Frequently Asked Questions

How can I contact the MBA office?
Email us at mbaoffice@winthrop.edu.
Call us at 803-323-2409 or 1-800-387-1923.

What MBA programs or options are offered?
We offer a general MBA, MBA with Accounting emphasis, and MBA concentrations in Finance, International Business, and Software Project Management.

Are your MBA programs accredited?
Yes. Winthrop's MBA degrees are accredited by AACSB-International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting agency for degree programs in business administration and accounting. Accreditation by AACSB-International guarantees that curriculum and admission policies meet rigorous standards. Less than one-third of U.S. business school programs and only 5% of programs world-wide achieve this accreditation.

Winthrop is also accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's, and specialist degrees.

How is your MBA program structured?
The general MBA is a two-phase program of 13 classes (39 semester hours) of required graduate courses. The curriculum includes a core of 30 hours and 9 hours of elective courses. Phase I courses involve the development of necessary business tools in the areas of accounting, organizational behavior, communications, statistics, and management information systems. Phase II courses involve extensive study in the functional areas of business, including strategic and international issues in management, marketing and operations management, finance, and industrial economics and public policy. General MBA students have a variety of subjects to choose from for the 9 hours of elective courses. Students may choose to pursue an MBA with a concentration by taking the 9 hours of electives in specific classes related to the area of concentration. Available concentrations include: Finance, International Business, and Software Project Management.  

The MBA Accounting program includes 33 semester hours of required graduate courses including seven core courses, a professional exam review, three business electives, and one accounting elective. The program is designed to provide the additional course work that students need to sit for the CPA exam and become licensed as a CPA*. (*Exact requirements to sit for the CPA exam and to become licensed as a CPA vary by state. Visit the Board of Accountancy in the state in which you intend to practice to get the most up to date and accurate information.)   

What time of day are classes offered?
Most MBA courses are taught one night a week, 6:30-9:15 pm during fall and spring semesters. During the summer session classes meet one night a week, 5:30-9:55 pm.

Is the MBA Program a semester based program? If so, how long are the semesters?
Yes, Winthrop University's MBA program is based on semesters. The fall semester typically starts at the end of August and continues through the beginning of December. The spring semester begins in mid January and goes through early May. The summer session begins in early June and ends in the beginning of August.  

Do you offer an online MBA program?
No. While some classes have online components, classes are taught in traditional, classroom-based formats.

When can I enter the program?
The MBA program accepts students into the summer, spring and fall semesters.

How do I apply for admission?
Visit: http://www.winthrop.edu/graduateschool/default.aspx?id=3305&ekmensel=8b1d8bd4_384_0_3305_3

Do I need to provide official transcripts?
Yes. Before you can be considered for admission we must receive official transcripts for all undergraduate and post-graduate coursework, sent directly from the issuing institution. Follow the instructions on the transcript request form: http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/graduateschool/applicationforms/DomesticPkt05-3.pdf

Do you take into account undergraduate GPAs from various universities?
Yes, if you attended more than one school we will take a weighted average of your undergraduate GPAs in the acceptance formula.

Do you give credit for graduate classes that could be transferred in?
If you have not already received a graduate degree, we will give credit for graduate classes taken elsewhere. However, they must be accredited, approved by the Director of the MBA program, and be a grade of B or higher. Further, you may only transfer in a total of 12 hours toward your MBA.

Do I have to take the GMAT?
Yes, to be considered for admission we must receive your official GMAT score directly from the testing service.

Does the GMAT expire?
Yes, we only accept GMAT scores taken within the past 5 years.

How do I go about taking the GMAT?
Visit www.mba.com and follow the steps to make an appointment to take the test. Be sure to have your results sent to Winthrop University.

Do you offer any testing support or review courses for the GMAT?
Not at this time.

How much does the GMAT cost?
$250 as of May 2009. Please see www.mba.com for the most up to date information.

What is the cost for the MBA program?
The total cost will depend on the number of credit hours you need to take, and whether you are eligible for in-state or out-of-state tuition. For details visit: http://www.winthrop.edu/cashiers/default.aspx?id=2214

Residents of the 12 North Carolina counties in the Charlotte Regional Partnership are eligible for in-state tuition for graduate programs.

How many courses are required for an MBA degree?
Traditional MBA: 13 courses
MBA, Finance Concentration: 13 courses
MBA, International Concentration: 13 courses
MBA, Software Project Management Concentration: 13 courses
MBA, Accounting: 12 courses

How many credit hours are required to complete the MBA program?
MBA: 39 hours
MBA, Finance Concentration: 39 hours
MBA, International Concentration: 39 hours
MBA, Software Project Management Concentration: 39 hours
MBA, Accounting: 33 hours

What courses are required to get my MBA?

