MASTER'S IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Master’s Degree Program

Ready to take the next step in your career? Whether you’re a small business owner making a strategic pivot, an educator seeking advancement, or an undergraduate or international student looking to sharpen your leadership skills, find your fit with the in-person Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Refine your direction, strengthen your business foundation, and build your network through face-to-face learning at Wisconsin’s largest business school. You’ll engage deeply across core business areas including accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations, and data-driven decision-making — all while applying what you learn to real-world business challenges.

The in-person format emphasizes collaboration, discussion, and connection with peers, faculty, and professional networks that extend beyond the classroom, helping you enhance the technical and interpersonal skills employers expect from business leaders.

Among the world’s top 1% of business schools

Why earn your MBA at UW-Whitewater?

We mean business
As Wisconsin’s largest AACSB-accredited business school, UW-Whitewater is a leader in business education. The College of Business and Economics is one of only 27 business schools in the United States recognized by the EFMD, a global management development organization. Our faculty are knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of topics and settings — they know how to help you become a better professional.

Choose your emphasis, earn certificates

UW-Whitewater’s in-person MBA program focuses on two tracks:

  • International business emphasis: Prepares students for managerial positions in global corporations by building cultural business intelligence and leadership.
  • Management emphasis: Prepares students for strategic leadership positions in their organizations by focusing on a combination of technical and interpersonal skill development.

Along the way, you’ll earn certificates in Essential Business Decision-Making and Strategic Leadership, Valuation & Innovation to add to your resumé as you’re completing your degree.

Job prospects

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 14 million people hold business jobs in the United States. An MBA will give you a leg-up on most of the competition — only 26 percent of those employed hold an advanced degree.

Some of the business management-level jobs projected to grow the fastest between 2024-34, according to the BLS, include:

  • Financial manager (15%)
  • Management analyst (9%)
  • Project manager (6%)
  • Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers (6%)
  • Financial analyst (6%)

Location, location, location

UW-Whitewater is nestled in southern Wisconsin within 90 minutes of Milwaukee and Madison, the state’s largest cities. A safe, welcoming community of 15,000 residents, Whitewater is approximately two hours from Chicago and just 30 miles from the Wisconsin-Illinois border.
Learn more about Whitewater, Wisconsin »

Alumni connections

The alumni network of the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics is more than 40,000 strong. As a graduate of the MBA program, you become part of that network, meaning you are connected to business managers, executives, and leaders in the United States and around the globe.

Course structure

Class format

  • All MBA courses are fully face to face
  • Available emphases:
    • International Business
    • Management

Class schedule

  • Classes meet once per week in the evenings, 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Classes are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
  • 15-week classes, one time per week per class

Program length

  • Full-time, two-year program
  • Fall and spring enrollment
  • Students complete 9 credits per semester

Two-year class rotation

  • Fall 1: MANGEMNT 764 (Tuesday), MARKETNG 740 (Wednesday), ECON 736 or 737 (Thursday)
  • Spring 1: ITSCM 782 (Tuesday), MARKETNG 747 (Wednesday), ITSCM 770 (Thursday)
  • Fall 2: MARKETNG 761 (Tuesday), MANGEMNT 757 (Wednesday), FNBSLW 735 (Thursday)
  • Spring 2: MANGEMNT 777 (Tuesday), MANGEMNT 787 (Wednesday), ITSCM 745 (Thursday)

Common body of knowledge courses to complete during rotation if needed

  • ACCOUNT 701 (online) or ACCOUNT 244 + FNBSLW 344 (in person)

Other fall elective options

  • ACCOUNT 667
  • SAFETY 683
  • SAFETY 685

Other spring elective options

  • SAFETY 679
  • SAFETY 687

Available emphases

  • International business: ITSCM 782, MARKETNG 761, MANGEMNT 777
  • Management: MANGEMNT 764, MANGEMNT 777, MANGEMNT 793

Additional notes

  • Any of the following courses can be used toward program requirements:
    • BEINDP 740 — Internship
    • ACCOUNT 793, MANGEMNT 793 — Practicum
    • ITSCM 793 — Occupational Experience
  • Completion of MARKETNG 740, MARKETNG 747, ECON 736 OR 737, and ITSCM 770 earns an Essential Business Decision-Making certificate
  • Completion of MANGEMNT 757, MANGEMNT 787, FNBSLW 735, and ITSCM 745 earns a Strategic Leadership, Valuation & Innovation certificate

Program structure and format
If you’re a U.S. student, the MBA offers flexibility in how and when you complete the program, giving you control over your schedule, course delivery, and total cost.

Start early as an undergrad
Current UW-Whitewater undergraduate students may begin taking MBA courses before completing their bachelor’s degree. This is a great option for students who want to move faster into pursuit of a graduate degree.

