Frequently Asked Questions about the MBA

Q:  How many credits are required for the MBA at Penn State Great Valley?

A:  Between 30 and 45 credits are required to complete the MBA degree. Students may be exempt from up to 15 credits from the core courses for previous academic preparation.

Students are expected to meet pre-program requirements in quantitative skills and communication skills via previous coursework prior to beginning the MBA program. 

Q:  Do you allow students to transfer credits into the program?

A:   A maximum of 10 graduate credits earned at an accredited institution may be applied toward the requirements for a master's degree at Penn State Great Valley. Approval to apply any transferred credits toward a degree program must be granted by the student's academic adviser and division head. Courses considered for transfer must have been completed within five years prior to the date of enrollment at Penn State, and must have a grade of at least a B.

Q:  What is the course schedule format?

A:  Courses are offered on a 7-week basis, meeting during evening hours and/or Saturdays. Classes that meet during the week are usually scheduled for 2 days a week, for 3 hours per session for seven weeks, while Saturday classes meet for six hours on seven Saturdays.

Q:  What are the admission requirements?

A:  To apply for admission, you must submit the following items:

• Application and fee
• GMAT scores
• A current resume
• Two letters of recommendation
• Two official copies of transcripts from undergraduate institution
• A statement of intent or career objective
• Supporting documents: Option Request Form

Q:  Is the GMAT ever waived?

A:   The only time the GMAT is waived is if an applicant already holds a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D., D.Ed., J.D., M.D., or a completed master's degree plus GRE scores less than 6 years old. All other applicants must take the GMAT.

Q:  Do I need any prep courses?

A:  The management faculty assume that applicants will have a basic knowledge of statistics, computer skills, and a basic understanding of accounting. Some students may be asked to take a statistics refresher course and/or a writing course if faculty think those skills are not as strong as they need to be.

Q:   I don't have a business undergraduate degree, does that matter?

A:  Many of our students do not have undergraduate degrees in business, but they all have relevant work experience. Students who were non-business majors may not be able to waive core courses, while those with business degrees may be able to waive some courses. 

Q:   I've been out of school 15 years. Will I feel out of place taking classes after all that time?

A:  The average age of our students is mid-thirties. You will find most of our students share the same concern about not having taken classes in quite some time, and how to juggle graduate school with an already busy life. Penn State Great Valley was designed for your needs, and we are ready to accommodate your busy schedule.

Q:  What about busy travel schedules?

A:  Because our courses are offered in seven-week sessions, students find it easier to plan business trips accordingly. Some of our courses are offered on-line in addition to regular face-to-face instruction, which offers some flexibility. Also, our program is not a cohort program, requiring you to enroll for a course every seven weeks.  Many of our students stop out for a session during busy travel seasons or peak workload periods.

Q:  What is the tuition?

A:   Each course is 3 credits.  For tuition information, click here.