The M.B.A. program at Texas Wesleyan University provides students with an overall business management education through both instruction and opportunities to apply a core set of management skills in a hands-on field setting.

The M.B.A. program consists of two levels of study:

1. Core courses: Core courses are required and provide students with a well-rounded base of business knowledge, giving graduates the business management skills needed to be competitive in today’s business job market.
2. Concentration courses: Concentration courses are designed to provide students with focused knowledge and skills in specific functional areas of business.

It is recommended that students without a business degree also complete foundation courses (or other instruction) in Algebra, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Statistics prior to enrolling in related courses.

Students in the online MBA and the applied MBA complete the same course requirements. Students enrolled in the applied MBA combine the flexibility of online classes with real-life practical applications through on-campus meetings. The main difference between the two programs is student participation in an approved internship for applied MBA students. Students enrolled in the applied option are responsible for finding an internship.

Admission to M.B.A. Program

Consideration for admission to the M.B.A program in the SOBAPP is contingent upon submission of the following items:

• An Application for Admission,
• A non-refundable application fee;
• An official transcript from each institution of higher education attended;
• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test score (test must have been taken within 5 years of the application date.) Please refer to the admissions criteria to determine whether you need the GMAT/GRE score;
• A list of career accomplishments if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business experience;
• Two work-related references or recommendation letters if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business work experience;
• Current professional résumé or curriculum vita (CV);
• Completion of individual assessments (such as online learning readiness questionnaire).

The Dean or Associate Dean of the SOBAPP makes the final evaluation of candidate credentials and admission decisions. Admission decisions are not subject to appeal.

Admissions Criteria

Admission decisions are based on an overall evaluation of the items listed below to estimate an applicant’s potential for success in the graduate program. Admission criteria for the M.B.A. program are as follows:

• Four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 from a regionally accredited college or university (or comparable foreign degree)*; or a Master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 from a regionally accredited college or university;
• GMAT/GRE will be waived for applicants meeting one of the following three conditions:
  1. Bachelor’s degree with a GPA (overall or last 60 credit hours) of 3.0 or above.
  2. Bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.5 or last 60 credit hours GPA of 2.75 with at least 3 years professional business work experience.
  3. Completed graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 and above.
• Applicants who do not meet any of the three conditions for a GMAT/GRE waiver listed above must have a completed Bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.5 or above or last 60 credit hours GPA of 2.75 or above with a minimum GMAT score of 500 or an equivalent GRE score;
• Applicant’s current résumé or curriculum vita (CV) to assess professional and academic preparation for graduate studies;
• List of career accomplishments demonstrating applicant readiness for graduate studies if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business work experience;
• Two work-related references or recommendation letters confirming the applicant’s career accomplishments, motivation to achieve, and the capacity of the applicant to contribute to the learning process if admission consideration includes a GMAT/GRE waiver due to professional business work experience;
• Scores on required individual assessments indicate the potential for success of the applicant in the program.

*Applicants with a three-year Bachelor’s degree will be required to enroll in a one-year bridge program to complete their fourth year by successfully completing 24 undergraduate credit hours. Please refer to the next section for more information on the Bridge Program.

All application for admission materials should be submitted to:

The Office of Graduate Admissions

Texas Wesleyan University

1201 Wesleyan Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76105-1536

Or email to: graduate@txwes.edu

International applicants should refer to the section titled “Admission of International Students” in this catalog and contact the Office of International Programs (817) 531-4965 for application instructions. Prospective international students can also obtain information from the Texas Wesleyan International Programs website at http://txwes.edu/admissions/apply-now/international-students/.

Admission requirements under articulation agreement(s)

The program has formalized articulation agreement(s) with select institutions of higher learning to facilitate the admissions process. Students granted admission through an articulation agreement will be required to satisfy the admission criteria stipulated within the confines of the said articulation agreement.

