Business Administration

Department website: https://business.wvu.edu/academics/business-administration/business-administration-mba

Degrees Offered

• Master of Business Administration
• Doctor of Business Administration
• Doctor of Philosophy

Nature of the Program

The John Chambers College of Business and Economics Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program is accredited by the AACSB. The program is offered in two formats. An accelerated full-time, day-class program on the WVU-Morgantown campus can be completed in 12 months. The online program can be completed in one-to-two years. The online program, referred to as the Online M.B.A. (O.M.B.A), is designed for working professionals. The standards of excellence that support accreditation by the AACSB are maintained across both formats of the program.

The M.B.A. degree program recognizes the need for future managers to be able to anticipate and recognize change and then to manage resources advantageously in that environment. Thus, the curriculum emphasizes a general, broad-based approach to graduate education in management which provides the student with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for a manager to succeed in such an environment. The program develops a managerial perspective that is primarily line-oriented as opposed to staff-oriented and is relevant to those in both private and public organizations.

Academic Standards

In addition to the University’s academic and professional standards, students enrolled in a John Chambers College of Business and Economics master’s degree program must also abide by the following standards:

• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to earn a degree from their graduate program, without exception.
  • A student who cannot mathematically meet the 3.0 GPA requirement to successfully complete the degree, within a reasonable period of time (as defined by the Program Coordinator or designee), will be dismissed from their academic program. Visit the Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal section of the University’s Graduate Catalog for more information about this topic.
• Students must follow the professional standards established by their college, degree program and/or department. A student who violates the established professional standards may be placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed from their program.
• A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.75 will automatically be placed on academic probation.
  • A student will be dismissed from their program if their GPA is not raised to 2.75 by the end of their subsequent semester of enrollment. 
• A student will be dismissed from their program if they earn a letter grade below C- in more than one required course.
• A student who earns a letter grade of D or F in any required course must repeat the course and earn a minimum letter grade of C-.
  • Any grade earned in a repeated course at the graduate level is included in the calculation of a student’s overall and major GPA, along with the original grade earned in the course. Additionally, the original grade earned in the course will remain on the student’s academic transcript/permanent record. Visit the Grades section of the University Graduate Catalog for more information about this topic.

Any exceptions to the above standards must be approved in writing by the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and the Program Coordinator.

Full-Time M.B.A. Program

The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) is a 12-month, full-time program delivered on the WVU campus. This program is designed to prepare individuals from diverse educational and professional backgrounds for business leadership and administration through three complementary avenues. First, the program guides students through a comprehensive sequence of 8-week courses that encompass diverse business disciplines, providing a sophisticated understanding of the theory and practice of business administration. Second, at the core of the M.B.A. program is its unique orientation toward experiential learning. In the fall and spring, students complete consulting projects with actual businesses throughout the state, the region, and in some cases, internationally. Project partners range from long-established organizations to small businesses to emerging startups in the Vantage Ventures entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition to these consulting engagements, students’ courses also guide them through case analyses, simulations, service projects, and other experiential learning opportunities. Third, students participate in a robust professional development curriculum aimed at helping them clarify their aspirations and gather the resources, contacts, and insights they need to realize them. This curriculum includes networking events, industry site visits, coaching sessions, and seminars with established professionals who share real-world experiences and guide students through case studies based on actual events in their organizations. The M.B.A. program operates on a cohort model, beginning each year in June with graduation the following May.

Online M.B.A. Program

The Online M.B.A. plan of study requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework. The program is designed for working professionals with varying educational and professional backgrounds. Students may enter the O.M.B.A. program at the start of the fall or spring semester, completing the program one-to-two years later. 

Admissions for 2025-2026

Full-Time M.B.A. Program

To be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 2.75.

To apply, applicants must submit:

1) a completed application form;

2) a $60 application fee;

3) up-to-date academic transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions;

4) an up-to-date resume showing prior work experience;

5) a statement of purpose (guidance on how to craft an effective statement of purpose can be found on the on-campus MBA webpage); and

6) one letter of recommendation.

