School of Business

Graduate Programs

Contact Information

Dean, School of Business
Office Phone: 865.531.4144
Office: Main Campus; Business/Education Building -106

Assistant Dean/Director of Business Doctoral Programs, School of Business
Office Phone: 865.531.4109
Office: Cedar Bluff -193

MBA/MSBA Program Director, School of Business
Office Phone: 865.531.4164
Office: Cedar Bluff -162

Graduate Programs Recruiter, School of Business
Office Phone: 865.531.4152
Office: Cedar Bluff -197

Administrative Assistant, School of Business
Office Phone: 865.531.4105
Office: Cedar Bluff -140

School of Business Mission Statement

Through teaching, research, and service, the LMU School of Business develops leaders who contribute to the economic and social prosperity of the Appalachian region and beyond.

School of Business Vision Statement

The LMU School of Business will provide premier programs in business education and will be recognized by its focus on student-centered learning and its effectiveness in preparing inspirational leaders and innovators.

School of Business Values

Academic Excellence: We promote academic excellence through the continuous development of a rigorous and relevant business curriculum that prepares students to be influential leaders and innovators. We acknowledge the importance of engaging faculty and students in scholarly endeavors for knowledge creation and dissemination.
Community: We recognize the inherent worth and contributions of every member of the School and University community and strive to foster an environment of active participation where all interactions are grounded in mutual understanding, respect, and appreciation.
Impact: We strive to produce intellectual contributions that enhance academic knowledge, address real-world business challenges, and drive industry advancements.
Innovation: We encourage our students, faculty, and staff to take risks, be entrepreneurial, and transform their innovative ideas into tangible outcomes.
Integrity: We are committed to ethical and responsible behavior in our own actions and expect the same commitment from our stakeholders.

Academic Information

LMU offers graduate studies leading to the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration degrees. Concentrations for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) include Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Healthcare Administration, Sport Management, and Strategic Management. Concentrations for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) include Business Analytics, Management and Marketing. Concentrations for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration include Business Analytics, Management and Marketing.

The programs require students to analyze, explore, question, reconsider, and synthesize old and new knowledge and skills. The curricula maintain the depth and rigor to develop the specialized skills necessary to prepare students for opportunities in our global economy and environment, while allowing for creativity and vision for the future.

Graduate students are expected to make themselves thoroughly familiar with the regulations of the graduate program and the requirements for the degree. Upon regular admission, a faculty advisor or advisory committee is assigned to the student. However, the ultimate responsibility for meeting deadlines and knowing graduate program requirements rests with the student.

Tuition

Tuition and fees are subject to change and may be adjusted on an annual basis. For information regarding tuition, fees, and cost of attendance (COA), please visit the Student Financial Services webpage, here. Please note that some fees may not be specifically listed. Any questions about tuition rates, fees, or financial aid should be directed to the Student Financial Services team. LMU reserves the right to correct any errors concerning financial information.

Additional Programmatic Fees

Graduation Fee – MBA, MHA, & MSBA	$100
Graduation Fee – DBA & PhD	$450
LMU MBA Entrance Exam	$40
LMU MBA APA Write & Cite Training Module & Competency Exam	$44
LMU MBA Exit Exam	$40
LMU MSBA Entrance Exam	$40
LMU MSBA Exit Exam	$40
LMU DBA Entrance Exam	$40
LMU DBA APA Write & Cite Training Module & Competency Exam	$44
LMU DBA Exit Exam	$40
LMU PhD Entrance Exam	$40
LMU PhD APA Write & Cite Training Module & Competency Exam	$44
LMU PhD Exit Exam	$40

All MBA students are required to complete the LMU MBA Inbound Peregrine Comprehensive CPC Exam (entrance exam). The exam must be completed during the student’s first semester of MBA coursework. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The MBA Director will provide additional information on the exam.

All MBA students are required to complete the LMU MBA APA Write & Cite Training Module & Competency Exam. The exam must be completed during the student’s first semester of MBA coursework. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $44 paid at the time of the exam. The MBA Director will provide additional information on the exam.

All MBA students are required to complete the LMU MBA Outbound Comprehensive CPC Exam (exit exam). The exam must be completed as part of the MBA 590 Business Strategy course. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The MBA 590 Instructor or MBA Director will provide additional information on the exam.

