The Master of Business Administration includes several programs: the professional M.B.A. (Iowa M.B.A.), executive M.B.A., and the M.B.A. in Italy (CIMBA M.B.A.). Students in the professional M.B.A. 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 the M.B.A. 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 M.B.A. Executive Program (EMBA program) requires 46 s.h. of coursework. Students must maintain a program g.p.a. 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 M.B.A. Executive Program requires the following coursework.

Core Courses

MBA:8110Marketing Management3
MBA:8120Management in Organizations3
MBA:8140Corporate Financial Reporting3
MBA:8150Data and Decisions3
MBA:8160Managerial Economics3
MBA:8180Managerial Finance3
MBA:8240Operations and Supply Chain3
MBA:8300Foundations in Strategy3
MBA:8310Business Integration2
MBA:8330Seminar in Strategic Management I1
MBA:8500Seminar in International Business2
Total Hours29

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.

ACCT:9020Strategic Cost Analysis3
BAIS:9300Innovations in Technology2
FIN:9300Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions3
MGMT:9110Dynamics of Negotiations3
MGMT:9210Law and Ethics3
MGMT:9270Human Resource Management3

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 M.B.A. Program (Iowa M.B.A.) requires 45 s.h. of credit, including a business core of nine courses plus six electives. Students must maintain a program g.p.a. 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 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 FinanceInnovation, Leadership, or Marketing while they fulfill requirements for the M.B.A. 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 M.B.A. degree. Certificate courses are regularly offered online and 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 M.B.A. in about three years, taking two courses each fall and spring semester and one course during the summer.

MBA:8110Marketing Management3
MBA:8120Management in Organizations3
MBA:8140Corporate Financial Reporting3
MBA:8150Data and Decisions3
or BAIS:9100 Data and Decisions
MBA:8160Managerial Economics3
MBA:8180Managerial Finance3
MBA:8240Operations and Supply Chain3
MBA:8300Foundations in Strategy3
MBA:8310Business Integration3
Six business elective courses18
Total Hours45

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.

Graduate Management Programs (M.B.A. Program)
MBA:8130Business Communication3
MBA:8500Seminar in International Business3
Accounting
ACCT:9020Strategic Cost Analysis3
ACCT:9040Financial Statement Analysis and Forecasting3
Business Analytics
BAIS:6040Data Programming in Python3
BAIS:6050Data Management and Visual Analytics3
BAIS:6060Data Programming in R3
BAIS:6070Data Science3
BAIS:6100Text Analytics3
BAIS:6105Social Analytics3
BAIS:6110Big Data Management and Analytics3
BAIS:6130Applied Optimization3
BAIS:6140Information Visualization3
BAIS:6150Financial Analytics3
BAIS:6160Big Data Analytics3
BAIS:6180Healthcare Analytics3
BAIS:6190Forecasting3
BAIS:6210Data Leadership and Management3
BAIS:6230People Analytics3
BAIS:6280Cybersecurity3
BAIS:7900Special Topics in Business Analytics3
BAIS:9010Contemporary Topics in Analytics3
BAIS:9110Advanced Analytics3
BAIS:9120Managing the Supply Chain3
BAIS:9130Lean Process Improvement3
BAIS:9140Agile Project Management3
BAIS:9160Supply Chain Analytics3
BAIS:9300Innovations in Technology3
Entrepreneurial Management
ENTR:9100Entrepreneurship and Innovation3
ENTR:9200Entrepreneurial Finance3
ENTR:9450Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation3
ENTR:9500Managing the Growth Business3
ENTR:9700Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting3
Finance
FIN:9010Contemporary Topics in Finance3
FIN:9140Enterprise Risk Management3
FIN:9150Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation3
FIN:9200Portfolio Management3
FIN:9210Derivatives3
FIN:9220Fixed Income Securities3
FIN:9230Real Estate Finance and Investments3
FIN:9240International Finance3
FIN:9270Security Analysis3
FIN:9290Alternative Investments and Portfolio Strategies3
FIN:9300Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions3
FIN:9310Corporate Financial Strategy3
FIN:9330Investment Banking3
FIN:9350Wealth Management3
Management and Entrepreneurship
MGMT:7900Contemporary Topics in Management and Organizations3
MGMT:9090Influence and Constructive Persuasion3
MGMT:9091Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability3
MGMT:9092Effective Managerial Communication3
MGMT:9110Dynamics of Negotiations3
MGMT:9120Leadership and Personal Development3
MGMT:9130Strategic Management of Change3
MGMT:9150Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness I3
MGMT:9160Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness II3
MGMT:9185Project Management3
MGMT:9210Law and Ethics3
MGMT:9220Maximizing Team Performance3
MGMT:9230Managing and Preventing Conflict3
MGMT:9240Inclusive Leadership3
MGMT:9250Managing Employee Performance3
MGMT:9260Strategic Employee Development3
MGMT:9270Human Resource Management3
MGMT:9290Global Business Management3
Marketing
MKTG:9010Contemporary Topics in Marketing3
MKTG:9015Social Media Marketing for Business3
MKTG:9120Customer Relationship Management3
MKTG:9150Brand Management3
MKTG:9155Digital Marketing Insights, Strategies, and Applications3
MKTG:9165Digital Marketing Analytics3
MKTG:9170Business to Business Marketing3
MKTG:9190International Marketing3
MKTG:9300Applied Marketing Research3
MKTG:9310Marketing Analytics3
MKTG:9320Strategic Brand Positioning3
MKTG:9330Product and Pricing Management3
MKTG:9340Customer Analysis3
MKTG:9350Marketing Communication and Promotions3
MKTG:9360Category Management3

