Program Mission: The mission of the School of Business of the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences is to deliver high quality undergraduate and graduate business programs that educate students who are prepared to contribute positively to businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations and to continue life-long learning in a changing and diverse world.  The School of Business places highest priority on excellence in teaching that is enhanced by intellectual contributions and service activities emphasizing applied business scholarship and development of instructional resources.

Program Aim: The degree Master of Business Administration is designed to develop the fundamental body of knowledge and analytical tools common to all management positions through advanced study in management, marketing, accounting, information systems, behavioral sciences, finance, and quantitative approaches to decision making.  In addition, both faculty and students are presented with the opportunity to conduct and utilize research in the solution of business problems.  The purpose of this program is to prepare students for business careers and advanced study.

Admission Requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see “Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs”). Also, candidates must submit an MBA program application, résumé with references, and professional goal statement.  All applicants must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).  To be admitted to degree candidacy, applicants are expected to score at least 1,000 points based on the following formula: 200 times the cumulative undergraduate GPA  plus the GMAT score.  Minimum GMAT scores are as follows: Total, 400; Verbal, 18; Quantitative, 20; Analytical Writing, two.  The Graduate Business Studies office follows the policies of the Graduate School for calculating the GPA. Applicants must have achieved a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of graded academic course work. The undergraduate cumulative GPA is defined as the final GPA as reflected on the official transcript of the institution granting the baccalaureate degree. If no cumulative GPA is specified or if the institution uses a scale other than a 4.0 scale, the Graduate School will calculate the GPA for the baccalaureate institution. If applicants do not have a 2.75 cumulative GPA on the official transcript of the institution granting the degree, or if the undergraduate degree was earned in a non-traditional program, the Graduate School will automatically calculate the GPA on the last 60 hours of graded academic course work. The cumulative GPA for the last 60 hours is calculated by identifying the most recent term in which the student has completed course work and counting backward until the terms in which 60 semester hours were earned are identified. All of the hours in those terms will be included in the calculation. The MBA Office will automatically calculate the GPA on the last 60 hours of graded academic course work if student does not meet the admission formula requirements.

Applicants may request that course work taken as a post-baccalaureate student be considered in the computation of the GPA when calculating the GPA on the last 60 semester hours. This request must be made to the Graduate School. Applicants must provide official transcripts of all post-baccalaureate course work and request that all post-baccalaureate work be included in the calculation. When such a request is made, the cumulative GPA is calculated by identifying the most recent term in which the student has completed course work and counting backward until the term in which 60 semester hours are identified. All of the hours in those terms will be included in the calculation.  Exceptions to admission requirements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a subcommittee of graduate business faculty appointed by the Graduate Business Studies Committee.  Additional criteria may be established by the School of Business Graduate Committee to evaluate applicants for admission.

Honor Code: An important expectation of the MBA program is appropriate ethical behavior in all aspects of your professional and educational endeavors. To promote and guide this behavior, the School of Business Graduate Committee has adopted an Honor Code for the MBA Program. All students are required to sign the Honor Code and return it to the MBA Office as a condition for admission. Please carefully review the Honor Code. Keep one copy for your reference, and sign and submit the other copy with your admission materials. The form can be found at this address: http://www.eiu.edu/~mba/Honor%20Code.doc

Application Process: Submit to the Office of Graduate Business Studies, 4009 Lumpkin Hall, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, Illinois, 61920-3099, the following:

• MBA Program Application for Admission   
• A résumé with references and a professional goal statement,
• All official transcripts from  regionally accredited colleges or universities attended.  Unofficial transcripts, such as those marked “Issued to Student,” are not acceptable.  One transcript should certify the completion of the baccalaureate degree.  EXCEPTION:  A transcript verifying completion of seven semesters of undergraduate course work will be accepted if the applicant is a senior in college.  An official transcript certifying the receipt of the baccalaureate degree will be required before the student will be admitted as a graduate student.  Students who have attended Eastern do not have to provide EIU transcripts,
• Results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Failure to submit all required application materials by the following dates may result in a delay of the registration process for the academic year entering: fall semester - August 1, spring semester - December 1, and summer term - May 1.

Study Plan Approval: The study plan for either the degree or the degree with concentration must be approved by the MBA coordinator and filed with the Graduate School at the beginning of the last semester in which the student is enrolled in courses counting toward the graduate degree.