Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business
Stephen Ludwig, Director School of Business
Chi Lo Lim, MBA Program Coordinator, Advisor
School Telephone: (660) 562-1835
School Website: http://www.nwmissouri.edu/business/index.htm
The Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration degree (MBA): MBA with Agricultural Economics emphasis, MBA with General Management emphasis, MBA with Human Resource Management emphasis, and MBA with Marketing emphasis.
CIP: 520201
Graduate Faculty: Casey Abington, Benjamin Blackford, Terry Coalter, Ben Collier, Tolina Fufa, Araceli Hernandez, Nigel Hoillet, Arley Larson, Chi Lo Lim, Stephen Ludwig, Janet Marta, Callie Mullins, Tiebing Shi, Deborah Toomey, James Walker, Tekle Wanorie, Tom Zweifel.
A master’s degree in business administration involves the study of management — that is, the process of organizing and directing resources, which include people, finances, materials and information. The MBA program provides an opportunity to become a business leader by developing skills in ethical decision making, financial planning, quantitative analysis, policy formulation, and interpersonal relationships, understanding how these skills are applied in achieving business and organizational goals in an international environment.
The MBA is one of the most flexible degrees available. It prepares students for leadership in organizations, in independent businesses and in their own communities. It gives future managers the knowledge, concepts and skills necessary to direct resources to meet specific organizational goals.
With an MBA, one can achieve a more fulfilling career. Its versatility is a special advantage. Although an MBA is not a guaranteed ticket to success, it can provide access to many personal and professional opportunities and can help achieve greater responsibility, higher earnings, more job satisfaction, greater visibility for career advancement opportunities and contributions in their communities. The MBA opens many doors. Because of the high value all organizations place on decision making and problem solving abilities, our MBA graduates are sought after by a wide variety of organizations in different segments of the economy.
When former students were asked, “What are the advantages of obtaining an MBA degree?” five major benefits were listed in order of importance:
(1) career entry and/or advancement – which includes labor market opportunities, increased career options, contacts, credentials and faster career mobility;
(2) development of management abilities and business-related knowledge;
(3) personal satisfaction;
(4) increased compensation; and
(5) other reasons, such as receiving a scholarship or using the MBA to gain entry to other academic programs.
Accreditation
Northwest Missouri State University, through its Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business, is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for the offering of the following degree programs: (1) at the graduate level, for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree; (2) at the undergraduate level, for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with majors in accounting, finance, management information systems, business technology, business education, business economics, business management, international business and marketing.
MBA Admission Requirements
Applicants to Northwest Missouri State University's MBA program with a bachelor's degree in business from a regionally accredited university must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and one of the following:
- Three years of continuous professional full-time work experience
- Three years of continuous full-time United States enlisted or commissioned military service
- Graduate degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- A GMAT score of 440 or above
- An admission index of 1100 (undergraduate GPA x 200 + GMAT)
- A GRE score of 285 or above
- An admission index of 965 (undergraduate GPA x 200 + GRE)
- A 70th percentile on the Business Major Field Test score or above.
- Applicants to the MBA program who do not have a bachelor's degree in business are required to successfully complete the MBA Business Foundation course, MGMT 54201, which is designed specifically for students who are new to business curriculum.
International applicants must meet one of the following English proficiency requirements:
- TOEFL score of 550 (paper), 213 (computer) or 79/80 (internet-based)
- IELTS score of 6.5
- PTE score of 53
The English proficiency requirement may be waived for international applicants with a bachelor's degree from any United States regionally accredited institution.
International students must submit applications and all required materials to the Office of Admissions by the following dates. International students should allow approximately two months from the time all application documents are received for notification of acceptance.
Fall Trimester—July 1
Spring Trimester—December 1
Summer Trimester—May 1
Comprehensive Examination–ETS MBA-MFT
Students must take the ETS MBA-Major Field Test (ETS MBA-MFT) comprehensive exam in order to complete the MBA program. To be eligible to take the exam, students must:
- Be enrolled in their final trimester
- Be admitted to candidacy
- Have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Have submitted a completed Research Component Form
- Have applied for graduation (no later than the end of the 2nd week of their final term)
The ETS MBA-MFT is available on campus in Maryville and remotely.
- On-campus testing will be scheduled each trimester and students who have met the above requirements will be notified of the date and location.
- Remote testing must be arranged with the Assessment Office and the test must be completed two weeks prior to the scheduled date for on-campus testing. Students are responsible for the remote proctoring fee.
Alternate Exam for International Students
If remote testing of the ETS MBA-MFT is unavailable for international students living outside of the United States, an alternate comprehensive exam will be offered upon the approval of the MBA Program Coordinator.
Research Component
All MBA students must complete a research component as part of their requirements for graduation. A research paper, at a minimum, is a paper that surveys the literature on a particular topic. In such papers, students should demonstrate that they understand various arguments, hypotheses or theories put forward in the literature, can compare and contrast such, and draw appropriate conclusions therefrom. Term papers meeting these specifications can qualify as research papers. Research papers can be written either individually or as a team, as directed by the academic program. The student's advisor must approve the research paper and file the Research Component Form with the Graduate Office.