The Master of Science in Applied Digital Technology (MS ADT) program in the Neil Griffin College of Business is a professional degree program designed to prepare students of various educational and professional backgrounds for positions that utilize 1) business technologies in creative capacities or 2) business analytics to make informed decision-making. The Neil Griffin College of Business is accredited by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). The Griffin Graduate Program’s MS ADT degree is STEM designated.

Courses that support the MS ADT are offered in both a traditional face-to-face and wholly online environment.  The MS ADT is comprised of 33-credit hours. The MS ADT degree has a 12-credit hour core. In addition, students have the flexibility to tailor their MS ADT program of study to their particular interests or needs by choosing a concentration in various specialty areas. Concentrations offered include artificial intelligence and machine learning, business analytics, and cloud and cyber security. MS ADT students complete 12-credit hours of graduate coursework focused on their chosen concentration area and have 9-credit hours of graduate course electives. Approved elective courses consist of graduate courses in business, statistics, and computer science.

Admission Requirements

Unconditional Admission

An applicant for the MS ADT degree program will receive unconditional admission by meeting the following criteria: 

1. Submitted a completed application for admission and a nonrefundable application fee at least 30 days in advance of registration. 
2. Submitted official transcripts from each previously attended college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the registrar of other institutions. 
3. Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, OR a 3.00 GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework (undergraduate, graduate, or combination thereof).
4. Earned a graduate or post-baccalaureate professional degree from a regionally-accredited (U.S.) institution.

Conditional Admission

Applicants that do not meet the cumulative or last 60 hours GPA criterion may receive conditional admission. Consideration for conditional admission is given to applicants that: Earned a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale; OR a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework (undergraduate, graduate, or combination thereof); OR submitted a statement of purpose that will be evaluated by the director of graduate programs and the graduate programs admissions committee. 

The following course restrictions will pertain to conditionally admitted applicants:

• Conditionally admitted students in the traditional face-to-face MS ADT program can take no more than 6 graduate credit hours during a traditional length semester.
• Conditionally admitted students in the online MS ADT program can take no more than 3 graduate credit hours during each seven-week term.

Conditionally admitted students will be moved to unconditional admission status upon completion of 6 hours with a grade of “B” or better in each course. While conditionally admitted, a grade of “C” or lower in any graduate-level course will result in suspension from the graduate program.

Satisfactory Progress

The Griffin Graduate Program’s standards for satisfactory progress enhance those set forth by A-State’s Graduate School.

Students are suspended and unable to re-enroll in the program upon earning a:

• “F” in any graduate course.
• “C” or below in Graduate Business Fundamentals (MBA 5003).
• “C” in two graduate courses. Students earning a second “C” in their last semester of coursework may re-take the course―or a viable course substitute―in the following semester, pending approval of the program director.

The following criteria must be met to be eligible for graduation:

• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in graduate coursework taken in the Griffin Graduate Program.