All MSBA students are required to complete the LMU MSBA Inbound Exam (entrance exam). The exam must be completed during the student’s first semester of MSBA coursework. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The MSBA Director will provide additional information on the exam.

All MSBA students are required to complete the LMU MSBA Outbound Comprehensive CPC Exam (exit exam). The exam must be completed in the student's final semester in the program. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The MSBA Director will provide additional information on the exam.

All DBA students are required to complete the LMU DBA Inbound Peregrine Comprehensive CPC Exam (entrance exam). The exam must be completed during the student’s first semester of DBA coursework. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The Director of Business Doctoral Programs will provide additional information on the exam.

All DBA students are required to complete the LMU DBA APA Write & Cite Training Module & Competency Exam. The exam must be completed during the student’s first semester of DBA coursework. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $44 paid at the time of the exam. The Director of Business Doctoral Programs will provide additional information on the exam.

All DBA students are required to complete the LMU DBA Outbound Comprehensive CPC Exam (exit exam). The exam must be completed during the student's first semester enrolled in BUSN 899. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The Director of Business Doctoral Programs will provide additional information on the exam.

All PhD students are required to complete the LMU PhD Inbound Peregrine Comprehensive CPC Exam (entrance exam). The exam must be completed during the student’s first semester of PhD coursework. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The Director of Business Doctoral Programs will provide additional information on the exam.

All PhD students are required to complete the LMU PhD APA Write & Cite Training Module & Competency Exam. The exam must be completed during the student’s first semester of PhD coursework. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $44 paid at the time of the exam. The Director of Business Doctoral Programs will provide additional information on the exam.

All PhD students are required to complete the LMU PhD Outbound Comprehensive CPC Exam (exit exam). The exam must be completed during the student's first semester enrolled in BUSN 899. The exam is available online and requires a fee of $40 paid at the time of the exam. The Director of Business Doctoral Programs will provide additional information on the exam.

Applicable Catalog

The student must meet the requirements of the LMU Combined Graduate Catalog in effect at the time of entry into the program or any catalog while enrolled in the program. In no case will a student be permitted to meet the requirements of a LMU Combined Graduate Catalog in effect prior to initial graduate program enrollment.

Graduate Transfer Credit

A maximum of nine semester credit hours at the graduate level may be transferred to the MBA and MSBA programs. These courses must be coded at the 500-level or above. Transferring MBA and MSBA credit hours must not have been applied to a previously completed degree and must carry a grade of “B-” or better. Only course work from a degree-granting accredited institution will be accepted for transfer. All transfer work must be approved by the MBA/MSBA Program Director and the Dean of the School of Business.

A maximum of eighteen semester credit hours may be transferred to the DBA and PhD programs. Students possessing an MBA, MSBA, or a business-related master's degree may transfer up to 18 credit hours to fulfill appropriate doctoral course requirements that are coded at the 600-level or below. Master's-level courses are not eligible for transfer to fulfill doctoral requirements coded at 700-level or above. Coursework from a previously completed master's degree may be accepted into the doctoral program if it meets these criteria. This allowance reflects the doctoral program’s focus on building upon master’s-level knowledge. However, when transferring doctoral-level coursework into the doctoral (DBA or PhD) program, it cannot have been applied to a previously completed doctoral degree, whether earned at LMU or another institution. Any course transferring into the DBA or PhD degrees must carry a grade of “B-” or better. Dissertation credit will not be accepted for transfer under any circumstances. Only course work from a degree-granting accredited institution will be accepted for transfer. All transfer work must be approved by the DBA/PhD Program Director and the Dean of the School of Business.

Due to select shared curricular requirements, students who have completed both the LMU MBA and LMU MSBA prior to enrolling in the DBA (Business Analytics concentration) or PhD in Business Administration (Business Analytics concentration) will have collectively completed 24 credit hours of defined requirements within the DBA (Business Analytics concentration) curriculum and 27 credit hours of defined requirements within the PhD in Business Administration (Business Analytics concentration) curriculum. To ensure compliance with the maximum 18-hour transfer credit policy, DBA students in these cases must complete an additional 6 credit hours of coursework, while PhD students must complete an additional 9 credit hours of coursework to maintain the uniqueness of each degree. As a result, DBA students will complete a total of 42 credit hours post-transfer, and PhD students will complete a total of 48 credit hours post-transfer. These additional credit hours may include independent research, discipline-specific seminars, or other doctoral-level coursework as outlined in the program curriculum. The DBA/PhD Program Director and the Dean of the School of Business will determine any necessary course substitutions to uphold academic rigor and program integrity.

