Graduate Studies in Business

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Graduate Business 
Pfeffer Graduate School of Business

• Master of Accountancy
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Health Administration
• Master of Management
• Dual Degree MM/PharmD
• Dual Degree MBA/MS in Sustainability
• Graduate Certificate in Professional Accountancy

Ray Eldridge, Dean
Allison Duke, Senior Associate Dean, Strategy and Innovation
Andy Borchers, Associate Dean, Research and Faculty Excellence
Bart Liddle, Associate Dean, Academic Excellence
Suzanne Sager, Associate Dean, Professional Development and Engagement
Rick Holaway, Chair, Management, Entrepreneurship and Marketing; Director of MBA
Brian Masterson, Chair, Accounting, Finance and Economics; Director of MAcc
Jeff Cohu, Executive Director, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Nina Morel,  Executive Director, Coaching and Leadership Development
Jacob Arthur, Director, Center for Data Analytics and Informatics
Donita Brown, Director of MHA and MMHC
Perry Moore, Director, Accreditation
Rob Touchstone, Director, Center for Business as Mission
 

Core Faculty

Jacob Arthur, Assistant Professor of Information Security and Analytics
Joseph Bamber, Associate Professor of Marketing
Marcy Binkley, Associate Professor of Accounting
Andy Borchers, Professor of Management
Donita Brown, Instructor of Health Care Management
Rebecca Burcham, Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management
Jeff Cohu, Associate Professor of Management
Lindsay Dillingham, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Allison Duke, Professor of Management
Ray Eldridge, Professor of Management 
Rick Holaway, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Joe Ivey, Associate Professor of Management
Jeff Jewell, Professor of Finance
Mark Jobe, Hilton and Sallie Dean Chair of Accountancy, Associate Professor of Accounting
Natasha Johnson, Associate Professor of Management
Bart Liddle, Assistant Professor of Management
Brian Masterson, Assistant Professor of Accounting
Perry Moore, Charles E. Frasier Professor of Accountancy 
Nina Morel, Professor of Leadership Development
Julio Rivas, Associate Professor of Finance
Hannah Stolze, Associate Professor of Management

College of Business

Mission:

For over 100 years the Lipscomb University College of Business has pursued one mission: educate learners to do what is right and live the words of Psalms 78:72, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Our purpose is to prepare students to work, live, and lead with strong business acumen and character.

It is an exciting time to be part of the College of Business. Our Part-Time MBA Program is ranked in the top 50 in the nation by Bloomberg BusinessWeek and the #2 Program in Tennessee. Lipscomb’s Undergraduate Program was just recognized as one of the 10 undergraduate Business Schools to watch in 2020 and has been ranked as the #1 business program in Tennessee by Bloomberg BusinessWeek and Poet’s and Quants for five years in a row.

The College’s accounting program has many accolades to include ranked #1 in Tennessee and #47 in the country by College Factual.  Christian Universities Online ranks our accounting program as #1 in Tennessee and #2 in the nation.  

Our graduate degrees integrate leadership, team work, decision-making, technology, communications skills, ethics, and a global emphasis into our academic programs.  Hands-on practical applications can be achieved through directed work experiences, Pitch Competitions, Financial Trading Lab, business consulting, alumni engagement, formal mentoring, and global travel.

Our outstanding business faculty brings both practical business experience as well as a depth of academic knowledge into the classroom. The faculty of the College of Business is committed to fostering relationships with the business community and encouraging exchanges among students and businesses.

The College of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Separately, the accounting program was one of the first four programs worldwide accredited for accounting by ACBSP.

The following graduate programs of study are fully accredited by ACBSP:

• Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The college also sponsors the Eta Mu Chapter of Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society for business majors.

The College of Business is comprised of the Pfeffer Graduate School of Business, the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Center for Data Analytics and Informatics, and the Center for Business as Mission. The College’s Career Connection Office provides career assistance for current students and alumni at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Mission

The Lipscomb University MBA program will integrate Christian faith, servant leadership and innovation in the MBA classroom to provide excellent academic training for Lipscomb MBA students to prepare them for higher service in their current and future organizations. The MBA is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in either business or a non-related field. 

