MBA FAQs
General
- Is there a difference between diplomas awarded for the online MBA and Traditional MBA Programs?
- Is UW-Whitewater fully accredited?
- What is AACSB International?
- What emphasis areas can I earn entirely online?
- Can I complete more than one emphasis?
- Do you offer a Human Resource Certificate program?
- When should I apply to the MBA Program?
- Is the online MBA open for international persons?
- Are any visits to campus required?
- If I have difficulties, will I be able to ask the professor questions?
- What degree will I receive after completion of the online MBA?
- How long does it take to earn a Master's degree?
- Who should I contact if I have a question about the online MBA or Traditional MBA Program?
Coursework
- How many credits are required to complete the degree?
- Are all courses three credits?
- How many courses can I take each semester?
- How many credits should I take?
- How long does it take to complete a course?
- Can I combine on-line courses with traditional on-campus courses?
- What is the major principle of instruction?
- Do I have to log into the course at a specific time?
- What's an online class like?
- How much time should I expect to set-aside for homework during the week?
- How many students per class?
- Will I be expected to work alone, or will I be assigned to work with a group of my peers?
- Who are the faculty teaching in the online MBA?
- What is the cost of course materials for the on-line courses?
- What courses are available online?
Financial
Academic Requirements and Policies
- Is the TOEFL test score required?
- Can I transfer credits into the MBA?
- Can a person pass out of any course or skip courses due to years of experience?
- I have no college education but have been in management for 14 years. Can I be admitted into the online MBA?
- My undergraduate grade point average is 3.95, and I have over 10 years of business experience; do I need to take the GMAT, GRE, or any other exam?
- Why does the online MBA require students to take the GMAT® or GRE® General Test?
- What is the average GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) score of UW-Whitewater's accepted applicants?
- My undergraduate grade point average was 2.93, what GMAT score do I need?
- What do I need to be admitted in good standing?
- What does it mean if I am admitted on probation?
- Can I enroll in graduate business classes if I am on probation?
- What is the application deadline?
- Can I take an online course from UW-Whitewater if I am enrolled in a graduate program at another school?
- Can I enroll in graduate business classes as a non-candidate for a degree until I take the GMAT?
Application Process
- Is the same application used for the online MBA as is used for the regular MBA?
- Can I apply on-line?
- Is there an application fee?
- What are the modes of payment and can payment be made in installments?
Technological Aspects
General
- Is there a difference between diplomas awarded for the online MBA and Traditional MBA Programs?
All MBA students receive identical diplomas stating that they are graduates of the MBA Program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Both our online classes and traditional MBA classes are held to the same high standard of quality. Students may complete the MBA Program by attending only online courses, only traditional courses, or a combination of online and traditional courses.
- Is UW-Whitewater fully accredited?
Yes, the graduate and undergraduate degrees are AACSB accredited.
- What is AACSB International?
AACSB International -- The International Association for Management Education is a not-for-profit corporation of educational institutions, corporations, and other organizations devoted to the promotion and improvement of higher education in business administration and management. Organized in 1916, AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. AACSB International also is the professional organization for management education.
- What emphasis areas can I earn entirely online?
At present you can earn an MBA entirely online with an emphasis in:
- Marketing
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Operations & Supply Chain Management
- Technology and Training
- Management
- International Business
- Can I complete more than one emphasis?
Yes, you would need to take an additional three to four classes for each additional emphasis.
- Do you offer a Human Resource Certificate program?
We do not offer a Human Resource Certificate at this time; however, we are currently developing a Human Resources certificate program. We have a Human Resource emphasis available in the MBA which can be completed online. Finance, Management, and Marketing emphases are also available entirely on-line.
- When should I apply to the MBA Program?
You should apply as soon as you are serious about pursuing an MBA. This will enable us to help develop an individualized course schedule based on your past educational background. In addition, this will allow us to send you advanced registration materials.
- Is the online MBA open for international persons?
Yes, UW-Whitewater online graduate business classes can be taken from anywhere in the world so long as you have a computer that meets the minimum Technical Requirements.
- Are any visits to campus required?
There is no required visit to campus. All courses can be completed entirely online.
- If I have difficulties, will I be able to ask the professor questions?
Yes, either by telephone, Email, or fax.
- What degree will I receive after completion of the online MBA?
After completion of the online MBA, you will receive a Master of Business Administration degree from the University. This is the exact same degree that our on-campus students receive.
- How long does it take to earn a Master's degree?
