Willamette University

Full-Time MBA Formats

Career Change

Willamette's Early Career and Career Change MBA program is an excellent choice for students who have at least two years of post-bachelor degree professional work experience in a management or a functional area who are seeking career change or advancement.

Career change students benefit from combining the integrated curriculum, excellent faculty and hands-on learning of the Willamette MBA with customized experiential opportunities that recognize the value of previous work experience. Internships, PACE, class consulting projects, innovative experiential courses, career services, networking, and participation in student organizations build the professional resume of knowledge and experience needed for successful transitions in a competitive global economy.

In 21 months students develop:

  • an integrated cross-functional understanding of management
  • the tools of managerial decision-making
  • in-depth knowledge in one or more career areas of interest
  • team, leadership and networking skills
  • an enhanced resume of work experience
  • tools of strategic career management

An accelerated option of the MBA is also available for qualified students who have a strong academic background in management as well as professional work experience. Learn more

MBA Curriculum

Fall Semester - First Year

  • Data Analysis, Modeling & Decision Making
  • Accounting for Managers
  • Managing Organizations: Individuals, Teams and Human Resources
  • Managing Organizations: Design and Change
  • Marketing: Creating Satisfied Consumers
  • PACE 1: Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises
    Consulting for Not-for-Profit and Government Organizations
    Achieving Your Career Goals

Spring Semester - First Year

  • Economics, Finance, and Markets
  • Operations and Systems Management
  • PACE 2: Practical Applications for Careers and Enterprises
    Consulting for Not-for-Profit and Government Organizations
    Developing and Entrepreneurial Venture
  • Elective
  • Elective

Summer - Internship or Other Pursuits

Fall Semester - Second Year

  • Politics and Public Policy for Managers
  • Leading Ethical, Socially Responsible and Sustainable Organizations
  • Experiential Elective or Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective

Spring Semester - Second Year

  • Strategic Management
  • Experiential Elective or Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective

Areas of interest

Career change students may pursue their individual career interests in general management or one or more of the following areas of interest:


Download PDF-Format
Early Career/Career Change MBA Brochure