Interested in Climbing up the Management Ladder? Would you like to get an MBA but don’t have the time? The Business Essentials Certificate provides you with the foundation you need to understand the current business environment.
Whether you work in health care, manufacturing, service or public administration, you will find the Business Essentials Certificate very useful to advance your career in management. Business Essentials is a first step toward the full MBA. Essentials students take their courses with MBA students and admissions criteria are the same. Through 15 credits of course work in the School of Business, you can get a feel of the MBA and earn a certificate. If you decide you can commit to the MBA after the certificate, all 15 credits count toward the MBA and you can earn your degree in just a few semesters.
The School of Business offers you a rich curriculum designed for busy, working adults. Study completely online and on your own time with accomplished and caring faculty who deliver high-quality courses based on real-world experiences. Classes emphasize practical, hands-on applications that will make your Business Essentials Certificate work for you in the marketplace.
Learn More About This Program
Our program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management and business education. It represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide, and it recognizes that the School of Business offers high-quality business programs. Processes are in place to ensure continuous improvement in the future. Therefore students and alumni can be proud of earning a degree from an institution that has taken its place among other world-wide leaders in business education.
Career and Salary Possibilities
Career and salary examples for master of business administration essentials certificate students:
- Sales Director: $122,000
- Senior Financial Analyst: $79,777
- Marketing Director: $36,614 – $122,449
- Senior Product Manager: $141,069
Career & Professional Development provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to assist Shenandoah students in their career search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.
Classes
MBA Essentials Certificate consists of the four MBA foundation courses (ACCT 501, BUS 501, ECN 501, and MIS 511) and BUS 509 Business Applications in which the principles introduced in the MBA foundation courses are further developed, applied, and integrated using the case study method.
Completion of the certificate requires:
- completion of the five aforementioned courses, including the Business Applications course and at least two others at the School of Business as part of this program
- passing all courses with no more than one course having a grade of “C” or lower (i.e., the others must be passed with at least a B-), and
- an average grade point average of 3.0 in the courses taken at the School of Business.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| ACCT 501 | Foundations of Accounting | 3 |
| FIN 502 | Foundations of Finance | 1.5 |
| ECN 501 | Foundations of Economics | 3 |
| MKT 502 | Foundations of Marketing | 1.5 |
| QM 501 | Foundations of Analytics | 3 |
| BUS 509 | Business Applications | 3 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED | 15 |
Meet the Faculty
There’s a special bond between School of Business students and their professors. Students enjoy close professional relationships with academically and professionally experienced faculty who mentor them in and out of the classroom. This remains a hallmark of a Shenandoah University business education. Students also benefit from our executive-in-residence who works with both professors and students to broaden the student’s focus beyond the classroom.
Application Information
The MBA Admission Committee will give full consideration to your entire application packet, but admission to the program is competitive. When your complete application is received, MBA Program Director will evaluate it and determines your eligibility. If you are found eligible, an interview with the MBA Admissions Committee will be scheduled.