Business Administration (MBA)

The AACSB-accredited Master of Business Administration program offers convenient and time-efficient ways to earn an MBA. In just one year, you will gain the strategic thinking, problem solving, analytical and leadership skills to enable you to excel in our competitive business environment. The program combines small, highly interactive classes at our state-of-the-art Metro Campus in Providence with a required internship and international experience to ensure inclusion of practical real-world experience. A joint JD/MBA program option is also available.

Format

On Campus (Providence)

Schedule

Daytime; Tuesday-Thursday

Credits Required

36

Time Commitment

One year

Cost

Spring 2025
$1,136/credit

Fees

Spring 2025
$475/semester (full-time students)

Ways to Save

Free course senior year ( 51ÂÜÀòand local students)

Limited scholarships

Apply By

Fall Deadlines: March 1 (Priority), April 1 (Regular), August 15 (Final)

Spring Deadlines: November 1 (Priority), December 15 (Regular), January 6 (Final)

Summer Deadlines: March 1 (Priority), April 1 (Regular), April 15 (Final)

 51ÂÜÀòMBA students stand with their professor in Greece

Getting the International Business Experience of a Lifetime

One after another, the Master of Business Administration students, fresh off a plane from Greece, said their week serving as consultants to four Greek companies was nothing less than a life-changing experience that has prepared them like no other to be competitive in the global business world. 

Read about MBA Students in Greece

Accelerated +1 Options

Our accelerated options allow students to complete both undergraduate Business and graduate MBA degrees in four or five years. 

3 + 1 MBA 

Students, by accelerating their undergraduate work, earn their Bachelor’s degree in three years and their MBA degree at the conclusion of their fourth year at the University.

4 + 1 MBA

Students in the 4 + 1 option complete their Bachelor’s degree within four years and their MBA degree at the conclusion of their fifth year at the University.

Key Features of the Master of Business Administration Program

  • Complete in just one year - Students complete the MBA program in one calendar year, including the internship and study abroad experience, allowing them to enter the workforce sooner than many programs.
  • Internationally accredited - The 51ÂÜÀòGabelli School of Business and the MBA program are fully accredited by , The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accreditation is a designation earned by less than five percent of business schools worldwide.
  • Required internship - A hallmark of the 51ÂÜÀòMBA is the opportunity to gain industry experience while pursuing the program with a required internship.  
  • International experience - Each spring break, students travel to a prominent international business destination to learn about culture, regional business practices, major corporations, and more. 
  • Study in Providence - The MBA program is offered at our state-of-the-art Metro Campus in Providence, RI, located right in the heart of one of the busiest business hubs in the state.

International Experience

The International Experience (IE) in the Gabelli School MBA program is intended to provide students with exposure to other cultures and individuals and to develop a broader appreciation of what it means to better understand and build working relationships with individuals whose cultures and business practices may differ greatly from those in the U.S.

This is a distinctive feature of the GSB MBA program and it is expected that all students will participate.  Recent visits abroad have included those to organizations such as Microsoft, FM Global, DHL, Flextronics, Daimler, Mazars and the U.S. Embassy.  The travel portion of the course usually ranges from eight to ten days.

The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Education Business and International Education Program grant in the amount of $184,094, with a matching amount provided from non-federal sources.

91% Three-Month Job Placement
99% Graduation Rate
114 MBA Students To Date
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In just one year, you will gain the strategic thinking, problem solving, analytical and leadership skills to to enable you to excel in our competitive business environment. The MBA program combines small, highly interactive classes in key business disciplines at our state-of-the-art Metro Campus in Providence with a required internship and international study to ensure inclusion of practical real-world experience, both at home and on the global stage.

Course Schedule

Spring Semester (Senior Year - current undergraduate students only): 3 Credits

Ethical Leadership of Organizations
(Offered at the Bristol Campus)

Summer Term

Roger’s Review workshop – 3-4 days in August

Fall Semester (Graduate): 12 Credits

Financial and Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
Decision Analysis (3 credits)
Managerial Economics (3 credits)
Decisions in Marketing Management (3 credits)
Ethical Leadership of Organizations* (3 credits) 

Spring Semester (Graduate): 15 Credits

Corporate Finance (3 credits)
Global Business (3 credits)
Strategic Management (3 credits)
Electives (6 credits)

Summer Semester (Graduate): 6 Credits

Internship (3 credits)**
International Experience (3 credits)**

* Only required if students did not complete the Ethical Leadership of Organizations course previously.

** May be completed in alternative semesters, i.e. summer between senior year and MBA year; in January of MBA year; or summer after completion of MBA coursework.

Requirements, Deadlines, & Financial Aid

Application Requirements

Applicants to the MBA program should have an undergraduate degree (or be completing an undergraduate degree) from a regionally-accredited institution. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admission if you have questions about your eligibility.

