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Master of Business Administration Program

The Henry B. Tippie School of Management offers a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program that provides students with a foundation for future growth and flexibility in professional management. The program, which is fully accredited by AACSB International—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, enables students to build broad-based professional portfolios of analytical skills, knowledge, leadership, and applied experiences. The curriculum is rigorous, yet learning takes place in a collaborative environment that builds teamwork skills and encourages independent problem solving.

Students in Tippie M.B.A. programs come from every region of the United States and from countries worldwide. They represent a variety of backgrounds, undergraduate majors, and professional experience. The curriculum is designed for college graduates in any field; previous business course work is not required. However, full-time work experience is typically required for admission. Contact the Tippie School of Management for a brochure listing complete program requirements.

Students in the full-time M.B.A. program may enroll in one of several joint degree programs, simultaneously earning an M.B.A. and a University of Iowa graduate or professional degree in another discipline. See "Joint M.B.A./Graduate and Professional Degrees" below.

The Departments of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Organizations, Management Sciences, and Marketing all contribute to the Master of Business Administration program through faculty participation and course work.

Full-time M.B.A.

The full-time M.B.A. program requires 68 s.h. of graduate credit, including 34 s.h. of required courses and 34 s.h. of career academy and elective course work. Students complete business foundation (core) courses during their first semester in the program (fall) and advanced core courses, career academy courses, and electives in the remaining three semesters. M.B.A. students must complete 06N:201 (MBA:8100) Leadership, Ethics, and Professionalism each semester; the course provides in-class and out-of-class training and experience in career advancement, ethics in business, leadership assessment and development, and academy-specific skill-building activities. Students may take part in several Global Learning Opportunities in international locations in order to increase their understanding of the global business environment and its implications for business conduct. 

The program's career academies are the framework through which students become experts in a specific business field. Each career academy provides a unique set of curricular offerings as well as academic and professional experiences that include industry projects, interactions with the business community and with alumni, and skill-building activities designed to increase each student's marketability. Prior to the second semester (spring), students choose one of the following career academies and concentration tracks based on their career goals.

Finance Career Academy (concentration tracks: corporate finance and investment management)

Marketing Career Academy (concentration track: managing customers, products, and brands)

Strategic Innovation Career Academy (concentration tracks: process excellence and strategic management and innovation)

The full-time M.B.A. study plan is as follows.

First Semester

Second Semester

Third Semester 

Fourth Semester 

Admission

Applicants to the M.B.A. program must submit a complete application file, including the following:

a completed Tippie School of Management application form and fee;

official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work, which must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by each institution attended;

official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores;

the completed supplemental application form with essay responses, a résumé, and a cover letter; and

the names of three people who can provide recommendations. 

Applicants whose first language is not English must score at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In place of TOEFL, the program accepts International English Testing System (IELTS) scores.

For TOEFL registration information, contact the University of Iowa Office of Admissions.

The full-time M.B.A. program admits students only for fall entry. Application deadlines are as follows:

International applicants: April 15

U.S. citizens and permanent residents (priority deadline): April 15

U.S. citizens and permanent residents: July 30

Applications received after April 15 are considered on a space-available basis.

Accelerated Professional Track

Highly qualified undergraduate students in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, or the Tippie College of Business may be admitted to the full-time M.B.A. program's Accelerated Professional Track (APT). These students begin taking M.B.A. core courses as electives during their undergraduate programs; this permits them to earn a bachelor's degree and an M.B.A. more quickly than they would if they pursued each degree separately. APT students must complete an internship in the program.

To enter the APT program, students must complete 90 s.h. of undergraduate work, have a g.p.a. of at least 3.50, have clearly defined career goals, and indicate their intent to pursue both degree programs on a full-time basis. Students also must have a professional background similar to that of students enrolled in the M.B.A. program. 

Joint M.B.A./Graduate and Professional Degrees

Joint degree programs allow students to pursue two degrees simultaneously, earning both more quickly than they would if they pursued each degree separately. The Tippie School of Management collaborates with several other University of Iowa academic units to offer joint professional or graduate degrees: an M.B.A./J.D. with the College of Law; an M.B.A./M.D. with the Carver College of Medicine; and an M.B.A./M.H.A. with the College of Public Health.

Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the joint degree program.

M.B.A. for Professionals and Managers 

The M.B.A. for Professionals and Managers (M.B.A.-PM) program requires 45 s.h. of graduate credit. The program is tailored for working professionals building on the synergies of working and concurrent learning. It prepares graduates to be effective leaders in the global marketplace. The curriculum is designed for students with varied backgrounds, undergraduate majors, and professional experience. Previous course work in business is not required.

