The College of Business Administration offers LMU undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a 1-year master's degree while saving a substantial amount of money.
Students admitted into a 4+1 program intend to immediately enroll in a 1-year master's degree program on a full-time basis after their senior year. Students will take graduate-level courses during their senior year — one during the fall semester and one during the spring semester — which count toward their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Undergraduate tuition covers the cost of the graduate-level courses, and students may save more than $8,000 in graduate tuition costs.
Not sure which program is right for you? Students from the following majors may find certain 4+1 programs to be a good fit.
| MSA | MSBA | MSESI | MSM | MST | MELM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Communications | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Computer Science | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Economics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Engineering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Environmental Studies | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Film and Television | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Fine Arts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Liberal Arts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Mathematics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sciences | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Application Deadlines
Interested LMU students should apply for a 4+1 program during their junior year.
November 30, 2024: Deadline for spring 2025 admission to the M.S. in Accounting or M.S. in Taxation.
March 21, 2025: Deadline for fall 2025 admission to all 4+1 programs.
M.S. in Accounting
The Master of Science in Accounting is designed for students who want to obtain a CPA license or work as accounting professionals and leaders in public accounting, private industry, management consulting, government and not-for-profit organizations. Students majoring in accounting or finance are well-prepared for this program. When combined with program prerequisites, this program complies with the 150-hour California requirement for CPA licensure.
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Eligibility Requirements
- Current LMU junior with the appropriate prerequisite coursework.
- Expect to graduate in December 2025 for spring enrollment or expect to graduate in May or August 2026 for fall enrollment.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher strongly preferred; applicants with a lower GPA can strengthen their application with GMAT or GRE scores.
Application Requirements
Please reference our general application requirements. Special considerations for 4+1 applicants are as follows:
- GMAT/GRE Test Scores: You are not required to provide official test scores for the GMAT or GRE unless you have a current GPA less than 3.2.
- LMU Transcript: Upload your unofficial LMU transcript directly into your online application. There is no need to request an official transcript.
When applying, select “Accounting 4+1 (MS)” as your Program of Interest.
M.S. in Business Analytics
The Master of Science in Business Analytics is designed for students with very strong quantitative backgrounds. Students majoring in engineering, math, science and certain areas of business are particularly well-suited for this program. This degree is a STEM-qualified program that covers areas related to business analytics and big data analysis including data management, modeling, programming, visualization and data mining.
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Eligibility Requirements
- Current LMU junior majoring in engineering, science, business, math or economics who expects to graduate in May or August 2026.
- Completion of a college-level statistics course with a grade of B or better or are enrolled in a statistics course during your junior year.
Application Requirements
Please reference our general application requirements. Special considerations for 4+1 applicants are as follows:
- LMU Transcript: Upload your unofficial LMU transcript directly into your online application. There is no need to request an official transcript.
When applying, select “Business Analytics 4+1 (MS)” as your Program of Interest.
M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation
The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation is designed for students who are determined to make difference in their organization and in society. It delivers essential theoretical, applied and experiential learning to prepare students to launch their own firms, join a venture capital-backed startup, step in as a change-agent in a large corporate enterprise, contribute to a social enterprise or bring new innovative skills to their family businesses. Students with a background in entrepreneurship or engineering are especially well-suited for this program.
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Eligibility Requirements
- Current LMU junior who expects to graduate in May or August 2026.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher strongly preferred; applicants with a lower GPA can strengthen their application with GMAT or GRE scores.
Application Requirements
4+1 applicants will need to complete our general application for the program, including a resume and personal statement. Supplemental materials for 4+1 applicants are different than for other applicants and are as follows:
- Two Letters of Recommendation: LMU 4+1 applicants are required to submit 2 letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references. Please include contact information for your recommenders in your application, and they will be contacted by LMU to upload their letters directly into your application file.
- LMU Transcript: Upload your unofficial LMU transcript directly into your online application. There is no need to request an official transcript.
When applying, select “Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation 4+1 (MS)” as your Program of Interest.
M.S. in Management
The Master of Science in Management is designed for anyone who did not major in business. This program gives you the knowledge and skills to apply key business concepts in organizational settings in the areas of accounting, finance, marketing, operations and supply chain management, information technology, economics and statistics. All students participate in career workshops to help them interview successfully for full-time positions after graduation.
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Eligibility Requirements
- Current LMU junior outside the College of Business Administration who expects to graduate in May or August 2026.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher strongly preferred; applicants with a lower GPA can strengthen their application with GMAT or GRE scores.
Application Requirements
Please reference our general application requirements. Special considerations for 4+1 applicants are as follows:
- LMU Transcript: Upload your unofficial LMU transcript directly into your online application. There is no need to request an official transcript.
- Letters of Recommendation: We encourage you to submit 1 or 2 letters of recommendation from LMU faculty members or work supervisors who can assess your capabilities and leadership potential. Letters are not required; however, they can strengthen an application.
When applying, select “Management 4+1 (MS)” as your Program of Interest.
M.S. in Taxation
The Master of Science in Taxation is designed for students who want to pursue or advance their career as a tax practitioner at an accounting firm, law firm or government tax agency. Students interested in starting their own practice or joining a financial planning firm will also benefit from our curriculum. Students majoring in accounting or finance are well-prepared for this program. When combined with additional accounting and business coursework, this program complies with the 150-hour California requirement for CPA licensure. Non-business undergraduates will need significant coursework in addition to the M.S. in Taxation to meet licensure requirements.
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Eligibility Requirements
- Current LMU junior with the appropriate prerequisite coursework.
- Expect to graduate in December 2025 for spring enrollment or expect to graduate in May or August 2026 for fall enrollment.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher strongly preferred; applicants with a lower GPA can strengthen their application with GMAT or GRE scores.
Application Requirements
Please reference our general application requirements. Special considerations for 4+1 applicants are as follows:
- GMAT/GRE Test Scores: You are not required to provide official test scores for the GMAT or GRE unless you have a current GPA less than 3.2.
- LMU Transcript: Upload your unofficial LMU transcript directly into your online application. There is no need to request an official transcript.
When applying, select “Taxation 4+1 (MS)” as your Program of Interest.
Master in Entertainment Leadership and Management
The Master in Entertainment Leadership and Management is designed for students who want the skills necessary to navigate the business aspects of the entertainment industry. Our curriculum accomplishes this by exploring the real-world tension between the interests of the business world and the creators of visual narrative content. It provides benefits to business professionals pursuing an entertainment career as well as creative minds seeking knowledge on how to strategically advance their projects.
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Eligibility Requirements
- Current LMU junior who expects to graduate in May or August 2026.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher strongly preferred; applicants with a lower GPA can strengthen their application with GMAT or GRE scores.
Application Requirements
Please reference our general application requirements. Special considerations for 4+1 applicants are as follows:
- LMU Transcript: Upload your unofficial LMU transcript directly into your online application. There is no need to request an official transcript.
When applying, select “Master in Entertainment Leadership and Management 4+1” as your Program of Interest.