Shields School of Business
Online Graduate Programs
Discover your Pathway to Leadership
Flexible & Impactful
Graduate Business & Leadership Programs
The Shields School of Business offers a suite of flexible graduate degree programs designed for working professionals pursuing their career aspirations.
Career-Focused, Impact-Driven Programs
- Affordable programs in a flexible online format
- Only $2,625 per course
- Rolling admission (7 start dates)
- No GRE or GMAT entrance exams
- No master’s thesis
- Accomplished practitioners and academicians experienced in teaching adult learners
- Competency-based individual student learning outcomes
- Accelerated options with 10 courses for the MHRM and MA in Strategic Leadership programs
- 25% discount for partner organizations & 15% discount for SFU alumni
- Earn graduate credit for work experience with our Credit for Prior Learning Program
Shields School of Business at Saint Francis University
Online Graduate Degrees
Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership
Master of Business Administration
Master of Human Resource Management
New Program!
Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership
Designed to prepare you to become a transformational leader; capable of positively influencing others and establishing a respectful and productive culture within your organization.
The accelerated framework focuses heavily on the development of soft management skills and new leadership perspectives. The program is a great fit for working professionals, who work in public and non-profit organizations, such as in public administration, health care, higher education, and social services.
Program Flashfacts
- 100% online format
- 30 credits/10 courses
- Tuition per course: $2,625
- complete in as little as 1 year full-time
- 2-3 years typical part-time completion time
Master of Business Administration
As part of the rich Franciscan heritage of the University, our MBA program challenges you to explore ethical dilemmas that face managers every day and learn to manage with responsibility and compassion.
Stay broad or deep dive with 9 concentrations to align your MBA with your career aspirations: Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems & Project Management, Leadership and Ethical Management, Marketing, Sports Management.
Program Flashfacts
- 100% online format
- 36 graduate credits
- $2,625 per course
- complete in as little as 1-2 year full-time
- 2-3 years typical part-time completion time
- Accelerated undergraduate to MBA path for approved students from SFU, UPJ and other select college programs
Master of Human Resource Management
Established in 1961, the Master’s in Human Resource Management program has earned the respect and admiration of employers and employees throughout Pennsylvania. Graduates occupy positions at all levels of responsibility in both the private and public sectors.
Outstanding curriculum: You will focus on the functional areas of HR: the foundation of HRM; staffing, recruitment and retention; employment and labor law; compensation and benefits administration; performance management; and other areas identified by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Program Flashfacts
- 100 % online format
- 30 credits/10 courses
- $2,625 per course
- complete in as little as 1 year full-time
- 2-3 years typical part-time completion time
- Accelerated undergraduate to MHRM path for approved students from SFU
Shields School of Business
Discover your Pathway to Leadership
In the Shields School of Business, we pride ourselves on helping working adults like you forge unique paths to becoming ethical, impactful leaders who make a difference in the communities they serve.
Get Started
There is no single path to career fulfillment and leadership success. The right path for you is flexible enough to balance your current life with your ambitious goals.
You can do this! Let's set up a time to talk about anything that is holding you back.
- charting an achievable career plan
- transfer credits and affordability measures
- balancing work, family, and college
- preparing for online learning
Credit for Prior Learning
Real-world experience matters at Saint Francis University. Our Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Policy lets you earn graduate credit for the real-world experience you've already gained - saving you time and money as you move forward in your degree.
Learn more about Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
Employer Education Partners Program
Discover employee benefits offered through the SFU/Employer Education Pathways Tuition Scholarship Program. By partnering with SFU, you will be working with a reputable institution known for its flexibility and commitment to educational excellence.
Visit our Employer Education Partners Program Homepage for more information.
Student Handbook
Our student Handbook is available here.
Advance Faster. Pay Less.
Earn Graduate Credit for Your Experience!
At Saint Francis University, we believe your experience should count. Our Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Program is designed for adult students in our Graduate Business Programs who bring valuable knowledge from the workplace, military training, professional certifications, or other non-traditional learning experiences.
You can earn up to 6 MBA credits and 3 credits toward the MASL or MHRM programs - helping you move through your program faster, save on tuition, and stay focused on advancing your career.
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Already building your career? You might be further along in your graduate journey than you realize. To qualify for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), you'll need:
- At least 3 years of full-time, relevant professional experience
- Experience that shows graduate-level learning and matches your program's learning outcomes
What kind of experience counts? We recognize a variety of professional backgrounds, including:
- Managerial or leadership roles in business or nonprofit organizations
- Consulting work in areas like strategy, finance, marketing, or operations
- Entrepreneurship or owning your business
- Professional certifications that enhance business knowledge - like CPA, PMP, or CFA
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The following materials are required as part of your application:
- A completed application sent to the Program Director
- A portfolio that includes:
- Your resume, showing relevant professional and educational background
- A personal statement explaining how your experience matches the goals of the graduate business program
- Documentation of your work - like job descriptions, performance reviews, or letters from supervisors
- A reflective essay for each course you're seeking credit for, showing how your experience meets the course objectives
- Any certifications, awards, or recognitions you've earned along the way
When you're ready, start your CPL application here.
