Nancy Kristiansen
Nancy Kristiansen

Online Business Program Director

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Master of Business Administration - Admission Requirements

You may apply for and be granted admission status at any time during the year, regardless of program choice.

For all graduate programs, applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher learning accredited or accepted as accredited in the United States, with a cumulative grade point of 2.5 or better. Students who do not meet the cumulative grade point standard may be conditionally accepted and required to take specific introductory course work completed with a grade of 3.0 or better, prior to consideration of formal acceptance.

Additional admissions requirements for the Leadership MBA

  • A minimum of two years full-time work experience.
  • MBA applicants must submit a 750 word essay that synthesizes their reflections on their personal beliefs and life experiences and why they believe that the Leadership MBA program suits their values, ethics, professional goals and aspirations.

This self-assessment essay should explain what the applicant believes is the gap between where they perceive their current leadership skills to be and where they would like those skills to be upon completion of the MBA program.

To this end, there are two areas of self-assessment and reflection that the essay must address:

  1. Who are you as a person? Who do you aspire to become?
    Example questions that might be considered for critical introspection include: Who am I? What do I care about? What matters to me most? What lessons have my life taught me? What kind of person do I aspire to be? How do I hope others will be influenced by my example?
  2. What is it about this Leadership MBA program that aligns with who you are and who you are seeking to become?
    This portion of the essay should explain how you believe that the Leadership MBA program aligns with your values and ethics, personal and professional goals, and life experiences.

Please note that the essay must not be a biographical accounting of the applicant's positions held, accomplishments and skills, but rather an in depth self-analysis of the person who he/she is.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are able to speak directly to the two required areas of self-assessment and reflection, as this is a required ability for success throughout the program.

The essay will be evaluated for clarity and quality of expression. The essay will also be evaluated for evidence of the ability of the applicant to connect their values and experiences to their understanding of the focus of the MBA program.

  • As support and documentation, please also submit your resume with the essay.
  • Completing the GMAT is not required.