That is up to you. Students with prior business education may accelerate through the program in one year. You have a maximum of six years to complete the program. Most working professionals are taking 3 to 4 years to complete the program.

Tuition costs will depend on your residency status and the number of credit hours taken.  For details regarding current costs, please refer to www.wmich.edu/tuition/ 

WMU is nationally recognized for many achievements, including for example our “Top 100 Public Universities” ranking by US News & World Report.  Given such accolades and the MBA program’s long-standing accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International - www.aacsb.edu/accreditation ) WMU’s MBA program will continue to be a best value.

All students will complete a minimum of 12 courses (36 credit hours.)  Students with no prior business courses may need to complete up to 4 other courses (12 credit hours) as well.

Business Core (Prerequisites)
The following courses are typically waived for students with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or with related coursework.

• ACTY 6010    Accountancy
• FIN 6020        Corporate Finance
• LAW 6040      Legal, Regulatory and Political Aspects of Business
• ECON 6010    Basic Economic Analysis

Required Courses: Business Context

• BUS 6150       Global Business and Intercultural Communications
• BUS 6160       Business Policy and the Social and Ethical Environment
• BUS 6180       Information Technology Management

Required Courses: Functional Core

• ACTY 6110    Managerial Accounting
• FIN 6120        Financial Management
• MKTG 6130   Customer Driven Marketing Management
• MGMT 6170   Managing Human Resources and Behavior
• MKTG 6140 or MGMT 6140             Business Process Management

Required Courses: Integrative Business Solutions

• BUS 6990       Business Strategy

Elective Courses: Nine Credit Hours

• Choose three elective courses.  For more information regarding electives and concentrations, please see the “Concentration and Electives” section of the FAQs.

You have some flexibility in establishing the sequence of courses.  The requirements and some recommendations for course sequencing are presented below.

• The “Competency Requirements” must be achieved prior to enrolling in core MBA courses.
• The “Business Core (Prerequisite)” courses must be completed before taking any other MBA courses.
• The “Business Context” and “Functional Core” courses (eight in total) may be taken in any order, although:
• It is recommended that you take the “Business Context” courses first.
• All eight of the courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the capstone (BUS 6990) course.

It is recommended but not required that you complete at least four of the eight “Business Context” and “Functional Core” courses before you start taking electives.  (See the “Concentrations and Electives” FAQs for more details.

Our MBA program is available in four locations: Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Singapore. Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids locations offer courses throughout the year and have local faculty, advisors and staff. You may take classes in either location, but most students complete the program in one location.

The Battle Creek MBA cohort program enables a select group of students to move through program coursework together, from start to finish. One of the main benefits to a cohort program is establishing a network of professionals that you will communicate with throughout your academic career and even after graduation. In addition, the progression of coursework is established from the start of the program, ensuring program completion in 32 months.

We run four semesters throughout the year. Fall and spring semesters are thirteen weeks long, with classes meeting one night per week. Summer I and Summer II semesters are 6.5 weeks long, with classes meeting two nights per week. Most classes meet on weekdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

A maximum of six graduate credit hours may be transferred if: a) the credits are from an AACSB accredited program; b) you achieved a minimum grade of “3.0” (B) in the courses to be transferred; and c) you maintained a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 at the institution.

In the summer session students can typically participate in a short-course business study abroad program.

Please see http://www.wmich.edu/business/gbc/studyabroad.html for more information.

Also, opportunities are available throughout the year to participate in full year or one semester study abroad programs at many sites across the globe.  For addition information, visit the University’s Study Abroad web site at www.wmich.edu/studyabroad .

The MBA program does not require an internship.  However, students with no or limited prior work experience are encouraged to seek such opportunities. 

International students interested in internships need to contact the Office of International Student Services at .  (For a brief introduction to internship opportunities for international students, please refer to www.wmich.edu/oiss/immigrationmanual.html )

Yes, the Career Center at the Haworth College of Business supports the career development of business students by assisting them to engage in career development experiences and launch satisfying careers. This is accomplished through two main strategies:

1) Career programs and advising

2) Employment services. Additional information on the services offered can be found at

Admissions decisions are based on the following factors.

1. Completion of an undergraduate bachelor degree with a minimum GPA of 2.50 for the last two years of study.  Undergraduate degrees from all disciplines are accepted. 
2. One of the following:
1. GMAT Score (for GMAT information, please see www.mba.com )  OR
2. A professional Graduate degree from an accredited U.S. program,  OR
3. A minimum of seven years of extensive executive management experience.
3. For International applicants, a TOEFL score must also be submitted.

No.  However, we also request that you email a current biography or resume to in Kalamazoo or to in Grand Rapids.

The MBA program at WMU uses a rolling admissions process such that US Residents can apply any time throughout the year.  We can process your application as early as a couple of weeks prior to a semester start.  However, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

International applicants need to apply in accordance with the following schedule.

No matter which campus you plan to attend, the application process is basically the same. 

1. Submit the application form and processing fee. 

1. For U.S. Residents, use the online application found at www.wmich.edu/admissions

 

2. For International applicants, use the application found at http://international.wmich.edu/content/section/9/177/ (Note that all International applicants should work closely with our Office of International Student Services. 

1. Submit official transcripts.  Request each institution, except WMU, to send one official transcript.  It should be sent to Western Michigan University, Office of Admissions, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5211. 

1. Submit one of the following items:
1. Official GMAT scores, or
2. Evidence of prior Graduate Degree, or
3. Resume and letter requesting GMAT waiver based on seven years of extensive executive management experience.

1. For International applicants, submit TOEFL scores and other materials required by the Office of International Student Services.  Please refer to  http://international.wmich.edu/content/section/9/177/ for more information.

• All financial aid information may be found at www.wmich.edu/grad/funding

  • Application forms for Graduate Assistantships are available by contacting 269-387-5133 or MBA-Advising@wmich.edu
  • Applications for Fellowships may be found at www.wmich.edu/grad/funding

No.  The requirement is that you take three electives.  If you take your three electives from more than one discipline (e.g., one elective in finance and two in management) you will achieve a “general business” MBA.   If you take all three electives from the same discipline, your transcripts will indicate that you have a concentration in that discipline. Students who wish to pursue a concentration in Marketing must take MKTG 6710 as one of the three electives.

That depends on each unique situation.  To discuss concentrations in general terms, you may call 269-387-5086 in Kalamazoo or 616-771-9478 in Grand Rapids.  If you have a specific concentration in mind that you’d like to discuss with an advisor for that concentration, you may still call the “General Discussion” number or use the table below for specific contact information.

No.  If you are uncertain if you want to develop a concentration or if you know that you plan to take electives from multiple disciplines, then you will be considered a “general business” MBA until you notify us otherwise. 

Please see the previous table and contact the appropriate advisor.  It is important that we know you are pursuing a concentration so that it can be indicated on your transcripts.

No.  As long as you have completed the prerequisite for an elective course as listed in the graduate catalog (e.g., FIN 6120 as a prerequisite for FIN 6250) you may register for the elective course.  However, it is recommended that you complete at least four of the eight required Business Context and Functional Core courses listed above before you start taking electives.