The Master of Business Administration includes several programs: the professional MBA (Iowa MBA), executive MBA, and the MBA in Italy (CIMBA MBA). Students in the professional MBA program have the opportunity to enroll in combined degree programs in business analytics, law, medicine, and social work, or to earn the Certificate in Healthcare Management. See "Combined Programs" under MBA Professional Program in this section of the catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will:
- demonstrate the ability to be effective team members and leaders in a diverse and complex world,
- grow their human capital through the attainment of relevant business knowledge and skills,
- be able to generate integrative solutions to business problems that impact organizations and community,
- develop global business perspectives, and
- understand and demonstrate the importance of acting with integrity and social responsibility.
The MBA Executive Program (EMBA program) requires 48 s.h. of coursework. Students must maintain a program grade-point average of at least 2.75. The program is conducted at the Pomerantz Center on the university's Iowa City campus and at the Pappajohn Education Center in Des Moines, Iowa. See program locations on the Tippie College of Business website.
The program spans 16 months—three semesters and one summer. The program begins in mid-August with a five-day residency. It continues with in-person classes Friday and Saturday once a month, alternating with a monthly synchronous online Saturday session. Assignments between class sessions may include asynchronous online instruction, readings, cases, and individual and group projects. A second five-day residency is held at the beginning of the second year. Students have a four-week winter break.
Each entering class progresses through the program together, working on group projects in teams of four to six members. The curriculum includes an international business seminar, and students have access to executive coaching as part of their participation in the program.
The MBA Executive Program requires the following coursework.
Core Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MBA:8110 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MBA:8120 | Management in Organizations | 3 |
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8150 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| MBA:8160 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA:8240 | Operations and Supply Chain | 3 |
| MBA:8300 | Foundations in Strategy | 3 |
| MBA:8310 | Business Integration | 2 |
| MBA:8330 | Seminar in Strategic Management I | 1 |
| MBA:8500 | Seminar in International Business | 3 |
Additional Required EMBA Courses
Students complete the remainder of their program with additional required courses. Courses are subject to change, so students should consult their advisor. A representative list follows.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT:9020 | Strategic Cost Analysis | 3 |
| BAIS:9300 | Innovations in Technology | 3 |
| FIN:9300 | Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions | 3 |
| MGMT:9110 | Dynamics of Negotiations | 3 |
| MGMT:9210 | Law and Ethics | 3 |
| MGMT:9270 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
Admission
Admission is limited to experienced managers and executives who want to broaden their management skills without interrupting their professional careers. Applicants typically have seven or more years of postgraduate work experience. Previous academic work in business is not required.
The Professional MBA Program (Iowa MBA) requires 45 s.h. of credit, including a business core of nine courses plus six electives. Students must maintain a program grade-point average of at least 2.75. The program is tailored for working professionals building on the synergies of concurrent work and learning. The program prepares graduates to be effective managers and leaders in the global marketplace. The curriculum is designed for students with varied backgrounds, undergraduate majors, and professional experience. Previous coursework in business is not required.
Courses are offered each semester during evening hours online and select offerings are available at two locations in Iowa: Cedar Rapids at the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Center and Des Moines at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center (JMPEC); see program locations on the Tippie College of Business website.
Requirements
The core develops competency in general management skills and key functional business areas. The electives contribute to the development of an area of expertise and foster a deeper understanding of management and business practices. Electives are offered in analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, accounting, leadership, and management. Students may take part in global learning opportunities in international locations to increase their understanding of the global business environment and its implications for business conduct and decision-making.
Students may earn a professional Certificate in Corporate Finance, Finance, Financial Decision-Making, Innovation, Investment Management, Leadership, Marketing, Responsible Resource Management, or Risk Management and Insurance while they fulfill requirements for the MBA, often without taking courses beyond the 45 s.h. required for the degree. They also may earn the Certificate in Business Analytics while they fulfill requirements for the MBA degree. Certificate courses are regularly offered online and select offerings may be available occasionally at the two program locations in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.
