Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Twenty-first century business requires competent managers and administrators – people with the ability to plan, inspire, pivot, and direct the work of others. The professional MBA program at Russell Sage College School of Management is designed to develop leaders who can manage complex organizations and who have the desire and capability to move into higher-level positions. For over three decades, Russell Sage MBA graduates have taken major leadership roles in business, government, health care and non-profit organizations. Top management positions are well within the reach of our graduates.

The Russell Sage MBA is particularly tailored to professionals in the workplace. The MBA program is contemporary and practitioner-oriented including behavioral aspects of management. The Flex MBA provides students with the choice of how they want to learn.  Our courses are a balanced blend of in-person, live stream, and asynchronous delivery.  That said, faculty strongly encourage graduate students to be in the classroom for optimal value for the student.  In fact, "nonverbal components contribute to over 90% of effective communication and help the appropriate delivery of feelings and attitude" (Park & Park, 2018).  Benefits of an in-person experience include higher engagement, larger network build, improvement of soft skills, team and leadership development, and growth for career engagement.

Our knowledgeable and experienced faculty know that strength in technical, operational, tactical, and strategic experiences form the core of our MBA professional development.  The program requires hands-on applications, case work, and outside "real-world" national and international business consulting projects, enabling students to integrate experiences, knowledge, and theories to create solutions for myriad business situations.

Concentrations

Students can choose from among several specialized courses in fulfilling their elective category. These concentrations are structured to cover the knowledge and skills central to establishing competencies in the area most critical and interesting to the student. For those students who do not want an area of concentration they may choose from a wide number of traditional MBA electives and/or may elect to take graduate courses found in other graduate programs. For example, the student can complete their nine credit hours requirement by choosing from a vast array of complementary graduate courses in areas such as Health Services, Community Psychology, or Education. Students will have a particular advisor to discuss individual career goals.

• Design Thinking for Business Strategy & Entrepreneurship  Design thinking is a process for creative problem solving that prioritizes the consumer's needs above all else. It relies on empathetically observing how people interact with their environments and an iterative, hands-on approach to delivering solutions.  This leads to better products, services, and organizational processes. 
• Systems Thinking & Sustainability  In today’s more crowded, rapidly changing world there are fewer instances where all that is needed is a “right answer.”  A systems thinking approach provides meaning and understanding on a wholistic level—allowing for decision-making that balances the economic, environmental and social demands organizations face.
• Healthcare Management  This business master’s degree specializes on leading people and projects in a health care setting.  Take classes in program planning, analysis and evaluation, policy, finance, law, human resources and management information systems.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the program must meet the general admission requirements for Russell Sage College. The Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) is not required for admission.

Program Requirements

The Russell Sage MBA requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate coursework. If students do not have previous preparation in management/business, proficiency coursework also may be required. To determine whether proficiency coursework is necessary, prospective students should meet with the program director. All students taking MBA courses, including non-matriculants, must seek academic advisement regularly by contacting the MBA office at (518) 292–1700.

The Russell Sage MBA assumes a certain level of technical proficiency. The College uses MS-Office ® as the standard for electronic communication. Students should have proficiency with MS-Word ® and a working knowledge of Excel ® and Access ®. The standard statistical software used by the college is SPSS ®. Educational versions of this software are available through the College Bookstores. Most MBA classes are taught in classrooms wired for internet connections. Students are encouraged to bring their own laptops.

M.B.A. Program Summary