The MBA program:

• Incorporates ethics and values into every course so you can learn to identify and cultivate a values-based business environment.
• Is built around the principle that doing business right is the only right way to do business.
• Features courses taught by outstanding faculty with substantial business experience. Our faculty members bring expertise in their field and an ability to integrate faith into their teaching.
• Requires thirty-six hours for graduation.

The MBA degree program is offered to different groups of students in several cohort models. Completion time of each cohort varies, from 11 to 22 months. The recommended amount of work experience also varies by cohort. 

Fast Track Students

Fast Track 11 Cohort

Students with 0-3 years of work experience will complete this cohort, which can be started ONLY in June. All required classes will be taught at night. This program can be completed in 11 months.  

Students in the Fast Track 11 cohort complete a Directed Work Experience (DWE), and the corresponding DWE courses fulfill the MBA program elective requirement. Students have the opportunity to interview with College of Business partners or are allowed to identify their own work opportunity, subject to appropriate approval by the Lipscomb graduate business office. Lipscomb cannot guarantee the student will get a full-time job offer after the program, but many do. The DWE is a required component of the Fast Track cohort. Students without a DWE cannot continue in the program. Students who are terminated from their DWE will be removed from the program and will be responsible for any tuition due.

Fast Track 16 Cohort

An additional Fast Track cohort that can be completed in 16 months is also available. Students with all levels of work experience can complete this cohort, which starts in August and concludes in December of the following year.  Students enrolled in this cohort may complete a Directed Work Experience, but that is not a required component. Students choosing to complete a DWE will take the corresponding DWE courses that fulfill the MBA program elective requirement. All required classes will be taught at night. Elective classes may be taught at night or on weekends.

Professional Students

Professional Cohort

An additional cohort is available for students with three or more years of work experience.  Students start in August and complete their coursework over two academic years. All required classes will be taught at night. Elective classes may be taught at night or on weekends. 

Dual Degree MBA and Sustainability

The dual degree program combines cutting edge business training with state of the art training in sustainability to create a “green” degree program that incorporates the best of two worlds, resulting in two diplomas.

Students enrolled in the dual degree program will complete the core courses required for each degree (24 hours in business and 24 hours in sustainability). Upon completion of the 48 hours of course work, students will be awarded both an MBA and an MS in Sustainable Practice.

Students enrolled in the MBA program can pursue the dual degree option. Dual degree students may participate in either program’s international business course.

The dual degree option MUST be selected before the student graduates with either degree. Once a student has graduated, the dual degree option is no longer available.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Mission

To prepare students to pass all four parts of the CPA exam the first time and to excel professionally.

The Master of Accountancy is primarily designed for students who seek additional academic training and/or credit hours in preparation to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant examination. It also provides the working professional with the additional knowledge needed to succeed in today’s business environment.

All courses will be taught in the evening during eight-week terms. The MAcc program can be completed in one year for those students who have completed all prerequisite requirements. No work experience is required for admission to the program.

For those students who need additional course work, leveling courses in business and accounting are offered. All prerequisite courses are taught at night and some are available online. New students may begin in either the summer or fall term. Some elective classes will meet at other times such as online or weekends.

Graduate Certificate in Professional Accountancy

For those students who do not want to complete the entire master’s degree, the 12-hour certificate program will provide them with the additional hours needed to sit for the Uniform CPA Exam. These hours can be applied towards the MAcc or the MBA should the student decide to pursue a graduate degree at a later date. Students complete twelve MAcc hours from the following list to earn the graduate certificate:

MAcc 6303   Advanced Financial Accounting

MAcc 6513   Managerial Accounting & Finance

MAcc 6603   Advanced Auditing and Forensics

MAcc 6763   Taxation of Business Entities

Course descriptions are given in the MAcc section of this catalog. Appropriate prerequisite requirements apply to all certificate courses.

Certificate students can shift from that program to the MAcc or MBA program. Such students must notify the graduate business office of their intent to change programs and submit the appropriate paperwork. A minimum 3.00 GPA is required to shift programs. Admission requirements are the same as the MAcc program.

Master of Management (MM)

Mission

Our mission is to shape tomorrow’s generation of agile leaders for the ever-changing healthcare environment. Through experiential learning and by embracing the values of virtues and Jesus in pursuit of healing as a ministry, we will develop leaders who focus on continuously improving the quality of healthcare delivery and serving the community by integrating the business discipline with compassionate care.

