Graduate Programs
Master of Science
in Business Administration
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
The MBA is academically robust, accessible, and focused on helping you achieve your career goals. It is designed to enhance your core business competencies and build confidence to thrive as a strategic and resourceful professional. The program promotes career changing professional and personal development by providing you with advanced knowledge and tools to excel in the business world. WLU’s MBA program is 30-credit hours (10 courses) and each course is offered online in an accelerated format of seven-week classes. The MBA has three concentration areas in Management, Forensic Accounting, and Healthcare Management. Beginning in Fall 2021 MBA, Management students will also have an in-seat option at the WLU Highlands Center.
ECONOMICAL
One of the MOST ECONOMICAL programs available.
ACCELERATED
Complete your MBA in as little as 12 MONTHS
ACCREDITED
Public University with FULL ACCREDITATION
FLEXIBLE
100% ONLINE and may be modified to meet your needs
MBA Program Options
WLU’s Gary E. West College of Business (WCOB) offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with the following concentrations:
| Program | Online | In-seat |
| Management | ||
| Forensic Accounting | ||
| Healthcare |
Each concentration within the MBA program is designed to offer you a unique and specialize perspective on further developing your strengths. Please read through each concentration and decided which one would best help you strengthen your skills.
Online MBA In-seat MBA
What is an MBA in Management from West Liberty University? Businesses are built on the dynamics of teamwork and leadership. Those concepts are vital to an individual who is skilled in management. A good manager knows how to allocate personnel and resources in order to most effectively and efficiently accomplish a goal. An MBA from WLU in management can teach you how to best recognize and solve problems while overseeing any number of tasks and workers.
MBA: Management Courses:
| Required MBA Business Core | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| GBUS 501 MBA Orientation | 0 |
| CIS 530 Information Technology Management | 3 |
| ECON 520 Global Economics | 3 |
| MKT 535 Integrative Marketing Management | 3 |
| MGT 545 Strategic Human Resource Management | 3 |
| GBUS 525 Social Responsibility & Business Ethics | 3 |
| FIN 540 Finance Management & Theory | 3 |
| ACC 550 Managerial Accounting Decision Analysis | 3 |
| Total | 21 |
| Required Courses – Management Concentration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MGT 565 Value Chain Management | 3 |
| MGT 560 Public and Non-Profit Management | 3 |
| MGT 590 Strategic Management Capstone Class | 3 |
| Total | 9 |
Online MBA
What Will You Learn While Studying for an MBA with a Concentration in Accounting?
Globalization, a growing economy, substantial increases in Internet-based fraud and a complex tax and regulatory environment continue to lead to strong demand for accountants, forensic accountants, fraud examiners and both internal and external auditors. The accounting MBA with a focus in Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination concentration at West Liberty University- provides the credentials and know-how to accelerate your career in growing accounting fields.
The integrated curriculum of our MBA in accounting with a focus on Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination enables you to earn academic credits that may help you satisfy the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in your state. Additionally, the program helps prepare you for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) credential. When you study for an MBA, you will take several different advanced courses in broad subject areas that are centered around business. If you decide to concentrate your degree in accounting, you will still take the broad core courses in areas of study like marketing, finance and human resources, but you will also take accounting curriculum to will act as an addendum to the core requirements. If you were to study for a Master’s in Accounting, the core of the curriculum would be in accounting. Still, much of the coursework you complete is similar in nature. You can expect to take the following courses while studying for an accounting MBA degree:
MBA: Forensic Accounting Courses:
| Required MBA Business Core | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| GBUS 501 MBA Orientation | 0 |
| CIS 530 Information Technology Management | 3 |
| ECON 520 Global Economics | 3 |
| MKT 535 Integrative Marketing Management | 3 |
| MGT 545 Strategic Human Resource Management | 3 |
| GBUS 525 Social Responsibility & Business Ethics | 3 |
| MGT 590 Strategic Management Capstone | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Required Courses – Forensic Accounting Concentration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ACC 561 Auditing and Forensic Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 562 Detection and Prevention of Fraudulent Financial Statements | 3 |
| ACC 563 Interview Techniques/Legal Aspects of Fraud | 3 |
| ACC 564 Investigating with Computers | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
Who Should Take a Forensic Accounting MBA Program?
