Nov 05, 2025  
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Master of Business Administration, MBA

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Minimum number of credits required to complete the program:  40

Minimum cumulative GPA required:  3.0

School: Girard School of Business

Learn more about the program

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a dynamic, interdisciplinary graduate degree designed to prepare students for leadership and management roles across a broad spectrum of industries. This comprehensive program offers a flexible and customizable pathway for professionals seeking to enhance their business acumen, accelerate career growth and gain a competitive edge in today’s ever-evolving global economy.

Grounded in both theory and practice, the MBA curriculum emphasizes real-world application and is continuously updated to reflect current market demands. Students will engage with a rigorous, relevant and practical curriculum that is aligned with industry trends and employer expectations. The program focuses on developing core technical business competencies in key areas such as: Finance and Accounting, Business Analytics and Data-Driven Decision Making, Marketing Strategy, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Global Business and Cultural Competencies, Organizational Leadership and Change Management

Beyond these foundational areas, the MBA program is distinguished by its emphasis on transferable, high-impact skills. Students will cultivate strong strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities and effective communication, as well as leadership and collaboration skills-all of which are critical for navigating complex business environments and leading diverse teams.

The program is designed to be adaptable and accessible, offering a variety of concentrations, to accommodate a wide range of personal and professional goals. Whether students are seeking to advance within their current organization, or pivot to a new industry the MBA equips them with the tools and confidence to succeed.

Graduates of the program will leave not only with a strong foundation in business fundamentals but also with the versatility to adapt across industries and the potential to significantly increase their earning capacity and career advancement opportunities.

Courses are delivered 100% online or hybrid/hyflex.

Program Requirements

Must have at least one year of full-time work experience to be considered. 

Merrimack College undergraduate students that do not meet the work experience requirement, may pursue a specialty master of science degree, while gaining the work experience, then apply to the MBA program at a later date and complete the degree for only 20 additional credits. Internships are not considered in evaluating the work experience requirement. 

Curriculum for Students with an Undergraduate Business Degree

The MBA for students with a business undergraduate degree is composed of 20 credits of core courses, MBA Capstone 4 credits, and 16 credits of electives for a total of 40 credits.

Core Course Requirements

Complete the following required courses:

Elective Course Requirements

  • Any ACC 5000 level course or higher 

    • Excluding: ACC 5050 - Foundations of Accounting Credits: 4

  • Any BAI 5000 level course or higher 

    • Excluding: BAI 5100 - Frameworks for Business Analytics Credits: 4

  • Any FIN 5000 level course or higher

    • Excluding: FIN 5050 - Essentials of Finance Credits: 4 and FIN 5420 - Trends in Finance & FinTech Credits: 4

  • Any MGT 5000 level course or higher

    • Excluding: MGT 5120 - Supply Chain & Operations Management Credits: 2 and MGT 5360 - Leading Teams in a Dynamic Environment Credits: 2 

  • Any MKT 5000 level course or higher

    • Excluding: MKT 5320 - Digital Marketing Implementation & Optimization Credits: 2

  • DSE 5001 - Introduction to Data Science and Statistics Credits: 4

  • DSE 5002 - R and Python Programming Credits: 4

  • Any additional DSE 5000 level course or higher (which requires DSE 5001 and DSE 5002 as a prerequisite)

  • Any COMM 5000 level course or higher

  • EMP 6001 - New Product Development Credits: 4

  • EMP 6002 - Principles of Product Realization Credits: 4

  • Any additional EMP 6000 level course or higher (which require EMP 6001 and EMP 6002)

Curriculum for Students without an Undergraduate Business Degree

The MBA for students without a business undergraduate degree is composed of 24 credits of core courses, an MBA Capstone 4 credits, and 12 credits of electives for a total of 40 credits. If a non-business major is interested in a concentration, additional courses must be added in the area of specialization. 