The Master of Management, with a focus in Health Care (MMHC), is designed for early careerist with little or no work experience. The MMHC focuses on students who are either clinicians or those without a business undergraduate degree who want to understand the business of health care.

Dual Degree MM and Pharmacy

The dual degree program combines cutting edge business training with the student’s Pharmacy training to create a degree program that incorporates the best of two worlds, resulting in two diplomas.

Students enrolled in the dual degree program will complete both the Pharm D requirements and the Master of Management in Health Care requirements to earn this dual degree. 15 hours in Business, 155 hours in Pharmacy, and complete a 6-hour Directed Work Experience (DWE) managed by the College of Pharmacy (for a total of 170 hours). The student also has the option to replace the 6 hours from the DWE with two additional elective graduate courses from the College of Business.

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Mission

The Master of Health Administration (MHA) is designed for students with three or more years of experience who want to lead at the highest levels of health care organizations. Students in the MHA are those who want to understand and lead the business of health care at its deepest levels.

Admission Policies and Procedures

Applicants to graduate programs must submit the following:

1. Application Form. Each applicant must complete an application form. The application form is available at buildwhatyoullbecome.com, then click on “Admissions,” then “Apply Today”. The application can be completed online or downloaded in a PDF version.
2. Application Fee. Each application should be accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.
3. Standardized exam score. Applicants may be asked to submit the scores of a standardized exam. Scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) may be required for students seeking graduate business degrees.
4. References. Two letters of reference are required as follows: from a college or university administrator or professor or from a professional supervisor or employer.
5. Official Transcript(s). Each applicant must submit an official transcript, showing degree conferral when appropriate, from all schools attended.
6. Health Form. Each applicant must submit a completed health form signed by a health care provider. (To print a copy of the health form, visit www.lipscomb.edu/healthcenter/forms.)
7. FERPA: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights of access to educational records; even if you are independent of your parents, you must submit this form prior to enrollment.
8. Resume. A resume detailing the applicant’s work experience is required.
9. Written Statement. Each graduate degree program (MAcc, MBA, MM, or MHA) has different specifications for the candidate’s written statement, each of which are described on the program’s specific application.
10. TOEFL. The Test of English as a Foreign Language is required for international students. (See section titled International Students for more information.)

All application items should be sent to College of Business, Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204. Check website for application deadlines: https://www.lipscomb.edu/business/academic-programs/graduate-programs.  All applicants will complete an interview as part of the application review process. The interview for MBA, MM, and MHA students will include a brief case that students will be required to analyze.

Undergraduate Degree and Performance

The standard for admission into a master’s degree program is an accredited bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. In addition, the prospective student will have an acceptable grade-point average.

Admittance or non-admittance is determined by the admission committee after thorough analysis of each applicant’s file.  The admission committee reserves the right to require the GMAT of any candidate, regardless of any potential waivers the student may be eligible for.

Applicants holding an unaccredited degree or who are within one semester of completing a bachelor’s degree, may be considered for conditional admission (see Unaccredited Degree and/or Substandard Admission Scores section below).

Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accountancy with an overall GPA of 3.5 may petition to have the GMAT waived.  Professional MBA cohort students and MHA candidates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher with at least three years of acceptable experience may qualify for a GMAT waiver.  Fast Track MBA cohort candidates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.20 or higher may qualify for a GMAT waiver.  

In addition, some of the admission requirements (e.g., GPA) may receive less weight during the evaluation process from applicants who have been out of school for at least five years, or for those who have earned a terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., J.D., M.D.).  

Unaccredited Degree and/or Substandard Admission Scores

Should conditional admission be granted, the following stipulations will apply:

Unaccredited Degree: If the student’s transcript shows deficiencies in liberal arts courses as defined by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the student will be required to demonstrate the understandings and skills normally associated with a liberal arts education, particularly in scientific method and computation and in oral and written communication skills. The student may be required to remove the deficiency by successfully completing undergraduate level courses. The minimum standard is as follows: 30 hours of course work drawn from three areas-humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral science and natural science/mathematics; evidence of competence in oral and written communication skills; and fundamental mathematical skills.

