The Southern Miss MBA program set me up for success in my current role and for life! After starting my position, I quickly realized how valuable the coursework, real-world projects, and interpersonal skills I developed during the program truly are. Each has played a critical role in helping me proactively navigate complex situations and think strategically in my day-to-day work. I鈥檓 confident that the knowledge, practical skills, and intentional relationships I built with faculty and staff through the program will continue to guide and support my growth throughout the rest of my career.
Master of Business Administration-MBA
Soar with an MBA from Southern Miss
At Southern Miss, we are always striving to get To The Top. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Southern Miss is a proven path to reaching the top of your career aspirations. Whether your goal is executive leadership, career acceleration, or expanding your professional influence, our MBA equips you with the strategic mindset, analytical expertise, and leadership confidence to compete鈥攁nd win鈥攊n today鈥檚 marketplace.
Customize your MBA with a schedule that works for you
Our flexible, AACSB-accredited MBA combines a strong business foundation with the ability to tailor your experience to your goals.
- Flexibility: Study in person at the scenic Hattiesburg campus or fully online.
- Full-time: Complete the program in just one year.
- Part-time: Complete the program in as little as five semesters, when taking two classes at a time.
You will complete 15 hours (five classes) of core coursework in accounting, finance, marketing, organizational behavior and leadership, and strategic management. Then you will choose 15 hours of specialized electives aligned with your interests and career objectives.
Build Expertise in What Matters Most
Your 15 hours of specialized electives can take three forms:
- You can choose from our official certificate programs:
- Economic Development | 12 hours
- Sport Security Management | 12 hours
- Non-Profit Studies | 15 hours
- Public History | 15 hours
- You can tailor your MBA through unofficial focus areas such as Public Health, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Communications and Public Relations, Leadership and Organizational Development, and more.
- You can choose your own electives that best fit your interests and career goals.
Southern Miss also offers a distinctive Ocean Enterprise Engineering Pathway. This opportunity allows Ocean Engineering undergraduate students to stay a fifth year and earn their MBA, combining technical expertise with business leadership skills to stand out in today鈥檚 workplace.
Ranked Among the Best in the Nation
*Ranked #1 in Mississippi
Why an MBA from Southern Miss?
Our MBA combines academic rigor with real-world application to prepare you for high-level decision-making in complex environments. You won鈥檛 just learn business concepts; you鈥檒l apply them to strategic challenges, analyze data to drive outcomes, and strengthen the leadership skills organizations demand.
Through rigorous coursework and applied learning, you鈥檒l develop the skills employers value most:
- Strategic thinking and complex problem-solving
- Data-driven decision-making
- Financial and operational analysis
- Leadership and team effectiveness
- Professional communication and influence
Our students come from diverse backgrounds like business, engineering, healthcare, education, science, and more, creating a dynamic learning environment that mirrors today鈥檚 interdisciplinary workplace.
Build your foundation. Customize your path. Lead with confidence.
Prerequisite and Application Requirements
We want applicants to present the strongest possible MBA application package. To support this, the MBA Admissions Committee uses a holistic review process that considers all submitted materials. While the GMAT or GRE is not required, submitting scores can strengthen your application and increase eligibility for scholarships. For more information regarding scholarships and financial aid, explore funding resources provided by the 黑料视频 Graduate School.
If you're coming from a non-business background or simply want to refresh your business knowledge ahead of your MBA journey, explore . These expert-led, pre-MBA business school courses equip you with the critical knowledge you need for success in a graduate business program.
In addition to adhering to the , the program applicant must provide the following:
Prerequisite
Completion of ACC 200-Introduction to Financial Accounting (or the equivalent) with a grade of B or better
Application Materials
- 搁别蝉耻尘茅
- Statement of Purpose
- Cover letter addressed to the Graduate Programs Admissions Committee
- Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources (no personal references will be accepted)
- Minimum 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
- Optional: GMAT/GRE score report
Application Deadlines
Graduate Admissions and International Admissions set the final application deadlines for each semester. The MBA Admission Committee recommends submitting your application as early as possible to meet the deadlines for priority admission, enrollment, and to be eligible for Graduate Assistantships.
If you have further questions regarding these programs, please email MBAFREEMississippi.
MBA: Salary and Job Outlook
Availability
| Degree Plan | Availability |
|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, Online 100% |
Course Overview
To complete the program, students will take five core courses (15 credit hours) and five approved electives (15 credit hours).
ACC 611 - Managerial Accounting
This course equips students with the accounting tools needed for effective managerial decision-making in complex business environments. Topics include cost behavior, budgeting, performance measurement, differential analysis, and capital budgeting, with an emphasis on applying accounting information to real-world managerial and strategic decisions.
FIN 611 - Financial Management
This accelerated course introduces financial management and structured decision-making across business organizations. Adopting a value-creation perspective, students explore time value of money, project and firm valuation, risk and return, capital budgeting, and working capital management.
MKT 600 - Marketing Management
This course examines how firms create, deliver, and sustain customer value in competitive environments. Students develop strategic decision-making skills through analysis of branding, positioning, customer value, resource allocation, and long-term advantage.
MGT 600 - Organizational Behavior & Leadership
This course explores how individuals and teams influence organizational performance. Topics include motivation, leadership, decision-making, team dynamics, organizational culture, power and influence, and human resource management. Students apply behavioral science theories and data-driven frameworks to lead more engaged, satisfied, and productive employees, strengthening overall organizational performance.
MGT 660 - Strategic Management
As the MBA capstone, this course examines the formulation and implementation of global business strategy from an executive leadership perspective. Integrating prior functional knowledge, students develop firm-level strategies that create and sustain competitive advantage. Emphases include analyzing external environments, optimizing internal processes, building competitive resources, and making executive decisions in complex markets to maximize stakeholder value.
+ 5 Approved Electives
Clancy Slay '23 '25
Finance and Administrative Fellow at Ochsner Health
New Orleans, Louisiana
Alumna of Healthcare Marketing, MBA, and MPH
Expert Faculty Who Are There to Help
MBA faculty members are active researchers across all business disciplines. In addition, many of the MBA faculty members have significant practical work experience in business and industry.
Dr. Alex Scrimpshire
MBA Director & Assistant Professor
Dr. Banu Elmadag
Associate Professor
Dr. Joel Bolton
Executive Associate Dean & Associate Professor
Dr. Marvin Bouillon
Professor
Dr. Steven Stelk
Assistant Teaching Professor
Mr. Glenn Terry
Professor of Practice
Dr. Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong
Professor
- Human Resources Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Healthcare Administration
- Supply Chain Manager
- Athletics Administration
- Management Consultant
How Do I Get Started?