Admission

The M.B.A. 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 M.B.A. 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.

M.B.A./J.D.

The M.B.A. Program collaborates with the College of Law to offer the combined Master of Business Administration (Professional M.B.A. Program)/Juris Doctor degree program. For more information about the law degree, see the Juris Doctor, J.D. (College of Law) section of the Catalog.

M.B.A./M.D.

The M.B.A. Program collaborates with the Carver College of Medicine to offer the combined Master of Business Administration (Professional M.B.A. Program)/Doctor of Medicine degree program. For more information about the medicine degree, see the Doctor of Medicine, M.D. (Carver College of Medicine) section of the Catalog.

M.B.A./M.S. in Business Analytics (Professional Subprogram)

The M.B.A. Program along with the Department of Business Analytics offers a combined Master of Business Administration (Professional M.B.A. Program.)/Master of Science in business analytics (professional subprogram) degree option. Students complete 33 s.h. of M.B.A. credit paired with 27 s.h. of business analytics credit for a total of at least 60 s.h. For more information, see the M.S. in business analytics (professional) in the Tippie College of Business section of the Catalog or contact the Professional M.B.A. Program.

M.B.A./M.S.W.

The M.B.A. Program collaborates with the School of Social Work to offer the combined Master of Business Administration (Professional M.B.A. Program)/Master of Social Work degree program. For more information, see the Master of Social Work, M.S.W. (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) section of the Catalog or contact the Professional M.B.A. Program.

M.B.A./Certificate in Healthcare Management

The M.B.A. Program collaborates with the College of Public Health to offer a combined Master of Business Administration (Professional M.B.A. Program)/Certificate in Healthcare Management. M.B.A. students complete four specified healthcare management courses (12 s.h.) in place of four M.B.A. 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 M.B.A. Program.

The M.B.A. program in Italy (CIMBA M.B.A.) requires 52-55 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a program g.p.a. 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 M.B.A. 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 M.B.A. CIMBA program requires the following coursework.

MBA:8110Marketing Management3
MBA:8120Management in Organizations3
MBA:8140Corporate Financial Reporting3
MBA:8150Data and Decisions3
MBA:8160Managerial Economics3
MBA:8170International Economic Environment of the Firm2
MBA:8180Managerial Finance3
MBA:8240Operations and Supply Chain3
MBA:8300Foundations in Strategy3
ACCT:9020Strategic Cost Analysis3
BAIS:9110Advanced Analytics2-3
BAIS:9120Managing the Supply Chain2-3
BAIS:9220Introduction to Information Systems3
ENTR:9100Entrepreneurship and Innovation3
FIN:9300Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions3
MGMT:9210Law and Ethics2
MGMT:9120Leadership and Personal Development3
Elective coursework to complete degree requirements can vary each year in the Italy M.B.A. 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 optional 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.