Core Course Requirements

Complete the following required courses:

Elective Course Requirements

  • Any ACC 5000 level course or higher 

    • Excluding: ACC5050 - Foundations of Accounting Credits: 4

  • Any BAI 5000 level course or higher 

    • Excluding: BAI 5100 - Frameworks for Business Analytics Credits: 4

  • Any FIN 5000 level course or higher

    • Excluding: FIN 5050 - Essentials of Finance Credits: 4 and FIN 5420 - Trends in Finance & FinTech Credits: 4

  • Any MGT 5000 level course or higher

    • Excluding: MGT 5120 - Supply Chain & Operations Management Credits: 2 and MGT 5360 - Leading Teams in a Dynamic Environment Credits: 2 

  • Any MKT 5000 level course or higher

    • Excluding: MKT 5320 - Digital Marketing Implementation & Optimization Credits: 2

  • DSE 5001 - Introduction to Data Science and Statistics Credits: 4

  • DSE 5002 - R and Python Programming Credits: 4

  • Any additional DSE 5000 level course or higher (which requires DSE 5001 and DSE 5002 as a prerequisite)

  • Any COMM 5000 level course or higher

  • EMP 6001 - New Product Development Credits: 4

  • EMP 6002 - Principles of Product Realization Credits: 4

  • Any additional EMP 6000 level course or higher (which require EMP 6001 and EMP 6002)

Concentrations

Accounting Concentration

The Accounting concentration provides students with a powerful combination of advanced accounting, analytical and strategic management skills. Combining foundational principles with specialized coursework, this concentration fosters a comprehensive understanding of accounting’s role in business. Further, students develop a hands-on understanding of complex financial concepts, develop enhanced analytical proficiency, and are equipped with the skills needed to produce accurate financial reports for organizations. 

For students seeking coursework aligned to the CPA 150-hour exam requirements, additional coursework may be required based on licensure requirements. If you have an undergraduate degree in accounting, alternative coursework and elective options may be available.  

To earn the concentration choose 16 credits from the following list of courses:  

  • Any ACC 5000 level course or higher 

    • If an accounting undergraduate major, courses chosen MUST not be duplicative to any accounting courses completed at the undergraduate level. Courses available will be discussed during the initial onboarding/advising meeting

    • If a non-accounting undergraduate major, only the following courses are available: 

      • ACC 5060 - Financial Reporting & Analysis I Credits: 4

      • ACC 5070 - Financial Reporting & Analysis II Credits: 4

      • ACC 5080 - Introduction to Federal Income Taxation Credits: 4

      • ACC 5150 - Assurance Services Credits: 4

Applied Data Science and AI

The Applied Data Science and AI concentration focuses on using a broad range of data science techniques and methodologies to solve real-world challenges across industries and emphasizes the application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, large language models, image processing, deep learning, model training and evaluation, and data engineering to industry-specific challenges. Students gain the technical expertise and practical experience to implement data science solutions in a variety of professional settings and develop a thorough understanding of the algorithmic foundations and applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning as they pertain to data mining, data engineering and analytics.

To earn the concentration choose 16 credits from the following list of courses:  

  • DSE 5001 - Introduction to Data Science and Statistics Credits: 4

  • DSE 6211 - Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Credits: 4

  • DSE 6111 - Predictive Modeling Credits: 4

  • DSE 5002 - R and Python Programming Credits: 4

Business Analytics

The Business Analytics concentration equips students with introductory knowledge and skills needed to make insightful business decisions using data. Students are introduced to core elements of data management, preparation, analysis, visualization, and learn how to best interpret and communicate results. This Business Analytics concentration is intended to serve as an immersive first step for students interested in developing general business analytics capabilities.

To earn the concentration choose 16 credits from the following list of courses:  

  • BAI 5220 - Data Governance, Compliance, & Ethics Credits: 4

  • BAI 5200 - Data Visualization & Storytelling Credits: 4

  • BAI 5250 - Leveraging Competitive Advantage with Business Intelligence Credits: 4

  • BAI 5150 - Strategic Decision-Making using Business Analytics Credits: 4

Database Management and Analytics (Data Science)

The Database Management and Analytics concentration combines the foundational knowledge of securely storing, managing and retrieving data with practical expertise in statistics and coding. Students develop an in-depth understanding of databases, including their design, management and querying capabilities using SQL. In addition, students also confront pressing cybersecurity issues centered on data breaches, protection mechanisms and regulatory compliance issues. Upon completion of this concentration, students will be equipped with the frameworks needed to advance to more complex data modeling concepts.

