The 30-credit MBA program is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis and uses a hybrid format of 75 percent online instruction and 25 percent in-class instruction. Each course meets four times—either on the Behrend campus in Erie or at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township, near Pittsburgh, depending on whether the student has chosen the Erie program or Pittsburgh program.

MBA students are required to complete 21 credits of Advanced Required coursework. Nine elective credits allow students to pursue in-depth study in areas of special interest. 

MBA students can also add a specialization to their degree by completing one of our graduate certificates:

See the MBA Student Handbook (PDF Format) | (Word Format)

MBA Course Descriptions

All MBA courses are 3 credits.

Advanced Required Courses

BADM 510 Cost Management for Decision Making and Control: The study and use of accounting information for cost management, product costing, planning and controlling operations, and managerial decision making.

BADM 512 Managing Effective Organizations: Understanding the critical and changing role of management in contemporary organizations.

BADM 513 Quantitative Methods for Business: Effective management of the flow of goods, services, and information through the supply chain.

BADM 514 Strategic Planning and Business Policy: Formulation of objectives and implementation of programs to promote long-range success of the organization in a changing environment. Prerequisites: B ADM 510, B ADM 512, B ADM 513, B ADM 554

BADM 526 Leadership and Ethics: A multi-perspective review of leadership theory and research with special emphasis given to the ethical dimensions of leadership.

BADM 532 Corporate Finance: Application of modern corporate finance theory to corporate practice.

BADM 554 Marketing Strategy: An application of marketing theoretical principles from popular press publications.

Elective Courses

Students may select three courses from the University list.

Typically, five electives are offered annually, four of which are summer courses. Most elective courses are offered fully online.

To increase their degree-specialization options, MBA students may take up to two 400-level undergraduate Penn State courses to satisfy 6 of the 9 required elective credits. 400-level electives are subject to prior approval by Dr. Charles Brown, academic program chair, and cannot be courses previously taken to satisfy an undergraduate degree requirement.

For more information on electives, contact Dr. Brown at [email protected] or 814-898-6432.

Suggested Course Schedule

Most full-time MBA students complete the degree in three semesters, beginning either in fall or spring. Part-time students often take two courses per semester, completing the degree in five semesters. 

The Fox Graduate School allows eight years to complete a graduate degree. A 3.0 minimum GPA is required to graduate.

Semester dates can be found on the Academic Calendars page. Course registration dates can be found on the Registration Timetable page.

Typical Full-Time MBA Course Schedule 

Fall
BADM 512: Managing Effective Organizations
BADM 513: Quantitative Methods for Business
BADM 554: Marketing Strategy
Elective 

Spring
BADM 510: Cost Management for Decision Making and Control    
BADM 514: Strategic Planning and Business Policy
BADM 526: Leadership and Ethics
BADM 532: Corporate Finance

Summer
Two electives 

Note: A typical course schedule for full-time students starting in a spring semester is BADM 510, BADM 526, and a 400-elective in spring; BADM 512, BADM 513, BADM 554, and an MBA elective in fall; and BADM 514, BADM 532, and a 400-level elective the next spring.

Typical Part-Time MBA Course Schedule 

Fall
BADM 512: Managing Effective Organizations
BADM 513: Quantitative Methods for Business

Spring
BADM 510: Cost Management for Decision Making and Control
BADM 526: Leadership and Ethics

Summer
Two electives
 
Fall
BADM 554: Marketing Strategy
Elective

Spring
BADM 532: Corporate Finance
BADM 514: Strategic Planning and Business Policy

Note: A typical course schedule for full-time students starting in a spring semester is BADM 510 and BADM 526 in spring; two electives in summer; BADM 512 and BADM 513 in fall; BADM 532 and BADM 514 the next spring; and BADM 554 and an elective the next fall.

Spring 2025 MBA In-Class Meeting Schedule

Erie Program

  • BADM 510: Cost Management for Decision Making and Control
    Mondays: January 13, February 17, March 24, April 28
  • BADM 532: Corporate Finance
    Tuesdays: January 14, February 18, March 25, April 29
  • BADM 526: Leadership and Ethics
    Wednesdays: January 22, February 19, March 19, April 30
  • BADM 514: Strategic Planning and Business Policy
    Thursdays: January 16, February 27, March 27, May 1

Cranberry Program

  • BADM 532: Corporate Finance
    Mondays: January 13, February 17, March 24, April 28
  • BADM 510: Cost Management for Decision Making and Control
    Tuesdays: January 14, February 18, March 25, April 29
  • BADM 514: Strategic Planning and Business Policy
    Wednesdays: January 15, February 26, March 26, April 30
  • BADM 526: Leadership and Ethics
    Thursdays: January 23, February 20, March 20, May 1

Spring 2025 Mandatory Orientation 

Students must attend one of the following orientation sessions. They can choose the location that works best for their schedule.

  • Thursday, January 9: 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., on Penn State Behrend campus in Erie
  • Saturday, January 11: 9:30 a.m. to noon, at Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township

Questions about mandatory orientation? Contact Dr. Charles Brown.