All transfer credit requests must be approved by the Dean of the School of Business. Course credit earned more than five years before the current semester will not be approved for transfer credit unless it is used to fulfill the requirement of the DBA or PhD Foundations courses. In such cases, coursework older than five years will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Grades and quality points for transfer work will be included in the calculation of the LMU graduate GPA.

Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Seniors

The LMU student who has not completed all requirements for the baccalaureate degree may be eligible for master- level graduate study as an undergraduate senior. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0, and must be within nine (9) semester credit hours of completing the total credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree. Undergraduate students who meet these requirements may only enroll in a maximum of six (6) credit hours of master- level study as they must be simultaneously enrolled in the baccalaureate courses that are needed for the completion of their undergraduate degree. Graduate credit will not apply towards the completion of the undergraduate degree and will only apply towards the completion of the student’s graduate degree.

Combined Degree Completion Pathways (BA-Business/BBA to MBA)

The BA-Business/BBA to MBA Combined Degree Completion Pathway is an accelerated learning opportunity for School of Business baccalaureate students who exceed in their undergraduate studies. Exceptional students will be provided the opportunity to begin graduate coursework within Master of Business Administration (MBA) program during their senior year. This Combined Degree Completion Pathway will allow students who meet the criteria for program acceptance (see attached acceptance criteria below) to enroll in no more than 6 credit hours of graduate program coursework during their senior year. For undergraduate students, graduate credit hours completed during a student’s senior year will apply only to an undergraduate student’s upper division elective requirements. However, those graduate credit hours will also count as graduate credits in the related LMU graduate degree program.

For undergraduate students interested in pursuing a baccalaureate-master’s combined degree completion pathway, students must meet the following criteria:

Senior status (90 credit hours completed);
3.3 overall GPA and 3.3 major GPA;
Approval of Department Chair;
Approval of Academic Advisor;
Approval of School Dean;
Approval of appropriate school’s Graduate Program Admissions Council; and
Meet all behavior and attitude elements of the student conduct code as stated in the Railsplitter Community Standards Guide.

The time to complete the combined degree pathways is accelerated because of “double-counted” courses. Students complete the “double-counted” courses at the higher degree level (or the equivalent degree level if students are pursuing a master’s and master’s combined degree pathway). This preserves the rigor of the higher-level coursework. In addition to restricting enrollment in combined degree completion pathways based on academic merit, LMU limits the total number of "double- counted" credits for each pathway, ensuring that no combined degree pathway falls far short of 150 total credit hours for an undergraduate-graduate pathway or 60 total credit hours for a graduate-graduate pathway.

For combined degree completion pathways with “double-counted” credits, faculty/program coordinators complete LMU’s Transfer Credit Approval Form to accept transfer credit hours in the lower (or equivalent for master’s-master’s pathway) degree program after students complete the appropriate courses in the higher degree program. This ensures all LMU students complete the minimum required credit hours to earn degrees at all approved levels.

The maximum amount of double-counted credit hours for the BA-Business/BBA pathway is six credit hours. LMU limits eligibility for this pathway to exceptional students who meet the enrollment criteria. Students are still required to meet the student learning outcomes (SLOs) for each program, so the quality and integrity of both programs are not jeopardized.”

Attendance Policy

Attendance is paramount for success in graduate programs. Therefore, attendance and participation in all classes is required. An absence in the first class without prior instructor approval may result in administrative removal from the course. Absences require prior approval from the instructor and absence in excess of 10% of the course is grounds for administrative removal. These conditions apply to all MBA, MSBA, DBA, and PhD students.

School of Business Scholastic Dishonesty, Cheating, and Plagiarism Policies

It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the Lincoln Memorial University Student Handbook and course syllabi regarding scholastic dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism. Cheating may include, but is not limited to, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, copying others’ work, sharing work/answers, accessing notes/textbook/electronic devices during quizzes/exams, etc., unless stated otherwise by the instructor.