Courses are offered each semester during evening hours or weekends in Cedar Rapids at the college's Cedar Rapids Center; in Des Moines at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center (JMPEC); and in the Quad Cities at the Palmer College of Chiropractic; see Program Locations on the school's web site. M.B.A.-PM students also may enroll in full-time M.B.A. courses in Iowa City when space is available.

The M.B.A.-PM program requirements include a business core of nine courses, which develops competency in general management skills and key functional business areas, and six business electives. The elective courses contribute to the development of an area of expertise and foster a deeper understanding of management and business practices; they are offered in marketing, finance, and management, with a smaller number offered in management information systems/operations management, accounting, and entrepreneurship. Students may take part in several Global Learning Opportunities in international locations in order to increase their understanding of the global business environment and its implications for business conduct.

Some students earn the degree in as few as two years, but they may have up to 10 years to complete it. Most earn the M.B.A. in three years, taking two courses each fall and each spring semester and one course during the summer. Course sequencing is flexible. A sample study plan follows.

FIRST YEAR
 

SECOND YEAR
 

THIRD YEAR
 

Admission 

The M.B.A.-PM program admits students for summer, fall, or spring entry; applications are accepted throughout the year. Admission decisions are based on completed application materials, including quality of work experience, undergraduate grade-point average, GMAT score, and letters of reference. Applicants should have at least one and one-half years of postbaccalaureate professional work experience before admission.

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 date of registration. The University must receive completed application materials by the following application deadlines.

Priority deadline for summer session (May): March  1

General deadline for summer session (May): April 15

Priority deadline for fall semester (August): May 1

General deadline for fall semester (August): July 15

Priority deadline for spring semester (January): October 1

General deadline for spring semester (January): December 15

Enrollment in Courses Before Formal Admission

Individuals who have not yet been admitted to the program may request pre-M.B.A. status by submitting their résumé and transcript to the Tippie School of Management for approval; they should have at least one and one-half years of postbaccalaureate professional work experience. Those granted special pre-M.B.A. status may enroll in a maximum of three M.B.A.-PM courses over 12 months, with a maximum of two courses per semester, including the winter session.

Students must take at least one of the following courses during each semester of pre-M.B.A. status.

Pre-M.B.A. students who begin with one course in their first semester must select that course from the list above. Those who take two courses their first semester must include one from the list above; for the second course, the program recommends a qualitative course such as 06N:211 (MBA:8110) Marketing Management or 06N:212 (MBA:8120) Management in Organizations.

Credit is applied to the degree once the applicant is admitted to the program.

Executive M.B.A.

The Executive M.B.A. requires 51 s.h. of graduate credit. The regular Executive M.B.A. program is held at the Pomerantz Center on campus in Iowa City, and the Executive Engineer Dual Master's Degree program is conducted at the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Center. See Program Locations on the school's web site.

Course work for the Executive M.B.A. is presented over 21 months, typically beginning in mid-August with a five-day residency in Iowa City. The program continues with classes one day each week on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. A second five-day residency is held at the beginning of the second year. Students complete 16 core courses and an international business seminar (10-11 days during spring semester of the second year). Each entering class progresses through the program as a group.

Admission is limited to experienced managers and executives who want to broaden their management skills without interrupting their professional careers. Applicants should have at least 10 years of postgraduate managerial experience. Previous academic work in business is not required.

The Executive M.B.A. requires the following course work.

FIRST YEAR
 

SECOND YEAR
 

International M.B.A. (Hong Kong)

The International M.B.A. program in Hong Kong requires 45 s.h. of graduate credit. The program is designed for working professionals with at least three years of full-time work experience. Students enroll in classes sequentially. Most complete the program in 18-21 months. Each class begins with two weeks of online course work followed by two consecutive weekends of classes in Hong Kong and an additional two weeks of online course work. Faculty from Iowa travel to Hong Kong to teach the weekend classes. The program admits students year-round.

The International  M.B.A. (Hong Kong) requires the following course work.

International M.B.A. (Italy)

The International M.B.A. program in Italy requires 47-53 s.h. of graduate credit. The 11-month program is held primarily at the Consortium Institute of Management and Business Analysis (CIMBA) campus in Asolo, Italy, but the final course is completed on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. The program focuses on personal leadership development and emphasizes strategic management, consulting, and international business. Students apply what they learn through consulting projects with local and international companies. In addition to the M.B.A., students earn certificates in Kepner-Tregoe problem solving and project management and a Six-Sigma Green Belt certificate in addition to the M.B.A. degree. The program's faculty is drawn from The University of Iowa and from institutions across the United States and Europe.

The program admits students only for fall semester entry. Applicants must have at least two years of full-time work experience.

The International M.B.A. (Italy) requires the following course work.

Courses

See the course lists for individual departments for descriptions of M.B.A. electives.