To earn the concentration choose 16 credits from the following list of courses:  

  • DSE 5001 - Introduction to Data Science and Statistics Credits: 4

  • DSE 5002 - R and Python Programming Credits: 4

  • DSE 6220 - Big Data: Hadoop and Spark Credits: 4

  • DSE 6210 - Big Data: SQL and NoSQL Credits: 4

Finance

Understanding and comprehending the language of finance and business performance is essential for professionals at any level within an organization. By completing the Finance concentration, students are introduced to topics such as financial modeling, alternative investments, portfolio management, corporate finance and other innovative trends in the finance industry. The skills acquired will equip students to make sound financial decisions that affect individual organizations and society as a whole.

To earn the concentration choose 16 credits from the following list of courses:  

  • FIN 5410 - Corporate Finance & Valuation Credits: 4

  • FIN 5450 - Financial Statement Analysis & Interpretation Credits: 4

  • FIN 5480 - Investments & Portfolio Strategies Credits: 4

  • FIN 5440 - Quantitative Methods & Financial Modeling Credits: 4

Human Resource Management

The HR Management concentration is designed to provide you with the tools to be an impactful member of an organization centered around people management, influencing culture and building a strategic vision. Our curriculum is academically aligned with the education standards in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates, as well as the HR Certification Institute’s (HRCI) guidelines, preparing you for industry certification exams.

Additional coursework may be required for students interested in optional HR exam preparation alignment.

To earn the concentration choose 16 credits from the following list of courses:  

  • MGT 5410 - People Analytics Credits: 4

  • MGT 5440 - Talent Acquisition & Performance Management Credits: 4

  • MGT 5460 - Employment Law Credits: 4 

  • MGT 5560 - Strategic Leadership & Human Capital Management Credits: 4

  • MGT 5340 - Negotiation & Conflict Resolution Credits: 2

  • MGT 5350 - Engagement & Opportunity in the WorkplaceDiversity & Inclusion Credits: 2

Leadership

The Leadership concentration offers a dual focused management approach that combines theories and strategies around managing individuals while encompassing what is best for an organization as a whole. Through the concentration in leadership, students are exposed to core elements of leadership such as ethics, motivation, creativity, vision, teamwork, managing teams, leading organizations through change, and understanding and managing stakeholders.

To earn the concentration, complete 16 credits from the following list of courses:

  • MGT 5100 - Leadership Frameworks & Communication Strategies Credits: 4

  • MGT 5220 - Navigating Ethical Dilemmas Credits: 4

  • MGT 5370 - Driving High-Performing Organizations Credits: 4

  • MGT 5410 - People Analytics Credits: 4

Marketing

The Marketing concentration provides students with a comprehensive and analytical understanding of how marketing impacts business decisions. Students will gain insight into the marketing function and will be exposed to core elements such as digital and social media marketing, marketing analytics and strategy, and how aspects of marketing contribute to practices of management.

To earn the concentration, complete 20 credits from the following: 

  • MKT 5410 - Driving Business Success with Marketing Analytics Credits: 4

  • MKT 5420 - Marketing Management & Strategy Credits: 4

  • Any Comm 5000 level of higher Credits: 8 

Product Management

The Product Management concentration is designed to help graduates become specialists in creating and developing innovative products, seeing this process advance from the initial design of innovative solutions that meet customer needs to the successful production of products in the market. It will be aimed at equipping a diverse audience with the skills necessary to develop, launch, and successfully scale products and services in industries such as Life Sciences, Software/Web/Mobile and Complex Technological Products.

To earn the concentration, complete 16 credits from the following list of courses:

  • EMP 6001 - New Product Development Credits: 4 (Prerequisite)

  • EMP 6002 - Principles of Product Realization Credits: 4 (Prerequisite)

  • EMP 6200 - Agile Project and Innovation Models Credits: 2

  • EMP 6301 - Design Thinking Credits: 2

  • EMP 6100 - Innovation in Life Sciences Credits: 2

  • EMP 6300 - Innovation Models for Technological Products Credits: 2

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