Bridge program

The Bridge Program is designed to accommodate applicants possessing postsecondary degrees comparable to three years of university study in the United States, as determined by the most recently published guidance from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, or equivalent peer-reviewed guidance. This program will be helpful in preparing students for graduate study while enabling them to complete their fourth year of study. The courses required to complete the Bridge Program will be tailored to each individual student based on their needs and in consultation with a graduate advisor. These courses might be a combination of general education and specialized lower or upper-level courses. Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in all courses attempted as part of the Bridge Program. Upon completion of the Bridge Program students will receive a certificate and may continue to a full graduate-level course of study. Admits into the Bridge Program will be administratively assigned degree-seeking graduate student status while completing the required undergraduate-level Bridge curriculum.

English Proficiency

Students who are non-native speakers of English must provide evidence of English proficiency by submitting official scores from TOEFL (minimum 213 computer test/550 paper test/79 internet test), or IELTS (minimum band score of 6.5 on the Academic version). Test scores must be less than 2 years old. Other evidence of English proficiency may be considered on an individual basis (refer to English proficiency (p. 30) details in this catalog).

Official Transcripts

Transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended must be submitted, regardless of whether a degree was earned. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The designation “student copy,” “issued to student,” “applicant’s copy,” “unofficial copy,” or other similar notations are not acceptable. This includes hand-delivered transcripts or copies received from a third party, except in rare and documented instances in which international applicants are unable to provide official transcripts.

If you attended a non-U.S. institution, please send transcripts in both the original language, and an official translation of the transcript. A copy of your diploma (graduation certificate) is also required.

Assistance with Your Application: If you have any questions about applying to the program or would like assistance in completing your application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Fifth-Year Option for BBA Majors

The fifth-year option allows qualifying students to first earn a B.B.A. and then an M.B.A. The benefits of the fifth-year option are:

• Early assurance into the M.B.A. program
• Full admission into the M.B.A. program upon the award of the B.B.A. degree
• Waiver of the M.B.A. application process and related application fees. Fill out a short information form upon completion of your B.B.A.
• Enrollment in up to 9 hours of graduate coursework during the student’s final undergraduate semesters. Any graduate hours earned will count toward the M.B.A. degree.

The fifth-year option consists of the following three sequential steps:

1. Intent Form and Plan of Academic Coursework

Undergraduate majors with more than 30 program hours remaining toward earning a B.B.A. and who meet the following criteria are eligible to file a fifth-year intent form:

• Students with 24 or more college credit hours must have a minimum college cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and, if applicable, 2.75 in their major.

The fifth-year intent form must be filed with the student’s advisor. In response, the advisor will prepare a plan of academic coursework. After the fifth-year intent form and the plan of academic coursework are approved by the School of Business, the student is designated as participating in the fifth-year option (i.e., the student’s degree audit and transcript are updated to indicate participation in the fifth-year option).

The student may withdraw from the fifth-year option at any time resulting in the removal of the fifth-year option designation.

2. Early Assurance

Once 30 program hours remain, the GPA of the fifth-year option student is reviewed.

• Students with a minimum college cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and 2.75 in their major are admitted into the M.B.A. program with a provisional status.
• Students not meeting the GPA requirement are removed from the fifth-year option. The student may complete the normal application process for the M.B.A. program. Or, the student may request any graduate credit earned under the fifth-year option to be applied to the B.B.A. degree.

3. Full Admission

Once the B.B.A. degree is awarded, the GPA of the fifth-year option student is again reviewed.

• Students with a minimum college cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and 2.75 in their major are fully admitted into the M.B.A. program (i.e., admission status is no longer provisional). Following full admission into the M.B.A. program, fifth-year option students are subject to the normal M.B.A. policies in the graduate catalog.
• Students not meeting the GPA requirement remain provisionally admitted. In order to be fully admitted, the student must complete the normal application process for the M.B.A. program.

M.B.A. Admissions Status

Provisional Admission

Applicants meeting all admission requirements, but lacking one or more official documents, may be admitted provisionally for one session only. During the session, provisionally admitted students may take up to 3 courses. Provisional status will not be extended past the initial session of enrollment.

Provisionally admitted students desiring to continue graduate studies beyond one session must be fully admitted into the M.B.A. program.