Master's Programs

Application Requirements

Graduates from the Godbold College of Business Bachelor of Science degree programs will be seamlessly admitted into the following programs: Master of Business Administration, Master of Sport Management, or International Master of Business within one year of graduation. Graduates from the Godbold College of Business Bachelor of Science in Accounting program will be seamlessly admitted into the Master of Accounting program within one year of graduation. The application processing fee will be waived when students submit their application. For full admission, applicants need only submit their curriculum vitae or detailed resume of professional experience and show proof of meeting a minimum 3.0 overall GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA in last 60 credit hours of courses. Applicants with an overall GPA or GPA in last 60 credit hours between 2.5 and 2.99 will be offered provisional admission. For seamless admission candidates, full admission pending graduation may be offered.

Applicants that do not meet the criteria for seamless admission should:

Submit an application along with a nonrefundable processing fee.
Submit a curriculum vitae or detailed résumé of professional experience.
Arrange for the required transcripts to be sent directly from each regionally accredited institution attended. Unofficial transcripts may help expedite the admission process, but full admission will not be granted until official transcripts have been filed.

Application materials are available online or from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

When an application is complete, it will be evaluated by an admissions committee. The applicant will receive official notification of the committee’s decision from the Director of Graduate Business Programs. Due to the confidential nature of some items of information required for admission, the University reserves the right to reject any applicant without stating a reason.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the University’s graduate programs is based on a balanced appraisal of the applicant’s total academic and professional record. While the Admissions Committee looks for responsible academic performance as evidence of the applicant’s ability to do well in graduate study, it also looks for qualities of personal development, which are relevant to career success. Extracurricular involvement and leadership in college, useful assignments in military service, or substantial work experience will strengthen the application.

Admission to graduate study in Business is granted in the following categories:

Full Admission

An applicant who meets all of the formal requirements for admission to the MBA, MAcc, IMBA, or MSM degree program will be granted full admission. These requirements include the following business-specific items.

A graduate degree from a regionally accredited university, OR
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA in last 60 credit hours of courses, OR
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.5 overall GPA or minimum 2.5 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of courses, AND at least three years of professional work experience within a relevant industry sector as determined by the Admissions Committee and verified by a professional résumé, OR

Provisional Admission

Applicants who show potential for graduate study but do not meet the criteria for full admission may be admitted for up to six hours of graduate work under provisional admission. The Admission Committee strives to take a holistic view of the applicant to determine the likelihood for success in graduate business programs and may grant provisional admission based on the following.

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university, with a GPA between 2.5-2.99 on all baccalaureate work attempted or the last 60 credit hours of work attempted without the years of professional work experience required for full admission, OR
Minimum 2.0 GPA and proof of significant years of experience or substantive managerial/leadership experience that may be evidenced through résumé review, personal interviews, or telephone interviews.

A student admitted provisionally must meet any condition attached to his/her admission before being granted full acceptance. A student admitted provisionally may be granted permission to register for no more than six graduate credit hours. The student’s progress will be monitored, and the student may be granted full acceptance if all other requirements for admission are met, and the student receives an “A” or “B” in both courses. If a “C” is made, the student may be given one opportunity to repeat the course with the “C” grade. If the student does not make an “A” or “B” on the second attempt, the student will be barred from continuation in any of the programs. Credit earned will be considered graduate-level work but may not be counted toward any of the degree programs at Gardner-Webb University until the student meets admission criteria after all credentials are assessed, or until the student is granted full admission. Students must have full admission to register for graduate coursework beyond six credit hours and must submit all supporting documentation.