The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is devoted to the concepts, analytical tools, and communication skills required for competent and responsible management. The management of an enterprise is viewed in its entirety and within its social, political, and economic environment. The MBA provides a broad curriculum preparing you for several options in launching your career. All undergraduate majors are welcome; the MBA program meets the needs of students with or without previous business education.
Three MBA Tracks
The College of Business offers three MBA tracks:
- Traditional MBA (30 credit hours): An immersive MBA option that develops foundational business acumen while developing management and leadership skills. Students take nine core courses (27 credit hours) and one elective course (3 credit hours).
- Specialized MBA (36 credit hours): Immersive MBA option that develops foundational business acumen while developing management and leadership skills. Students complete 27 hours of core courses and the electives to complete one graduate certificate (9 credit hours).
- Flexible MBA (30 credit hours): An accelerated MBA option for candidates with a business education and focused career goals. Limited core courses and focused electives that match your career objectives. Students can exit the program with an MBA and two graduate certificates.
Students may later return to UCCS to obtain a Graduate Certificate in a specialized business area. Credits earned from the Traditional or Specialized MBA are transferable to the Graduate Certificate.
Campus and Online Options
The Graduate School of Business Administration offers an MBA program designed for working professionals that may be completed on campus, online, or through a combination of both modalities. The program is designed for students to complete their degree as a full-time student in as little as 12 months. Students have six (6) years to complete the MBA. Students choose their pace of completing the program to meet their personal and professional goals. Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
Your MBA, Your Schedule:
Extreme Flexibility: Take classes in the evening, online, or both.
- The Online MBA (8-week asynchronous model) is 100% online. Students may pursue the Traditional, Specialized, or Flexible MBA in the online format.
- The Campus MBA (16-week semester) is available 100% on campus. Students pursuing any MBA track can take courses in in this format but may also choose a fully online certificate as a campus student. Campus courses are scheduled from 4:45 pm to 7:20 pm or 7:30 pm to 10:05 pm and meet once a week.
MBA Graduate Admission
Admission Criteria
The Graduate School of Business Administration seeks to admit students who show a high likelihood of success in postgraduate business study. The following basic indicators are used to evaluate candidates for admission:
PRIOR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: A 4-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent is a requirement for application. The applicant’s complete academic record from all institutions attended is examined.
MBA ADMISSION PATHWAYS: There are two admission pathways for the MBA program.
- Pathway 1: GPA 3.0* or above for an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Pathway 2: GPA less than 3.0** for an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution, and at least ONE of the following:
- Submit a resume demonstrating 3+ years of relevant professional work experience and/or military experience; or
- Meet the minimum GMAT or GRE test scores; or
- Minimum 9 semester hours of relevant graduate course work at a regionally accredited institution with 3.0 GPA or higher; or
- A holistic essay stating your graduate school goals and demonstrating your commitment and perseverance to successfully complete the program (this option will go to committee review no matter what the GPA is)
*Cumulative GPA or GPA for last 60 credit hours, whichever is higher.
**All students with a GPA of 2.75 or lower will go through MBA Committee Review.
ADDITIONAL MBA APPLICATION MATERIALS: In addition to official transcripts from regionally accredited institutions attended, students must submit required documents based on MBA pathway selection. All applicants whose native language is not English must meet a minimum standard of English proficiency (i.e. TOEFL or IELTS scores). It is expected that students understand how to read, write, and communicate effectively in English to be successful in the Graduate School of Business Administration. In addition, applicants with any foreign college coursework are required to submit a course-by-course with GPA foreign degree evaluation by a NACES or AICE member.
Provisional Admits
At the discretion of the admissions committee, an applicant not meeting the criteria for regular admission may be admitted as a provisional student. Students who are offered provisional admissions to the program will receive a letter from the College of Business outlining the conditions that must be met to become a regular degree-seeking student. When the student meets the conditions of their provisional admissions, the College of Business will reclassify the student’s status to be fully admitted to the program. Provisional students have all the rights and privileges and are subject to the same standards of performance required of regularly admitted students.
Application Process and Deadlines
The UCCS online application, MBA Pathway selection, one official transcript (not student copies) from each post-secondary institution attended, a letter of recommendation (optional), and the nonrefundable application fee should be submitted by the priority deadline.
The Graduate School of Business Administration programs adhere to policies set by the College of Business and Administration (refer to the General Academic Policies under the College of Business and Administration section) and the UCCS Graduate School. In addition, students should understand the following guidelines and policies:
Graduate Academic Advising
It is recommended that graduate students meet with an advisor during their first semester of attendance to prepare a degree plan. Students should meet periodically with an advisor thereafter.
Degree Audit
Degree Audit is an online system used to track a student’s degree progress. These reports allow students and advisors to see how courses apply to requirements and what requirements remain to graduate. Students may access their degree audits through their myUCCS portal.
Expected Software Skills
MBA students are expected to be proficient with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If students are deficient in any of these skills, it is their responsibility to mitigate the deficiency before enrolling in the program.
Technical Requirements & Recommendations
The College of Business follows the technical requirements approved by the campus. Faculty may use Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor for virtual proctoring of online tests in Canvas. A webcam is required for monitoring.
