Research Option: The Research Option is designed for students who want to focus on business research and quantitative methods  for research. Students would complete the Research Option if their goals are to continue their education and pursue a Ph.D., or if they have an interest in conducting research with a faculty mentor.

Applied Management Option: The Applied Management Option is focused on “hands-on” development of students’ intellectual and creative capacities. The program addresses a broad range of business-related skills emphasizing a combination of teamwork, writing, contemporary global and ethical issues, and analytical skills that can be immediately put into practice.

Program Mission: Learning for Leadership: The MBA Program at Eastern Illinois University is an AACSB accredited graduate program that prepares students for employment in positions of leadership in small and large businesses, industry, government, and non-profit organizations in a contemporary global environment. The program emphasizes the application of analytical tools and related skills that are essential for making informed business decisions. Learning for Excellence: The dedicated faculty seeks to foster excellence, creativity, and innovation through a responsive, dynamic, challenging, and culturally diverse learning environment, with a focus on experiential and applied learning and research. Learning for Life:  The program promotes and expects ethical behavior in all aspects of professional work and prepares its students for life-long discovery and professional fulfillment in a global economy.

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 clearly describing employment experience; two completed reference forms sent directly to the MBA Office (preferably one should be from a former employer), a one-page professional goal statement describing career and academic goals and how the candidate has and will continue to prepare him/herself to meet those goals, and a signed Honor Code agreement.  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. Upon request of the applicant, the MBA Office will calculate the GPA on the last 60 hours of graded academic course work if the applicant 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 the Graduate Business Studies Committee.  Additional criteria may be established by the Graduate Business Studies Committee to evaluate applicants for admission.

Honor Code: An important expectation of the MBA program is appropriate ethical behavior in all aspects of 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 applicants are required to sign the Honor Code and return it to the Graduate Business Studies 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 the MBA web site: www.eiu.edu/mba/

Application Process: Submit to the Office of Graduate Business Studies, 4025 Lumpkin Hall, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, Illinois, 61920-3099, the following:

• MBA Program Application for Admission,   
• Résumé with list of two references, including contact information,
• Two completed reference forms sent directly to the MBA Office (preferably one should be from a previous or current employer),
• A one-page Professional goal statement describing your career and academic goals and how you will continue to prepare yourself to meet those goals,
• 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,
• Signed Honor Code agreement,
• Official results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Admission decisions will be based on:

• Minimum GMAT scores: total 400, verbal 18, quantitative 20
• Minimum formula requirement of 1,000 points based on: (GPA x 200) = GMAT total score
• A comprehensive review of evidence of the applicant’s knowledge, skills, and ability to excel at and benefit from the rigor of master’s level coursework. Such evidence includes, but is not limited to, details of academic and work-related achievements, evidence of personal initiative, growth, creativity, and extracurricular activities such as professional and community involvement.

The School of Business Graduate Admissions Committee will begin reviewing completed applications on these dates: the last week of March for summer and fall admissions, and the third week of November for spring admissions.

All admission criteria are listed as guidelines. They are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission to the MBA program.

For additional information about the program, application forms, and recommendation forms,  visit the MBA web site: www.eiu.edu/mba/.

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: Domestic students: fall semester - August 1, spring semester - December 1, and summer term - May 1. International students: fall semester - May 15, spring semester - October 15.

Degree Audit: The graduate plan of study is the EIU Degree Audit, which is generated automatically in the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) at the time of degree or certificate candidacy. Modifications of the standard EIU Degree Audit are submitted by the graduate coordinator to the certification officer in the Graduate School at the time modifications are approved. The Degree Audit serves as an unofficial summary of requirements for the program. Degree and certificate candidates are advised to review the comprehensive summary of the Degree Audit process specified on the “Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates” section of the Graduate Catalog. Individual programs may require candidates to submit plans of study in addition to the Degree Audit, candidates should consult with the program coordinator.