Substandard Admission Scores: A student may be admitted conditionally. Such students must complete a minimum of nine hours of graduate work with a grade of “B” or above before the conditional admission is removed.

Students who are denied admission may reapply for admission after completing 12 semester hours of approved undergraduate credits with a grade of “B” or higher from an accredited institution and/or after obtaining an acceptable score on the GMAT.

Transfer of Courses

Although all graduate credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, a maximum of six hours will be counted toward the MAcc or MBA degrees. The graduate director or appropriate faculty member of the graduate program will evaluate the course(s) being proposed for transfer and make a determination of suitability. No course with a grade below a “B” will be considered for transfer. Requests from current students to transfer new course work into any graduate program will generally be denied. No transfer credit will be awarded for the MM or MHA degrees.

Documentation

Students are required to provide satisfactory documentation of personal identification for off-site learning experiences required in many programs of graduate study at Lipscomb University. Failure to provide proper credentials will result in failure to complete the desired course of study. For complete policy, see section entitled Required Documentation for Off-Site Learning in the opening section of this catalog.

Student Classifications

Students are admitted to graduate courses in one of five categories:

1. Graduate Student: one who has satisfied all admissions requirements. A student with an incomplete admission file will be accepted to the program at the discretion of the program director but will be placed on an academic hold which will prevent registration for the following semester. Once the proper admissions documents have been received, the hold will be removed and the student will be allowed to register for the following semester.
2. Conditionally Admitted Student: one who has been admitted conditionally, at the discretion of the program director, without satisfying all admission requirements. Students admitted with the following criteria may be required to complete a minimum of nine hours of graduate work with a grade of “B” or above before the conditional admission is removed.
   1. From an unaccredited school or with a substandard GPA or GMAT score.
   2. A transfer student with a graduate GPA between 2.50 and 2.99. The transfer student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended.
   3. As a student who has not completed a bachelor’s degree program. The transfer student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended.
3. Non-Degree Student: one who has satisfied admission requirements. The student may take up to 12 semester hours for graduate credit. Those hours may be applied toward a master’s degree if the student makes a grade of “B” or better in the courses taken for credit and if the student is formally admitted to a graduate program as a degree-seeking student.
4. Visiting Student: one who is currently enrolled as a student in good standing at the post-bachelor’s level at another graduate school, wishes to take courses at Lipscomb and desires to have transcript evidence of course work done at Lipscomb provided for the school of primary enrollment.
5. Probationary Student: one who has been readmitted to a graduate program following academic suspension from the program.

Admission to a program does not imply admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. Only those students who meet the requirements for “graduate student” described above are eligible for candidacy.

Academic Policies

Course Load

A student enrolled for six hours is considered a full-time student. A student enrolled for less than six hours is considered a part-time student. No student will be permitted to enroll for more than 21 hours (either graduate or undergraduate) per semester.

Academic Standing

1. Good Academic Standing: To remain in good academic standing, the student must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA. At least 75 percent of those hours must be completed with grades of “B” or higher.
2. Probation: Should the student’s cumulative graduate GPA fall below 3.00, the student will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation will not be allowed to enroll for more than six hours during any term the probation applies. If the requisite GPA is attained, the academic probation status will be removed. A graduate course in which a student has earned an “F” may be repeated. Students may not repeat courses in which the student earned a grade of “C” or higher.
3. Suspension: If the requisite GPA is not attained, the student will be suspended from studies at Lipscomb for the following semester, after which the student may apply for readmission. The student may be required to appear before the admissions committee.
   Failing grades will provide no credit toward the degree but will be included in figuring scholarship level, unless replaced with a higher grade by repeating the course(s). A 3.00 GPA must be maintained to be eligible for financial assistance.
4. Appeals: Appeals to suspension decisions should be made in writing to the vice provost for academic affairs. Appeals must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Monday of the week before classes begin for the term during which the student wishes to be readmitted.

Degree Completion Requirements

Residency

No period of formal residency status is required for graduate business degrees.

Statute of Limitations

All requirements for the MBA, MAcc, MM, and MHA degrees must be completed within a seven-year period from the time of initial matriculation.

Thesis

No graduate business degree requires a thesis. A thesis option is NOT available.

