A master's in business administration (MBA) is a graduate degree awarded to students who have completed an advanced business program. To earn an MBA, a student must have the necessary prerequisites to gain admission to and then finish a two-year program — often including writing a thesis — with the ultimate goal being to give him a thorough understanding of leadership in a business environment. The student also must pay all necessary tuition and fees associated with the graduate degree process. Some universities may have additional MBA degree requirements or offer special concentrations with their own set of guidelines.
Completing the necessary prerequisites is the first of several MBA degree requirements that must be completed by business students. While the specific admission requirements vary by school, most programs evaluate applicants based on their undergraduate grade point average (GPA), their score on either the Graduate Management Admission (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE), letters of recommendation and experience outside the classroom. Some programs also may require applicants to submit an essay for evaluation. International students may have additional prerequisites, such as residency forms and language tests. Admission to some MBA programs is highly competitive and usually requires a GPA of at least 3.0 along with strong test scores.
Once a student has gained admission to a program, he will begin completing the specific MBA degree requirements mandated by his college or university. Most traditional MBA programs require students to complete two years of graduate-level coursework, and a thesis often is required before a degree is awarded. Some specialized programs offer accelerated learning or part-time classes, depending on the needs of their student body.
The coursework offered through an MBA program varies depending on the school and the concentration chosen by the student. Most colleges' MBA degree requirements will include courses covering business leadership and ethics, and management classes in fields including finance, accounting and operations. Some programs require a student to complete a selection of core classwork during their first year, followed by a second year of electives related to the MBA concentration the student has selected. MBA students must pass all their required coursework before they can graduate from the program.
Along with completing the academic classwork, students also must pay all admission fees and tuition as part of their MBA degree requirements. These may include additional fees to process the degree application. Prospective students may seek scholarships and other financial assistance to help them pay their tuition. These assistance programs typically have their own set of requirements that the student must fulfill before being considered for aid.
