MBA Course Requirements

Background Knowledge

Our program requires a minimum level of background knowledge (prerequisites) including knowledge and skills in managerial accounting, financial accounting, macroeconomics, financial analysis, calculus and statistics.

Students must establish background knowledge competency within the first year of admission to the MBA program and take no more than 9 MBA course credits before completing the background knowledge courses.

Background knowledge requirements are:

  1. ACCT 2110, Principles of Accounting I (formerly ACCT 221)
  2. ACCT 2120, Principles of Accounting II (formerly ACCT 222)
  3. ECON 2110G, Macroeconomic Principles (formerly ECON 251G)
  4. BFIN 341, Financial Analysis and Markets (formerly FIN 341) (challenge exam)
  5. MATH 1430G, Applications of Calculus I (formerly MATH 142G) or MATH 191
  6. MATH 1350G, Statistics (formerly STAT 251G/A STAT 251G) or equivalent

Courses from other institutions deemed equivalent will also satisfy background knowledge requirements. Working with the relevant departments, the MBA Advisor will determine course equivalency.

Required Courses (36 credits)

Course Requirements

MBA Electives: One graduate business elective (3 credits; course numbered 500 or above) selected from the MBA Approved Electives list. Updated April 20, 2020

Intensive summer courses are another way to demonstrate competency. These are one credit courses that are offered online in the summer. For more information, contact the MBA Advisor.

Alternatively, demonstrate competency in any background knowledge discipline by taking the appropriate competency exam(s) prior to beginning your first semester of enrollment in MBA courses. Exams are offered for each of the background knowledge topics and are administered by the College of Business academic departments. Each competency exam can be taken only once. A satisfactory score will fulfill corresponding prerequisites. Upon request, the MBA office will provide interested students with relevant details. Refer to the Economics, Applied Statistics & International Business Department for statistics and calculus competency exams.

Transfer of MBA Credits

Transfer credit should be approved by the MBA Office early in your program and will require that you provide official transcripts, appropriate written justification (including course descriptions), and other documentation such as course syllabi.

Generally, it is expected that you will not take MBA courses at other institutions after you have been admitted to NMSU’s MBA program. You must obtain prior approval of the academic associate dean if such work is to be transferred to the MBA program.

Up to 9 credits of transfer work can be applied to meet MBA program requirements if the credits were earned in a program accredited by AACSB International.

To be eligible for transfer credit, you must have earned at least a B in the course(s).

BA 590 and MGMT 590 must be completed at NMSU.

Final Examination for the Degree

A student may satisfy the Graduate School’s requirement for a final exam by completing the General MBA Degree’s necessary coursework and supplemented or modified requirements for the concentration selected. The following two criteria must be met by the end of their final semester or at the end of a subsequent semester during which graduate-level courses are taken or retaken to meet the specified cumulative GPA.

(1) The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 based on all courses taken as a graduate student at NMSU, including those taken as part of the MBA program (required courses, elective course(s), and courses to fulfill the requirements of an MBA concentration or approved course substitution).  

(2) The student must complete all required courses (36 credit hours) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the General MBA (11 required courses and 1 elective course, approved course substitutions, and any approved transfer courses). 

A student who fails to meet one or both previous criteria may, during one or more subsequent semesters, take or retake additional graduate-level or MBA-specific courses to increase the cumulative GPA, thereby satisfying the Graduate School’s requirement for a final exam.

Note 1: The General MBA program (excluding concentrations) consists of eleven required courses and one elective course (totaling 36 credits). The MBA elective course consists of 1 graduate business elective (numbered 500 or above) as listed on the MBA web page.

Note 2: The College of Business reserves the right to change the published requirements. Any such changes will be announced and will not be retroactive. Currently, MBA courses are offered once each year except for the elective and some concentration courses. Always consult an academic advisor or department head before registering for classes.

Thesis

A thesis is not required. With special approval, however, a degree candidate may elect to write a thesis with at least 6 credits under BA 599 in lieu of BA 590.