To apply, applicants must submit the following items to the :

  1. Completed  and $50 application fee
    An application fee is not required for 51ÂÜÀòstudents. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admission for your fee waiver code. 
  2. Letter of Intent (no more than two double-spaced pages) describing your interest in the MBA program, career goals, and how you can positively contribute to the graduate program at 51ÂÜÀò
  3. Two (2) letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school
  4. Official transcripts from all institutions where undergraduate credit was earned. The Office of Graduate Admission will obtain transcripts on behalf of 51ÂÜÀòstudents. Transcripts from other institutions must be official and sealed from the issuing institution and be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission.

It is recommended that students present at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA in order to be considered for admission to the M.B.A. program. While standardized test scores are not required for admission to the program, students may be asked to submit scores to strengthen their applications. 

Each application will be reviewed using a portfolio approach - all parts of the application will be considered, inclusive of grades and trend of grades, letters of recommendation, the letter of intent, and other information that candidates for admission may wish to submit.

Where appropriate, documents should be submitted online through the or via email to gradadmit@rwu.edu. Any official documents that must be mailed (i.e. transcripts) should be sent directly to:

Office of Graduate Admission
1 Old Ferry Rd.
Bristol, RI 02809

Have questions about the application process? Visit the from the Office of Graduate Admission.

Priority Application Deadlines

December 1st for undergraduate seniors who wish to take the spring semester course
August 1st for all others for fall 2023 consideration

Applications will be considered after these deadlines on a space available basis. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admission for more information. 

Scholarships and Institutional Aid

All accepted MBA students will be considered for limited scholarships and grants. Scholarships will be made on the basis of academic performance in undergraduate coursework. Limited grant opportunities will be considered for students with demonstrated financial hardship. Awards will be made at the time of application or soon thereafter. 

Offered with the 51ÂÜÀòSchool of Law. 

Increasingly, individuals are called upon to understand multiple specialized fields that are inclusive of law and business. Familiarity with business concepts is particularly important for those who seek careers in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property, among others. Drawing on the strengths of the 51ÂÜÀò School of Law as well as the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, 51ÂÜÀòoffers a concentrated joint degree program for students interested in pursuing a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Business Administration degree. The dual degree program allows students to complete the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) in an accelerated period of study – within four years, instead of the typical five years.

The MBA program combines classes in core business disciplines at our state-of-the-art Metro Campus in Providence with a required internship and international study to give you practical, real-world experience both at home and on the global stage. With strong connections to the legal and judiciary fields in the heart of Providence, the juris doctor program offers the highest-quality JD degree with classes at the 51ÂÜÀòSchool of Law on our Bristol campus.

To earn the JD/MBA degree students must complete 78 credits at the School of Law and 24 graduate credits in the Gabelli School of Business. The School of Law and the Gabelli School of Business will each accept 12 transfer credits from the other school. The effect of these credit transfers between the School of Law and the School of Business will reduce the overall time needed to complete both degrees from five years to four years or less, assuming continuous, full-time study.

How to Apply

Applicants applying for the Joint JD/MBA degree must be in good standing at the end of their first year of study in the 51ÂÜÀòSchool of Law. Application should be made through the 51ÂÜÀòOffice of Graduate Admissions. Applications should be submitted sufficiently in advance of the application deadline to assure adequate processing time at both Schools. Student transcripts will be obtained from the School of Law. Applicants must apply to and earn acceptance into both programs separately. Applicants to the JD/MBA program may use their LSAT scores in place of the normally required GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examination) upon notifying the 51ÂÜÀòOffice of Graduate Admissions that this is their intent. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis and using a portfolio approach, wherein all aspects of the application are considered by the admission committee in the Gabelli School of Business.

Apply to the J.D./M.B.A Online

Transferable Course Requirements for the joint JD/MBA Degree Program:

School of Business courses that are transferable to the Law School:

ECON550     Managerial Economics (3 Credits/Fall)
MGMT510   Decision Analysis (3 Credits/Fall)
FNCE 550    Corporate Finance (3 Credits/Spring)
MGMT599   Strategic Management (3 Credits/Spring)*

Joint degree students must also take Roger’s Review in the summer prior to the full matriculation in the MBA Roger’s Review provides a comprehensive overview of functional subjects necessary to MBA course work in fields that include accounting, finance, economics and analytics.

Up to a total of 12 credits of the below Law School courses listed below are transferable to the Business School:

