Graduate School Bulletin

Spring 2024

Requirements for the Masters Degree in Business Administration

The MBA curriculum prepares students for careers in management in business, government, and nonprofit organizations. The MBA may be pursued either full-time or part-time. We offer a flexible course schedule with daytime, evening, and some Saturday and online options. We also offer convenient summer and winter courses to help accelerate program completion.

The College of Business offers 2 different credit track options for the MBA in Accounting, MBA in Finance, MBA in Health Care, MBA in Marketing, and the general MBA program with optional concentrations in either, Innovation, or Operations Analytics .

48 Credit MBA program: All students who have earned a Bachelor’s Degree (regardless of the major), are eligible to apply for the 48 credit track. The curriculum includes 16 three-credit courses  which includes eleven required core classes and  5electives, which must be in the area of your degree program or from one of the areas of concentration.

36 Credit MBA Track: Students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in business are eligible to apply for a 36 credit track. Students will take 12 three-credit courses, which includes six required core courses and six elective courses. Five of the 6 elective courses must be taken in the respective degree subject area or from one of the concentrations. Students will not take the following core courses: MBA 502, 504, 505, 589, or 592.

Core Courses

All MBA students will take core courses that cover a broad range of topics including data analysis, leadership, team building, communications, decision-making,  innovation, and strategy. In addition, students in the 48 credit programs will take courses that cover the topics of accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, and organizational behavior.

Requirements for the MBA program with Optional Concentrations

The general MBA program is the most flexible of all program options. In addition to the course courses, students are able to choose business elective courses that best suit their professional goals. There is an option for students to concentrate in either Innovation or Operations Analytics if they choose. Students choosing either of these concentrations would take 4 electives from their concentration of choice in order to earn that concentration. Students pursuing the general MBA program should meet with an advisor to discuss the best elective courses to take for their career path.

Core Course Requirements for the MBA

*MBA 502 - Finance

MBA 503 - Data Analysis & Decision Making

*MBA 504 - Financial Accounting

*MBA 505 - Marketing

MBA 506 – Leadership, Team Effectiveness, & Communications

MBA 507 - Ethics & Management

MBA 511 - Technological Innovations  

MBA 512 - Bus Planning & Strat Mgt

MBA 543 – Business Analytics

*MBA 589 - Operations Management

* MBA 592 - Organizational Behavior

*Students in the 48 credit track program must take these core classes.

Elective Course Requirements:

36 credit track: Students in the 36 credit track will take a total of six 500-level MBA elective courses. Please note that the following courses are NOT considered electives: MBA 502, 504, 505, 589, 592.

48 credit program: Students in the 48 credit program must take five elective courses.

Innovation Concentration Electives: BUS 554, BUS 567, FIN 552, MBA 509, MBA 522/MBA 599, MBA 538/HRM 538, MBA 530, MBA 540, MBA 544, MBA 563, MBA 566, MBA 570, MBA 571, MBA 574, MKT 535, MKT 565, MKT 567

Operations Analytics Concentration Electives:  MBA 509, MBA 517, MBA 522/MBA 599, MBA 540, MBA 544, MBA 574, MBA 587, MBA 588, MBA 595, BDA 508,BDA  510, BDA 513, MKT 569

 Flexible Scheduling: On-campus, Fully Online or In Combination 

To meet the demands of working professionals, courses are offered weeknights on-campus or completely online. Students may choose to combine both face-to-face and online courses in our traditional MBA program, or they may apply to the MBA Online program with a concentration in general studies, innovation or operations analytics and take all of their courses via the internet. Online students do not have an on-campus residential requirement.  

Requirements for the MBA in Finance

Finance lies at the heart of both corporate and governmental success. Critical financial decisions involving the creation of capital, its day-to-day management, and its redeployment into more productive areas of companies and the economy are central to the continued prosperity of businesses and nations around the world. Stony Brook’s MBA in Finance will prepare students for positions in corporate finance, investment banking, financial management, broker-dealer firms, consulting firms, commercial banks, financial markets, securities firms and government agencies.

The 48-credit MBA in Finance track curriculum requires 16 three-credit courses. Within the 16 three- credit courses, students take 11 required core courses and 5 elective courses. Four of these electives must be Finance electives and an additional FIN or MBA elective for a total of five 500-level electives.

