Program Director: Michael J. Messina, Ph.D. | 814-871-5755 | messina001@gannon.
edu
 MBA courses are available
evenings, weekends and
online to provide for
flexible scheduling options
 MBA classes include
reinforced practical and
professional qualification
from our faculty
 The program includes
options for students to
pursue a general or
specialized MBA with a
concentration
INTRODUCTION
Gannon University is a student-oriented teaching university. This philosophy
guides our approach to curriculum design, teaching, and advising. We recognize
and understand the dramatic changes ongoing in the world of business. The
mission of the Gannon MBA Program is to provide students with the vision, values,
and skills required to lead successful professional and rewarding personal lives
within this exciting new world. Our approach is to pay careful attention to each
student, challenge them to grow, and help them to reach their own personal and
career objectives. Courses in the Master of Business Administration (MBA)
program are rigorous and challenging by design, but the faculty is prepared to work
with each student to build the skills needed for the business world of the 21st
century.
Our experience as the region’s first and largest graduate school of business has
taught us some important lessons. Simply having a master’s degree, regardless of
the type of degree or apparent status of the degree-granting institution, is no
assurance of success or happiness. To succeed in business, individuals need real
skills, an understanding of the world of business and an appreciation for life. Our
network of over 1,400 MBA alumni is a proud testament to Gannon’s ability to
make success happen for its graduate students. Gannon MBA Alumni include
Presidents/CEO’s, Vice Presidents, CFO’s, Treasurers, and Managing Partners. In
addition, over 60 have earned advanced degrees, including doctorates from some
of the most prestigious academic institutions in North America (Indiana University,
University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Stanford
University to name a few). More than 45 Gannon MBA’s are currently teaching in
colleges and universities.
One of the common dreams of graduate business students has traditionally been to
own a business. Our alumni currently include over 75 individuals who are
owners/operators of their own businesses. Gannon has continued to provide both
instruction and motivation for these entrepreneurs and our faculty is proud of its
supportive efforts in helping these alumni businesses to succeed.
OFFERINGS
Gannon University offers:
 Master of Business Administration (MBA)
 A Five-Year Bachelor & Masters degree
 Gannon Online Degree (GOLD)
 MBA Bridge Program for International students
The Gannon MBA can be designed either as a general degree or with a
concentration. Concentration areas include Finance, Management, and Marketing.
The Gannon MBA Program may be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis.
ACCREDITATION
The Business Administration program is accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
(ACBSP) an international accreditation body for business
schools.
THE MISSION
The mission of the Gannon University Master of Business
Administration Program is to provide an ethically based
graduate level education with an emphasis on practical
knowledge and application in the functional areas of
management grounded in sound business theory
presented by faculty actively engaged in scholarship in the
pure and applied fields of business consistent with the
mission and goals of the University as well as those of the
Dahlkemper School of Business Administration.
To achieve the practical knowledge outlined above, the
outcomes of the program are:
1. Understand the global business environment;
2. Understand and integrate the functional areas of
business;
3. Be able to apply analytical skills to solve problems in a
business environment;
4. Develop leadership skills and ethically responsible
behavior in an organizational context;
5. Be able to communicate effectively; and
6. Understand how to work effectively in team settings.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
 A completed application for admission
 A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an
accredited college or university
 Three letters of recommendation
 TOEFL scores if English is not a first language
 If your undergraduate GPA is less than a 3.2 on a 4.0
scale, then you have two options:
o Take the GMAT and achieve an appropriate
score using the “Degree Status” formula
described in the next section or
o Do not take the GMAT, but take 3 courses as
determined by the School of Business and
achieve a B or better in each course in order
to continue in the program.
Degree Status is awarded to students whose