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- Non-refundable application fee: $150
- Posting to transcript fee: $50/credit
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Once you submit your portfolio, a faculty member with expertise in the subject area will carefully review your materials. They'll be looking for:
- Relevance - Your background should clearly align with the learning goals of the course(s) you're requesting credit for.
- Breadth and Depth - Your submission should show not just what you've done, but the depth of knowledge and level of responsibility you held.
- Current Knowledge - What you've learned should still apply to today's business environment.
- Graduate-Level Rigor - Your work should reflect strategic thinking, decision-making, and other qualities expected at the graduate level.
After the review, the faculty member will make a recommendation to the Program Director and Shields School of Business Dean, who will make the final call on awarding credit.
Already building your career? You might be further along in your graduate journey than you realize. To qualify for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), you'll need:
- At least 3 years of full-time, relevant professional experience
- Experience that shows graduate-level learning and matches your program's learning outcomes
What kind of experience counts? We recognize a variety of professional backgrounds, including:
- Managerial or leadership roles in business or nonprofit organizations
- Consulting work in areas like strategy, finance, marketing, or operations
- Entrepreneurship or owning your business
- Professional certifications that enhance business knowledge - like CPA, PMP, or CFA
The following materials are required as part of your application:
- A completed application sent to the Program Director
- A portfolio that includes:
- Your resume, showing relevant professional and educational background
- A personal statement explaining how your experience matches the goals of the graduate business program
- Documentation of your work - like job descriptions, performance reviews, or letters from supervisors
- A reflective essay for each course you're seeking credit for, showing how your experience meets the course objectives
- Any certifications, awards, or recognitions you've earned along the way
When you're ready, start your CPL application here.
- Non-refundable application fee: $150
- Posting to transcript fee: $50/credit
Once you submit your portfolio, a faculty member with expertise in the subject area will carefully review your materials. They'll be looking for:
- Relevance - Your background should clearly align with the learning goals of the course(s) you're requesting credit for.
- Breadth and Depth - Your submission should show not just what you've done, but the depth of knowledge and level of responsibility you held.
- Current Knowledge - What you've learned should still apply to today's business environment.
- Graduate-Level Rigor - Your work should reflect strategic thinking, decision-making, and other qualities expected at the graduate level.
After the review, the faculty member will make a recommendation to the Program Director and Shields School of Business Dean, who will make the final call on awarding credit.
Contact Us
Feel free to reach out to our Graduate Business team at the Shields School of Business or complete the form below and we'll be in touch shortly.
Request Information
Frequently Asked Questions
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Only two requirements – a completed application and all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Please have your transcripts sent directly to our Admissions team.
-
We are happy to walk you through the application and answer any questions you may have along the way!
Contact:
Morgan Shumaker
Graduate Enrollment Advisor
mshumaker@francis.edu
814-395-6095
-
No, GMAT or GRE entrance exams are no longer a requirement.
-
We suggest sending them electronically either through your school’s Registrar, Parchment, or National Student Clearinghouse. When ordering, have it sent to Saint Francis University, and we will upload it to your application.
-
If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree, you can upload a copy of your unofficial transcript to your application or send it to admissions@francis.edu. Once you graduate, you will follow the steps above to send your official transcript.
-
Yes. You can be conditionally accepted into the program pending receipt of your official transcript. With a conditional acceptance, you’ll still be able to access your student account and register for classes.
-
Yes, the GPA requirements are as follows:
- MBA – 3.0
- MHRM – 3.0
- MASL – 2.8
-
The cost per credit is $875. Each course is 3 credits, so the cost per course is $2,625. Our MBA program is 36 graduate credits. Our MHRM and MASL programs consist of 30 graduate credits.
-
Unfortunately, no. This program is classified as fully online and does not meet the criteria for F1 Visa holders.
-
Our MHRM and MASL do not require any prerequisite courses. Our MBA program has three basic core courses – Financial Accounting, Macroeconomics, and a statistics course. These courses may be waived if you have already completed them during your undergraduate degree. You do not need to have them all completed before beginning courses in the MBA program. Our director will be able to guide you through this process.
-
Additional costs include textbooks and course materials, a $45 technology fee per semester for our learning management system, and a $195 graduation fee.
-
We have corporate partnerships established with employers throughout Cambria and Blair County. Please contact our Director, Haley Thomas – hthomas@francis.edu to see if your organization is a partner and receives a discount.
