Recent Program Features

The accumulation of grades below 3.0 in more than two courses of three or more credits each or Incomplete/In-Progress in more than three courses of two or more credits or a combination of the above in four courses excluding thesis/alternate plan paper credits removes the student from degree status.

The Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research will monitor the academic standing of all graduate students each semester and take the following actions based on the review of the graduate students' semester ending grade reports. A student who fails to meet the academic standards may be required by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research to withdraw from the university.

Students receiving financial aid (excluding non-federally funded University graduate assistantships) must abide by federal, state, and institutional policies, including but not limited to, satisfactory academic progress standards. For additional information please see the web page of the Student Financial Services Office.

Academic warning letters will be sent to graduate students who receive a grade of less than 3.0, an In -Progress (IP), or Incomplete (I) in any graduate course of 2 credits or more, or who have a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0.

Probation letters will be sent to students who received an academic warning letter the previous term and who have subsequently failed to demonstrate significant improvement in their academic record. While under Academic Warning status, students who receive a grade of less than 3.0, a grade point average for the term of less than 3.0, a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0, or an In-Progress or Incomplete in excess of four graduate courses of 2 credits or more will be placed on probation.

Dismissal letters will be sent to all students who were placed on probation the previous term and who failed to demonstrate a significant improvement in his/her academic record and received a grade point average for the term less than 3.0, or a grade of less than 3.0, IP, or I in excess of four graduate courses of 2 credits or more.

No grade lower than a "C" is counted for graduation credit, but all grades earned (including Ds and Fs) are counted in determining the grade point average. Graduate courses may be repeated but credit for the course is applicable toward the degree only once. However, all grades earned for that course shall be used in calculating the grade point average.

A student's work in any course will be evaluated in accordance with the following system of letter grades: A, B, C, D, F, N, and P.

When a student has completed all requirements for graduation, the examining committee endorses a Recommendation for Awarding the Degree or Certificate Form and an Application for Graduation Form and forwards the form to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. This requires completion of all course requirements, research requirements, comprehensive examinations and the capstone activity. The student must also have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for all graduate work. All courses applied to the master's degree, specialist, or certificate program must have been completed in the six years prior to graduation. Credit earned as part of a degree or specialist program cannot have been used to complete the requirements of a previously earned degree. Contact the College of Graduate Studies and Research for form submission deadlines.

For all Master's degree programs, at least one-half of the credit must be earned in courses restricted to graduate students and listed as 600-699 (excluding Thesis and APP credits). Additionally, the candidate must complete or meet all special requirements established by the student's examining committee and approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research.

All graduate programs must include a minimum of one research methods or statistics course of at least two credits. Any substitute course or variance must be approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Each recipient of a graduate degree is invited to hold an exit interview with the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research for the purpose of program evaluation. The graduate is encouraged to participate in commencement ceremonies, but participation is not required.

We do not give preference to any particular undergraduate majors. However, we do require prerequisite foundation courses for those without an undergraduate degree in business. A student must demonstrate competency in the areas of accounting, economics, business statistics, and finance. The competency can be demonstrated either of two ways:

1) Through prior completion of the following undergraduate courses:

• ACCT 200 – Financial Accounting
• ECON 202 – Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 207 – Business Statistics
• FINA 362 – Business Finance

2) Deficiencies can be completed online in a self-paced, reduced-price format through our Fastrac program. Each course costs between $130-$170. Contact Bobbi Urban for more information of Fastrac.

Any undergraduate deficiencies will be specified at the time of application. You may still be admitted to the MBA program and begin coursework with deficiences. 

Yes, graduate assistantships are available to all students in graduate courses (such as MBA courses) who qualify to work in the United States and reside in Minnesota. More information about graduate assistantships can be found on the College of Graduate Studies and Research website.