Business Administration (MBA): Full-time

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Offered by the Kogod School of Business , the goal of the full-time MBA program is to develop practical business managers able to succeed in the complex arena of global organizations. Specifically, students will:

Develop a solid foundation in each of the functional areas of business, including accounting and financial analysis, production and marketing of goods and services, management of people and organizations, and information and technology management
Understand critical interrelationships and linkages necessary for developing global business strategy, including strategies and operational issues, functional disciplines, and “hard” and “soft” skills
Appreciate the environment in which business operates, including economic, legal, ethical, and societal dimensions

In addition, each student is expected to:

Demonstrate professional competence in oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Develop competency in the use of productivity tools and software to improve the quality and efficiency of decision making
Understand the nature of group dynamics and lead diverse work teams

The full-time MBA program contains within its required curriculum the business perspectives and core areas required by AACSB.

The full-time MBA program is delivered on-campus and prepares students for managerial careers through teaching functional business knowledge, applied learning through experiential projects, skill-building in analytics, and a global practicum. The program increases understanding of the interrelationships of private and public institutions, building critical knowledge and leadership skills to tackle today’s business challenges.

Admission to the Program

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must have earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a satisfactory grade point average. Applicants may also need to submit a GMAT or GRE score; please visit https://www.american.edu/kogod/admissions/ for more information. In addition, applicants must also have completed two undergraduate courses, one in microeconomics and one in macroeconomics (or the graduate equivalent), prior to entering the program. Applicants whose first language is not English must have a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Degree Requirements

49 credit hours of approved graduate coursework that includes required courses comprised of business core, global practicum, advanced professional skills, a capstone course, and electives
Capstone Experience: KSB-613 Strategic Decision Making (3)
Orientation requirement: All students are required to participate in the Full-time MBA Orientation prior to the start of the program

Course Requirements

Business Core (25 credit hours)

Electives (15 credit hours)

In addition to the required courses, students complete 15 credit hours of approved graduate elective credit hours. Students may choose courses designated to augment a consulting focus or may select other approved graduate level courses at the Kogod School of Business or by other academic units at American University.

Consulting Focus

School of International Service MA or MS and Business Administration (MBA)

Business Administration (MBA) and Washington College of Law JD or LLM

For approved dual degree programs, see Business Administration (MBA) and Juris Doctor (JD) and Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Laws (LLM) .