The 36 credit MBA in Finance track requires 12 three-credit courses. Within the 12 courses, students take 6 required core courses and 6 elective courses. Five of these electives must be Finance electives and an additional FIN or MBA elective for a total of six 500-level electives.

*Students will not have to take the following core courses: MBA 502, 504, 505, 589, or 592.*

Core Course Requirements for the MBA in Finance

*MBA 502 - Finance

MBA 503 - Data Analysis & Decision Making

*MBA 504 - Financial Accounting

*MBA 505 - Marketing

MBA 506 - Leadership & Team Effectiveness & Communications

MBA 507 - Ethics & Management

MBA 511 - Technological Innovations

MBA 512 - Bus Planning & Strat Mgt

MBA 543 – Business Analytics

*MBA 589 - Operations Management

*MBA 592 - Organizational Behavior

Elective courses:

36 credit track: Students in the 36 credit track will take a total of six 500-level MBA elective courses, five of these must be FIN courses.

48 credit program: Students in the 48 credit program must take five elective courses, four of these must be FIN courses.

Requirements for the MBA in Marketing

In today’s competitive business environment a strong knowledge of marketing is necessary since one must understand how to stand out and effectively compete against other companies who are targeting the same population. Marketing is a discipline which relies on psychology, sociology and others and applies this knowledge to the exchange process where a company or individual is completing a sale. One must understand consumer behavior, the competitive environment, the company and the culture in which one operates. At the more micro level, the effective marketer must regulate elements of the marketing mix in bringing their product to market. Understanding how to price, promote, distribute and create the right product is essential if one is to achieve success. Understanding how consumers think and what motivates them to purchase is essential in an environment where everyone is competing for the same sale. The M.B.A. in Marketing will prepare students for careers in Brand Management, Product Management Advertising and/or Marketing Research.

The 48-credit MBA in Marketing track curriculum requires 16 three-credit courses. Within the 16 three credit courses, students take 13 required core courses, 2 Marketing electives and an additional MKT or MBA elective for a total of three 500-level electives.

The 36 credit MBA in Marketing track requires 12 three-credit courses. Within the 12 courses, students take 8 required core courses and 3 marketing elective courses and an additional MKT or MBA elective for a total of four 500-level electives. *Students will not have to take the following core courses: MBA 502, 504, 505, 589, or 592.*

Core Course Requirements for the MBA in Marketing

*MBA 502 - Finance

MBA 503 - Data Analysis & Decision Making

*MBA 504 - Financial Accounting

*MBA 505 - Marketing

MBA 506 - Leadership & Team Effectiveness & Communications

MBA 507 - Ethics in Management

MBA 511 - Technological Innovations

MBA 512 - Bus Planning & Strat Mgt

MBA 543 – Business Analytics

*MBA 589 - Operations Management

*MBA 592 - Organizational Behavior

Required Marketing Courses

*MKT 565 - Consumer Insights

*MKT 567 - Integrated Marketing Management

Elective courses:

MKT 516, MKT 518, MKT 519, MKT 534, MKT 535, MKT 569, MKT 580, MBA 540

36 credit track: Students in the 36 credit track will take a total of four 500-level MBA elective courses, three of these must be from the list above and an additional MKT or MBA elective for a total of four 500-level electives.

48 credit program: Students in the 48 credit program must take two marketing elective courses from the list above and an additional MKT or MBA elective for a total of three 500-level electives.

Requirements for the MBA in Health Care Management

The College of Business offers an MBA in Health Care Management Degree. This degree prepares students for careers in the exciting and tremendously growing field of health care. From industries such as hospitals, insurance and health services, to pharmaceuticals, biotech, and consulting, there is a huge demand for business professionals with health care acumen. This program will provide students with knowledge in health management, regulations, delivery systems and various industry segments that span the health systems of the 21st century. Courses in this program are offered in collaboration with Stony Brook's School of Health Technology and Management and the College of Business. In addition to health care management expertise, the degree will equip students with broad skills and knowledge in business, accounting, finance, marketing, operations, management, and leadership.  It allows for 4 classes in the health care management area, allowing students exposure to various aspects of health care management functions across various types of health care organizations.

The 48-credit MBA in Health Care Management track  requires 16 three-credit courses. Within the 16 three- credit courses, students take 11 required core courses and 5 Health Care Management electives.

