Master of Business Administration - MBA
Program Description
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program fosters collaboration rather than competition. The program combines academic excellence with practical skills and experiential learning, offering students a chance to test business strategies in a learning environment focused on their success. The curriculum is centered on teaching relevant, practical knowledge that students can immediately use on the job. Skills learned in class can be implemented at work the next day.
Courses include a blend of creative projects, analytical work, case studies, guest speakers, and presentations designed to build effective leaders within organizations of all types. St. Catherine MBA graduates are well-prepared to lead with confidence.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate women to be principled business leaders who act collaboratively and with integrity to create value for their organizations.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to be the MBA program of choice for women in business with a desire to advance to leadership levels where they can have an impact and affect change.
Graduate Outcomes
The program delivers a curriculum and learning experiences to enable students to develop skills in the following areas:
Problem Solving and Reasoning
Graduates from St. Kate’s MBA understand the larger context of business and approach problem-solving from the perspective of an experienced leader.
Business Skills and Functional Expertise
St. Kate’s MBA program graduates leaders who have mastered the skills and gained the experiences employers demand.
Communication through Influence and Reasoning
St. Kate's MBA program prepares leaders to communicate information and ideas effectively at all levels of an organization.
Team Collaboration
St. Kate's MBA program prepares leaders to collaborate with empathy and inclusiveness.
Innovative Mindset
St. Kate's MBA program inspires students to embrace innovation and prepare for rapid transformation.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Business Administration degree is conferred upon candidates who have met the following requirements:
- Completion of all required courses
- Attainment of a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Class Attendance and Participation
Regular online class attendance and participation is expected of all students. MBA classes are offered on an accelerated schedule and are fast-paced and intensive. Students are expected to adhere to all online course requirements. Specific course attendance and participation policies will be communicated by the instructor and outlined via the course learning website .
Years to Complete the Program
The MBA program must be completed within five years. This includes leave of absence and withdrawal.
Transfer of Credit
A total of twelve graduate semester credits from another regionally accredited institution(s) may be accepted at the point of admission for transfer into the MBA program, with the approval of the program director, under the following conditions:
- the course content is relevant to the MBA curriculum
- the credits were earned with a grade of B or better
- the credits were earned within the past seven years
A decision to grant the transfer of credit will be made as soon as possible after the request is received, but no later than the first term in which the student is enrolled.
Academic Advising
Students work with an academic advisor (MBA faculty member) to chart their academic progress and find answers to program-related questions.
Program for St. Catherine Undergraduate Seniors Taking MBA Courses
Overview
Qualified seniors enrolled at St. Catherine University may enroll in up to nine credits while completing their undergraduate degree. These graduate credits count as electives toward the bachelor's degree, or (with approval) as course replacements within the student's major in the undergraduate program. Additionally, the credits apply toward the graduate degree if the student is admitted into the MBA program after completing the bachelor's degree.
Eligibility
Undergraduate students must meet the following conditions to be eligible to take MBA courses:
- Current enrollment in a St. Catherine bachelor's degree program
- An institutional (St. Catherine University) cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher;
- Completion of at least 90 semester credits by the first day of the graduate course (including 16 credits in residency);
- In need of elective credits (or approved course replacement within the major) in order to complete their bachelor’s degree;
- Approval of the Academic Advising Office, Undergraduate Business Administration Chair, and the MBA Director.
Application Process
Interested students must meet with Academic Advising to confirm eligibility and to obtain guidance on taking MBA courses. Please note: being eligible for the Program (based on the above criteria) does not guarantee approval by the MBA program director to enroll in a graduate-level course.
If the student is eligible for the Program, the academic advisor will forward the material (along with a copy of the student's current St. Catherine University transcript) to the MBA program director for review. If the program director approves the request for graduate-level enrollment, the director and student will discuss course options for the upcoming semester(s). The student then works with the Academic Advising Department and the MBA program director to register for the graduate course(s) during the upcoming registration period.
