Frequently Asked Questions
Admission to the Weekend MBA
Who are potential candidates for the Weekend MBA?
What are the prerequisites for the Weekend MBA?
What is the application process?
Can the GMAT requirement be waived?
Are there any exceptions to the four-year work experience criterion?
What is the degree issued by the Weekend MBA program?
Should I attend an information session?
The Study Team Approach
Tell me about the study team and cohort experience.
Why does the Weekend MBA program incorporate the team approach to learning?
What will my classmates be like?
The Weekend MBA Schedule
What is the length of the Weekend MBA?
Can I begin the program in January or another time of the year?
When do classes meet?
What about the "residency"?
What is the location of the Weekend MBA classes?
Does the Weekend MBA tuition include the Friday night accommodations?
Admission to the Weekend MBA
Who are potential candidates for the Weekend MBA?
Applicants should be employed full-time for four years or more, have demonstrated potential for career advancement and leadership, and be nominated by the employing organization.
What are the prerequisites for the Weekend MBA?
Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from a recognized college or university, with a recommended grade point average of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study. A college algebra class and a statistics class are required, but no business courses or other prerequisites are expected. The Weekend MBA includes participants from many different academic backgrounds who realize the need for further business knowledge.
What is the application process?
Applications are available on our website and from the program office. Applications are accepted throughout the year. When your application is received, you will be sent a confirmation, which will list any remaining requirements and/or questions about your application. The admissions committee meets regularly and reviews applicants on a rolling basis beginning in early October. The admissions deadline is April 1; serious applicants are urged to apply as early as possible.
Can the GMAT requirement be waived?
The GMAT, the Graduate Management Admission Test, is a requirement for the Weekend MBA program, and it provides the admissions committee a quantitative standard for review of MBA candidates.
Upon written request to the Executive Director, Weekend MBA applicants with professional degrees (for example, PhD, DDS, MD, DVM, JD, and DO degree recipients) may seek to have the GMAT requirement waived. Each request is considered on an individual basis.
Are there any exceptions to the four-year work experience criterion?
The Weekend MBA program values work experience, maturity, and managerial knowledge as contributing factors to success in the program. Therefore, the admissions committee requires that applicants to the Weekend MBA have four years or more experience (excluding co-op and internship experience) beyond the undergraduate course. Potential students with less work experience may apply, with the understanding that they may be asked to defer until a later date. Candidates with three years of experience at the time of program initiation may be admitted on a case-by-case basis.
What is the degree issued by the Weekend MBA program?
The diploma for the Weekend MBA graduates states: Master of Business Administration. The transcript will read: Master of Business Administration. It is the same title as the Full-Time MBA and Executive MBA at The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management. The major listed on the transcript will be: Integrative Management. The Weekend MBA is fully accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.
Should I attend an information session?
The Weekend MBA information sessions are a good opportunity to find out more about the program and its students. The sessions offer specific information about the program that is not available in the program brochure or the website. They feature Q&A discussions with current students and alumni in an informal and highly interactive setting. They are held around Michigan several times a year.
The Study Team Approach
Tell me about the study team and cohort experience.
The Weekend MBA program brings in two classes (or cohorts) students each year. Each cohort consists of at least 45 participants, who take classes together throughout the program. Within the cohort, students are divided into study teams that work together on assignments that are team-based. Approximately 30 to 40% of the coursework is team-based.
Why does the Weekend MBA program incorporate the team approach to learning?
While much of the coursework is individual, the structure of the Weekend MBA acknowledges the realities of today's workplace, in which people with diverse responsibilities collaborate to solve issues and find innovative answers to dilemmas.
What will my classmates be like?
Each Weekend MBA class is composed of a diverse set of learners representing a variety of occupations, companies, and academic backgrounds. The average age of the typical WMBA student is 32 years and their average work experience 8.4 years. 57% of the class is married.
The Weekend MBA Schedule
What is the length of the Weekend MBA?
The program calendar extends over 17 months, from late June or early July to early December of the following year. The Weekend MBA is a comprehensive, 45-credit hour degree consists of 28 weekends and two residency weeks.
Can I begin the program in January or another time of the year?
The Weekend MBA program begins only once a year, in the summer (orientation occurs in late June or early July).
When do classes meet?
Weekend MBA classes meet on Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a lunch break. On a typical weekend, students will have three classes: one on Friday evening, one on Saturday morning, and one on Saturday evening.
What about the "residency"?
The Weekend MBA begins with a two day orientation. About a week later, students begin the campus-based, one-week residency followed by a wrap-up weekend. This study consists of two, six-day timeframes in which they take three classes and earn 6 credits. The next summer, students will take the one-week residency on campus or participate in the international business seminar.
What is the location of the Weekend MBA classes?
Classes are held in the James B. Henry Center for Executive Development, located on the western area of the MSU campus. The Henry Center classrooms support the Weekend MBA experience with state-of-the-art amenities and a 128-room hotel.
Does the Weekend MBA tuition include the Friday night accommodations?
Tuition includes the accommodations during orientation and the residency weeks, but not the Friday night stay. The Henry Center can be a "home away from home" for Weekend MBA students, offering discounted suites with data ports, study areas, and full-kitchens. Other hotels are located within a few miles of the Henry Center.