Georgia State to Revamp MBA Program

• Georgia State University is reducing the number of credit hours to complete its master of business administration program — from 52 to 42.
• That will now include 30 core credit hours and 12 elective credit hours.
• The university is also offering immersive, skills-based experiences as part of the coursework.
• The changes will take effect in fall 2024.

Many master of business administration (MBA) students are working professionals who need to balance their career and education — and business schools are stepping up to prioritize speed and flexibility in their MBA programs.

That's the case at the Georgia State University (GSU) J. Mack Robinson College of Business, which announced plans to shorten its flexible MBA program's completion time starting in fall 2024. The revamped program will be shortened from 52 credit hours to 42 — including 30 core credit hours and 12 electives.

Robinson College Dean Richard Phillips said Georgia State's MBA program "continuously evolves to anticipate and meet emerging needs."

"Employers seek individuals with an innovative mindset, excellent collaborative skills, and the ability to tackle complex problems," Phillips said in a school press release. "Our updated curriculum is designed to meet and exceed those expectations."

Georgia State's MBA program includes high-demand concentrations in rapidly growing and lucrative fields like financial technology (fintech), digital marketing, healthcare management, and more. It also includes a STEM-designated major in business analysis for students, preparing them to work with an ever-growing trove of data across industries.

At the same time, school officials said they're boosting immersive experiential learning and career services as part of the revamp, packing more punch into the shortened program.

Two new immersive experiences will be included in the program, according to the school's press release, with one focusing on skill development and team building and the other being "a semester-long capstone course tackling real client challenges, culminating in a case competition."

That capstone case completion was piloted in the fall of 2023 with the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax. Antonio Beniamin, Equifax senior vice president and chief strategy officer, said in the press release that the capstone will help prepare future leaders across industries.

"Hosting programs like the capstone pilot with GSU allows Equifax to be a partner in fueling the leaders of tomorrow," Beniamin said. "We are committed to supporting educational initiatives like GSU's Flexible MBA program that can expose students to new industries, build new skills, and provide hands-on experience."

Georgia State also plans to boost career services as part of the MBA revamp, connecting students with employers and alumni during their education.

The program is built around flexibility, allowing students to take classes either in person or online and work toward their degree at their own pace. A GMAT or GRE score is not required to apply.