undergraduate grade point average was 3.2 or higher
average and with review of the courses completed by the
director of the MBA/MPA program or who score at least
1050 using the following formula: 200 x (Undergraduate
GPA) + GMAT Score.
Provisional Academic Status may be awarded at the
discretion of the Director of Graduate Programs to
students who show academic promise but do not achieve
1050 on the formula above. These students may petition
for Degree status after completion of 9 credits with a
minimum grade of “B” in each of the three provisional
courses.
Non-Degree Status is awarded to students who, in the
opinion of the admissions committee, show academic
promise and are seeking professional development. A
maximum of 9 credits may be taken as a non-degree
student.
CURRICULUM
The Gannon MBA is a professional degree program.
Students begin studies with a wide variety of academic and
work backgrounds. MBA curriculum requirements range
from 30 to 48 credits depending upon these experiences.
Courses are presented in three general categories:
From 0 to 18 credits of MBA Foundation courses. This
series is designed to bring all students up to the same
preliminary level before commencing with the common
body of coursework. Foundation courses are waivable (or
challengeable) on the basis of academic experience.
Twenty-one (21) credits of MBA Core courses. The Gannon
MBA Core represents the common body of topics and skills
that MBA’s are generally expected to possess.
Nine (9) credits of MBA Elective courses. MBA Elective
courses allow students to customize a curriculum or build
a concentration in finance, management or marketing.
1. MBA Foundation Courses (0-18 credits – courses
may be waived on a course by course basis based on
academic background at the discretion of the Program
Director)
GMBA 501 Financial Accounting
GMBA 521 Quantitative Techniques
GMBA 525 Statistical Analysis
GMBA 531 Management & Marketing Concepts
GMBA 561 Fundamentals/Financial Management
GMBA 571 Economic Environment of the Firm
2. MBA Core Courses (21 credits)
GMBA 601 Managerial Accounting
 GMBA 631 Org. Culture, Creativity & Change
GMBA 641 Oper. and Supply Chain Management
GMBA 651 Strategic Marketing Management
GMBA 661 Financial Management
GMBA 686 Leadership and Business Ethics
GMBA 799 Business Policy and Strategy
3. MBA Elective (Select 9 credits of free electives or a
concentration in finance, management or marketing)
Total Credits 30-48
WAIVER OF COURSES
The “500” level foundation courses may be waived in
either of the following two ways:
1. Waiver by Transcript
Students should make an appointment with the MBA office
to determine if any foundation courses can be waived. A
waiver request is based upon previously completed
undergraduate or graduate courses which are equivalent
to the foundation course in question. To waive a
foundation course the student should have taken specific
courses within 7 years and obtained at least a grade of B
(where two courses are listed, a grade of at least a B must
be achieved in both courses). Below are the foundation
courses and the undergraduate courses required to waive
each by transcript. International students with a three (3)
year bachelor degree will be required to take all 18 credits
of the Foundation level as well as other designated courses
and may not waive nor challenge these courses.
GMBA 501 Financial Accounting
2 courses in Introductory Accounting
GMBA 521 Quantitative Techniques
1 course in Algebra for Business or Calculus 1
GMBA 525 Statistical Analysis
1 course in Statistics
GMBA 531 Management and Marketing Concepts
1 course in Principles of Marketing and 1 course in
Principles of Management
GMBA 561 Fundamentals of Financial Management
1 course in Financial Management or Corporate Finance
GMBA 571 Economic Environment of the Firm
1 course in Introductory Micro Economics and 1 course in
Introductory Macro Economics
2. Waiver by Proficiency Examinations
Students who have taken the equivalent courses in the
past, and do not meet the requirements in number one,
above, but feel that they have a strong background in an
area which is not reflected on their transcript (i.e. the
courses were taken more than 7 years prior to admission
or the student did not achieve the appropriate grade) may
request challenge exams to demonstrate their proficiency.
Proficiency exams are offered through the purchase of
study materials through a vendor with whom the
University has contracted to provide the same. Please see
the Program Director for more information.
GANNON’S ONLINE DEGREE (GOLD)
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
Gannon’s Online Degree (GOLD) Graduate Program in
Business Administration uses an internet delivery system