There are a variety of different types of prospective graduate students who can benefit from studying for their MBA with an Accounting concentration. One possible candidate is a student who has a Bachelor’s in Accounting and who wants to expand their knowledge and get more credits so that they can sit for the CPA exam which requires 150 credit hours. Another candidate is someone who has a degree in an unrelated area and who would like to switch to accounting without having to complete more undergraduate coursework. Business owners who have little accounting know-how may also want to consider developing their leadership skill and accounting skill by graduating with an MBA.
Online MBA
The MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management at West Liberty University puts your business management skills to work in a healthcare setting. This 100% online graduate degree program combines the core competencies of West Liberty University’s Master of Business Administration program with specialized courses focused on medical and healthcare organizations.
The MBA in Healthcare Management online courses are designed to provide you with an understanding of the business of healthcare, with an academic and real-world foundation in healthcare issues, trends and practices. The traditional business administration disciplines – accounting, finance, marketing, economics, and information technology – round out the program and provide a solid base in business management.
In addition to gaining a solid foundation in business management in your core MBA classes, earning your MBA in Healthcare online will also expand your understanding of:
- Social, ethical and organizational challenges faced by healthcare workers and how to effectively handle these challenges
- Introducing and managing clinical information systems and their effects on patients and interdisciplinary teams
- Current trends in healthcare informatics practices and how technology can improve patient care
MBA: Healthcare Management Courses:
| Required MBA Business Core | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| GBUS 501 MBA Orientation | 0 |
| CIS 530 Information Technology Management | 3 |
| ECON 520 Global Economics | 3 |
| MKT 535 Integrative Marketing Management | 3 |
| MGT 545 Strategic Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGT 590 Strategic Management Capstone | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Required Courses – Healthcare Management | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| GBUS 570 Healthcare Law and Ethics | 3 |
| ACC 570 Healthcare Accounting and Cost Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 570 Healthcare Finance and Revenue Cycle | 3 |
| ECON 570 Healthcare Economics Analysis | 3 |
| CIS 570 Healthcare Information System Management | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
Program Format
Online MBA
The 100% online program is designed with a prescribed course sequence with classes starting in January, May and August. During the first term after admission all students will enroll in GBUS 525 – Social Responsibility & Business Ethics and a no charge, no credit four-week MBA orientation course. Depending on the student’s preference or needs and course schedule, the MBA program with a concentration in management can be completed in as little as 12 months by taking two courses per seven-week term or at a slower pace in one year and eight months taking one course in each seven-week term. The MBA program with a concentration in accounting is taken at the slower pace over a 20-month schedule.
In-Seat MBA
The Management MBA Standard Track is now offered in-seat starting Fall 2021. The program will be offered at the Highlands Center Campus one night per week for 4 hours per 7-week term. This is the same high-quality Management MBA offered through our online program, except that it will be delivered in-seat at the convenient Highlands Center. In-seat learning offers the traditional classroom interaction between professor and student, as well as the advantage of networking with other MBA candidates. Get your competitive edge with this in-seat MBA designed for students who are working or need a minimum of six in-seat credit hours per semester. Students can complete this MBA in 20 months taking one class each term (two per semester) or more rapidly if they take additional classes online in conjunction with the in-seat course offerings.
Admissions Requirements
- Completed Online Application
- Bachelor’s Degree in any field, from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5
- NO GMAT or GRE required
Applicants with an undergraduate degree and an overall GPA below the minimum 2.5 will be considered for provisional admission into the MBA program with the permission of the MBA Program Director. These students must meet all other requirements prior to starting coursework. A student admitted under provisional status must complete his or her first 12 credit hours or four courses in the program with a grade of “B” or higher to continue in the program.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
- Proof of English Proficiency – test results that has been completed within the past three years: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): a minimum score of 80 for the Internet-based test (IBT), or 550 for the paper-based test (PBT) International English Language Testing (IELTS): 6 EIKEN: Grade Pre-1 Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 54.
- Credit Certification – have all your coursework and credits from institutions outside of the United States evaluated by a credential evaluation service provider [e.g., World Education Services (WES), Global Credential Evaluators (GCE), Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE), American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), etc.]
- Copy of Passport ID page
- Immunization shot record
Accepted to the MBA Program, What's Next?
*currently WLU utilizes Peregrine inbound and outbound placement exam results for determining admission capability.
MBA students must maintain minimum GPA of 3.0 and adhere to the WLU Code of Conduct as well as policies of the WCOB.
Additional Information for Students
Your Future in Business
Percent Change in Employment 2028
Employment of financial managers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, growth will vary by industry.
Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm
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