The 36 credit MBA in Health Care Management track requires 12 three-credit courses. Within the 12 courses, students take 6 required core courses and 6 elective courses. Five of these electives must be Health Care Management electives and an additional Healthcare or MBA elective for a total of six 500-level electives.

Core Course Requirements for the MBA in Health Care

*MBA 502 - Finance

MBA 503 - Data Analysis & Decision Making

*MBA 504 - Financial Accounting

*MBA 505 - Marketing

MBA 506 - Leadership & Team Effectiveness & Communications

MBA 507 - Ethics & Management

MBA 511 - Technological Innovations

MBA 512 - Bus Planning & Strat Mgt

MBA 543 – Business Analytics

*MBA 589 - Operations Management

*MBA 592 - Organizational Behavior

Elective courses:

36 credit track: Students in the 36 credit track will take a total of six 500-level MBA elective courses, five of these must be health care electives. Students take HPH 508 or HPA 507, HPH 529, HPA 510, HPA 527 and HPH 536.

48 credit program: Students in the 48 credit program must take fivehealth care electives. Students take HPH 508 or HPA 507, HPH 529, HPA 510, HPA 527 and HPH 536.

Requirements for the MBA in Accounting

The College of Business is committed to providing students with a high quality education in accounting with a combined emphasis on theory and practical application. The MBA in Accounting is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and analytical tools necessary to function in public accounting or private industry. The program will meet the education requirements for the Uniform Certified Public Accounting exam and licensing in New York State. We have designed the MBA in Accounting to accommodate a variety of students by establishing three paths of study. All three paths require the completion of accounting prerequisites prior to acceptance into the program

48 Credit MBA in Accounting Program

Requires 16 three-credit courses. Within the 16 three- credit courses, students take 10 required core courses and 5 accounting courses: ACC 542, ACC 562, ACC 596, ACC 597, ACC 590 and one additional MBA elective.

36 Credit MBA in Accounting Track

Requires 12 three-credit courses. Within the 12 courses, students take 6 required core courses and the following 4 Accounting courses: ACC 562, ACC 596, ACC 597, ACC 590. Students 36 credit track will also take one additional ACC and one additional MBA elective. *Students in the 36 credit track will not have to take the following core courses: MBA 502, 504, 505, 589, or 592.*

Accounting/Prerequisite Requirements

There are a minimum of 18 accounting prerequisite credits for the MBA in Accounting. The prerequisites need to include: Financial Accounting, Managerial or Cost Accounting, Auditing, US Federal Income Taxation, and 3 general business credits.

MBA in Accounting Core Course Requirements

*MBA 502 - Finance

MBA 503 – Data Analysis and Decision Making

*MBA 505 – Marketing

MBA 506 – Leadership & Team Effectiveness & Communications

MBA 507 - Ethics and Management

MBA 511 – Technological Innovations

MBA 512 – Business Planning and Strategic Management

MBA 543 – Business Analytics

*MBA 589 – Operations Management

*MBA 592 – Organizational Behavior

MBA Accounting Courses

ACC 542 – Accounting for the Small Business Entrepreneur

ACC 543 – Corporate Governance

ACC 562 – Accounting Information Systems

ACC 590 – Advanced Auditing & Assurance

ACC 591 – Internal Auditing

ACC 594 – Governmental and Not-For-Profit Accounting

ACC 596 – Financial Accounting Theory

ACC 597 – Advanced Accounting Problems

ACC 598 – Forensic Accounting

Accelerated "Fast Track" BA/BS/BE + MBA: A 48-credit accelerated MBA program for high achieving current Stony Brook undergraduate students. This program permits students to begin taking graduate credits during their undergraduate career. In their fifth year, students typically go directly into the second year of the MBA program. Students have opportunities for a summer study abroad and an internship. Contact the College of Business for a complete list of eligible majors and admissions criteria.

Dual Degree Programs

  • Combined MBA/ MA in Art History
  • Combined MBA / MA in Public Policy
  • Combined MBA / MS in Mechanical Engineering
  • Combined MBA / MS in Computer Science
  • Combined MBA / MS in Biomedical Engineering
  • Combined MBA / MS in Public Policy
  • Combined MPH (Public Health)/ MBA
  • Combined MD / MBA