MBA, MBA Finance, MBA International, MBA Software Project Management:
*Consists of 10 Core Courses and each option has 3 electives that vary

Phase I Core Courses

• Accounting 654: Management Accounting
• Management 650: Theory and Behavior of Business Organizations
• Management 661: Information Systems
• Management 671: Advanced Business Communications
• Quantitative Methods 651: Statistical Methods for Decision Making

Phase II Core Courses

• Management 657: Strategic and International Issues in Management
• Finance 655: Financial Policy Management
• Marketing 653: Marketing Management
• Management 662: Operations Management
• Economics 693: Industrial Economics and Public Policy

MBA, Accounting:

*Consists of 8 Core Courses, 3 Business Electives, and 1 Accounting Elective. Core classes include:

• Accounting 606: Advanced Financial Accounting
• Accounting 607: Tax Research
• Accounting 609: Advanced Auditing
• Accounting 610: Advanced Managerial Accounting
• Accounting 615: Professional Exam Review
• Finance 655: Financial Policy Management
• Management 650: Theory and Behavior of Business Organizations
• Management 657: Strategic and International Issues in Management

Are there any pre-requisites that I must have completed?
 Yes. See below.

MBA pre-requisites:
Total of 24 Hours (3 Credit Hours per Course)

• Accounting 280: Financial Accounting
• Accounting 281: Managerial Accounting
• Economics 215: Principles of Microeconomics
• Economics 216: Principles of Macroeconomics
• Finance 311: Principles of Finance
• Management 321: Principles of Management
• Marketing 380: Principles of Marketing
• Quantitative Methods 205: Applied Statistics I

MBA Accounting pre-requisites:
Total of 57 Hours (3 Credit Hours per course)

* Denotes a course that has a graduate level counterpart that may be taken and fulfill the pre-requisite requirement and elective requirement for the degree.

• Accounting 280: Financial Accounting
• Accounting 281: Managerial Accounting
• Accounting 303: Accounting Information Systems
• Accounting 305: Intermediate Accounting I
• Accounting 306: Intermediate Accounting II
• Accounting 309: Budgeting and Executive Control
• Accounting 401: Introduction to Tax
• Computer Science 101: Introduction to Computers and Information Processing
• Economics 215: Principles of Microeconomics
• Economics 216: Principles of Macroeconomics
• Economics 350: Economic and Legal Environment of Organizations
• Finance 311: Principles of Finance
• Management 321: Principles of Management
• Marketing 380: Principles of Marketing
• *Management 355: Business Communications

• *Quantitative Methods 205: Applied Statistics I
• *Quantitative Methods 206: Applied Statistics II
• *Management 341: Information Systems
• *Management 326: Operations Management

How many classes should I take each semester?
This will depend on each student's unique situation. Our MBA program is not a lock-step program. Students have the ability to structure their schedule based on their needs. Generally speaking, full-time MBA students will take 3 courses per semester and 2 courses over the summer.
Our part-time MBA students who work full-time usually take 1 or 2 classes per semester and 1 class in the summer.

Is there a way I can see my classes and register online?
Once accepted into a program, a student will establish a Winthrop email account. With that email account a student can log into Wingspan, our online student system, to view his/her account. Students can also use Wingspan to: register for classes, pay your account online, view your financial aid, view your schedule, purchase a parking permit, etc.

Where do I go to discuss Financial Aid?
To determine your financial aid eligibility and options please contact Winthrop University's Office of Financial Aid at www.winthrop.edu/finaid/ or 803-323-2189.

Are scholarships available?
Yes. After applying for admission to the MBA program you may apply for a scholarship or graduate assistantship. A limited number of scholarships and assistantships are available, so it is important to apply early. Scholarships are generally for a small sum, not designed to cover the entire cost of the program. You must be accepted into the program before you will be considered for a scholarship or assistantship.
Graduate assistantships require 20 hours a week of on-campus employment (300 hours each semester) and carry a fee waiver for each semester in which the assistantship is held. The graduate assistant should enroll for a minimum of 9 credit hours and earn a minimum of $1800 during the fall or spring semester. Graduate students holding assistantships during the summer term are expected to work 200 hours, enroll for a minimum of 6 credit hours and earn at least $1200 in order to receive the tuition waiver.

For more information visit http://www.winthrop.edu/graduateschool/default.aspx?id=3366&ekmensel=8b1d8bd4_384_0_3366_4

The application for scholarships and graduate assistantships can be accessed at: http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/graduateschool/assistantships/GraduateAssistantshipApplication.pdf

Why do students choose Winthrop for their MBA?
Students cite our accreditation, location, and value as some of the primary reasons for choosing Winthrop University’s MBA program. The AACSB-International accreditation assures quality. Our beautiful campus is in the small town of Rock Hill, S.C., conveniently located just south of Charlotte, N.C. and an hour from Columbia, S.C. As a public school, our tuition is affordable, with in-state tuition available to residents of the Charlotte regional partnership counties in North Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Stanley, Cabarrus, Anson, Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan and Union.

MBA students also appreciate our small class sizes, diverse student body, and evening class meetings that accommodate both part-time and full-time students. When asked why they would refer our MBA program to a friend or colleague, current MBA students said:

 “Great atmosphere, quality education, great location, smart professors, small class size.”
 “Challenging classes.”
 “I have learned a huge amount of information in a short period of time.”
 “The instructors are knowledgeable; they are willing to work with me. I am not just a number.”

How can I request more information about your programs?
Email us at mbaoffice@winthrop.edu.
Call us at 803-323-2409 or 1-800-387-1923.