LAW.781        Antitrust (2 or 3 Credits)
LAW.805        Banking Law (3 Credits)
LAW.784        Bankruptcy (3 Credits)
LAW.635        Business Organizations (3 Credits)
LAW.805        Business and Partnership Tax (3 Credits)
LAW.729        Civil Rights (3 Credits)
LSM.888        Climate Change Law and Policy (2 Credits)
LAW.637        Construction Law (2 Credits)
LAW.756        Contract Drafting and Transactional Lawyering (3 Credits)
LAW.604        Contracts I (3 Credits)
LAW.819        Employment Discrimination (3 Credits)
LAW.820        Employment Law (3 Credits)
LAW.647        Federal Income Tax (3 Credits)
LAW.720        Health Law and Policy (3 Credits)
LAW.788        Insurance Law (3 Credits)
LAW.740        Intellectual Property (3 Credits)
LAW.792        International Business Transactions (3 Credits)
LAW.770        International Law (3 Credits)
LAW.822        Labor Law (3 Credits)
LAW.793        Marine Pollution (2 Credits)
LAW.809        Mergers and Acquisitions (3 Credits)
LAW.733        Mediation (3 Credits)
LAW.736        Negotiation (3 Credits)
LSM.744        Patent Law (2 Credits)
LAW.831        Regulatory Compliance (3 credits)
LAW.653        Secured Transactions (3 Credits)
LAW.832        Securities Regulation (3 Credits)*

*Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the Dean of the Business School and the Associate Dean of the School of Law.

For a full listing of juris doctor courses, visit the site.

Each year, MBA students take advantage of a study abroad experience over Spring Break. The required experience provides students with an opportunity to visit corporations in major international destinations, learn about foreign business practices and regulations, and immerse themselves in local culture. 

Athens, Greece - April 2023

MBA students stand together on the waterfront in Athens 2023

MBA students stand with  51ÂÜÀòand Alba Business School faculty in a classroom

MBA students join for a picture at dinner outside the Acropolis in Athens 2023

 51ÂÜÀòMBA students stand outside the Alba Business School in Athens

MBA students stand next to the Acropolis in Athens

Athens, Greece - April 2022

MBA students dine in front of the Acropolis

MBA students stand in front of the Acropolis

MBA students present their projects at Alba Business School in Athens

MBA students stand next to the Acropolis in Athens

Beijing, China - March 2019

MBA students visit Daimler

MBA students at the Great Wall of China

MBA students pose at Microsoft

Panama City, Panama - March 2018

MBA students in Panama City

MBA students pose in Panama

MBA students tour Panama

MBA students at Alliance Transport Logistics

MBA students visit DHL in Panama

Our students benefit from competitive internship placements and are employed at top organizations throughout the U.S. Here is a sample of where our students have interned and found employment:

Internship Placements
AAA Northeast
Chase Corporation
Chikmedia
Dell EMC
Fidelity Investments
Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival
Johnson & Johnson
ParsonsKellogg
Pawtucket Red Sox
Rhodes Pharmaceuticals
Third Spoon Creative
Times Union Center (Albany, NY)
U.S. Sailing
WaterFire Providence
Employers
Citrin Cooperman
Datadog
Dow Jones
Ernst & Young
Forrester
Hasbro
Health and Wellness Partners
Herff Jones
KPMG US
Macy's
NASA
Rolf C. Hagen Corp.
The Walt Disney Company

Competency Goal 1. Decision Making Competence

MBA students will have a comprehensive understanding of cross-functional business concepts and be able to synthesize and apply these ideas to make sound business decisions.  

Objective 1: students will apply relevant business frameworks/strategies to make effective decisions. 

Competency Goal 2. Responsible Leadership Competence

MBA students will understand the opportunities, challenges, and obligations existing at the intersection of business and society and enact leadership behaviors that enhance the common good.  

Objective 1: students will develop leadership strategies that seek to maximize positive societal impact and firm value.

Competency Goal 3.  Data Analysis and Visualization Competency. 

MBA students will understand contemporary approaches to data analytics and visualization and be able to develop effective business insights through the analysis and visualization of complex data sets. 

Objective 1: Students will apply diverse empirical approaches to analyze complex data sets. 

Objective 2: Students will create effective visualizations from the analysis of complex data sets.

Competency Goal 4.  Managerial Communication Competence

Students will understand and apply best practices in managerial communication across multiple functions of business.   

Objective 1: Students will create functionally-specific professional documents.

Objective 2: Students will create and deliver presentations professionally.  

Competency Goal 5. Global Management Competence

MBA students will understand the complexities of the 21st century global business environments and be able to manage effectively across cultural and economic borders.

Objective 1: Students will develop effective global business strategies. 

Objective 2: Students will demonstrate a globally inclusive managerial mindset.

Open Houses

Open Houses are scheduled on the Bristol Campus every June and November with virtual Open Houses available in January and August. Join us to learn more about your program, the admission process, and financial aid at these informative events with faculty and Graduate Admission staff.

View our upcoming events for the most current opportunities to hear about the MBA program.

Information Sessions

Join us on campus or virtually to learn more about the MBA program from faculty, staff, and current students.

There are no sessions scheduled at this time.

.

Meet some of our faculty

Catherine Hall

Dr. Catherine Hall

Director Assurance of Learning and Special Projects and Lecturer in Management

Alexander Knights

Dr. Alexander Knights

Associate Professor of Management

Jason Oliver

Dr. Jason Oliver

Professor of Marketing

Mark Wu

Dr. Mark Wu

Associate Professor of Finance

Susan McTiernan

Dr. Susan McTiernan

Associate Professor of Management

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