Master of Business Administration: College of Business & Technology

Resources for prospective students

Master of Business Administration

Through its high-quality Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program, Western Illinois University prepares its MBA graduates for socially responsible leadership and managerial roles in an interdependent, multicultural, and diverse business world. With full accreditation by AACSB International, Western’s College of Business and Technology ranks among the top 15% of business schools nationwide.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission must meet the minimum requirements of the School of Graduate Studies for degree-seeking students. The Director of the MBA program and the MBA advisory committee will review applications and approve candidates for admission based on undergraduate GPA, GMAT score, work experience, and other evidence of preparedness. Applicants should include a résumé and a goals statement with their application. Both the résumé and goals statement may be uploaded into (and submitted with) the online application to the Graduate School. If you choose not to submit these documents with the application, they should be sent directly to the Graduate School.

Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in business from AACSB- International institutions with cumulative undergraduate grade point averages of 3.60 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) will not be required to take the GMAT exam.

MBA Degree Program

The MBA degree program at Western Illinois University is open to business graduates and those in liberal arts, engineering, mathematics, science, and other fields. Individual degree program requirements are based on previously completed coursework and may range from 33 to 45 semester hours (sh).

Foundation Courses (up to 12 sh) provide a solid background in the traditional business disciplines for those students who do not have satisfactory academic work in these areas. Successful MBA students need this base of theoretical and practical knowledge in financial and managerial accounting, macro and micro economic theory, business statistics, marketing, finance, and management information systems.

Focus Area Courses (21 sh) develop functional and technical knowledge, analytical skills, and interpersonal relations necessary in the business world. Students will complete core courses from a financial perspective, global perspective, improving competitiveness and planning perspective, context and conduct of organizations, and functional areas. A capstone course, Strategic Management, supplies the framework for connecting the specific business disciplines.

Concentration Courses (12 sh) are chosen from one of the functional areas or from a cross-disciplinary set of courses. Current concentrations are offered in Accountancy, Business Economics, Management, International Business, Finance, and Marketing. All of these concentrations provide MBA candidates with maximum flexibility while maintaining specific professional goals.

Faculty Expertise

The College of Business and Technology’s faculty is student- oriented and believes the most important learning comes from close interaction and exchange of ideas between student and professor. Classroom lectures are supplemented with a wide variety of activities focusing on current issues. MBA students gain an understanding of the social responsibility of business and develop skills in using quantitative, technical, and theoretical approaches to business problem solving.

Many of Western’s business faculty members have practical experience and advise business and government agencies. Professors hold doctoral or law degrees from more than 40 internationally recognized universities. Their academic, professional, practical, and research backgrounds, as well as their continuing involvement in business and community problem solving, enhance the classroom experience.

Distinctive Features

Western’s MBA is focused on providing a quality learning environment. As such, we are dedicated to providing our MBA professionals with the following:

Full-time, doctorally-qualified faculty teaching classes in Macomb
Evening courses
Personal relationships with professors and mentors for assistance and professional development
Individualized academic advising and career exploration
Professional leadership opportunities in business student organizations
Frequent presentations by experienced business professionals and community leaders

Facilities

The College of Business and Technology recognizes the importance of access to the most up-to-date facilities and information. This includes state-of-the-art computer laboratories with access to specialized software and technology specific to the various business disciplines. In addition, the University’s system of libraries is among the best in the Midwest. Each of Western’s libraries is a part of ILLINET Online, a computerized network of the major libraries in Illinois. The network provides students with quick access to the holdings of 65 other Illinois libraries with more than 19 million volumes.

Accreditation

Western’s MBA has earned accreditation in both business and accounting by the AACSB International, designating Western Illinois University as among the best business schools in the world. Less than one-third of U.S. business schools and only 15% of business schools worldwide meet the rigorous standards of AACSB International accreditation. As a member institution, Western’s MBA has confirmed a commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review process. AACSB International accreditation ensures that Western’s MBA degree program is committed to providing the highest-calibre education and experiences for our student professionals.

Graduate Assistantships

Students can apply for tuition assistance via a Graduate Assistantship. The College of Business and Technology annually awards internal graduate assistantships to students desiring to work directly with business faculty. These assistantships are highly competitive and are awarded based on the student’s GMAT score, GPA, and personal recommendations. Additional assistantships are available campuswide.

Western Illinois University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities. WIU has a non-discrimination policy that includes sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, and veteran status.

Career Opportunities

After completion of the MBA, many exciting careers are available. The College of Business and Technology works with an active placement office. AT&T, BP Amoco, Caterpillar, Edward Jones, IBM, John Deere, Kraft Foods, and State Farm Insurance are just a few of the companies and corporations which employ Western’s MBA graduates.

“The MBA at WIU was a great experience, and it gave me the tools to succeed in my current position as a grain merchandiser. The faculty were a key part of my experience. They had a friendly open door policy but also expected top-level results in class. They kept us engaged with real-world business.”

– Tyler Sayers, MBA, 2008

Contact Information

For admissions process and general program information, contact the School of Graduate Studies, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455, (309) 298-1806, Grad-Office@wiu.edu, http://wiu.edu/grad/.

For specific program questions, contact Jack Elfrink, Associate Dean and MBA Director, JA-Elfrink@wiu.edu or Schuyler Meixner, Assistant to the Dean and MBA Adviser, SL-Meixner@wiu.edu, Stipes Hall 101, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455, (309) 298-2442 http://www.wiu.edu/cbt/