International students must also submit IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo scores to demonstrate English language proficiency. Additional information about test score requirements and country-specific exceptions to this rule can be found on the WVU Graduate Admissions webpage for International Graduate Students. Please note that meeting the minimum criteria for admission does not guarantee acceptance.

All applications submitted prior to March 1^st are guaranteed full consideration for admission and available funding. To the extent space allows, review of applications will continue after this deadline on a rolling basis until May 1^st. Although every application submitted before March 1^st will receive full consideration, the Admissions Committee will begin reviewing applications on January 15^th and offer priority admission to a limited number of exceptional candidates on a rolling basis. To be eligible to be considered for priority admission, candidates must have either: 1) a 3.5+ GPA; or 2) a 3.25+ GPA with robust undergraduate preparation in accounting, economics, statistics, and calculus. Please note that priority admission decisions are based on a holistic evaluation of each candidate’s application materials, and not on GPA or coursework alone. Priority admission slots are limited to ensure full consideration for all applications submitted prior to the March 1^st deadline. Candidates who are not offered priority admission will still receive full consideration for standard admission after March 1^st.

Please visit the on-campus MBA program’s webpage for additional information and resources. Students may also contact the John Chambers College of Business and Economics Graduate Programs Office for assistance at (304) 293-5505 or BeGradPrograms@mail.wvu.edu.

Online M.B.A. Program

To gain admission to the Online M.B.A. (OMBA) program, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Admissions decisions are based on an assessment of expected success in the program shown by the application materials and on space available. Each applicant must submit a resume showing prior work experience. For applicants with less than five years of work experience, the undergraduate record provides the strongest indicators of success. For applicants with five or more years of experience, the Admissions Committee will place greater emphasis on the work history. Additionally, applicants are required to submit:

1) a completed application form;

2) a $60 application fee;

3) up-to-date academic transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions;

4) a statement of purpose; and

5) one letter of recommendation.

The Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and students admitted to the program may begin in the fall or spring semester. The priority deadline for receipt of applications and transcripts in the College’s Office of Graduate Programs is July 1st for the fall intake and December 1st for the spring intake. Admission to the program is competitive and subject to space being available. 

Please visit the OMBA program's webpage to learn more about the specific application deadlines and other important information. Students may also contact the John Chambers College of Business and Economics Graduate Programs Office for assistance at (304) 293-5505 or BeGradPrograms@mail.wvu.edu.

*Note -International Students interested in either MBA program are required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score. Applicants must have a TOEFL-ibt score of  79. If you have taken the IELTS, the minimum score must be 6.5, and the minimum Duolingo score is a 105. English language exam scores should be sent to the Office of Admissions, West Virginia University, PO Box 6009, Morgantown, WV 26506-6009.

Major Code: 2110

Major Learning Outcomes

Full-time Master of Business Administration Program

Learning goal #1: Students will be able to integrate and apply the functional areas of business to experiential business problems

Learning goal #2: Students will be able to identify problems, collect appropriate data and analyze the data to make informed management decisions

Learning goal #3: Students will be able to articulate a succinct business analysis and make recommendations

Learning goal #4: Students will be able to make management decisions in an ethical and socially responsible manner

Learning goal #5: Students will be able to effectively manage teams and work units and implement strategies to achieve organizational goals

Online Master of Business Administration Program

Learning goal #1::   Students will be able to integrate the functional areas of business into management decisions in a global environment

Learning goal #2:  Students will be able to identify problems, collect appropriate data and analyze the data to make informed management decisions

Learning goal #3:  Students will be able to articulate a succinct business analysis and make recommendations

Learning goal #4: Students will be able to make management decisions in an ethically sensitive and socially responsible manner

Learning goal #5: Students will be effective team members in a virtual environment

Learning goal #6: Students will be an effective leader who influences people toward the attainment of organizational goals