MBA Program

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is designed to prepare students to apply concepts and principles offered in the various business disciplines to the responsibilities of management in a variety of endeavors.  The program is designed for both business and non-business undergraduate majors.  Students who satisfy admission criteria and complete the MBA Essentials prerequisite course will require thirty-six (36) graduate credit hours to meet degree requirements. Of these, twenty-four (24) hours will consist of required business core courses covering functional areas of business such as business law, economics, finance and accounting, marketing, information systems, technology, research and analysis.  An additional twelve (12) hours from a list of elective courses complete the degree requirements.  Students may take elective courses to fulfill one of three different specializations: Project Management; Human Resources Management; and, Occupational Safety Administration.  Students on the "fast track" can complete the 36 credit hour MBA program in a period of 15 months (May - August).

The program is intended to serve the needs of the state with particular focus on the needs of employers in North Central West Virginia. Organizations such as the FBI, NASA, DOE, NIOSH, Mylan, the local hospitals, the WVHTC Foundation, software and biotech firms, and others in the state need employees with human resources, project management or safety administration skills. 

 All students seeking admission to the MBA program must first meet the minimum standards for graduate study.   Regular admission to any graduate degree program at Fairmont State University requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, and a minimum 2.75 overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) (4.0 scale) or a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours attempted.

Official transcripts are required to be submitted from all institutions attended. Additionally, applicants are required to submit scores on the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).  Scores more than five years old are not accepted. While undergraduate GPA and test scores will be measures used to determine a prospective student’s chances of success, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose and interviews may also be utilized.  Applicants who do not meet all minimum admission criteria may be admitted provisionally, applying at least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience as an additional measure.  

 In order to graduate, students must maintain a 3.00 overall GPA and earn not more than 2 grades of “C” on courses to be counted toward graduation.