Most degrees can be completed within two calendar years, as a full-time student. Part-time students may complete a program, in conjunction with their full-time employment, in most instances within five years. However, all graduate coursework must be completed within a seven-year period prior to graduation.
- Who should I contact if I have a question about the online MBA or Traditional MBA Program?
If you have question about the online MBA or Traditional MBA Program, please contact Dr. Donald K. Zahn, Associate Dean of College of the Business and Economics.
E-mail: zahnd@uww.edu
Phone: 262-472-1945
Coursework
- How many credits are required to complete the degree?
The UW-Whitewater MBA is 36 credits plus any Common Body of Knowledge/Foundation course deficiencies that have to be completed because these CBK courses were not part of the applicant's undergraduate program and/or they had them and didn't do well enough.
- Are all courses three credits?
No, MBA courses are currently either two or three credits.
- How many courses can I take each semester?
You could take up to 15 credits during Fall and Spring terms and 12 credits during the Summer term without special permission if the courses you need are available. Fifteen credits is considered a full load! Check here to view the tentative long-range plan for on-line course offerings.
- How many credits should I take?
The number of credits you take depends on your other commitments outside the program. A full-time MBA student can take a maximum of 9-12 credits per semester and 5-6 credits during the summer session. However, we don't recommend this course load to students who plan to work full-time while in the program. Because most Consortium MBA students work full-time, the typical course load for our students is 4-5 credits during the fall and spring semesters and 1-3 credits during the summer.
- How long does it take to complete a course?
Courses are currently structured to coincide (begin and end) with the campus' normal schedule. Courses are sixteen weeks during Fall and Spring semesters and six weeks for Summer Session. Most 2 credit classes are scheduled with the first or last 8 weeks of the term. Some 3 credit classes may run for only 8 weeks.
- Can I combine on-line courses with traditional on-campus courses?
Yes. You can take courses completely online, online and on campus, or strictly on campus in nearly limitless combinations.
- What is the major principle of instruction?
Internet, instructional CD, and textbook.
- Do I have to log into the course at a specific time?
No, the classes are completely asynchronous at this time, so there is no mandatory time to log on. Instructors may have deadlines to complete assignments, but not a time when you have to log on to talk with them.
- What's an online class like?
MBA Example Course is designed to give you a basic idea of what you might find in an online course. Feel free to click through the various course areas and read the commentaries, assignments, discussions, and so on. You can log in as often as you want, and spend as little or as much time as you need to look at the course. There is a lot to discover in an online course. Learn more here.
- How much time should I expect to set-aside for homework during the week?
The UW System standard for work required per credit is that students are expected to invest at least 3 hours of combined in-class and out-of-class work per week for each academic unit (credit) of coursework; thus, a 3 credit course will typically require a minimum of 9 hours of work per week (144 hrs./semester).
- How many students per class?
On-line MBA class size is variable, with a maximum size of 80.
- Will I be expected to work alone, or will I be assigned to work with a group of my peers?
Although not all class work will be assigned as a group task, we recognize that many decisions made in the work environment are done so with a group of colleagues. Teams are formed with the intention of bringing together a diverse group of individuals across function and industry. Group work is designed to maximize your interaction with other classmates and form the basis of a lifetime network.
- Who are the faculty teaching in the online MBA?
Faculty are drawn from the same pool of faculty teaching in the full-time on campus program. Faculty in the online MBA more often are senior faculty members with significant research, teaching and consulting experience. (From Michigan: )
- What is the cost of course materials for the on-line courses?
Textbook costs vary from $75-$150 per course. Most courses also use an instructional CD that can be purchased for under $15, however the CD's materials can also be viewed online with a broadband internet connection.
- What courses are available online?
Please see the Course Descriptions.
Financial
- What are the costs/credit hours for the UW-Whitewater MBA?
The fee for College of Business and Economics on-line graduate web courses is $550 per unit (credit) for both resident and non-resident students for each online unit/credit in which the student is enrolled; however, resident students who were admitted to and began their graduate program in the College before Spring 2002 will continue to be assessed the resident graduate business fees for on-line classes until they complete their program. Resident students who begin their graduate program in Spring 2002 or later will be assessed the $550 per unit for each on-line course taken.
The $550 per unit applies to every student, resident and non-resident, who chooses to take a web graduate business class with the exception noted above. The Spring 2002 first begin date for Wisconsin residents who are enrolled in all UW-W graduate programs including, but not limited to, the MPA, MS-MCS, MS-BE, and MS-SBM programs will be used when assessing the $550 per credit charge. All guest matriculants will pay the $550 per unit for on-line classes regardless of residency.
