May 17, 2024  
2021-2022 
    
2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Business Administration, M.B.A.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Professional Studies

Western New Mexico University School of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, (ACBSP).

The M.B.A. degree at WNMU offers five tracks: General M.B.A. and M.B.A. with Health Care Administration, Instructional Technology & Design, International Business, and/or Management Information Systems Concentration.

The M.B.A. degree is designed for persons intending to pursue careers as management generalist in business, non-profit organizations, the private sector, or in governmental organizations. The graduate courses in Business Administration are designed to develop analytical skills and provide in-depth knowledge of modern business management. The case analysis method is emphasized to better prepare students for responsible positions in the business environment. The M.B.A. degree with a concentration in International Business is particularly useful for individuals who pursue careers in multinational corporations or work in a global setting.

The M.B.A. degree with a concentration in Healthcare Administration is particularly useful for healthcare employees moving into management positions. The M.B.A. degree with a concentration in Instructional Technology and Design is particularly useful for education and management information systems majors. Finally, The M.B.A. degree with a concentration in Management Information Systems is useful for employees in technology jobs.

M.B.A. Applicants

M.B.A. applicants with a G.P.A. of 3.2 or higher in the last 64 credit hours of their studies from an appropriate accredited college or university are not required to take the GMAT as part of their application for admission. Note: If 30-36 hours of graduate work was the most recent completed, that will be the basis of the G.P.A. assessment. Proof of degree is still required. M.B.A. applicants must submit GMAT scores less than six years old to the Office of Graduate Admissions. A completed package will be forwarded to the M.B.A. Director who, in conjunction with the School of Business faculty, will review the application package to determine acceptance into the M.B.A. program. Generally, acceptance to the program is based on the following formula: Undergraduate G.P.A. x 200 + GMAT score [Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing Score (see conversion chart) = 950 or higher]. 

Conversion Chart for Analytical Writing Score - GMAT

Analytical Writing Score Conversion to Analytical Score
6 760
5.5 700
5 620
4.5 540
4 460
3.5 400
3 350
2.5 320
2 300
1.5 300
1 300
0.5 300
0 0

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may petition the School of Business M.B.A. Graduate Admissions Committee to be admitted on special consideration. The petition must include a written statement as to why the applicant believes that he or she will be able to complete the M.B.A. program. M.B.A. applicants who do not meet the 950 qualifying score requirement must meet with the M.B.A. Graduate Admissions Committee (can be done via ZOOM) for a personal interview. The purpose of the interview is to enable the Committee to assess the applicant’s potential for successfully completing the M.B.A. program. No more than 20% of candidates selected for the M.B.A. program will be admitted with a qualifying score lower than 950 in any one year.

The following policies apply to the M.B.A. program:

  1. The M.B.A. Program does not require a thesis;
  2. No more than three credit hours with a grade of C can count toward the M.B.A. degree;
  3. Three grades of C or lower will result in dismissal from the program;
  4. The M.B.A. Program accepts students with or without prior business administration coursework. Two options are available to students entering the M.B.A. program.
  5. A maximum of 1/3 (12 credit hours) of the total hours needed to complete the M.B.A. program, with or without optional concentrations, may be transfer credits from an appropriately accredited Business program as determined by the Director of the M.B.A. Program.

Option 1. An undergraduate degree that includes the following courses (common professional courses) or equivalents:

Proficiency in basic word processing, College Algebra, basic elements of Calculus and spreadsheet programs is expected.

Option 2. An undergraduate degree in a non-business field. Students without related undergraduate business/economics preparation will be required to complete the common professional components (CPC), before starting the program or during their first year after accepted into the program. These common professional components can be completed as determined by the M.B.A. Director, completing one of the following:

  • Completing the WNMU School of Business common business core (24 credit hours) as established in the B.B.A. undergraduate degree.
  • Transferring/substituting CPC from other institutions.
  • Completing the Peregrine Academic Leveling Courses with a passing grade of 70% or better (14 Online short courses).

The Master’s degree program in Business requires a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of graduate level work beyond the common professional component. The common professional component may be completed in either undergraduate courses as in Option 1 or above or graduate courses. With the advice of the M.B.A. advisor, the common professional component requirement can be met with a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses successful completion of the MBA pre-requisite course package administered by Peregrine Academic Services and unusual situations by work experience and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests.

Total Credit Hours 33


Guided Electives


  • Guided Electives approved by advisor Credit Hours: 3

Degree Total 36


Health Care Administration Concentration


Nine additional semester credit hours over and above the existing 33 credit hour core M.B.A. degree requirements may be taken for a total of 42 credits.

Concentration Credit Hours 9


International Business Concentration


Nine additional semester credit hours over and above the existing 33 credit hour core M.B.A. degree requirements may be taken for a total of 42 credits.

Concentration Credit Hours 9


Instructional Technology and Design Concentration


Nine additional semester credit hours over and above the existing 33 credit hour core M.B.A. degree requirements may be taken for a total of 42 credits.

Concentration Credit Hours 9


Management Information Systems Concentration


Nine additional semester credit hours over and above the existing 33 credit hour core M.B.A. degree requirements may be taken for a total of 42 credits.

Concentration Credit Hours 9


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Professional Studies