Self-plagiarism is the re-use or re-submission of one’s own intellectual materials, including papers, writings, presentations, and research assignments that were previously submitted for other graded work. Self-plagiarism includes the copying and re-use of one’s own words with content from previously submitted assignments or published works as if it is new material without properly citing the prior work. Self-plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

Course-to-course submission of the same work that has been submitted within one’s current or other degree program(s).
Resubmission of a previous paper as if it were written for a current class assignment when it has also been submitted as an assignment for a different or previous course.
Using substantial portions of content from a prior graded paper, presentation, or assignment without a substantial amount of new information and ideas as submitted content for a new assignment.

All assignments, exams, gradable activities are to be completed individually unless specified otherwise by the instructor. On exam days students should not wear hats, hoodies, or other such elusive items. Any instances defined in this syllabus, or defined on any gradable activity, as cheating will be penalized as follows. All offenses will be reported to the Chair of the Department, the Dean of the School, and the Dean of Students, as well as the student’s advisor. In addition, on the first offense the offending student will receive a zero (0) score on the assignment/exam/gradable activity, and on the second offense the offending student will receive a failing grade for the course.

Students are also required to abide by Lincoln Memorial University's Academic Integrity Policy, which includes information regarding the use of generative AI.

Grading System

A student receives a grade for most registered course work (except “Audit”). Grades are indicated by letters and assigned quality points as shown below.

Grade	Definition	Quality Points Per Credit Hour
A	Superior 4.00 (Quality of work exceptional)	4.00
A-	Excellent 3.67 (Quality of work above course expectation)	3.67
B+	Very Good 3.33 (Quality of work better than satisfactory)	3.33
B	Good (Quality of work satisfactory)	3.00
B-	Average (Quality of work meets minimum requirements)	2.67
C	Minimum passing grade (Unsatisfactory graduate-level work)	2.00
F	Fail	0.00
I	Incomplete*
NC	No Credit. No credit assigned for the course. Not computed in the GPA.
AU	Audit
WD	Withdrawal
P	Pass; carries credit but no quality points

*Incomplete; work must be completed within the first six weeks of the next semester; otherwise, the grade automatically becomes an “F” unless an extension is granted by the Dean of the School of Business.

Some graduate courses are graded P-Pass/F-Fail and are identified under “Course Descriptions.” The student’s GPA is determined by the total number of letter-graded (A- F) semester credit hours attempted (not the number of semester credit hours passed).

School of Business Graduate Programs Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Percentage
A	93-100%
A-	90-92.99%
B+	87-89.99%
B	83-86.99%
B-	80.82.99%
C	70-79.99%
F	0-69%

*The School of Business Graduate Programs Grading Scale applies to the MBA, MSBA, DBA, and PhD programs.

Academic Progression Requirements

To remain in good academic standing, the graduate student must maintain a grade point average of 3.0. The grade point average considered for academic progress is that of the current program. The grade point averages from previous degrees at LMU may not be averaged into the current GPA. Credit toward a degree program will be granted only for courses in which a grade of “C” or better is earned. Students may earn only two course grades of “C” or below within their respective program. The permanent academic record in its entirety will be used when evaluating academic progression, probation, or dismissal. These conditions apply to all MBA, MSBA, DBA, and PhD students.

Academic Probation

Probation constitutes a warning of insufficient progress. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 in a given semester is placed on probation the following semester. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 (B) for two successive terms will be suspended and is no longer eligible to participate in the graduate degree program. Students who receive a second course grade of “C” or below, regardless of their cumulative GPA, will be issued a probation letter to notify them that a third grade of “C” or below will result in dismissal from their respective academic program. The permanent academic record in its entirety will be used when evaluating academic probation or dismissal. These conditions apply to all MBA, MSBA, DBA, and PhD students.

Academic Dismissal

MBA, MSBA, DBA, and PhD students who fall into the below categories will be dismissed from their respective academic program:

The student has earned a third grade of “C” or below. Please note that the permanent academic record in its entirety will be used when evaluating academic probation or dismissal.
The student has maintained a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 for two successive terms.

Repeating Graduate Courses

Students may repeat any course a maximum of three (3) times. The higher grade is included in the revised calculation of the cumulative GPA. However, all attempts will remain a part of the permanent academic record. The permanent academic record in its entirety will be used when evaluating academic probation or dismissal.

Appeals Procedure for Probation, Suspension, or Dismissal from the Program

A student who is placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed from the program and feels that the probation, suspension, or dismissal is unfair has a right to appeal. The student who wishes to appeal a probation or suspension has 30 days from the postmark on the letter of notice to present the appeal in writing to the Dean of the School of Business. The Dean will respond to the student’s appeal within two weeks of the receipt of the letter of appeal. If no resolution, the student may continue the appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The student must submit the appeal, in writing, to the VPAA within seven days following the issuance of the Dean's final decision. The decision of the VPAA is final.

School of Business Academic Grievance and Grade Appeals Procedure

All academic grievances and grade appeals must be submitted in writing. For classroom activity or assignment grade grievances, the written appeal must be made within one week of the grievance. For final course grade grievance, the written appeal must be made within two weeks following the first day of classes for the next semester (including summer terms).

Grievances concerning any aspect of academics, classroom activity, class assignment grade, or final course grade must be taken first to the instructor of the class. Students must not correspond with other faculty, the Program Director, Department Chair, Dean, or other LMU officials about a disputed grade prior to meeting with the faculty member, with the exception of the student’s faculty advisor who can explain the process and provide the grade appeal form. If the advisor and faculty are the same person, an alternate advisor will be assigned by the Dean of the School of Business. If a student feels he/she needs to take the matter further, the Chair of the Department or Program Director offering the course or program should be consulted in writing. If there is still no resolution, the next appeal source is the Dean of the School of Business. Both the student and the involved faculty member have a period of no longer than seven calendar days to file an appeal to a decision, in writing, to the Dean of the School of Business. If deemed necessary, the Dean of the School of Business reserves the right to request a supplemental review of the issue by the School of Business Academic Review Committee comprised of three non-involved faculty. If the issue is not resolved following the Dean's review and decision, a final decision maybe rendered by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the student chooses to appeal to the VPAA, the appeal must be submitted, in writing, within seven days following the issuance of the Dean's final decision.

Graduate Student Course Load

The normal load for a part-time MBA student is six (6) credit hours. The normal load for a full-time MBA student is nine (9) credit hours. The maximum load for an MBA student is twelve (12) credit hours during Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. MBA students must seek and receive permission from the department chair or Dean of the School of Business to take twelve (12) hours during any semester. The maximum course load for MSBA students is six (6) credit hours per semester due to the cohort model that is utilized. The maximum course load for DBA and PhD students is six (6) credit hours per semester due to the cohort model that is utilized.

Orientation/Advisement

Each semester new graduate students are assigned academic advisors and are invited to attend a New Student Orientation. The orientation session provides students with critical information for progressing through each degree program. The information includes admission, program, and exit requirements. Advisors are accessible throughout the program for academic advisement. Advisors’ personal telephone numbers, e-mail/web page addresses and office hours are posted on each syllabus.

Categories of Admission

Admission to the graduate program is possible in three (3) categories:

Regular graduate student status. Applicants with credentials indicating adequate preparation and ability to complete the program successfully may receive regular student status.
Non-degree or transient student status. Persons otherwise qualifying for admission to graduate studies but not seeking admission to the degree program are classified as non-degree or transient. Individuals wishing to pursue graduate study at LMU in this classification must submit an application for admission. Non-degree or transient students later wishing to enter the program must then petition the appropriate admissions committee for admission as degree-seeking students. The applicant must then follow the process outlined for regular graduate student status. The non-degree or transient student who wishes to become a regular graduate student may apply up to nine (9) semester credit hours for the MBA, or six (6) semester credit hours for the MSBA, earned while in non- degree or transient status. Course credit transferred from non- degree to degree must have a grade of at least “B” and be relevant to the degree sought.
Auditor status. The student wishing to audit courses may enroll by completing an application for admission form, registering for the course, and paying the appropriate fees. An “AU” notation will appear on the academic transcript signifying that the course was taken for audit, not for credit. Examinations are not required, grades are not earned, and credit is not awarded for audited courses.

Standing Oversight Committee

Admissions Committees – These committees consist of faculty and administration members.

For admission to the MBA program: two faculty members and the Program Director.
For admission to the MSBA program: two faculty members and the Program Director.
For admission to the DBA program: two faculty members and the Program Director.
For admission to the PhD program: two faculty members and the Program Director.