Frequently asked questions
1. How many credits must I earn to complete the MBA degree?
You are required to complete 36 credits.
2. What are the degree requirements?
You must complete 10 core courses (30 credits) and two electives (6 credits).
- GBUS 501 Foundations of Accounting and Quantitative Analysis
- GBUS 502 Foundations of Marketing and Management
- GBUS 503 Foundations of Financial Markets
- GBUS 521 Leadership and Organizational Behavior (Prerequisite: GBUS 502)
- GBUS 523 Marketing Strategy (Prerequisite: GBUS 502)
- GBUS 525 Management Information Systems
- GBUS 526 Quantitative Business Modeling (Prerequisite: GBUS 501)
- GBUS 527 Accounting for Decision Making and Control (Prerequisite: GBUS 501)
- GBUS 528 Financial Management (Prerequisites: GBUS 501 and GBUS 503)
- GBUS 529 Strategic Management (Prerequisites: GBUS 501, 502, 503, 521, 523, 525, 526, 527, and 528. Students may complete one of the listed prerequisites with GBUS 529.)
- Two elective courses. A variety are offered each semester.
3. Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
Yes. Graduate students are expected to maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students who drop below this GPA requirement will be given the opportunity to raise their GPA over the next semester. Please note that you are not allowed to earn more than two Cs (including C+, C, or C-) in graduate coursework. If you earn three Cs or one F, you will automatically be suspended from the program.
4. Can undergraduate coursework count towards the MBA program if the course content and material are the same?
No. Undergraduate coursework may not be used to satisfy graduate level coursework.
5. Is there a recommended sequence in which I must take courses?
Yes. Students are encouraged to complete the foundation courses, GBUS 501, GBUS 502, and GBUS 503, in their first and second semester of enrollment in the program. Not doing so will delay degree completion by at least one year because these courses are term specific and serve as prerequisites for courses that are also term specific. Please reference the chart below for projected offerings of the core classes.
6. If I only take one class each semester, will I be dismissed from the program?
No. You can enroll in as few as 3 credits or as many as 12 credits each semester. You have 6 years from the date of matriculation into the program to complete all coursework. If you do not enroll in classes for three semesters in a row, however, you will become inactive in the system and must reapply for admission.
7. Am I required to meet with an advisor every semester prior to registering for courses?
No. Graduate students are not expected to meet with an advisor each semester.
8. How do I contact an advisor if I have questions?
The Academic Advisor for the MBA program is Ms. Rhonda Stills. Her office is located in Woodard Hall, Room 232 on the Fredericksburg campus. Appointments may be requested via the “EAB Tools” tab on the UMW homepage. Click on SSC Campus to log in and access her calendar.
9. How can I track my degree progress?
You can pull a degree audit using Degree Works on your profile homepage to track your degree progress. The audit will indicate which requirements have been satisfied or remain outstanding.
10. How many credits do I have to enroll in each semester to be considered a full time student?
Graduate students who are enrolled in nine or more credits are considered to be full-time. Students who are receiving financial aid or VA benefits should contact the appropriate department to determine their enrollment requirements each semester.
11. Where can I find the current list of course offerings?
The current schedule of courses can be found on the Registrar’s webpage. Please note that you should consult the List of Open classes after registration has begun.
12. What day of the week and time is my class held?
This information can be found on the course schedule directly to the right of the course title.
13. When do classes start?
The Academic Calendar can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog and on the UMW website. The calendar provides important dates for all academic processes at the University i.e. first day of classes, deadlines to add or drop a course, registration dates, etc.
14. How do I find out which textbook is required for a class? How do I purchase it?
Instructors will notify students of the textbook requirement(s) through Canvas, via email, or at the first class meeting. Textbooks may be purchased through the UMW Bookstore online.