-
The time to completion is dependent on each program as well as whether you’re a fulltime or part-time student. Each student’s journey is different. We will help you create a schedule that stays consistent with both your personal and professional schedules. Here’s an outline:
- MBA, Full-time – 1-2 years
- MBA, Part-time – 2-3 years
- MHRM, Full-time – 1-1.5 years
- MHRM, Part-time – 2-3 years
- MASL, Full-time – 1-1.5 years
- MASL, Part-time – 2-3 years
-
There are seven entry points for graduate students to begin classes every year. They include the months of August, October, December, January, March, May, and June. Please contact the Director of Graduate Business Programs for the specific date of the next start of classes.
-
Yes, many current students and alumni have successfully completed their graduate studies with challenging careers and busy family lives. All the Saint Francis University graduate programs are designed to be blended into your lives, rather than to disrupt them.
-
Yes, the degree programs are accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, as well the International Accreditation for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The latter specialized business programs accreditation is not required but symbolizes a higher degree of academic quality and validation.
-
- MBA Program = 100%
- MHRM Program = 100%
- MASL Program – Not applicable, the first graduates are anticipated in May 2024
The First Career Destination Report tracks all Saint Francis University graduates and measures career placement or graduate school entrance using a survey to determine if a graduate has secured employment in a relevant career or was accepted in graduate program (i.e., a doctoral degree) within six months of graduation. The results reported above are for the Class of 2022.
-
All graduate business faculty are either academically qualified with doctoral degrees or hold alternative professional degrees, and certifications, tempered by professional experience that are relevant to their respective teaching assignments. All program faculty are accessible and supportive of student learning and success.
Only two requirements – a completed application and all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Please have your transcripts sent directly to our Admissions team.
We are happy to walk you through the application and answer any questions you may have along the way!
Contact:
Morgan Shumaker
Graduate Enrollment Advisor
mshumaker@francis.edu
814-395-6095
No, GMAT or GRE entrance exams are no longer a requirement.
We suggest sending them electronically either through your school’s Registrar, Parchment, or National Student Clearinghouse. When ordering, have it sent to Saint Francis University, and we will upload it to your application.
If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree, you can upload a copy of your unofficial transcript to your application or send it to admissions@francis.edu. Once you graduate, you will follow the steps above to send your official transcript.
Yes. You can be conditionally accepted into the program pending receipt of your official transcript. With a conditional acceptance, you’ll still be able to access your student account and register for classes.
Yes, the GPA requirements are as follows:
- MBA – 3.0
- MHRM – 3.0
- MASL – 2.8
The cost per credit is $875. Each course is 3 credits, so the cost per course is $2,625. Our MBA program is 36 graduate credits. Our MHRM and MASL programs consist of 30 graduate credits.
Unfortunately, no. This program is classified as fully online and does not meet the criteria for F1 Visa holders.
Our MHRM and MASL do not require any prerequisite courses. Our MBA program has three basic core courses – Financial Accounting, Macroeconomics, and a statistics course. These courses may be waived if you have already completed them during your undergraduate degree. You do not need to have them all completed before beginning courses in the MBA program. Our director will be able to guide you through this process.
Additional costs include textbooks and course materials, a $45 technology fee per semester for our learning management system, and a $195 graduation fee.
We have corporate partnerships established with employers throughout Cambria and Blair County. Please contact our Director, Haley Thomas – hthomas@francis.edu to see if your organization is a partner and receives a discount.
The time to completion is dependent on each program as well as whether you’re a fulltime or part-time student. Each student’s journey is different. We will help you create a schedule that stays consistent with both your personal and professional schedules. Here’s an outline:
- MBA, Full-time – 1-2 years
- MBA, Part-time – 2-3 years
- MHRM, Full-time – 1-1.5 years
- MHRM, Part-time – 2-3 years
- MASL, Full-time – 1-1.5 years
- MASL, Part-time – 2-3 years
There are seven entry points for graduate students to begin classes every year. They include the months of August, October, December, January, March, May, and June. Please contact the Director of Graduate Business Programs for the specific date of the next start of classes.
Yes, many current students and alumni have successfully completed their graduate studies with challenging careers and busy family lives. All the Saint Francis University graduate programs are designed to be blended into your lives, rather than to disrupt them.
Yes, the degree programs are accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, as well the International Accreditation for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The latter specialized business programs accreditation is not required but symbolizes a higher degree of academic quality and validation.
- MBA Program = 100%
- MHRM Program = 100%
- MASL Program – Not applicable, the first graduates are anticipated in May 2024
The First Career Destination Report tracks all Saint Francis University graduates and measures career placement or graduate school entrance using a survey to determine if a graduate has secured employment in a relevant career or was accepted in graduate program (i.e., a doctoral degree) within six months of graduation. The results reported above are for the Class of 2022.
All graduate business faculty are either academically qualified with doctoral degrees or hold alternative professional degrees, and certifications, tempered by professional experience that are relevant to their respective teaching assignments. All program faculty are accessible and supportive of student learning and success.