total: 15 credits