About the Program
Thiel College makes it possible for students who have not earned an undergraduate degree in business to earn an M.B.A. without the hassle of taking additional college courses. Students interested in earning a Leadership M.B.A. from Thiel, and have earned an undergraduate degree in another discipline, can begin their M.B.A. instruction immediately following a competency exam. Thiel College requires the completion of the MBA IQ exam (for a fee) for non-business undergraduate majors, no need to take the GRE or GMAT! Note: Upon successful completion of the MBA IQ exam and enrollment into Thiel's M.B.A. program, the College will reimburse the cost of the MBA IQ exam.
Thiel leadership M.B.A. students will learn in an intense accelerated cohort-based experiential residential learning environment. The Thiel M.B.A. program focuses on the idea of measuring performance with a balanced scorecard that includes both shareholder and other stakeholder perspectives in constructing metrics that include traditional measures of financial and operational achievement coupled with nontraditional measures that incorporate ethics, corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
Most business leaders will tell you an M.B.A. is the gold standard in business education. With an M.B.A., you are more likely to move up faster in your chosen career and to see higher earnings. But an M.B.A. offers you much more. You’ll learn how to collaborate, you’ll explore different industries and opportunities, you’ll acquire skills it can take years to learn on the job.
Program Goals
- Develop close, long-term relationships with our business faculty.
- Enjoy a highly individualized experiential learning experience that includes intensive project-based coursework.
- Receive a graduate assistantship to work on campus or in businesses.
- Work on team projects in cohorts that build long term relationships.
- Choose a business major pathway or one that allows you to choose almost any major for your bachelor’s degree.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Employ leadership theories to create innovative new ways of achieving objectives.
- Identify, assess, and resolve ethical dilemmas in dynamic organizational leadership environments.
- Use the balanced scorecard approach in solving complex leadership problems. Think critically evaluating the situation, identify the problem, generate and weigh alternatives to select ethical, strategic, and sustainable solutions that satisfy multiple stakeholders.
- Present leadership theories and applied leadership strategies individually and as a team in both oral and written formats.
- Effectively lead and motivate individuals and teams to achieve organizational objectives.
Experiential Learning
Students enrolled in the M.B.A. program at Thiel College have the opportunity to learn by doing. Every student will complete 400 hours of career focused work as a graduate assistant. As part of the required credit-bearing coursework each student will work in a paid internship for a private sector business for a minimum of 120 hours. In addition each student will work in a team based environment acting as consultants to a non-profit organization. Through-out the program students will work with faculty and businesses to solve real problems as part of the required coursework.
Specific programmatic experiential learning experiences will be required of all students in settings that extend the learning environment beyond the classroom. Many M.B.A. programs require work experience before you are admitted. By design, the Thiel M.B.A. ensures that you finish with relevant work experience that leverages the learning objectives of our curriculum.
Anthony Kos, Ph.D. akos@thiel.edu
Professor of Business Administration and Accounting, Department Chair
724-589-2244
Angelo A. Giannini, M.B.A. agiannini@thiel.edu
Professor of Business Administration and Accounting
724-589-2243
John E. Gomolchak, Esq. jgomolchak@thiel.edu
Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Accounting
724-589-2403
Melissa S. Oakes, C.P.A., C.F.E., M.B.A. ’03 moakes@thiel.edu
Associate Professor of Business Administration and Accounting, Associate Chair
724-589-2046
Gary J. Witosky, C.P.A., C.G.M.A., M.Acc. ’79 gwitosky@thiel.edu
Professor of Business Administration and Accounting, David M. Miller Endowed Chair of Accounting
724-589-2500
Kyle M. Woody, Ed.D. kwoody@thiel.edu
Executive Director of the James Pedas Communication Center, James Pedas Professor of Communication, Department Chair
724-589-2851
Admission to the M.B.A. Program
Students typically enter the program immediately following the completion of their bachelor’s degree. Many M.B.A. programs require work experience before you are admitted. However, the Thiel College M.B.A. program is designed to ensure that you finish with relevant work experience that leverages the learning objectives of our curriculum.
As a graduate of the program, you will apply knowledge garnered from cutting-edge courses taught by faculty whose expertise extends beyond academia into world-class business experience.
Already applied and accepted?
Candidate Requirements
Admission requirements for Thiel College students
Current Thiel College business administration and accounting majors:
- College requirements: A minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and 3.0 in the last sixty credits
- Program requirements: A minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and a 3.3 in the last thirty credits
Current Thiel College business administration and accounting minors:
- College requirements: The College requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and 3.0 in the last sixty credits
- Program requirements: The department requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and a 3.3 in the last thirty credits. Completion of ACCT 113, ACCT 123, ECON 211, and ECON 221 or equivalent with a grade of “B” or higher. Successful completion of MBA IQ
Incoming first-year business administration and accounting majors who maintain minimum Applicant Program GPA in their undergraduate program are guaranteed admittance into Thiel's M.B.A. program. The College requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and 3.0 in the last sixty credits. The department requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and a 3.3 in the last thirty credits.
Incoming first-year business administration and accounting minors who maintain minimum Applicant Program GPA in their undergraduate program are guaranteed admittance into Thiel's M.B.A. program. The College requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and 3.0 in the last sixty credits. The department requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and a 3.3 in the last thirty credits. Completion of ACCT 113, ACCT 123, ECON 211, and ECON 221 or equivalent with a grade of “B” or higher. Successful completion of MBA IQ.
*Thiel College students and alumni must provide a personal statement/letter of intent and transcripts for all undergraduate coursework.
Admission requirements for students from other institutions
Business and accounting majors who have earned a bachelor's degree from regionally accredited institutions must provide proof of a minimum 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and a 3.3 GPA in the last thirty credits.
Non-business and non-accounting majors who have earned a bachelor's degree from regionally accredited institutions must provide proof of a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and a 3.3 GPA in the last thirty credits and complete ACCT 113, ACCT 123, ECON 211, and ECON 221 or equivalent with a grade of “B” or higher. Or provide proof of your successful completion of M.B.A. IQ.
Incoming first-year business administration and accounting majors from regionally accredited institutions who maintain minimum M.B.A. Applicant Program GPA in their undergraduate program are guaranteed admittance into Thiel M.B.A. with a signed articulation agreement. Thiel's Department of Business Administration and Accounting requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA overall in the bachelor’s degree program and a 3.3 in the last thirty credits.
**Students from outside colleges or universities must provide a personal statement/letter of intent, contact information for three recommendations, transcripts for all undergraduate coursework and a résumé. Students will also be required to interview.
Important Notes:
- The personal statement/letter of intent should address the following: Why do you want to earn an M.B.A.? What impact will the M.B.A. have on you personally, your career and those around you?
- Your contacts for recommendations will receive an email with directions for electronically submitting their recommendations. No additional action is needed on your part.
- All applicants must complete an interview before a final admission decision will be made. You will be contacted via email to schedule the interview after all of your required application materials have been submitted.
Apply
All applicants from other institutions, please use the application link below or at the top of the page. Any applicant who is a current Thiel College student or alumni, please contact Dr. Anthony Kos at akos@thiel.edu or 724-589-2244 to receive your application.
Non-Thiel Students - Apply online today!
Current Thiel Students/Alumni - Contact Dr. Anthony Kos
Anthony Kos, Ph.D.
Department Chair
724-589-2244
Kyle M. Woody, Ed.D.
Executive Director of the James Pedas Communication Center
724-589-2851