Students can complete the degree requirements in as few as five semesters or extend their study to as long as 10 years. Most students earn the MBA in about three years, taking two courses each fall and spring semester and one course during the summer.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| MBA:8110 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MBA:8120 | Management in Organizations | 3 |
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8150 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| or BAIS:9100 | Data and Decisions | |
| MBA:8160 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA:8240 | Operations and Supply Chain | 3 |
| MBA:8300 | Foundations in Strategy | 3 |
| Six business elective courses | 18 | |
| MBA Capstone | ||
| One of these: | ||
| MBA:8310 | Business Integration | 3 |
| MBA:8320 | Strategic Business Growth | 3 |
| MBA:9300 | Strategy in Action | 3 |
Business Electives
The list below includes all approved business electives. Not all courses are offered on a regular basis. Students should consult MyUI for course availability or discuss course offerings with their advisor.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Management Programs (MBA Program) | ||
| MBA:8130 | Business Communication | 3 |
| MBA:8310 | Business Integration (if not taken as capstone) | 1-3 |
| MBA:8320 | Strategic Business Growth (if not taken as capstone) | 3 |
| MBA:8430 | Communication with Artificial Intelligence and Business Technology | 3 |
| MBA:8500 | Seminar in International Business | 3 |
| MBA:9130 | Leadership Communication and Story | 3 |
| MBA:9300 | Strategy in Action (if not taken as capstone) | 3 |
| Accounting | ||
| ACCT:9020 | Strategic Cost Analysis | 3 |
| ACCT:9040 | Financial Statement Analysis and Forecasting | 3 |
| Business Analytics | ||
| BAIS:6040 | Data Programming in Python | 3 |
| BAIS:6050 | Data Management and Visual Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6060 | Data Analysis with R | 3 |
| BAIS:6070 | Data Science | 3 |
| BAIS:6100 | Text Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6105 | Social Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6110 | Big Data Management and Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6130 | Applied Optimization | 3 |
| BAIS:6140 | Information Visualization | 3 |
| BAIS:6150 | Financial Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6180 | Healthcare Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6190 | Forecasting | 3 |
| BAIS:6210 | Data Leadership and Management | 3 |
| BAIS:6230 | People Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6280 | Cybersecurity | 3 |
| BAIS:7900 | Special Topics in Business Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:9010 | Contemporary Topics in Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:9110 | Advanced Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:9120 | Managing the Supply Chain | 3 |
| BAIS:9130 | Lean Process Improvement | 3 |
| BAIS:9140 | Agile Project Management | 3 |
| BAIS:9300 | Innovations in Technology | 3 |
| Entrepreneurial Management | ||
| ENTR:9100 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| ENTR:9200 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
| ENTR:9300 | Design Thinking | 3 |
| ENTR:9450 | Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation | 3 |
| ENTR:9500 | Managing the Growth Business | 3 |
| ENTR:9700 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
| Finance | ||
| FIN:9010 | Contemporary Topics in Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9130 | Corporate Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
| FIN:9140 | Enterprise Risk Management | 3 |
| FIN:9150 | Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation | 3 |
| FIN:9200 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN:9210 | Derivatives | 3 |
| FIN:9220 | Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN:9230 | Real Estate Finance and Investments | 3 |
| FIN:9240 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9270 | Security Analysis | 3 |
| FIN:9290 | Alternative Investments and Portfolio Strategies | 3 |
| FIN:9300 | Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions | 3 |
| FIN:9310 | Corporate Financial Strategy | 3 |
| FIN:9330 | Investment Banking | 3 |
| FIN:9350 | Wealth Management | 3 |
| Management and Entrepreneurship | ||
| MGMT:7900 | Contemporary Topics in Management and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT:9090 | Influence and Constructive Persuasion | 3 |
| MGMT:9091 | Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability | 3 |
| MGMT:9092 | Effective Managerial Communication | 3 |
| MGMT:9110 | Dynamics of Negotiations | 3 |
| MGMT:9120 | Leadership and Personal Development | 3 |
| MGMT:9130 | Strategic Management of Change | 3 |
| MGMT:9150 | Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness I | 3 |
| MGMT:9160 | Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness II | 3 |
| MGMT:9185 | Project Management | 3 |
| MGMT:9210 | Law and Ethics | 3 |
| MGMT:9220 | Maximizing Team Performance | 3 |
| MGMT:9230 | Managing and Preventing Conflict | 3 |
| MGMT:9240 | Inclusive Leadership | 3 |
| MGMT:9250 | Managing Employee Performance | 3 |
| MGMT:9260 | Strategic Employee Development | 3 |
| MGMT:9270 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGMT:9290 | Global Business Management | 3 |
| Marketing | ||
| MKTG:9010 | Contemporary Topics in Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9015 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9120 | Customer Relationship Management | 3 |
| MKTG:9150 | Brand Management | 3 |
| MKTG:9155 | Digital Marketing Insights, Strategies, and Applications | 3 |
| MKTG:9165 | Digital Marketing Analytics | 3 |
| MKTG:9170 | Business to Business Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9190 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9300 | Applied Marketing Research | 3 |
| MKTG:9310 | Marketing Analytics | 3 |
| MKTG:9320 | Strategic Brand Positioning | 3 |
| MKTG:9330 | Product and Portfolio Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG:9340 | Customer Analysis | 3 |
| MKTG:9350 | Marketing Communication and Promotions | 3 |
Admission
The MBA program admits students for entry in summer, fall, or spring; applications are accepted throughout the year. Admission decisions are based on completed application materials, including quality of work experience, undergraduate grade-point average, and optional scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. While not required for admission purposes, applicants can submit GMAT/GRE scores to strengthen an application and those scores may be used in consideration for scholarship awards. View the admission guidelines on the Tippie College of Business website.