Both the Academic Advising Office and the MBA program reserve the right to limit the number of undergraduate students in the graduate courses. Students who receive approval for graduate enrollment will be registered for specific graduate courses on a first-come, first-served basis. Undergraduate students must complete all of the course work and meet the same academic expectations required of the graduate students in the MBA classes.
Enrollment in a graduate-level course does not guarantee admission into the full MBA degree program (or other St. Catherine University graduate programs) if the student applies for graduate admission in the future.
Additional Considerations:
An MBA course may be substituted as an “upper-division business elective” in place of the practicum requirement.
Students must be registered for at least 50% of their credits in their home program. So if a student wants to be registered for six graduate credits they must also be registered for six undergraduate credits. No student can be registered for only graduate credit or fewer undergraduate than graduate credits in any term.
Technology Statement
Because all classes are delivered online, students are expected to have a working knowledge of computer technology and access to a computer and internet connection. MBA faculty will use a student learning management system for coursework and St. Catherine University’s email system for communication with students.
Progression Policy
Students are expected to make appropriate academic progress leading to the successful completion of the MBA degree. To remain in good academic standing, students must:
- maintain a cumulative B (3.0) average
- meet specific course requirements with a minimum grade of C (2.0)
- comply with all MBA program student policies
- adhere to the MBA program’s criteria for professional behavior, personal responsibility and respect for others
Conditions for Academic Recovery
A student will be on academic recovery for any of the following reasons:
- earning a cumulative GPA below 3.0
- earning a grade of C or lower in a single course
- failing to comply with the MBA program student policies
- violating the Institution’s policy on academic integrity
- violating the Institution’s policy on student conduct
Terms of academic recovery and requirements for removal will be documented in written form with copies provided to the student and the program advisor and the program director.
Removal from Academic Recovery
A student must meet the specified written requirements to be removed from academic recovery. At the end of the recovery term, the student may be removed from academic recovery, placed on extended recovery due to extenuating circumstances, or suspended from the graduate program.
Conditions for Program Suspension
Program suspension will result as a consequence of the following:
- not meeting the requirements of academic recovery at the end of the probationary term
- violations of the MBA program student policies, and/or the University’s policies on academic integrity or student conduct (depending on the severity of the issue)
Readmission to the MBA Program
A student may apply for readmission after program suspension one time only. Application for readmission may be submitted after the lapse of at least one term after the term of suspension.
To be considered for readmission, the student must submit a letter to the program director explaining why they should be readmitted to the program. The letter must include a plan for successful completion of the program.
If readmitted, the student is automatically placed on academic recovery with the terms of probation provided in writing. Readmitted students are required to achieve a term GPA of 3.0 the first term after readmission. Failure to achieve 3.0 GPA or to comply with terms of readmission will result in dismissal from the program with no option for readmission.
As part of the Master of Business Administration program, students will complete eleven core MBA courses and three additional courses in a specific concentration. St. Kate's offers two concentrations for the MBA program: strategic management and healthcare.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MBA Courses | ||
| MBA 6000 | Management Essentials 1 | 3 |
| MBA 6100 | Personal and Team Leadership | 3 |
| MBA 6150 | Managing Innovative Talent and Teams | 1 |
| MBA 6202 | Financial Accounting for Managers | 2 |
| MBA 6400 | Strategic Marketing-Building Value and Brand | 3 |
| MBA 6900 | Behavioral Economics and Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 7050 | Design Thinking for Innovation | 1 |
| MBA 7350 | Customer Insights and Strategy | 2 |
| MBA 7450 | Agile Project Management | 3 |
| MBA 7660 | Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MBA 8200 | Strategic Management Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- 1
This course is only required for students without a bachelor's degree in business.
Strategic Management Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MBA 6300 | Managerial Accounting for Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 7150 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| MBA 7200 | Corporate Finance-Funding Innovation and Creating Value | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Healthcare Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MHI 5170 | Population Health Informatics | 3 |
| MBA 6500 | Healthcare Systems and Policy | 3 |
| MBA 6810 | Healthcare Quality | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |