Why St. Catherine University?
An online Master of Business Administration degree program is offered by this small private Catholic women’s university in St. Paul, Minnesota. St. Kate’s, as it is commonly known, expects applicants to have at least two years of work experience in a professional context. While applicants are not required to submit the results of standardized tests such as the GMAT or GRE, a record of undergraduate achievement is required, with a GPA of 3.0 preferred but not required.
Program Snapshot
| University Name | St. Catherine University |
| Location | St. Paul |
| State | MN |
| Niche.com Grade | B+ |
| Name of Degree | Master of Business Administration |
| School or Department Administering Program | Graduate College |
| Credits | 33 |
| Cost per credit | 715 |
| Tuition for Entire Program | $23,595.00 |
| Test Requirements | none |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 preferred but not required |
| Prerequisite Courses and Skills | Two or more years of work experience in a professional setting. |
| Campus Visit Required? | no |
| Typical Time to Complete | 12 months |
| When Can Students Start the Program? | Fall, Spring |
| Program Concentrations |
|
| Synchronous classes | both |
| Required Courses |
|
| Does the Program Include a Capstone? | yes |
| Does the program include a practicum or internship? | no |
| Other Features that Make the Program Unique | strategic partnerships with areas businesses; focus on women in business; curriculum emphasizing communication and leadership; culture of diversity and social justice; emphasis on group work |
| Program Objectives (quoted directly from the program) |
|
| Program Description | This 12-month program requires 33 credits, including a capstone. Students can concentrate in Marketing, Strategic Management or Healthcare. The program emphasizes partnerships with area businesses, but an internship is not required. Distinctive features include a social justice and diversity focus within a Catholic women’s college. |
What will I Learn?
Offering concentration areas in Marketing, Strategic Management, or Healthcare Management, St. Kate’s offers an accelerated and straightforward curriculum structure. Graduates are equipped to uncover insights to improve performance using data and analytics. They also learn to improve business efficiency and implement data-driven strategies for long-term growth. Finally, the curriculum teaches students how the overall global business climate affects individual organizations, including the role played by innovation.
All students are required to take courses in the foundations of management practice, including Management Essentials, Foundations of Talent Management, and Behavioral Economics and Decision Making. Students become seasoned leaders through required courses in Agile Project Management, Personal and Team Leaderships, and Building Value and Brand. Key skills are developed in Strategic Marketing and Accounting for Managers. All students take three additional courses in their area of concentration. A capstone rounds out the curriculum.
How much will the program cost?
Students finish their degree within 12 months and pay $715 per credit for a total of 33 credits, or just over $23,500.00 for the entire degree.
How does the program fit into my life?
The curriculum places an emphasis on group projects, which can make scheduling time to complete your work more challenging. However, added flexibility is gained from the fact that some courses are taught asynchronously, with students being able to complete interactive class work at their own pace each week. Some courses allow students to build community through synchronous online lectures.
This accelerated program has two start dates per year (the fall and the spring) and can be finished in a year.
Summary
The St. Kate’s online MBA program is open to all genders, but is based in a college with a women-only undergraduate program. It is therefore unsurprising that the curriculum and administration emphasizes women’s leadership in business, as part of a larger culture of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. The program is accessible and convenient with a very low cost-to-degree and an accelerated course structure. Students gain crucial project management skills through partnerships with Twin Cities employers such as Target and 3M, as well as a heavy emphasis on group work, and a required course on Agile Project Management.