Graduate Certificate in Management

The program provides students with access to graduate coursework in management practice. Many students receive strong training in technical skills (e.g., engineering or in computer science) that are essential for securing initial employment. Over time, such students may wish to progress in their careers and become supervisors or managers of organizational units in their core discipline. To be prepared for the managerial role, these individuals need access to knowledge and practice in the management, supervision, and leadership of organizations.

The Graduate Certificate in Management will give these students exposure to the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to succeed in the managerial role. Core courses in interpersonal relations skills, managerial theory, and/or organization behavior will give students a background in management practice and theory. Additional elective courses will enable students to tailor a program of study appropriate to their organization that will prepare them for advancement to particular organizational roles.

Admissions Information

The entire application package including the Application Form, GMAT score, undergraduate GPA, transcripts, letters of recommendation, experience, essay responses, and other materials are all considered in an application review for student admission.

The required documents are the following:

  1. Application form. All applicants must submit an Application for Graduate Admission, signed and dated by the applicant. Applications for Graduate Admission are submitted online. All applicants must submit a non-refundable application fee, payable online to Bradley University. The fee for domestic applicants is $40 and $50 for international applicants.

  2. Transcript(s). Official transcripts, sent directly from all post-secondary institutions attended, are required. Bradley alumni need not provide Bradley transcripts. Transcripts can be sent electronically or mailed to:

    The Graduate School
    Bradley University
    1501 W. Bradley Ave.
    Peoria, IL 61625
    USA

    Additional transcripts may be required at the discretion of the Graduate School. Applicants who have completed graduate-level coursework or post-baccalaureate coursework should submit all transcripts reflecting graduate coursework.

  3. Letters of recommendation. Two current letters of recommendation are required from persons who can comment meaningfully on the applicant’s capability for graduate-level study. Character references are not appropriate. Faculty members under whom the applicant has studied and supervisors are considered appropriate references.

  4. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). The GMAT is a standardized test designed to measure aptitude for graduate study in management. Applicants must arrange to take the test in sufficient time to permit processing of the application with the test results prior to the application deadline. For reporting the test results, the Bradley University GMAT institutional code is 1070. Information about the GMAT may be obtained by contacting the Graduate School Office or by visiting www.mba.com.

    The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) may be substituted for the GMAT exam. The GMAT exam (or GRE) may be waived if the applicant (1) has significant professional work experience and either an undergraduate degree in a business discipline from an AACSB accredited institution or an undergraduate degree in a non-business discipline from a regionally accredited institution (e.g. Higher Learning Commission), (2) has earned a terminal degree in his/her profession (e.g. JD in law or a PhD in some field), or (3) the candidate has a master's degree in an analytically rigorous discipline (e.g. mathematics, engineering, etc.) with a master's GPA of at least 3.4 or better.

    The decision on the waiver of the GMAT rests with the Associate Dean. To request a waiver, the applicant must include a written request with the application materials. Requests of a GMAT waiver due to work experience must include a detailed description of managerial responsibilities associated with that experience and how they demonstrate the necessary analytical and critical thinking abilities to succeed in the MBA program. 

  5. Essays. Answers to essay questions must be complete with meaningful and well-developed answers to the questions on the goals of the applicant.

  6. A current resume. Since the evaluation includes analysis of work experience, a current resume is very helpful to the admissions committee.

  7. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Applicable only to international students whose native language is not English. The test measures proficiency in oral and written English. The IELTS is an acceptable substitute for TOEFL.

A link to the online application site can be found at www.bradley.edu/mba. For additional information, please contact the Director of EMBA and MBA Programs, Foster College of Business, Bradley University, 1501 W. Bradley, Peoria, IL 61625. E-mail: mba@bradley.edu. Phone: (309) 677-2256.

The final admission recommendation rests with the Associate Dean and the Director of the Executive MBA and MBA Programs.

Course Enrollment

Graduate courses in the Foster College of Business at the 600 level are restricted to graduate students who have been admitted to the MBA program or another degree-granting or certificate-granting program in the Graduate School. Enrollment in courses is on a space-available basis. Students-at-large may not take 600-level graduate courses in the Foster College of Business.

Requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Management will require students to take 12 hours of courses, all of which are within the structure of the existing Master's of Business Administration program.

Students must take at least one of the following three courses, which constitute Core Contents for the Graduate Certificate in Management:

  • M L 602 Organizational Behavior 
  • M L 615 Interpersonal Relations 
  • M L 620 Management Theory

Students must select an additional 9 hours of coursework from the list below, in order to meet the 12-hour requirement:

  • BUS 610 Graduate Business Practicum
  • M L 602 Organizational Behavior
  • M L 608 Open Book Management
  • M L 615 Interpersonal Relations 
  • M L 620 Management Theory
  • M L 657 Executive Development 
  • M L 658 Topics in Management and Leadership 
  • M L 659 Topics in Management
  • MTG 624 Marketing Decision Making 
  • MTG 640 Obtaining, Analyzing, and Applying Market Information

Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the Associate Dean.

* Prerequisite course equivalents determined by the Associate Dean.

This is the official catalog for the 2016-2017 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.