Students may be unable to install Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor on some computers (i.e. work computers, library computers) due to firewalls, content filters, proxy servers, and/or other security software with similar functions. For students without a personal computer, Respondus LockDown Browser is installed on every computer in open computer labs on campus.
Academic Policies
Access to Graduate Courses
Students must be UCCS graduate students to take College of Business graduate courses. All course prerequisites must be met.
Course Load
The typical course load is 3-6 credit hours (1 to 2 classes) for a working graduate student and 9-12 credit hours (3 to 4 classes) for those attending school full-time. In the fall and spring semesters, the maximum number of credits a student can take is 15. In the summer semester, the maximum number of credits a student can take is 9.
Completion Time Limits
Candidates for the MBA degree in the College of Business must complete their requirements within six years.
Leave of Absence
Students who need to take a leave of absence for longer than one semester should discuss their decision with the Graduate School of Business Administration Graduate Office and complete the Request for Leave of Absence Form. A leave of absence may occur for one year (3 continuous semesters including summer). Students who do not return within a year need to reapply for admission to the MBA or MSA program. A leave of absence does not extend the prescribed time limit to complete the degree requirements (students are still required to complete the degree in 6 years).
A program may also place a student on administrative leave of absence if the student is not making satisfactory academic progress in the program. An administrative leave of absence cannot be used in place of academic probation but may be used simultaneously. The program may request that students meet certain conditions before returning.
Standards of Performance
Course Repeat Policy
Any grade below C (2.0) is not a passing program grade for graduate students.
A student may repeat a course once for which they have received a grade below a B.
The grade received in a repeated course may substitute for the original grade with an approved petition and will change the graduate program GPA. However, all grades received as a graduate student will appear on the official student transcript and in the overall cumulative CU GPA.
Program GPA Calculation
The MBA program GPA will consist of courses that are required for the degree. This GPA may differ from the cumulative GPA on the student’s transcript because of other courses taken while a graduate student that do not count towards the MBA degree.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
No individual grade below a C will count towards the MBA degree requirements. To remain in good academic standing and to earn the MBA, a student is required to maintain at least a B (3.0) GPA in the program. This includes all required courses for the degree while taken at this University and may differ from the CU cumulative GPA.
Academic Probation & Suspension
The academic performance of each student will be reviewed at the end of each semester. Any student who has a cumulative grade point average of less than a B (3.0) in their degree audit will be placed on academic probation.
In general, students will not be placed on probation until a minimum of nine (9) semester hours has been attempted. After a student has been placed on probation, the student has a maximum of one calendar year to raise their grade point average to 3.0. Courses taken to raise the cumulative grade point average must apply to the degree and must be taken in the three semesters (including summer) immediately following the semester in which the cumulative grade point average fell below 3.0. Failure to raise the cumulative grade point average to 3.0 in the time frame outlined will result in immediate suspension.
While on academic probation, failure to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress, (meaning the cumulative GPA must improve each semester that classes are taken), toward a degree may result in academic suspension. In the event a student attains probationary status more than one time, the same time limits shall apply.
Students pursuing a Graduate Certificate as a non-degree seeking student in the College of Business must maintain a 3.0 GPA once admitted to the certificate program. Students falling below a 3.0 GPA will be placed immediately on probation regardless of the number of credits taken.
If a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 2.0, they may be suspended immediately. A suspended graduate student is eligible to petition for readmission after one calendar year.
Credit for Prior Learning
Credit for Prior Learning (20% of required degree credit) may apply to the MBA program through the Portfolio Assessment.
Transfer credits (30% of required degree credit) may apply to the MBA program with departmental approval or approval from the MBA Faculty Director. The minimum criteria for transfer:
- All transfer courses must have a minimum grade of B or above.
- Courses applied toward another master’s degree (or bachelor’s degree) may not be used toward the MBA.
- All work accepted for transfer must have been completed within the approved degree time limit (6 years).
- Equivalent courses from AACSB-accredited business programs may be eligible to substitute core or elective courses in the curriculum.
- All other coursework from non-AACSB accredited programs may be approved for transfer toward elective coursework.
Grades Received Before Admission to the College of Business Graduate Program
Grades from courses transferred from another institution or other CU campuses are not included in the program GPA calculation at UCCS.
Credits earned through a UCCS College of Business Graduate Certificate may be applied to the MBA with permission. Each course must have a grade of B or better. All work must have been completed within the six-year time limit.
Graduate Internships
At the graduate level, internships are 3 credit hours, satisfactory/unsatisfactory only, and may be used as business elective credit. Internships are approved through an application process, which can be obtained through the College of Business Career Development Center. Students must apply before beginning their internship duties and should register for credit during the semester in which the internship is being completed. A maximum of 3 credit hours of internship may be applied to a graduate business degree.
Internships are not available for students pursuing College of Business Graduate Certificates as non-degree seeking students.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Application
Students must complete an application for candidacy and apply for graduation through the student portal to be eligible for graduation. The deadlines for the application for candidacy and online diploma card are determined by the Graduate School and are strictly enforced.
Commencement
Students seeking to participate in commencement and other academic ceremonies will need to complete all academic requirements in advance. Participation in academic ceremonies that recognize or honor students for the completion of an academic program or specific academic accomplishment is based on the understanding that all requirements have been completed.
