Penn State Online MBA Student Handbook

Welcome to the Penn State Online MBA program! The purpose of this section is to give admitted and newly enrolled students a handy reference guide that will direct them to resources needed prior to official registration (and after). This document will also be posted in the Student Portal, which you will have access to once you have registered for classes. Please bookmark this resource page so you can easily find it.

The Master of Business Administration online program requires completion of 48 credits. These credits must be courses at the 500 or 800 level. The student will take 39 credits of required courses in core general management disciplines and 9 credits in a select area of concentration. All courses will be delivered in an online format. The culminating capstone experience for the program will be MBADM 571: Global Strategic Management. Students are required to complete the program in 5 years, but exceptions may be considered for extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

The program’s foundational Pillars of Learning focus on Integration, Collaboration, and Engagement (ICE). Within the core curriculum, Integration demonstrates a dynamic relationship between courses or general management topics; Collaboration signifies that courses are delivered with an appreciation for the necessity of team work in the contemporary business environment; and Engagement allows students the opportunity to participate in active experiential learning.

The Online MBA begins with a Team Performance Immersion experience designed to provide technical information, introduce resources, and foster valuable interactions with faculty, staff, and peers. During the Team Performance Immersion, students will also begin the core course MBADM 810: Team Performance.

Dr. Janet Duck, Faculty Chair ([email protected]) 
Stacey Dorang Peeler, Managing Director ([email protected]) 
Tasha Burman Prodromidis ([email protected]) 
Timber Ebersole ([email protected]) 
Annie Kaverman ([email protected]) 
Amber Argentine ([email protected])

To contact World Campus resources for help, visit this directory. (Note: Academic advising services for the Online MBA are done through the program office, NOT World Campus.)

Technical Support from the Penn State IT Service Desk 
Phone: 800-252-3592 — menu item 4 (in the United States) 
Phone: 814-865-0047 — menu item 4 (local and international) 
Email: [email protected]

World Campus Bursar (Billing) 
Phone: 814-863-8300 
Email: [email protected]

Financial Aid Office for World Campus and Continuing Education 
Phone: 814-867-4244 
Email: [email protected]

World Campus Career Services 
Email: [email protected]

Registrar 
Phone: 814-863-5256 
Email: [email protected]

Graduate Enrollment Services 
Phone: 814-865-1795

Penn State World Campus Military Team 
Phone: 814-863-5386

Read an overview of The Penn State Graduate School’s Policies.

A Penn State Access Account consists of a user ID and password that allows Penn State students, faculty, and staff to have a Penn State email account and use a full range of online services and resources. The user ID is your initials followed by a one- to four-digit number, such as xyz101. 

Your email address will be your Access Account plus @psu.edu. Change your password often, and do not share it with anyone. Penn State will never ask for your password. Visit the Access Account page for important information.

Penn State World Campus students are eligible to receive Penn State student identification cards, which can be used wherever student discounts are offered — bookstores, conferences, movie theaters, performing arts centers, etc. You must submit a request to receive your id+ card, and you can upload your own photo. Visit Penn State id+ for more information on how to obtain your card.

LionPATH is Penn State’s student information system, which provides students with access to their academic, registration, and financial records. In LionPATH, students can enroll for classes, view/accept their financial aid awards, view their tuition bills, and check grades, along with many other services.

Your courses will be in the learning management system called Canvas. You will be given information about this during Residency; however, you may want to familiarize yourself with it now and become comfortable with the basics.

Visit the Finances page for answers to questions you might have.

Most Online MBA students are eligible for federal student aid. To apply for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For complete eligibility guidelines and information on financial aid, please visit the World Campus page of the Office of Student Aid. The World Campus Financial Aid Office can also offer assistance at [email protected].

In addition, you can find helpful instructions for accepting, declining, or decreasing your financial aid awards or refunds, and much more on the Penn State World Campus Financial Aid page.

You will view and pay your bill in LionPATH. Invoices will be produced in first week of August for fall semesters, the first week of January for spring semesters, and the first week of May for summer semesters. Payments are due by the 22nd of the month in which the invoice is produced. Payment plans and methods of payment are outlined at Paying Your Semester Bill.

Visit the Course Catalog for a listing of upcoming course offerings for future semesters.

The Scheduling a Course page includes scheduling tutorials to help you with the process and a link to the location through which you can schedule courses.

Please note: You must complete the following actions in LionPATH before you can enroll in courses:   

1. Accept the Consent to Conduct University Business Electronically (PDF). This confirms that you agree to communicate and conduct transactions with the University electronically. You will be prompted to accept this agreement the first time you log in to LionPATH, and then once each year while you are a student.   
2. Complete the Pre-Registration Activity Guide found in your “To Do List” in LionPATH. This will include updating your personal and emergency contact information, and accepting the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement (PDF). This agreement confirms that you accept financial responsibility for payment of your tuition and fees. You will need to accept this agreement each semester.

Registration Timetable (Scheduling Courses)
The outline of when you are eligible to schedule for a semester can be found on the Registration Timetable.