for a robust teaching and learning experience for students
who work full-time and may have travel schedules and/or
family obligations. Gannon uses the ANGEL delivery
mechanism. With ANGEL, students have access to all their
course materials, collaborative workspaces and online
resources. Courses require that students work both
independently and interdependently with their instructors
and with fellow students. Participants in these courses
must maintain their own internet access and have
Microsoft Word or compatible word processing software.
All courses are three credits and will be delivered in
efficient seven-week sessions. There is an expectation that
the student will stay current with the course, remain
engaged in all learning activities, and if necessary, seek
help in a timely fashion. Students can begin their studies
in any seven-week session and may either take one class
per session as a part-time student or may take two classes
in a session as a full-time student.
While applications may be submitted at any time, Gannon
reviews applications on a rolling basis. Please contact our
admissions representative to discuss details about our
next start date and how to apply. Students must complete
the application process prior to the start date of a given
session.
Gannon’s On Line MBA Program consists of 18 credits of
foundation courses, 21 credits of core courses and 9
credits of free electives or concentration courses. MBA
concentrations are available in finance, management and
marketing. A student may enroll in the Gannon Gold MBA
Program on a full-time or part-time basis.
FIVE YEAR BACHELOR’S DEGREE/MBA
DEGREE PROGRAM
The Five-Year Bachelor’s Degree/MBA Degree Program,
for current Gannon University students, is designed to
allow outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity
to earn both an undergraduate degree in many disciplines
and an MBA within a five year period. Students from any
major may apply and should do so before they begin their
junior year. Working with both the undergraduate advisor
and Program Director, the student will customize a
schedule in which foundation coursework will be
completed during the undergraduate years. These MBA
courses will be used as substitutes for undergraduate
requirements, electives, or cognates. At the completion of
the undergraduate work, provided the student has taken
the appropriate coursework in their undergraduate career,
the 18 credits of foundation work will be met and the
student will need only 30 more graduate credits to earn an
MBA. Applicants to the program must have a 3.2
undergraduate GPA with no grades in business courses
below a C. Retention in the program requires that the
student maintain a minimum of a 3.2 GPA for their
undergraduate studies.
CONCENTRATIONS
Although it is not necessary to work toward a
concentration, many students do so in an effort to become
more attractive in the job market. A concentration
consists of the student taking three courses in one of the
following cognate areas: Finance, Management, or
Marketing.
INTERNSHIPS AND COOPERATIVE
EDUCATION
Gannon MBA students may, with permission of the
Program Director, accept placements in fields that are
related to their academic studies. The University generally
has a number of professional opportunities available
students that can be valuable resume and portfolio
builders for graduate students. Placements range from
short term assignments to full-time positions and are often
administrated in cooperation with either the Co-op Office
or the Small Business Development Center. Interested
students are advised to check with both for placement
opportunities. In some circumstances, these placements
can be credit bearing and substituted for an elective
course. Students may take up to 3 credits of
internship/cooperative education for credit with the
permission of the Director of Graduate Programs, provided
the experience adds to the student’s knowledge and ability
in their chosen field of study.
DUAL MBA/MPA PROGRAM
A student who has earned an MBA or MPA can obtain the
second master’s degree with a reduced number of courses.
See the Program Director for more information.

The Concentration in Finance requires 9 credits

outlined as follows:
GMBA 761 Advanced Financial Management
GMBA 764 Investments
GMBA 767 Security Analysis & Portfolio
Management

The Concentration in Management requires 9 credits

of management courses in consultation with the
Graduate Director including:
GMBA 774 Strategic Management and 6 credits of
management electives

The Concentration in Marketing requires 9 credits

outlined as follows:
GMBA 752 Consumer Behavior
GMBA 753 Marketing Research
GMBA 754 International Marketing or Marketing
electives approved by the Graduate Rev. 09/2015
Director