Business Administration, M.B.A.

Mission Statement

The mission of the MBA Program is to prepare future business leaders to serve our state, region and the global business world.  Upon graduation our students will have a greater sense of purpose. To accomplish our mission, they receive a personalized educational experience that encourages a global mindset, inspires creativity and innovation, and develops leadership skills in preparation for business challenges and opportunities.

Program Description

The College of Charleston School of Business offers a one-year, full-time MBA program for high-performing individuals who want to advance their knowledge of working in a business environment and excel with an expectation of career success. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).

One-Year MBA

This rigorous, one-year program combines a solid core curriculum and the opportunity to focus in a specialized area of study. The program works with business leaders to identify the core professional development skills, knowledge and perspectives that make graduates stand out in the global talent marketplace. Case-based, team-oriented projects, executive mentors, professional coaching and global experiences combine to help students dramatically increase and measure the impact of their abilities in these crucial areas. They emerge as changed individuals primed for successful careers.

Executive MBA

The College of Charleston’s Executive MBA program is a globally focused, weekend program designed for experienced professionals aiming to elevate their leadership and strategic management skills. Students benefit from a collaborative cohort-based program, interacting with other future executives to develop their skillsets and think strategically across job functions and industries. Leveraging strong industry connections and cutting-edge technology, the program offers immersive learning experiences and real-world applications. Through 360-degree assessments, reflection exercises, and one-on-one executive coaching, students participate in leadership development workshops and receive individual personalized feedback that challenges students to elevate their life and leadership practices in the business environment.

Dual MBA/JD Program

The MBA program in conjunction with the Charleston School of Law offers a dual MBA/JD degree program. Law school students who have completed two years of study or earned their Juris Doctorate and meet the admission requirements and prerequisites, may apply to the College of Charleston MBA program. After completing the requirements for the MBA degree, students who have not already earned their JD will return to the law school to finish their degree requirements. Additional information on this dual program is available from the College’s MBA program director.

Admission Requirements and Application Deadlines

Executive Master of Business Administration, M.B.A. Admission Requirements  

Program Format

One-Year MBA

The College of Charleston’s MBA is a full-time, 39-credit hour program taught in residence on the College of Charleston campus.  Pre-Term is a two-week, in-person orientation designed to acclimate students to the classroom, coursework and community while also enhancing their career development skills. 

The one-year MBA’s core curriculum consists of eleven courses, completed in a cohort environment. Five core courses are taken in the fall, five in the spring and a capstone in the summer. In addition to the core curriculum, students take one course each term related to a single focus area of their choosing.

The emphasis areas are Finance, Marketing, Business Analytics and Hospitality and Tourism Development. 

Courses are taught Monday through Thursday. Additional activities and seminars are scheduled on Fridays. The international immersion trip takes place at the end of the spring term. A detailed calendar of the academic year can be found on the program’s website. 

Executive MBA

The Charleston EMBA is 39-credit hour program designed with an opening residency week, in-person classes three weekends per term on select Fridays and Saturdays, and a final residency week, all in Charleston. In the second Spring term, a week-long international residency is hosted in a global economic hub. All other coursework is taught in an online format. The Executive MBA is a prescribed curriculum with students enrolling in roughly six credit hours per term. There is no variability in coursework permitted. Three courses in Executive Communications, Advanced Corporate Finance, and Business Analytics Fundamentals replace the emphasis areas of the one-year MBA.

The Charleston EMBA condenses a traditional two-year full-time, in-person MBA into an accelerated eighteen-month, hybrid program.

Transfer Credit Policy

The Master of Business Administration does not accept graduate transfer credit from another institution. Dual MBA/JD program students should discuss required number of academic units with the MBA program director.

Program Requirements

• Business Administration, M.B.A.  
• Executive Master of Business Administration, M.B.A.  

Program Learning Outcome