St. Ambrose University

Pre-MBA Coursework


Students with a bachelor’s degree in a business area are exempt from taking MBA 501 and MBA 502. Other students (those without bachelor’s degrees in business) will be placed into pre-MBA courses based on the following criteria:

  • Those with a GMAT composite score greater than 550 will be exempt from MBA 501 and MBA 502.
  • Those with a GMAT composite score less than 550 will be required to take MBA 501 and MBA 502, unless submitting a successful appeal. Upon receiving appeal, an MBA academic committee will consider the student’s work experience and academic background in determining if the student will be exempt from taking MBA 501, MBA 502 or both. If a student is not waived out of these courses based on the appeal, test out opportunities will be available.
  • A student may decide, even if exempt, to take these courses. However, the courses only count as required pre-requisites and will not substitute for graduate electives in the student’s program of study.

Students may be exempt from taking MBA 503, provided they have satisfied the following:

  • The student has completed a course in statistics at the undergraduate level, earning at least a grade of B- in each course.
  • The student has completed the GMAT and has scored in at least the 40% percentile on the quantitative portion of the aptitude test.
  • In no case would a student with a grade below a B- in undergraduate
    statistics or a GMAT score below the 40% be granted an exemption from the full course.

Note: MBA 503 is not a review of algebra. Students who feel they are weak in basic algebra skills are highly encouraged to take an undergraduate algebra course before entering the program.

  • If a student is required to take 2 or more 500 level courses, these courses must be complete before a student may enroll in most 600 level courses. If a student is required to take only one 500 level course, this course may be taken concurrently with either MBA 605 or 610 during a student’s first semester of study.

The GMAT score is needed to determine academic admission. Students may complete MBA 690 before the GMAT score is needed. Students without an undergraduate business degree may register under the special student status for MBA 501 and MBA 502 prior to taking the GMAT. Taking MBA 501 and 502 does not eliminate the GMAT requirement for full admission. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to take the GMAT early in their decision to apply.