  • Eligible courses count toward both your undergraduate degree (up to 120 credits) and your MBA
  • Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate
  • Credits apply toward the tuition plateau, helping lower the overall cost of your MBA
  • Graduate with your BBA and a Graduate Certificate

Choose your own pace

  • Select your number of classes each semester based on your availability
  • Adjust your course load as work, internships, or life demands change
  • Stay on track while maintaining balance

Flexible delivery and emphases

  • Choose from all MBA emphasis areas
  • Some emphasis courses are offered fully in person
  • Other emphasis options may include online courses
  • Complete the MBA fully in person or in a hybrid format that combines face-to-face and online classes

Two-year class rotation

  • Fall 1: MANGEMNT 764 (Tuesday), MARKETNG 740 (Wednesday), ECON 736 or 737 (Thursday)
  • Spring 1: ITSCM 782 (Tuesday), MARKETNG 747 (Wednesday), ITSCM 770 (Thursday)
  • Fall 2: MARKETNG 761 (Tuesday), MANGEMNT 757 (Wednesday), FNBSLW 735 (Thursday)
  • Spring 2: MANGEMNT 777 (Tuesday), MANGEMNT 787 (Wednesday), ITSCM 745 (Thursday)

Common body of knowledge courses to complete during rotation if needed

  • ACCOUNT 701 (online) or ACCOUNT 244 + FNBSLW 344 (in person)

Other fall elective options

  • ACCOUNT 667
  • SAFETY 683
  • SAFETY 685

Other spring elective options

  • SAFETY 679
  • SAFETY 687

Available emphases

  • International business: ITSCM 782, MARKETNG 761, MANGEMNT 777
  • Management: MANGEMNT 764, MANGEMNT 777, MANGEMNT 793

Additional notes

  • Any of the following courses can be used toward program requirements:
    • BEINDP 740 — Internship
    • ACCOUNT 793, MANGEMNT 793 — Practicum
    • ITSCM 793 — Occupational Experience
  • Completion of MARKETNG 740, MARKETNG 747, ECON 736 OR 737, and ITSCM 770 earns an Essential Business Decision-Making certificate
  • Completion of MANGEMNT 757, MANGEMNT 787, FNBSLW 735, and ITSCM 745 earns a Strategic Leadership, Valuation & Innovation certificate

What our MBA students do

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Broaden critical thinking skills to make strategic decisions in case studies and class assignments

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Work in teams as you learn to lead fairly and effectively

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Build project management skills key in negotiation and persuasion

Careers: What can you do with an MBA?

Earning an MBA at UW-Whitewater opens your path to leadership positions at businesses and organizations around the world.

Careers for MBA graduates from UW-Whitewater include:

  • business analyst
  • global supply chain analyst
  • international brand coordinator
  • international plant manager
  • project manager
  • account executive
  • financial analyst
  • national sales manager
  • operations manager
  • supply chain analyst

Here’s a sampling of organizations where our graduates have been employed:

  • 3M
  • Amazon
  • Anthem
  • Aurora Health Care
  • BMO Harris Bank
  • Burberry
  • Caterpillar
  • Dogfish Head Brewery
  • Hewlett-Packard Enterprise
  • Nestlé
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • U.S. Cellular

Interested in pursuing a doctoral degree following graduation? UW-Whitewater offers a Doctorate of Business Administration.

What our graduates do

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Business, financial, and global supply chain analysts

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National sales and operations managers

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International business managers and leaders

Contact us

Want to learn more about earning an MBA at UW-Whitewater?

Bill Stengrevics | 262-472-1945 | StengrevWE08@uww.edu

How to apply

To apply to UW-Whitewater, complete the standard application through our graduate application portal.

Apply now »

To ensure a high quality graduate student group, all students must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and meet graduate admission criteria, in addition to one of the admission criteria provided below. Many applicants will qualify for admission without GMAT/GRE scores.

Admission criteria
Applicants must satisfy any one of the criteria from any of the four categories.

Military Service

  • Qualified veteran or currently active military personnel

Education

  • AACSB- or ABET-accredited bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher
  • Regionally-accredited bachelor's degree with a 3.25 GPA or higher
  • Graduate degree from a regionally-accredited or equivalent institution
  • UW-Whitewater graduate business certificate

Work Experience

  • Four or more years of professional work experience
  • Two or more years of professional work experience with a 3.0 GPA
  • Approved professional certification

GMAT Scores*

  • A composite score of at least 1,100 based on the following formula
    • (GMAT score) + [200 x (overall undergraduate GPA based on a 4-point scale)]
  • A composite score of at least 1,150 based on the following formula
    • (GMAT score) + [200 x (last half of undergraduate GPA based on a 4-point scale)]
  • A composite score of 950 - 1,100 for consideration of conditional admission based on the following formula
    • (GMAT score) + [200 x (overall undergraduate GPA based on a 4-point scale)]

*GRE scores are converted to comparable GMAT scores

Deadlines vary by term and are subject to change without notice. Accurate and up-to-date admission deadlines can be found on the graduate admission deadlines website.

If you do not meet the graduate admission criteria, please email us at gradbus@uww.edu to determine if you could be admitted on a conditional basis.

International students must meet additional criteria and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Contact us at gradbus@uww.edu for information and assistance.

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