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Lindenwood University offers you the opportunity to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in a traditional classroom setting as well as an online option, which maximizes convenience and works with your schedule. Whether you’re a working professional, career starter, or someone looking to switch career paths, our flexible MBA programs are designed to accommodate your busy lifestyle while providing the same rigorous academic experience as our on-campus offerings.

An MBA is a graduate degree that combines specialized business knowledge with practical, real-world experience that prepares you for leadership roles across industries. It is not only a stepping-stone to career advancement and increased earning potential, but also a way to gain hands-on experience through applied learning opportunities, networking events, and collaborative projects that mirror actual business challenges.

MBA students also benefit from learning the latest concepts, skills, and management practices by examining case studies and contemporary issues shaping today’s business landscape. A growing number of businesses are positioning themselves to compete in the global marketplace and will need skilled workers who can navigate diverse business environments, understand cross-cultural dynamics, and make strategic decisions in complex situations.

Although an MBA offers a broad-based education covering essential disciplines such as finance, marketing, operations, and strategy, Lindenwood’s program also provides many choices for electives and enables you to earn an emphasis in management or leadership that aligns with your career goals.

If you wish, you may customize your degree by adding an emphasis in a particular area of study that matches your professional interests, allowing you to develop specialized expertise while maintaining the comprehensive foundation that makes an MBA so valuable in today’s competitive job market.

Key Program Facts

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) offered in Online and Traditional classroom formats
  • St. Charles / St. Louis campus location
  • 39–54 credit hours required for a general MBA
  • 9 core courses + 4 elective courses
  • 12 emphasis areas available

Program Details Curriculum

Earning a Master of Business Administration Degree at Lindenwood University

Lindenwood University’s MBA curriculum is structured to provide both breadth and depth in business education, consisting of 39–54 credit hours for a general MBA. Students seeking specialized knowledge may pursue an emphasis, which requires additional coursework beyond the standard requirements. Depending on your academic background, you may need to complete up to nine hours of prerequisite courses to ensure a solid foundation for graduate-level study.

The program includes nine core courses covering fundamental business disciplines, plus four elective courses that allow you to tailor your experience. A full list of courses, descriptions, prerequisites, and learning outcomes is available in our graduate catalog.

Essential Skills & Insights

Lindenwood’s MBA is designed to sharpen the skills that today’s business leaders need most. Through a curriculum built around core business competencies, students develop:

Advanced Leadership — Cultivate leadership skills to guide teams and organizations at a higher level

Business Management — Build well-rounded oversight acumen across marketing, finance, sales, and operations

Strategic Planning — Develop expertise in creating organizational planning models that drive performance

Innovative Thinking — Learn to elevate business solutions through creative conceptualization and implementation

Critical Thinking & Analysis — Apply rigorous analytical frameworks to real-world business challenges

Students benefit from well-credentialed faculty members, many of whom hold doctoral degrees and certifications in their fields of study and professional practice. Learn more about the Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Experiential Learning, Real-World Impact

At Lindenwood, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. The MBA program connects coursework directly to the field through applied learning opportunities, case studies drawn from contemporary business issues, and collaborative projects that mirror actual workplace challenges.

Lindenwood’s Career Services team — based in the Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship Career Office in Harmon Hall — supports MBA students with networking opportunities, career coaching, internship coordination, and professional development resources. Whether you’re advancing in your current industry or pivoting to a new one, the program is built to transfer directly to your career.

Career Outlook

An MBA from Lindenwood positions graduates for leadership roles across a wide range of industries. A background in business administration is valued in careers including:

  • Business Consultant
  • Managing Director
  • Business Manager
  • Operations Supervisor
  • Educational Leadership roles

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), chief executives earn an average salary of $103,840 per year. Lindenwood’s emphasis options — from Healthcare Administration to Finance to Project Management — allow graduates to target specific industries and increase their competitiveness in the job market.

Degree Paths

Lindenwood offers multiple paths to earning your MBA, designed to fit different schedules, backgrounds, and career goals:

  • Traditional On-Campus — Attend classes at Lindenwood’s St. Charles or St. Louis campus in a structured classroom environment
  • Online — Complete your MBA fully online with the same rigorous curriculum and faculty. Ranked the #1 online MBA program in Missouri by Fortune Education for four consecutive years
  • MBA with Emphasis — Customize your degree by adding one of 12 emphasis areas, allowing you to specialize without taking additional courses beyond the standard MBA requirements
  • Early Access MBA — Current Lindenwood undergraduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher can begin taking up to nine graduate credit hours during their senior year, applying those credits toward their MBA upon enrollment

Emphasis Areas

Customize your MBA by adding an emphasis in one of the following areas:

Earning a Master of Business Administration Degree at Lindenwood University

Lindenwood University’s MBA curriculum consists of 39-54 credit hours for a general MBA. An MBA with an emphasis will require more coursework. You may need to first take up to nine hours of prerequisite courses. There are nine core courses and four elective courses for a general MBA or an MBA with emphasis in a certain area. A full list of courses is available in our graduate catalog.

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Admissions Requirements

Complete the Online Application

Admission to Lindenwood University is based upon a comprehensive review of the applicant’s previous academics and life experience.

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Program Contact

Dr. Michael Marzano

Professor, Management

[email protected]

(636) 949-4882

209 S Kingshighway St., Saint Charles, MO 63301

Available Degree Options

Master of Business Administration (MBA) offered in Online and Traditional classroom formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Info

Dr. Michael Marzano

Professor, Management