The University of North Georgia (UNG) Cottrell Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a flexible, online graduate program that helps working professionals advance or change their careers. The Cottrell MBA prepares students to become business leaders, ready to ethically optimize opportunities and manage risk in a global environment characterized by diversity, innovation, and adaptability.
The Cottrell MBA is designed to be completed in two years or less. Students generally carry six or seven semester hours during both the fall and spring semesters and usually no more than ten semester hours during the summer. Additional course work before the start of the Cottrell MBA program may be necessary for students with non-business undergraduate degrees.
Students may also pursue graduate certificates in Technology Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Cybersecurity (see “Graduate Certificates” below). Certificates provide specialized skills and knowledge in a specific area of business. Courses from the certificate programs can be used as electives in the MBA program.
Graduate Admissions Procedures
Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or the Cottrell MBA website www.ung.edu/mba. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee, and admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. Once application materials have been authenticated and reviewed, the candidate will receive an official admission letter from the program verifying acceptance or denial.
Students who are admitted, but do not enroll with the cohort must reapply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. Materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and three years for completed application files.
Cottrell MBA Admission Eligibility
In order to be eligible for admission, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog). Transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Applicants who are deficient in one or more foundation content areas must complete foundation courses before starting MBA courses.
Evaluation of Credit for Meeting Foundation Requirements
The Cottrell MBA academic advisor will evaluate students’ prior academic credit for meeting the following foundation content requirements:
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Macroconomics
- Business Math or Statistics
If their prior credit is deficient, students must complete required foundation courses with a score of 80% on the final test in each class. The MBA Program Coordinator may grant exceptions to this requirement based on the applicant’s professional history work history. An official letter will indicate foundation requirements that must be satisfied before starting the program.
Cottrell MBA Admission Requirements
- Graduate Admissions application.
- Non-refundable application fee.
- Official scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE), or evidence of a graduate degree. Only test scores that are less than five years old will be considered.
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.
- Professional resume.
- Two professional letters of recommendation from those familiar with your work, e.g. current or past supervisors or managers. Family and friends of applicants are not permissible recommenders.
- Minimum of two years of professional work experience. This professional experience can be waived with a minimum score of 500 on the GMAT (or equivalent GRE score). If the applicant qualifies for and accepts a GMAT/GRE exemption, the work experience requirement cannot be waived.
GMAT or GRE Exemption/Waiver Policy
Applicants may be exempted from the GMAT or GRE if at least one of the following conditions are met:
- At least 5 years of professional work history (including relevant work before earning an undergraduate degree)
- An undergraduate GPA higher than 3.75 in upper-level courses
- A graduate degree from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog)
- A professional certification (e.g., CPA, CFP, CFE, CEcD, CFRE, etc.)
Transient Student Admission
An individual currently enrolled at an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) as a graduate student in good standing may apply to UNG as a transient student. Transient students may only enroll in MBA elective courses. These are typically offered in summer semesters. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MBA Program Coordinator before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.
The following documents must be received before admission:
- Graduate Admissions application.
- Non-refundable application fee.
- Letter of good standing or transient permission form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or disciplinary suspension at the student’s home institution. The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is allowed to take at UNG.
- Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
Transient admission is for one semester only. An individual who wishes to return to UNG as a transient student for a subsequent semester must reapply to Graduate Admissions.
Admissions Requirements for International Students who are Non-Native English Speakers
Students requiring an F1 visa to study in the United States are not eligible for the Cottrell MBA because our program is part-time and F1 visas require students to be enrolled as full-time students.
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Minimum acceptable scores on the TOEFL are 550 on the paper version; 213 on the computer version; 79 on the Internet version; or 6.5 on the IELTS. This language proficiency requirement is waived for applicants who have received a degree from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) or from institutions in countries where English is the primary language.
Cottrell MBA Transfer Residency Requirement
To be awarded the MBA degree, students are expected to take all coursework as part of the Cottrell MBA cohort and must earn a minimum of 26 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. The MBA Program Coordinator and the Dean’s Office of the Mike Cottrell College of Business must approve all transfer credit. Transfer credit will be evaluated for use only in meeting elective credit in the Cottrell MBA program at the 6000-level. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of less than a B was earned. All credits presented for the MBA degree must have been earned within six years of the date of graduation from the Cottrell MBA program.
Cottrell MBA Academic Policies
Satisfactory Progress
Cottrell MBA students progress through the Cottrell MBA program of study as long as no more than one grade in a designated core course is below a B and the final grade point average in the program, among designated core courses, is at least a 3.0. Students who earn a second C in the program will be withdrawn. The student may apply to Graduate Admissions for readmission as part of a later cohort.
If a student withdraws from a course during fall or spring, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program with the current cohort. The student may apply to Graduate Admissions for readmission as part of a later cohort.
Academic Integrity
The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.
Professional Integrity
The Cottrell MBA adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academic Information portion of the Graduate Catalog.
Technology
While the program is primarily asynchronous, online synchronous or face-to-face meetings may be required for program orientation and occasionally throughout the program. Students must be able to engage in electronic collaboration using email, email attachments, and using the basic functions of software for online meetings and learning management systems. Students must be competent using word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Access to a reliable internet connection with bandwidth sufficient for these activities is essential for effective performance in the program.
It is critical that all MCCB students have access to a laptop computer. Some required software may not work on cell phones, tablets or Chromebooks. If you are purchasing a computer, the recommended and minimum computer requirements are located on the UNG website at this link: https://ung.edu/information-technology/FAQ.php.
Work Expectations
A minimum of two years of professional work experience, after receiving a bachelor’s degree, is required before being admitted to the Cottrell MBA program. This work experience may be removed for applicants who have a minimum score of 500 on the GMAT. An applicant who has extensive professional experience before receiving a bachelor’s degree may be granted admission at the discretion of the MBA Program Coordinator. While enrolled in the Cottrell MBA program, students are expected to be employed full-time. Class engagement and course assignments require students to draw from experiences in their careers.
Cottrell MBA Degree Requirements
Graduation requirements for Cottrell MBA students include:
- Completion of designated semester hours of study. MBA graduates must complete 26 semester hours of designated core courses and 6 additional semester hours of electives.
- Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (a maximum of one C) with no grade of less than a C in designated core courses.
- Completion of at least 26 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence.
- Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including transfer credit, within a six-year period.