Applicants whose first language is not English must score at least 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or must have a successful admission interview. In place of TOEFL, the program accepts International English Testing System (IELTS) scores. For information about registering for TOEFL or IELTS and reporting scores to the university, visit English Requirements for MBA Admission on the Office of Admissions website.
Admission decisions are made before registration begins for completed applications received by the priority application deadline. Admitted applicants who have met the priority application deadline may request registration for classes on the first registration date. See the admissions website for priority and final application deadlines.
Combined Programs
Combined degree programs allow students to pursue two degrees simultaneously, earning both more quickly than they would if they pursued each degree separately.
Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined degree program.
MBA/JD
The MBA Program collaborates with the College of Law to offer the combined Master of Business Administration (Professional MBA Program)/Juris Doctor degree program. For more information about the law degree, see the Juris Doctor, JD (College of Law) section of the catalog.
MBA/MD
The MBA Program collaborates with the Carver College of Medicine to offer the combined Master of Business Administration (Professional MBA Program)/Doctor of Medicine degree program. For more information about the medicine degree, see the Doctor of Medicine, MD (Carver College of Medicine) section of the catalog.
MBA/MS in Business Analytics (Professional Subprogram)
The MBA Program along with the Department of Business Analytics offers a combined Master of Business Administration (Professional MBA Program.)/Master of Science in business analytics (professional subprogram) degree option. Students complete 33 s.h. of MBA credit paired with 27 s.h. of business analytics credit for a total of at least 60 s.h. For more information, see the MS in business analytics (professional) in the Tippie College of Business section of the catalog or contact the Professional MBA Program.
MBA/MSW
The MBA Program collaborates with the School of Social Work to offer the combined Master of Business Administration (Professional MBA Program)/Master of Social Work degree program. For more information, see the Master of Social Work, MSW (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) section of the catalog or contact the Professional MBA Program.
MBA/Certificate in Healthcare Management
The MBA Program collaborates with the College of Public Health to offer a combined Master of Business Administration (Professional MBA Program)/Certificate in Healthcare Management. MBA students complete four specified healthcare management courses (12 s.h.) in place of four MBA electives to earn the certificate. For more information, see the Certificate in Healthcare Management (College of Public Health) section of the catalog or contact the Professional MBA Program.
The CIMBA Italy MBA requires 52–55 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a program grade-point average of at least 2.75. The 11-month full-time program is held primarily at the CIMBA campus in Paderno del Grappa, Italy, but the final course is completed on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. A two-year part-time program also is available for working professionals living in Italy.
The program focuses on personal leadership development and emphasizes strategic management, consulting, and international business. Students apply what they learn through a consulting project with local and international companies. In addition to the MBA degree, students earn certificates through Kepner-Tregoe in problem solving and decision making, and in project management. The program draws its faculty from the University of Iowa and from institutions across the United States and Europe.
The full-time program admits students only for fall semester entry. Part-time applicants typically start in the fall but may be permitted to begin the program at other times.
The CIMBA Italy MBA program requires the following coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MBA:8110 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MBA:8120 | Management in Organizations | 3 |
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8150 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| MBA:8160 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MBA:8170 | International Economic Environment of the Firm | 2 |
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA:8240 | Operations and Supply Chain | 3 |
| MBA:8310 | Business Integration | 1-3 |
| ACCT:9020 | Strategic Cost Analysis | 3 |
| BAIS:9110 | Advanced Analytics | 2-3 |
| BAIS:9120 | Managing the Supply Chain | 2-3 |
| BAIS:9220 | Introduction to Information Systems | 3 |
| ENTR:9100 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| FIN:9300 | Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions | 3 |
| MGMT:9210 | Law and Ethics | 2 |
| MGMT:9120 | Leadership and Personal Development | 3 |
| Elective coursework to complete degree requirements can vary each year in the Italy MBA program; students should consult their advisor | ||
Admission
Admission decisions are based on an applicant’s completed application, which includes a résumé, academic qualifications, essays, an interview demonstrating experience and English proficiency, and scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. Applicants are recommended to have at least two years of professional work experience.