This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The Master of Business Administration includes two programs: the Iowa MBA and the MBA in Italy (CIMBA Italy MBA).
Students in the Iowa MBA Program have the opportunity to enroll in combined degree programs in business analytics, healthcare administration, law, medicine, strategic communication, and social work, or to earn the Certificate in Healthcare Management. See "Combined Programs" under the Iowa MBA Program section of the catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will:
- demonstrate the ability to be leaders in a diverse and complex world;
- demonstrate the ability to be effective team members;
- demonstrate executive-ready communication skills; and
- create integrative solutions to business problems that impact organizations and communities.
The Iowa MBA Program is tailored for working professionals building on the synergies of concurrent work and learning. It also 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.
Requirements
The Iowa MBA Program requires 45 s.h. of graduate credit, which encompasses a core of nine courses (27 s.h.) and six electives (18 s.h.). Students must maintain a program grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.75.
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, economics, 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. Courses are offered each semester during evening hours online and select offerings are available in Des Moines at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center (JMPEC).
Students may earn a professional certificate in artificial intelligence and technology management, business communication, corporate finance, finance, financial decision-making, innovation, investment management, leadership, marketing, responsible resource management, risk management and insurance, or strategy while fulfilling requirements for the MBA, often without taking courses beyond the 45 s.h. required for the degree. Students may also earn the Certificate in Business Analytics or Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning while fulfilling requirements for the MBA degree, though additional coursework may be needed beyond the 45 s.h. of the MBA for the Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning due to prerequisites. Certificate courses are offered online and select offerings may be available occasionally in Des Moines at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center (JMPEC).
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 three years by taking two courses each fall and spring semester and one course during the summer semester.
Core Courses
| 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 |
| MBA Capstone | ||
| One of these: | ||
| MBA:8310 | Business Integration | 3 |
| MBA:8320 | Strategic Business Growth | 3 |
| MBA:9300 | Strategy in Action | 3 |
Electives
The following courses are all approved electives for the program. Not all courses are offered on a regular basis. Students should consult MyUI for course availability and/or discuss course offerings with their advisor.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Six of these: | ||
| ACCT:9020 | Strategic Cost Analysis | 3 |
| ACCT:9040 | Financial Statement Analysis and Forecasting | 3 |
| BAIS:6040 | Data Programming in Python | 3 |
| BAIS:6050 | Data Management | 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 | Visual Analytics | 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:6240 | Value Creation Using Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| BAIS:6250 | Applied Deep Learning | 3 |
| BAIS:6260 | Generative Artificial Intelligence | 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 |
| ECON:9100 | Digital Economics | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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:9160 | Quantitative Finance and Deep Learning | 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 Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9310 | Corporate Financial Strategy | 3 |
| FIN:9330 | Investment Banking | 3 |
| FIN:9350 | Wealth Management | 3 |
| MBA:8130 | Business Communication | 3 |
| MBA:8310 | Business Integration (if not taken as capstone) | 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 |
| MGMT:7900 | Contemporary Topics in Management & Entrepreneurship | 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:9170 | Human Resources Analytics | 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 |
| MKTG:9010 | Contemporary Topics in Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9015 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9120 | Customer Relationship 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: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 |
| MKTG:9370 | Customer Experience | 3 |
Admission
The Iowa 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 GPA, 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. For guidelines, view Iowa MBA Admissions 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 the TOEFL, the certificate program accepts satisfactory International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores or a Duolingo score of 120 or higher. For more information, see English Requirements for MBA Admission on the 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 Iowa MBA 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 if each degree were pursued 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 Iowa MBA Program collaborates with the College of Law to offer the combined Master of Business Administration/Juris Doctor degree program.
For more information about the law degree, see the Juris Doctor, JD (College of Law) section of the catalog.
MBA/MA in Strategic Communication
The Iowa MBA Program collaborates with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to offer the combined Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in strategic communication degree program.
For more information about the strategic communication degree, see the Strategic Communication, MA (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) section of the catalog or contact the Iowa MBA Program.
MBA/MD
The Iowa MBA Program collaborates with the Carver College of Medicine to offer the combined Master of Business Administration/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 Iowa MBA Program along with the Department of Business Analytics offers a combined Master of Business Administration/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. at the University of Iowa.
For more information, see the MS in business analytics in the Tippie College of Business section of the catalog or contact the Iowa MBA Program.
MBA/MSW
The Iowa MBA Program collaborates with the School of Social Work to offer the combined Master of Business Administration/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 Iowa MBA Program.
MBA/MHA
The Iowa MBA Program collaborates with the College of Public Health to offer the combined Master of Business Administration/Master of Healthcare Administration degree program.
For more information, see the Master of Healthcare Administration (College of Public Health) section of the catalog or contact the Iowa MBA Program.
MBA/Certificate in Healthcare Management
The Iowa MBA Program collaborates with the College of Public Health to offer a combined Master of Business Administration/Certificate in Healthcare Management. Iowa 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 Iowa MBA Program.
The CIMBA Italy MBA 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 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. The full-time program admits students only for fall semester entry. A two-year part-time program is also available for working professionals living in Italy. Part-time applicants typically start in the fall but may be permitted to begin the program at other times.
Requirements
The CIMBA Italy MBA program requires 52–55 semester hours of graduate credit. Students must maintain a program grade-point average of at least 2.75.
The CIMBA Italy MBA program requires the following coursework. Available electives can vary each year in the program; students should consult their advisor.
| 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 |
| 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 Finance | 3 |
| MGMT:9210 | Law and Ethics | 2 |
| MGMT:9120 | Leadership and Personal Development | 3 |
| Electives as needed to meet program requirements | ||
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. Additionally, applicants are recommended to have at least two years of professional work experience.