- Cost for traditional courses
Some students choose to take online courses and traditional courses. At present, three graduate business credits (one course) for a Wisconsin resident cost $784.80 and for a non-resident $2275.80 in 2000-2001. More than nine credits cost $2,354.40 and $6827.40 respectively. Tuition increases 4-10 percent each year. (Also see Tuition and Fees page)
Academic Requirements and Policies
- Is the TOEFL test score required?
A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 550 or the equivalent on another exam for students from countries where English is not the native language is required for admission.
- Can I transfer credits into the MBA?
The UW-Whitewater Graduate School permits a maximum of nine graduate credits to be transferred into a degree program from another university. They are to be equivalent to the UW-Whitewater courses and/or appropriate for the program. The term of the earliest course transferred into the program marks the beginning of the seven years permitted to complete the degree.
- Can a person pass out of any course or skip courses due to years of experience?
UW-Whitewater does not give credit for life experience. If you have acquired the knowledge of a course, you can attempt to earn credit by examination.
- I have no college education but have been in management for 14 years. Can I be admitted into the online MBA?
No, you must have a bachelor's degree with at least a 2.75 grade point average from a regionally accredited university. UW-Whitewater has recently started to offer an online Undergraduate program.
- My undergraduate grade point average is 3.95, and I have over 10 years of business experience; do I need to take the GMAT, GRE, or any other exam?
Yes, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score is part of the admission data needed to make an admission determination and therefore required for all applicants.
- Why does the online MBA require students to take the GMAT® or GRE® General Test?
Graduate programs use standardized assessment tests like the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT®) as one predictor of academic performance in an MBA. The exam measures verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills you have acquired over a long period of time. The exam does not assess your knowledge of business principles and practices. Learn more about the GMAT® (price, test locations, study information)
- What is the average GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) score of UW-Whitewater's accepted applicants?
The average GMAT score of an accepted UW-W applicant is 548. This is in no way indicative of either the upper or lower limits, however.
- My undergraduate grade point average was 2.93, what GMAT score do I need?
You would need a 414 on the GMAT. UW-Whitewater requires a composite of at least 1000 for admission in good standing (gpa x 200 + GMAT = 1000+).
- What do I need to be admitted in good standing?
You would need at least a 2.75 undergraduate grade point average and a composite score of at least 1000 (gpa x 200 + GMAT = 1000+). In addition, international students would need at least a 550 TOEFL score.
- What does it mean if I am admitted on probation?
If you have been admitted on probation then you have not met the minimum standards for admission in good standing. You must attain at least a 3.0 (B average) after completing your first 12 graduate credits for probation status to be removed.
- Can I enroll in graduate business classes if I am on probation?
Yes, however, you must have at least a 3.0 grade point average after completing 12 graduate business credits for the probation status to be removed.
- What is the application deadline?
UW-Whitewater uses a "rolling" admission. Students may begin in Fall, Spring, or Summer. The Graduate School deadlines for admission are:
- Fall - July 15
- Spring - December 1
- Summer - May
- What is the application deadline?
Can I take an online course from UW-Whitewater if I am enrolled in a graduate program at another school?
Yes, you apply to UW-Whitewater as a "guest" and submit a "guest matriculate" which lists the course(s) you wish to take and has verification from your program adviser that you are in good standing and that the course(s) will satisfy requirements in your degree.
- Can I enroll in graduate business classes as a non-candidate for a degree until I take the GMAT?
No, you must be enrolled in a degree program to be eligible to take graduate business courses from UW-Whitewater. We require the GMAT score as part of the admission decision. If you were admitted into another UW-Whitewater graduate program, you could take graduate business classes.
Application Process
- Is the same application used for the online MBA as is used for the regular MBA?
Yes, there is one application form for all graduate programs at UW-Whitewater.
- Can I apply on-line?
The Graduate School has an online application (See the Admissions page).
- Is there an application fee?
The Graduate School charges a $45 application fee.
- What are the modes of payment and can payment be made in installments?
Cash, Check, or Money Order. Credit card payment is not an option at this time. Payment can be made in two installments if a signed credit agreement is on file.
Technological Aspects
- Who do I contact if I have technical questions?
Please contact the online MBA Helpdesk with any technical questions.
E-mail: cobetech@uww.edu
Phone: 262-472-4981
