Earn Your Master's Degree in Business Administration
The MBA program is designed to meet the needs of full-time and working professional students. Classes are offered fully online, in Hattiesburg and in Gulf Park in a hybrid, night class format. The hybrid format allows students to complete two classes per semester by attending class one night each week. The program also allows for a Sport Event Security Management Emphasis, the first of its kind. This emphasis equips students with specialized skills and knowledge needed to address real challenges in maintaining secure sports venues, bridging the gap between business and safety in sports. The unique program consists of 24 core hours and 9 elective hours focused on sport security.
The College of Business and Economic Development is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
What Will I Learn?
The MBA is the most demanded graduate degree in the world. Our MBA program consists of 33 credit hours, 24 core hours and 9 elective hours. Full-time students can complete the MBA in as little as one year while working professional students can complete the program in as little as two years. MBA students learn decision-making skills, to think critically and strategically, develop analytical skills and communicate effectively. Our students are diverse, about half having undergraduate degrees in business while the other half have degrees in engineering, science, humanities, health professions and other fields.
See the links below under "Availability" to find out prerequisite and application requirements. If you have further questions regarding these programs, please email h.l.adamsFREEMississippi.
#74 Best Online MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
#1 Online MBA Program in Mississippi, College Consensus, 2019
#213 Best Part-time MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
#119 Best Online MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2019
#17 Best Online MBA Programs, Affordable Colleges Online, 2018-2019
#41 Best MBA Degree Programs Online, Best College Reviews, 2018
#136 Best Online MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2018
#188 in the Top 200 Best Part-Time MBA Programs, U.S. News and World Report, 2018
Summer Semester
April 1 (all applicants)
Fall Semester
April 1 (if seeking a graduate assistantship (GA))
May 1 (international applicants not seeking a GA)
June 1 (US residents not seeking a GA)
Spring Semester
October 1 (international applicants)
November 1 (US residents)
NOTE: The committee reviews all completed applications about mid-month after each application deadline.
There are two opportunities to receive a waiver of this requirement:
- Submit official transcripts showing an earned master’s degree or higher.
- Request waiver consideration by demonstrating five years or more of significantly progressive management work experience.
Applicants must have already applied to the program, paid the application fee, and completed all required prerequisites. In addition, applicants requesting waiver consideration based on work experience must submit the following to h.l.adamsFREEMississippi at least six weeks before the application deadline:
- Updated résumé
- Official transcript(s)
- A cover letter addressed to Dr. Beth LaFleur, Associate Dean and MBA Director
The applicant’s résumé and cover letter should document how his or her work experience has been progressively responsible in managing people, processes, budgets and projects. The committee reviews requests on a case-by-case basis. Just demonstrating five years of full-time work experience is not enough for waiver consideration.
Graduate Assistantships are available in the MBA program, awarded on a competitive basis.
MBA students can choose study abroad electives in London, Italy, and Asia.
Expert Faculty Who Are There to Help
MBA faculty members are active researchers across all business disciplines. In addition, many of the MBA faculty members have significant practical work experience in business and industry.
Availability
| Degree Plan | Availability |
|---|---|
| Business Administration (Sport Event Security Management) MBA | Hattiesburg, Online 100% |
| Master of Business Administration MBA | Gulf Park, Hattiesburg, Online 100% |
| Graduate Certificate in Business Foundations | Online 100% |
- Project Management
- Sales Management
- Corporate Management
- Darcie Graham/ 2016
Graduate Program & Grant Coordinator/ Gulf Coast Research Lab at The University of Southern Mississippi
- Jacob Robinson/ 2016
Financial Institution Specialist/ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
- Katherine Burton/ 2018
Animal Care Professional/ ZooTampa at Lowry Park