It is recommended that you register soon after you are eligible, as many courses fill up quickly.

It is your responsibility to order books and materials prior to the start of classes. You will have assignments leading up to the first day of class. Please plan ahead so you are prepared for the start of each semester. Books and materials are usually available through Barnes and Noble College (BNC) three weeks before the term begins. Although you are not required to use BNC, it is your responsibility to verify that you are purchasing/renting the correct materials. For details and instructions, please visit the Course Materials page.

A laptop is required for the program. While our core courses are designed to operate using either Windows or iOS, concentration courses may require software that is compatible only with Windows. Please contact the program office for more information about specific concentration requirements.

View technical requirements for World Campus programs.

Incoming OMBA students have access to free and/or discounted software beginning on the first day of class.

A maximum of 10 credits earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an officially recognized degree-granting international institution may be applied toward the MBA requirements, if they meet the Grad School requirements, subject to the program’s approval. However, credits earned to complete a previous master's degree, whether at Penn State or elsewhere, may not be applied to a second master's or doctoral degree at Penn State. The Penn State Graduate School Transfer Credit Policy, including requirements, can be found on the Transfer Credits page.

Grades will be posted in LionPATH. Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement. The instructor should provide written notification of the basis for grades to students within the first 10 calendar days of a term. Any changes in that basis should likewise be presented to students in writing. For more information regarding the grading process, please visit 47-20 Basis for Grades.

If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student’s transcript until the course has been completed. Course work must be completed within 10 weeks of the course’s scheduled end date. For more details, please visit 48-40 Deferred Grades.

The Penn State Graduate School requires a 3.0 minimum GPA to graduate from any of its programs. As such, it is expected that students maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program. Please refer to the academic performance document located on the Student Portal for details pertaining to performance improvement, dismissal, reinstatement, advising, and honors. In addition, please also review the Online MBA Academic Performance Requirements for program-specific requirements. Penn State Graduate School policies regarding procedures for termination of the degree program of a graduate student for unsatisfactory scholarship can be found on this University Bulletin page. 
 

Students who wish to question or challenge the grade assigned in a course should follow the procedures outlined on the Grade Mediation and Adjudication page.

It is strongly recommended that you speak with the faculty director/chair, as well as your instructors, before making a decision to withdraw from the program. View these procedures for withdrawing during a semester.

View the Bursar’s Office Tuition Adjustment Policy, which includes the semester’s adjustment schedule.

Students are responsible for declaring their intent to graduate in their final semester of course work. Applications for eligible students can be found in LionPATH. Online MBA students will have the opportunity to participate in the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony at University Park. If you plan to walk, you will need to reserve your seat using this Registration Form.

The Penn State Commencement website contains valuable information, including schedules, academic dress, and lodging information.

Each semester, World Campus hosts a celebration for graduating World Campus students and their families and friends. The event takes place during graduation weekend on the University Park campus. We hope you plan to attend this family-friendly event.

Diplomas for MBA students will be mailed approximately four to six weeks after the commencement ceremony to their permanent residence or LionPATH diploma mailing address. Your account must be paid in full before a diploma will be issued.

You can request an official transcript through the office of the University Registrar. You are able to print an advising (unofficial) transcript in LionPATH.

Starting with the spring 2020 semester, Penn State will eliminate the Information Technology Fee as a separate line item on the student bill and instead incorporate the fee as part of the tuition rate. This action will not impact overall cost.

As a Penn State Online MBA student, you will have access to a vast array of customized career services starting from the time you pay your enrollment deposit. The program provides you with access to coaching and resources through Penn State World Campus, the Smeal College of Business, and Penn State Career Services for the most comprehensive approach to ensuring your goals are met. Our services are designed to assist both those who intend to seek opportunities for growth within their current organizations and those who may consider moving on to something completely new in the short or long term. To learn how you can best utilize our resources, please log in to Nittany Lion Careers to schedule an appointment with the OMBA career counselors, Matt Soroka ([email protected]) and Lynn Atanasoff ([email protected]).

Occasionally, problems arise between a graduate student and other members of the University community outside the classroom. While the majority of problems are resolved amicably through discussion at the program level, remaining disagreements should be addressed first by consulting the faculty chair, followed by the associate dean for professional master's programs at the Smeal College of Business, and finally by the associate dean of the Graduate School for possible remaining options.

For problems that cannot be resolved through any other channel, and which constitute a compelling and serious issue, students may file an Appendix II written grievance. Details regarding the steps in this grievance protocol are outlined in Policy GCAC-802 Procedures for Resolution of Problems.

The University recognizes individuals’ privacy and the confidentiality of student records as described in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. Some details are considered directory items and may be released without permission, unless the student has a student-record confidentiality request form on file at the University. Please read this important information on confidentiality of records, directory information, and how to update any of your information with the University.

View specific information about how to report Academic Integrity issues.

All Penn State Online MBA students are expected to abide by the University Student Code of Conduct and the Smeal Honor Code (PDF).

If you have any questions about anything in this student handbook section, please contact the program.