Business Administration, MBA

Degree Requirements

Students completing the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program can choose from two curricular options: The MBA (30 credits), and the MBA with a specialization (36 credits).

Option 1: Business Administration, MBA without Specialization  
Option 2: Business Administration, MBA with Specialization  
 

Specialization options include: 

• The Accounting Leadership Specialization provides the skills needed to move into an accounting management role. Financial communications, leadership and ethics, and emerging issues in accounting are examined. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Evaluate complex accounting situations.
  • Assess emerging and global accounting issues that can contribute to organizational success.
  • Articulate a process for making ethical decisions.
  • Communicate complex financial information in a clear and concise manner.
• The Artificial Intelligence for Business Development Specialization explores transformation enablement in various industries by using state of the art and innovative artificial intelligence concepts and methodologies. Deep learning, data engineering, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are examined. Through deep learning methodology and technology focused on artificial intelligence models, students gain skills and insight to perform in the fields of big data, IoT, and artificial intelligence. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Design and deploy an end-to-end artificial intelligence-based solution.
  • Present deliverables to prospective stakeholders that align with the strategy goals of an organization.
  • Evaluate ethical considerations around artificial intelligence-based solutions, focused on conflict resolution, cross-functional teamwork, and compliance issues.
• The Business Analytics Specialization includes additional coursework in data science. Students learn how to frame business problems, provide optimal solutions, and improve business performance through data science project application. Students learn which tools are available, which to create themselves, and then how to implement them to improve organizational performance. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Apply appropriate tools, data models, and ethical approaches to solve specific business problems.
  • Demonstrate project management techniques to business analytics projects.
  • Communicate with a variety of stakeholders and audiences.
  • Evaluate ways that the organization can improve its operations through analytics.
• The Cybersecurity Management Specialization is designed for students seeking to manage information security within organizations. Security policy, risk management, operational strategies, security architecture and security planning are examined. Students develop technical knowledge in information security and security plan implementation. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Design plans for security infrastructure frameworks.
  • Manage policies and leading information security within organizations.
  • Evaluate risk strategies and security threats.
• The Cybersecurity Technology Specialization is designed for students seeking to focus on cloud and network-based aspects of security such as intrusion detection, network security, cloud applications, programming/scripting, and network defense methods. Students develop technical knowledge in computer networking environments, programming, and cloud-based application security. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Create network and cloud technology security solutions.
  • Evaluate network application intrusion testing techniques.
  • Utilize programming, scripts, and tools to understand network and web application penetration testing.
• The Finance Specialization is designed for students seeking additional knowledge and skill in financial management. Individuals develop skills and knowledge pertaining to corporate finance, security analysis and portfolio management, and foreign investments. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Analyze and interpret financial information.
  • Evaluate equity securities and assess the risk and return of investment portfolios.
  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct capital budgeting.
  • Assess the risks involved with engaging in foreign investments. 
• The Healthcare Administration Specialization is designed for students seeking additional knowledge and skill in healthcare administration. Students develop skills necessary to meet future challenges and complexities of the health and human services fields in the areas of financial management, service delivery systems, ethics, policy and regulatory systems, and health administration leadership. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Analyze and interpret financial information in a healthcare or human services setting.
  • Evaluate the fundamentals of current healthcare and human services delivery systems.
  • Assess current health and human services policy, ethics, and regulatory systems.
  • Appraise strategic planning and organizational leadership within the health and human services sector.
• The Healthcare Analytics Specialization includes the study of clinical and business operations related to patient billing, insurance, and activities connected to patient care. Privacy, ethics, and governance concerns are examined. Students learn how to develop business intelligence capabilities within a healthcare organization and apply artificial intelligence techniques across a spectrum of patient care and business functions. Students study best-practice information management systems, including health informatics and decision support systems. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Apply specialized knowledge in healthcare analytics, while adhering to ethical and legal considerations including HIPAA requirements and organizational governance.
  • Incorporate health informatics, information systems, and data analysis frameworks to enhance organizational effectiveness and decision-making processes.
  • Communicate highly sensitive data to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Employ best-practice data science techniques to identify errors and ensure accuracy in clinical, insurance, and hospital data.
  • Integrate artificial intelligence to achieve the organization’s goals.
• The Human Resource Management Specialization is designed for students seeking knowledge and skill in the main aspects of human resource management. Students learn the foundational skills needed to excel in human resource positions, including recruiting and hiring, employment law, compensation and benefits, and human resources organizational strategy. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Analyze the role of human resources as strategic business partners in organizational strategy. 
  • Evaluate employment practices pertaining to recruitment, selection, and performance management.
  • Analyze organizational policies and procedures related to employment law and statutory frameworks.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of total rewards practice and strategy, including compensation and benefits.
• The Individual and Team Leadership Specialization is focused on additional concepts and theories pertaining to areas of individual and team leadership. Ethical decision making, team building, and elements of power and influence in leadership, are examined. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of leadership concepts and ethical decision making.
  • Develop an individual approach to personal leadership and leadership at a team level.
  • Evaluate communication, team building, and collaborative methods for leading teams.
  • Analyze the elements of power and influence in various leadership environments.
• The Nonprofit Management Specialization provides the foundational business and management skills needed for work in nonprofit organizations. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Analyze strategic management principles used in the nonprofit sector.
  • Evaluate and apply community collaboration and conflict management strategies.
  • Create fund development and financial plans that inform decision making.
  • Analyze approaches to working with and managing stakeholders unique to the nonprofit sector, including volunteers, staff, and boards of directors.
• The Organizational and Change Leadership Specialization is focused on additional concepts and theories pertaining to organizational and change leadership. Organizational development, organizational learning, and change leadership are examined. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of leadership concepts and ethical decision making.
  • Analyze the elements of organization development and its impact on organizational performance.
  • Develop organization development models to promote and maximize organizational effectiveness.
  • Analyze the role of change leadership in the development of strategy and innovation in a high performing organization.
• The Project Management Specialization provides students with the foundational skills needed in project management positions, including project initiation, planning, executing, and monitoring and controlling.  Topics include stakeholder analysis, requirements identification, project charter, schedule management, resource management, cost management, quality control, and risk management. Additional learning objectives include:
  • Evaluate the business and project environment to optimize value in a predictive approach
  • Analyze and implement appropriate project management principles and performance domains throughout a project.
  • Evaluate and apply various methods of quality control to a project.
  • Implement risk management principles and practices.

Faculty

The faculty members for this program have earned doctorate or master’s degrees. Faculty are selected for their combination of educational and professional experience and expertise.

Admission Requirements

For all applicants:

Applicants may apply for admission to master degree programs at any time during the year. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. If the grade point average upon admission is below 2.75, or if a grade point average is not available, or language proficiency is not adequate, the applicant may be admitted with conditional status.

Note: Once admitted, students cannot switch back and forth between the online MBA and hybrid MBA options.

Application Process

Applicants must submit:

1. Completed application form and,
2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards). Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted. 

   Students with transcripts issued in the U.S. may be admitted without an official transcript. Students must provide an official transcript by the last day to add/drop classes in their first term of attendance. In cases where students are completing coursework while simultaneously applying for admission, students may be admitted with an in-progress transcript, and an official transcript posting final grades and, when appropriate, degree attainment, must be submitted before students are allowed to register for subsequent semesters. 

See individual programs for additional application requirements.

Please Note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Minneapolis Campus.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Office of Admission
2500 Park Ave S
Minneapolis, MN  55404