St. Thomas University (Florida) Online MBA | Gus Machado College of Business

• Online MBA
• Online MBA - Accounting
• Online MBA - Cyber Security Management
• Online MBA - Human Resource Management
• Online MBA - Marketing
• Online MBA - Sports Administration

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By Sara Navratil Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore Reviewed By School

Updated November 18, 2024

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

The Gus Machado College of Business at St. Thomas University (STU) offers a 100 percent online master of business administration (MBA) with a general track or in one of five concentrations: marketing, accounting, human resource management, sports administration, and cybersecurity management. The STU online MBA can be completed in just 12 months in this accelerated program.

STU offers affordable tuition, six start dates, and accelerated seven-week courses. The STU online MBA program is designed to allow students to continue working while completing their online degrees.

St. Thomas University is a Catholic university, seeking to prepare ethical leaders who possess strong skills in problem-solving, research, oral and written communication, critical analysis, and ethical decision-making.

Upon transcript evaluation, some applicants may need to take three foundation courses, increasing the overall credit load of the online MBA from 36 to 45. Core concepts covered for all concentrations include international business, strategic marketing management, data analytics, financial management, ethics, organizational behavior, and policy and planning.

Graduates of the online MBA may go on to management positions in various business areas depending on their concentration. Examples of possible careers may include accounting, investment banking, human resource management, auditing, sports administration, sports media, public relations, event management, facility management, sports marketing, cybersecurity management, operating systems protection, network security, entrepreneurship, brand management, and marketing management.

St. Thomas University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). STU is located in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Meet the Expert: Jose Rocha, PhD

Dr. Jose Rocha is an associate professor of management and the MBA director at the Gus Machado College of Business, St. Thomas University. His academic and professional background includes over 15 years of international experience in higher education, academia, research, teaching, and industry with some of the top universities and Fortune 500 companies in the US, Mexico, and Latin America.

Dr. Rocha has extensive top management and executive experience, and he served on the top executive, faculty, and administration of the largest private educational system in Latin America: the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education University System (Tec de Monterrey – ITESM).

Dr. Rocha’s research focus is on knowledge management and knowledge sharing in highly dynamic changing environments such as high tech entrepreneurship, management of disruptive innovation, business analytics, cybersecurity management, corporate social responsibility, and disaster management.

BSchools.org: What is something you wish the public understood about cybersecurity, particularly in a business context?

Dr. Rocha: Cybersecurity is like the unlocked window in the back of the internet’s house. Everyone pays attention, or at least tries to remember, to lock the doors and close the windows of their homes. But all it takes is something as seemingly trivial as one little unlocked bathroom window in the back of the house for a bad actor to shimmy inside. As the old saying goes, “Locks keep out the honest.” Determined bad actors will never stop trying to break into the house.

The difference with cybersecurity is that, unlike a house, once someone breaks into a business network, they can wreak havoc on countless customers, other businesses, and even governments—from canceling flights to downing utility networks. That’s why demand will always be strong for those trained to understand how businesses work and how to protect them from today’s digital dangers.

As a result, cybersecurity management is crucial for businesses to protect their information resources and maintain operational integrity. Some relevant points the public should understand about cybersecurity management are the protection of sensitive data, risk mitigation, and compliance and legal requirements.

In addition, businesses should focus their cybersecurity management effort on tightening their risk assessment practices, security policies and procedures, incident response planning, and employee training and awareness programs.

BSchools.org: What advice would you give to potential MBA candidates considering a concentration in cybersecurity?

Dr. Rocha: Few fields have as much demand as cybersecurity. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for cybersecurity specialists will grow by nearly a third over the next decade, increasing by roughly 16,800 openings annually. No less than the ability of the economy to survive and thrive is at stake. Cybersecurity isn’t just a rewarding career.

Cybersecurity is important work, and it’s done by mission-driven professionals who care about protecting society. It will never get old because the threats keep coming and changing.

What to Expect from the St. Thomas University Online MBA

Admission Requirements: St. Thomas University has streamlined the application process. Prospective online MBA students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and must meet one of the following criteria:

• Minimum GPA of 2.75
• GPA of 2.5 to 2.749 plus at least three years of increasing administrative work experience
• GPA of 2.33 to 2.49 plus at least four years of increasing administrative work experience

No GMAT/GRE is required. Applicants must submit official transcripts and a resume with the application.

Study Plan: The STU online MBA program can be completed in 12 months or more. Courses last seven weeks each and the program begins six times per year with two start dates each in the fall, spring, and summer. Students complete eight core courses, four concentration courses, and if necessary, three foundation courses.

MBA Curriculum: The online MBA comprises 36 credits and includes core courses plus electives or concentration courses. Students without a business background or a bachelor’s degree in business may need to take the following foundation courses: essentials of accounting; statistical analysis for management; and foundation for business studies. This would increase the credit load to 45 credits.

Core courses for all concentrations may include managerial accounting; strategic marketing management; policy, planning, and strategy system; business data analytics; international business; organizational behavior; financial management; and management ethics.

Students then complete concentration courses as follows:

• General: human resource management; labor-management relations; organizational design and theory; human resources planning and staffing
• Marketing: global marketing concepts and strategies; sports marketing and promotions; strategic brand management; entrepreneurship
• Accounting: forensic accounting; seminar selected topics in accounting; fraud examination; international accounting
• Human Resource Management: human resource planning and staffing; labor-management relation; organizational design and theory; human resource management
• Sports Administration: legal aspects of sports administration; facilities and event management; sports psychology; sports marketing and promotions
• Cybersecurity Management: information ethics; entrepreneurship; cybersecurity management law; enterprise information security

Online Experience: St. Thomas University delivers courses asynchronously through the Canvas online learning management system (LMS). Students can complete coursework and participate in discussion boards on a laptop, PC, tablet, or even a smartphone. Coursework is 100 percent online and accessible 24 hours a day. STU seeks to engage students in discussions and collaboration, creating an engaging community of scholars.

Online student services may include academic advising, online tutoring, faculty support, financial aid services, library services, career counseling, and technology services.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements as the STU online MBA is 100 percent online.

Paying for the St. Thomas University Online MBA

STU charges online MBA tuition numbers are listed below, and are the same for Florida residents and non-residents. Prospective students should contact the Gus Machado College of Business for complete details.

Online MBA students may apply for unsubsidized graduate student loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additional outside loans, scholarships, and grants may be available. Students may also inquire with their employer as to the possibility of a tuition reimbursement program or tuition discounts.

Sara Navratil

Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She's the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about entrepreneurial and general business topics, and providing detailed information on online MBA programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.