Savannah Program FAQ
This FAQ page answers questions specifically related to our Savannah MBA program.
Is the Georgia Southern Savannah MBA program accredited?
Yes. The Georgia Southern MBA program is accredited regionally by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and professionally by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which accredits leading business schools and their programs.
What is the tuition for the Georgia Southern Savannah MBA program? Is it different for out-of-state students?
Tuition, fees, and other costs (orientation fee) can be found here.
Can I satisfy the prerequisites I need without taking full-length undergraduate course equivalents?
Yes. The Georgia Southern Savannah MBA program offers self-paced, online modules that meet prerequisite requirements. Students purchase and complete the modules online. Accepted students begin work on these modules prior to beginning their MBA coursework. The modules are inexpensive ($200/module) and will take much less time to complete than an undergraduate course. Starting the prerequisites prior to being accepted is also a possibility but does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Contact our MBA recruiter (mba@georgiasouthern.edu) for more information. Typically, applicants with a business-related undergraduate degree will not need any prerequisites.
The online modules allow you to work at your own pace. The time needed to complete the modules will depend on your background and work experience, as well as the amount of time each week you have available to devote to the modules. These are non-credit modules and are equivalent to 1 credit hour of work. Some students have finished the modules in as little as a few weeks. On average, expect to spend about 15-25 hours on each prerequisite module. The objective is not mastery of the subject matter but acquiring basic prerequisite knowledge, skills, and vocabulary required for success in the program.
When will the next class begin?
The Savannah MBA program admits students annually in fall semester. Fall cohorts begin with orientation in early August.
Can I transfer graduate course credits into the Savannah MBA program?
Yes, but no more than three, 3-credit hour courses may be transferred with prior approval. The MBA Office determines whether specific courses are eligible to be transferred. Credit will be accepted before you enter the program. Only courses from AACSB-accredited schools will be considered. Courses must match our curriculum.
Will the Georgia HOPE Scholarship, Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), GI Bill, or other financial aid cover tuition costs?
The Hope Scholarship does not apply to the Savannah MBA program. Other aid may be available. For example, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for University System of Georgia employees partially covers MBA tuition (there is a tuition differential). The GI Bill may apply to students with military experience. Check with the Military Resource Center. All applicants should check with the Georgia Southern Financial Aid office for information about assistance.
How and when do I register for my classes?
The MBA Office registers all students for their classes each semester. First semester registration typically occurs 1-2 weeks prior to Orientation. After that, registration typically occurs 4-6 weeks prior to the next semester. Once registered, the MBA Office emails students at their Georgia Southern email address letting them know that they have been registered. The most common problem is registration holds. We cannot register you if you have any type of hold on your account. Examples include holds because of missing transcripts, outstanding financial obligations, parking fines, and judicial affairs holds.
What is the time commitment each week?
The time needed varies by course. A general rule of thumb is that for every hour spent in class, you should spend 2-3 hours of study outside of class. Based on this rule of thumb, a 3-semester hour course would require 6-9 hours of preparation (reading the assigned material, studying, and completing assignments, etc.).
Are classes face-to-face, hybrid, or online?
All the required courses are classroom based. While most of the available electives are face-to-face as well, you are permitted to take online courses for your two electives. It is important to note, however, that you will be completing work online in every course. Technically, the courses are taught in a hybrid format. The University System of Georgia requires 100% face-to-face classes contain a minimum of 2,250 minutes of in-class instruction. Because we have set aside three weeks of the semester (fall and spring) for professional development, only 88% of instruction can be delivered in-class. Therefore, 12% of each course’s content is delivered online.
Who should I contact if I have questions?
Honestly, it depends. Any questions related to your course should first be addressed to your professor. If you are unable to resolve the issue at that level, please contact the MBA Director. Any questions related to the application process should be directed to the MBA Recruiter. Questions related to registration, drop-add, withdrawing from a class, or the activities and events included in our extracurricular activity program, Parker-PEP, should be directed to the Director’s administrative assistant. You can reach all these individuals via email (mba@georgiasouthern.edu) or telephone (912-478-5767).
What if I’m in a hurry to graduate? Can I take additional classes each semester?
Our program is a lock-step program. That means the courses are only scheduled once during your five-semester program. The program is also designed with working professionals in mind. You are already devoting up to three nights in some weeks in four of the five semesters.
What is Parker-PEP and how does it work?
The Parker Professional MBA Enrichment Plan, Parker-PEP, for short, is the name of our extracurricular activity program. One innovative aspect of Parker-PEP is that most of the activities will take place on regular class nights in the classroom. That means not having to give up any of your remaining free time to take advantage of these valuable experiences, experiences that have career-changing potential. Three weeks are set aside in each semester (two weeks in summer) for personal, career, and professional development activities. Generally, it’s Weeks 5, 10, and 15 in fall and spring semesters and Weeks 5 and 10 in summer. During those weeks, the MBA Office will sponsor workshops/seminars, guest speakers, and community service activities that support you, your career, your professional development, and your community. No classes will meet, nor will assignments be due during those weeks. Finally, in designated courses (refer to your course syllabus), a certain percentage of your overall course grade will be assigned to Parker-PEP activities.
Why are there 1 and 2-semester hour courses in the program?
The faculty wanted to spread the leadership and people skills content over an entire year to provide students the opportunity to practice those skills (both in the classroom and off campus) under the guidance of their professors. Spreading a single three-semester hour course evenly over two semesters requires two one and one-half semester hour courses. Given the scheduling issues raised, the faculty decided to create one 1-hour course and one 2-hour course for the leadership content and, similarly, for the people skills content. Thus, we ended up with two 1-hour courses and two 2-hour courses in our program. From a practical standpoint, your professor may still divide the twelve class meetings evenly (i.e., six meetings per semester) over the two semesters (people skills in the two fall semesters and leadership skills in the two spring semesters).
What happened to the Statesboro MBA program?
Following a national trend, we made the decision to discontinue our Statesboro MBA program, which admitted students immediately after completing their undergraduate degree because we agree that having work experience prior to entering the MBA program enables students to better understand and appreciate the subjects taught and to better benefit from the practical experiences of their peers. Hence, our Savannah program targets working professionals with managerial work experience.
Where is the MBA Office and where are the Savannah MBA classes held?
The MBA Office is in Suite 217 on the second floor of Armstrong Center on the Armstrong campus at 11935 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia, 30419. We encourage you to visit. There is a faculty/student lounge and conference rooms nearby. The Savannah MBA classes are held in five classrooms on the first floor. Armstrong Center has other great facilities that are used occasionally for MBA activities: a state-of-the-art auditorium, multiple ballrooms, and a computer lab.
Last updated: 4/6/2021
