STEM Designation
The MSBA/MBA is a dual degree program with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) designation. Due to the demand of graduates with expertise in STEM fields, the Department of Homeland Security permits international students graduating from STEM programs to apply for a 24 month extension of their initial year of Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more detailed information, please visit the ISSO webpage.
MBA/MSBA with a Concentration in Business Essentials
22 Courses
54 Credits
Program Length:
Full-time in as few as 16 months
Part time in as few as 24 months
Contextualize: From Boston to the World (8 credits)
Must be taken in the first semester.
Business Fundamental Courses (9 credits)
| MBA-641 | Financial Information for Business Management | 1.5 |
| MBA-651 | Financial Management for Business Decisions | 1.5 |
| MBA-661 | Marketing in a Changing World | 1.5 |
| MBA-671 | Operations Management in a Competitive Global Environment | 1.5 |
| MBA-715 | Integrate Business Fundamentals | 3 |
Data Management (9 credits)
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-825 | Enterprise Data Management | 3 |
| ISOM-827 | Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence | 3 |
Business Analytics (9 credits)
If waived, ISOM-801 must be substituted with an ISOM elective.
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with SAS Base | 3 |
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics | 3 |
Business Analytics Capstone (3 credits)
Should be taken as late in the program as possible.
| ISOM-837 | From Data Mining to Business Insights | 3 |
Understand Business Fundamentals (3 credits)
Travel Seminar Requirement (3 credits)
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
| MBA-745 | Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making | 1 |
| MBA-750 | Building Global Connections | 3 |
| MBA-760 | World Class Strategies | 3 |
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
| MBA-770 | Leading and Implementing Change | 3 |
Approved ISOM Electives
Students do not take electives. Students must choose an ISOM elective from below only if ISOM-801 is waived.
| ISOM-730 | Python for Business Analytics | 3 |
| ISOM-829 | Advanced Data Management Leveraging ETL Tools | 3 |
| ISOM-839 | Prescriptive Analytics: Modeling & Optimization | 3 |
| ISOM-840 | Security and Privacy | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
| ISOM-851 | Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| ISOM-861 | Project Management: Gaining Competitive Advantage | 3 |
| ISOM-910 | Directed Individual Study | 3 |
| ISOM-920 | ISOM Internship | 0-3 |
MBA/MSBA
17 Courses
45 Credits
Program Length:
Full-time in as few as 16 months
Part time in as few as 24 months
Contextualize: From Boston to the World (8 credits)
Must be taken in the first semester.
Understand Business Fundamentals (3 credits)
Travel Seminar Requirement (3 credits)
Data Management (9 credits)
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-825 | Enterprise Data Management | 3 |
| ISOM-827 | Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence | 3 |
Business Analytics (9 credits)
If waived, ISOM-801 must be substituted with an ISOM elective.
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with SAS Base | 3 |
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics | 3 |
Business Analytics Capstone (3 credits)
Should be taken as late in the program as possible.
| ISOM-837 | From Data Mining to Business Insights | 3 |
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
| MBA-745 | Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making | 1 |
| MBA-750 | Building Global Connections | 3 |
| MBA-760 | World Class Strategies | 3 |
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
| MBA-770 | Leading and Implementing Change | 3 |
Approved ISOM Electives
Students do not take electives. Students must choose an ISOM elective from below only if ISOM-801 is waived.
| ISOM-730 | Python for Business Analytics | 3 |
| ISOM-829 | Advanced Data Management Leveraging ETL Tools | 3 |
| ISOM-839 | Prescriptive Analytics: Modeling & Optimization | 3 |
| ISOM-840 | Security and Privacy | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
| ISOM-851 | Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| ISOM-861 | Project Management: Gaining Competitive Advantage | 3 |
| ISOM-910 | Directed Individual Study | 3 |
| ISOM-920 | ISOM Internship | 0-3 |
Course Substitution and Waiver Policy
If waived, ISOM-801 needs to be substituted with an approved ISOM elective. To waive ISOM-801, a student must have successfully completed equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MSBA matriculation and earned a grade of "B" or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable). Students may also elect to take a proficiency exam, for a fee, to gain a waiver. Proficiency exams must be taken in the first semester and are administered on the Boston Campus.
To substitute an approved elective for another core course, a student must have successfully completed equivalent academic coursework at the graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MSBA/MBA matriculation, “B” or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable).
All substitutions are evaluated upon a student's acceptance into the MSBA/MBA Program.
All MSBA/MBA students must complete a minimum of 45 credits (16 courses and MBA-700) in the Sawyer Business School. All MSBA/MBA with a Concentration in Business Essentials students must complete a minimum of 54 credits (21 courses and MBA-700) in the Sawyer Business School. Students previously enrolled in an SBS graduate program and who successfully completed MBA 600, SBS 600, or SBS-700 with a "P" grade or grade of "B" or better, are not required to retake the course; therefore are only required to complete a minimum of 44 credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Policy
Any candidate seeking transfer credits taken at the graduate level from an AACSB-accredited graduate program in business will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These credits may be considered for transfer if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree.
Transfer credits must have an earned grade of "B" or better and be taken within seven (7) years prior to entering the Suffolk MSBA/MBA program. A maximum of six (6) credits may be considered for transfer.
Students Who Leave Boston Before Their Degree is Complete
Occasionally, Suffolk MSBA/MBA students must leave the Boston area having not yet completed their degree. The Business School has several options available to ensure completion of the Suffolk MSBA/MBA. You may be able to transfer six (6) credits of elective courses from an AACSB-accredited MSBA/MBA Program close to your new place of residence. Courses must be pre-approved by Suffolk's Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and have a grade of "B" or better.
Students who leave the area may be able to complete all or a portion of their Suffolk MSBA/MBA on a part-time basis online.