Candidacy

Admission to a program does not imply admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. During the course of pursuing the MBA, MAcc, MM, or MHA degrees, the student must be admitted to “candidacy.” For admission to candidacy the student must satisfy the following:

1. Complete all required undergraduate deficiencies if admitted on condition.
2. Complete at least twelve hours of graduate work.
3. Maintain a 3.00 GPA on all courses taken toward the requirements for the degree with no incomplete grades.
4. File an application for candidacy form with the graduate program office.
5. File a degree plan in the graduate program office which meets all requirements and is approved by the administrator of the graduate program. The degree plan must be filed at the same time that an application for candidacy is filed.

After admission to candidacy and approval of the degree plan, any changes in the degree plan must be approved by the administrator of the graduate program. The application for candidacy must be filed before the beginning of the student’s last semester in the program. No student will be allowed to graduate in the same semester in which the application for candidacy is filed.

Minimum Credits

Exclusive of hours accumulated to satisfy academic deficiencies, the MAcc, MBA, and MM degrees require the following hours:

• The MAcc degree requires 30 semester hours
• The MBA degree requires 36 semester hours
• The MM degree requires 40 semester hours
• The MHA degree requires 55 semester hours
• The dual MBA/MS in Sustainability degree requires 48 semester hours
• The dual MMHC/Pharm D degree requires 170 semester hours

Minimum GPA

The minimum cumulative grade-point average for all graduate business degrees is 3.00 for all graduate courses taken for graduate credit. No grade below a “C” is acceptable. Such grades will not apply toward degree completion.

Graduation

Students must register for GN 999X the semester in which all course work will be completed for graduation. Students who do not file their intent to graduate form in the registrar’s office by the end of the first week of their last semester may be delayed in graduating.

Graduate students receiving degrees are hooded during the May and December commencement exercises.

Appeals

Any exceptions to the above stated requirements would require approval via the appeal process established by the graduate academic leadership team.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees for 2021-22

Acceptance of a position in a graduate business class is viewed as a long-term commitment. Admitted applicants must submit a non-refundable deposit to reserve their space in the class. Class size is limited and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Scholarships/Assistantships

Merit scholarship awards are available through the College of Business. Scholarship awards typically are given to offset tuition charges for one or more classes.

Non-teaching graduate assistantships are awarded by the College of Business. Such assistantships are given for one-year terms, but students may apply for extensions.

Graduate assistantship awards typically are given to offset tuition charges in exchange for the student providing assistance in the graduate business office or with a graduate faculty member. Generally, students receiving an assistantship are enrolled as full-time students. There are federal income tax consequences for students receiving assistantships.

Dependent children of full-time Lipscomb employees are eligible to receive a Lipscomb Family Scholarship which covers 25 percent of the program’s cost for students in the MBA, MAcc, MM, and MHA programs.

To receive a scholarship or assistantship, the student must complete the main application form, which also includes the student’s essay and references. No action will be taken before these items and the GMAT score report are received. Applicants for graduate assistantships must also complete an assistantship application and schedule a personal interview with the graduate business director. A 3.00 GPA must be maintained to be eligible for a scholarship or assistantship.

Lipscomb graduate business alumni are eligible for a 50 percent tuition scholarship on additional elective courses taken after they have graduated. This scholarship is available for courses offered only within the College of Business.

Integrated Accounting Seminar (Accounting Boot Camp)

Lipscomb also provides an “Accounting Boot Camp” where interested students can complete 9-12 graduate accounting hours and satisfy all MAcc prerequisites. This course is taught on Monday/Thursday evenings and some Saturday mornings from mid-May through mid-August. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.lipscomb.edu/business/academic-programs/accounting-boot-camp for details.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at https://www.lipscomb.edu/business.

Program of Study Requirements

(Concentrations in tax, audit/accounting, or a distributed option)

• Accountancy, Assurance and Analytics, M.Acc.
• Accountancy, Distributed, M.Acc.
• Accountancy, Tax, M.Acc.

(Concentrations in accounting and finance, health care management, leadership, or a distributed option)

• MBA Program

• Sustainability, M.B.A./M.S.

• Master of Management / Health Care (40 hours)

• Professional Accountancy Graduate Certificate (12 hours)

• Master of Health Administration (55 hours)

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