Overview
MBA - General
Kentucky State University's MBA program is more than a degree, it's a chance to grow into the leader you’re meant to be. This program builds your skills in strategy, finance, marketing, and leadership, giving you the tools to tackle real world business challenges with confidence.
An MBA from KYSU opens doors to higher positions, better pay, and lasting connections with peers and industry professionals. It strengthens your critical thinking and decision making skills, preparing you to lead with integrity and purpose.
This isn’t just about professional growth, it’s about personal transformation. You’ll gain confidence, learn to lead, and understand how to create positive change in a global business world.
Major Courses and Requirements
The MBA program requires a total of 30 graduate credit hours, including 21 hours of core requirements and 9 hours of electives. The core requirements include:
Managerial Accounting - Credits: 3
Managerial Economics - Credits: 3
Corporate Finance - Credits: 3
Management Information Systems - Credits: 3
Human Behavior in Organizations - Credits: 3
Strategic Marketing Management - Credits: 3
Strategic Management (integrative, capstone experience) - Credits: 3
MBA Executive Leadership Track
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Executive Leadership at Kentucky State University emphasizes the development of strategic management and leadership skills. The curriculum includes courses in executive decision-making, organizational behavior, strategic planning, and global business strategies. Students will learn to lead organizations, manage change, and drive business success. The program is designed for experienced professionals seeking to advance their careers to executive-level positions. Graduates will be prepared to take on leadership roles in various industries and contribute to the strategic direction and growth of their organizations.
Regular MBA Foundation Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 500 | Survey of Accounting | 3 |
| BUA 500 | Survey of Economics & Finance | 3 |
| BUA 501 | Survey of Management/Marketing | 3 |
| ECO 501 | Surv Stat/Quantitative Mth | 3 |
Note: A maximum of 2 foundation courses (6 credits) with “B” or higher grades may be applied towards 3 elective courses required for MBA General Business specialization.
Regular MBA Program Requirements
The Core of the MBA Program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful careers in business and nonprofit organizations. The core of the MBA program consists of 7 courses (21 hours) as follows:
Core Curriculum Courses (21 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 502 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ECO 502 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIN 530 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| MGT 560 | Human Behavior in Org | 3 |
| MGT 590 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| MIS 510 | Management Info Systems | 3 |
| MKT 520 | Strategic Marketing Manage | 3 |
Electives (9 hours)
Three (3) elective courses (9 hours) allow students to explore their individual preferences and develop additional competencies appropriate to their interests. The students have the flexibility to take a minimum of 3 elective courses in one area for a specialization in the area. The individual may select elective courses from different areas without any specialization with approval from the MBA Program coordinator.
The elective areas include: Accounting, Business Data Analytics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Aquaculture (in collaboration with the School of Aquaculture).
The electives in the business area are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | ||
| ACC 510 | Gov/Not-for-Profit Acct | 3 |
| ACC 503 | Auditing | 3 |
| ACC 563 | Adv Federal Income Taxation | 3 |
| ACC 597 | Contemporary TopicAccounting | 3 |
| Finance | ||
| FIN 540 | Financial Institutions | 3 |
| FIN 550 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 575 | Behavioral Finance | 3 |
| Management | ||
| MGT 533 | Strategic Human Resource Mgt | 3 |
| MGT 555 | Operations Management | 3 |
| MGT 565 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MGT 601 | ContempTopics in Management | 3 |
| Management Information Systems | ||
| MIS 510 | Management Info Systems | 3 |
| MIS 597 | Contemp Topics Mgt inform Sys | 3 |
| Marketing | ||
| MKT 510 | Marketing Communications | 3 |
| MKT 530 | Marketing Research | 3 |
| MKT 540 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MKT 560 | Marketing of Services | 3 |
| Aquaculture | ||
| AQU 522 | Principles of Aquaculture | 3 |
| AQU 525 | Aqua Economicsand Market | 4 |
| AQU 591 | Internship: Aquaculture | 1-4 |
Course Load
The normal load of a graduate student during any semester is 9 semester credit hours. It may only exceed 12 credit hours with the approval of the MBA Program Coordinator. Part-time students who are employed are advised to carry no more than 6 semester credit hours of graduate-level coursework in any semester.
Grades
All students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.00. If a student’s GPA falls below this minimum requirement, fulltime students have one semester to raise the GPA to 3.00 and part-time students have 2 semesters to improve their GPA to the minimum of 3.00. All students must receive a grade of “B” or “A", and no more than two “C” grades in all courses.
Repeat Option
A student may repeat a graduate course. Only the highest grade will count toward total hours or toward the student’s grade-point-average.
Probation
Students who fail to maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better and/or have more than two grades of “C” will be placed on academic probation. Students will have one full-time semester or its equivalent (9 semester credit hours) to remove the academic probation by attaining a 3.0 average. Students placed on academic probation are not eligible for assistantship. Probation may not be appealed.
Dismissal from the University
A student who is on academic probation, and whose current grade-point average falls or remains below 3.0, or who fails to complete coursework required to be removed from probation, will be dismissed from the graduate program. A dismissed student may, after one year, appeal in writing to the MBA Committee for readmission. The student’s appeal must include at least two letters of support from MBA faculty. If readmission is granted, the student will be placed on probation for up to 9 credit hours. If the student does not reach an overall GPA of 3.0 during the subsequent 9 credit hours, they will be permanently dismissed from the University without appeal.
Time Limit for Degree Completion
All program requirements must be completed within six years of initial admission, unless otherwise approved by the MBA Program Coordinator.
MBA Student Award
The Outstanding MBA Student Award will be based on nominations from all School of Business and Technology faculty. These nominations will be forwarded to the MBA Committee, which will make the recommendation. This award is based on outstanding academic achievements and the student’s potential for business success. A minimum GPA of 3.5 and the completion of a minimum of 18 hours are also required.
MBA Executive Leadership Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MGT 603 | Leading Organizational Change | 3 |
| MGT 600 | Executive Leadership and Decis | 3 |
| MGT 602 | Negotiation and Conflict Resol | 3 |
General Track (9 credits of electives)
Three (3) elective courses (9 hours) allow students to explore their individual preferences and develop additional competencies appropriate to their interests. The students have the flexibility to take a minimum of 3 elective courses in one area for a specialization in the area. The individual may select elective courses from different areas without any specialization with approval from the MBA Program coordinator.
The elective areas include: Accounting, Business Data Analytics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Aquaculture (in collaboration with the School of Aquaculture).