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What characteristics do potential students need to succeed in the MBT program?
How long does the admission process take?
What criteria do you use to evaluate students?
Do I need an accounting major to be admitted to the MBT program?
Should I be a CPA in order to be admitted to the MBT program?
Is the application process different for international applicants?
How do I register to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)?
How do I transfer coursework?
What characteristics do potential students need to succeed in the MBT program?
To succeed in the program, students need ambition, creativity, strong motivation, and a high energy level -- the same characteristics needed for success in business. Of course, to be accepted into the program, students also need a strong academic record that demonstrates potential for classroom success.
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How long does the admission process take?
Both the Graduate School and the MBT program office review applications. After making the official decision on an application, the Graduate School notifies applicants. The entire process takes about four to six weeks.
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What criteria do you use to evaluate students?
We consider the following factors in our admissions decisions:
- Academic record as evidenced by transcripts
- Aptitude test scores (GMAT or LSAT)
- Additional factors, such as special circumstances, work experience, and certification (CPA, CMA, CIA)
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Do I need an accounting major to be admitted to the MBT program?
We require no specific major for admittance to the program. Our graduates have achieved success coming from a variety of academic backgrounds. However, students do need to possess a common body of knowledge in business before they graduate. Students can meet this requirement by completing introductory coursework at the undergraduate level in each of the following areas:
- Accounting (financial & managerial)
- Business law
- Economics (micro & macro)
- Finance
- Information & decision science
- Management
- Marketing
- Operations & management sciences
- Business statistics
Although not prerequisites for admission to the program, you must complete these courses before the degree is granted. For more information, review the common body of knowledge checklist (Word). If necessary, you can take courses concurrently with MBT program courses. Most students who enter the program with business degrees have completed most, if not all, of this coursework.
Prerequisite courses: Before enrolling in MBT courses, all students must take ACCT 2050 Intro to Financial Accounting and ACCT 5135 Fundamentals of Federal Income Tax (or their equivalents).
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Should I be a CPA in order to be admitted to the MBT program?
It's not a requirement, but we do recommend that students ultimately obtain a CPA certification along with the MBT degree, since it opens opportunities and can help you grasp tax concepts covered in the program.
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Is the application process different for international applicants?
If your native language is not English, you must take one of the following tests: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB), or the International English Language Testing System exam (IELTS). Otherwise, there are no special requirements for international students.
The University of Minnesota's International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides information and resources for new and prospective international students.
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How do I register to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)?
You can register for the GMAT online or by phone and pay the test fee by credit card, or you can register through the mail and pay by check.
When you take the test, request that your GMAT scores be sent to the Carlson School MBT program. The program code is D2N-VJ-88. You only need to use the code if you make a request by mail after testing. Otherwise, you may send your scores electronically without using a code.
The College of Continuing Education (CCE) offers GMAT preparation courses and self-directed online instruction. For more information, call (612) 624-4000 or visit the website.
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How do I transfer coursework?
According to Graduate School policy, you can apply up to 12 credits (we recommend 6 credits) that you completed before becoming an official degree candidate toward your MBT degree. This includes both transfer credits that you received from another institution and any MBT courses you took prior to being admitted to the program.
Contact the MBT office at 612-624-7511 to schedule an appointment with the program director to determine if you are eligible to transfer coursework from another institution to your MBT degree.
Transferred coursework from other institutions must be graduate level (post-baccalaureate), have been taken as graduate-level work, and have been taught by faculty authorized to teach graduate courses. You must provide appropriate course documentation (e.g., course syllabi, faculty status information) and an official transcript to support the credits you want to transfer.
In the case of a transfer from a non-US institution, you must have earned the credits in a program judged by the Graduate School to be comparable to a graduate degree program in a graduate school of a regionally accredited institution in the US.
You cannot transfer courses taken before you received your baccalaureate degree.
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