Degree Requirements
The objective of each of the programs described below is to develop influential business leaders who are able to assume high-level responsibilities in the rapidly changing national and international environment of the public and private sectors. The curriculum is designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity; to develop analytical and research ability; and to give students the ability to make sound managerial decisions, to plan, organize, and control activities in order to achieve established goals, and to manage people, organizations, and change. Students are expected to acquire the concepts, tools, and understanding to operate in and contribute successfully to new economic environments. Such environments are characterized by rapid technological change, global competition, and information-rich or information-deficient management decisions. Each program is designed to accommodate students with baccalaureate degrees in a wide variety of fields. Each affords the student a wide range of choices to complete a course of advanced study that integrates developments, theory, and applications involved in the exercise of executive and managerial administrative responsibilities.
Full-Time Program
The full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a two-year program taught in Austin. Students enter the program in the fall and graduate at the end of the second spring semester. At least fifteen hours of coursework are required each semester. A one-hour career management course is required in the first semester.
The program requires sixty to sixty-two semester hours of coursework. Twenty-three hours are provided by required core courses. Students are required to take certain core courses in an assigned cohort.
During the first semester of the program, students are organized into cohorts of about sixty members. The students in each cohort take most core courses together. Within the cohort and in particular courses, students may be assigned to four- or five-person study groups to encourage group problem solving and teamwork and the development of leadership skills.
At least thirty-seven semester hours of approved graduate electives are required. The student may concentrate the elective coursework within a discipline, such as marketing; each concentration consists of a sequence of courses that offers strong preparation for a particular career path. Students are not required to choose a concentration.
Further information about prerequisites, requirements, and concentrations is available from the MBA Program Office, online at www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mba/full-time , and by e-mail from texasmba@mccombs.utexas.edu .
Weekend and Evening Programs in Austin
A carefully planned program of continuing education and development for executives is essential in today’s dynamic business environment. The following programs provide this graduate business education for early-career to senior managers while permitting them to continue their careers.
Executive MBA. The executive MBA program is a twenty-one month program designed to meet the needs of academically qualified midcareer professionals who wish to pursue an MBA degree while continuing to carry the full responsibilities of their jobs. Classes are held on alternate Fridays and Saturdays. This rigorous and demanding program requires a serious commitment from both the student and the student’s employer. All students must complete thirty-six semester hours of required coursework and six hours of electives.
Prospective students should have at least five years of experience in management. The average work experience of currently enrolled students exceeds twelve years. A brochure describing the program is available from the MBA Program Office. Information is also available at www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mba/emba.aspx , and by e-mail from texasemba@mccombs.utexas.edu .
Evening MBA. This three-year graduate business program is designed for working professionals who choose to work while pursuing the MBA. Classes are held on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Students attend classes in the fall, spring, and summer, and must complete forty-eight semester hours of coursework. The evening MBA program is designed to help high-potential managers become global business leaders.
Prospective students should have at least two years of work or professional experience. The average work experience of currently enrolled students is nearly six years. A brochure describing the program is available from the MBA Program Office. Information is also available at www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mba/temba.aspx .
Weekend Programs Outside Austin
MBA at Houston and MBA at Dallas-Fort Worth. These rigorous, two-year graduate business programs are designed for managers and professionals who wish to pursue an MBA degree outside normal working hours. Classes are held Friday evenings from 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm on alternate weekends. Classes held in Dallas meet at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Classes held in Houston meet at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. In addition, the programs include two one-week intensive seminars in Austin and a week-long international trip.
The high academic standards and dedicated faculty are the same as in the full-time MBA program. Information about the Houston program is available at www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mba/houston.aspx ; and about the Dallas-Fort Worth program, at www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mba/dallas.aspx .
Executive MBA at Mexico City. This two-year program for executives is taught by McCombs School and Tecnológico de Monterrey faculty members at the EGADE Business School–Campus Santa Fe. Students who complete the forty-two semester hours of coursework earn both the MBA degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Administration degree from Tecnológico de Monterrey. Classes meet Friday evenings and all day Saturday, usually on alternate weekends. In addition, students take part in three one-week intensive seminars, two in Austin and one at an international location. Information about the program is available at www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mba/mba-mexico.aspx.
Dual Degree Programs
The McCombs School of Business offers the following dual degree programs in cooperation with other divisions of the University. More information is available from the graduate adviser in each program.
| Field(s) of Study | Degree(s) |
|---|---|
| Advertising | Master of Arts |
| Asian studies | Master of Arts |
| Communication studies | Master of Arts |
| Global policy studies | Master of Global Policy Studies |
| Journalism | Master of Arts |
| Latin American studies | Master of Arts |
| Law | Doctor of Jurisprudence |
| Mechanical engineering, with a concentration in manufacturing and decision systems engineering | Master of Science in Engineering |
| Middle Eastern studies | Master of Arts |
| Nursing, with a concentration in nursing systems | Master of Science in Nursing |
| Public affairs | Master of Public Affairs |
| Radio-television-film | Master of Arts |
| Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies | Master of Arts |
| Energy and Earth Resources | Master of Science or Master of Arts |
Double Degree Programs
Students interested in a Master of Business Administration degree with an international focus may seek admission to the Double Degree Program. This program allows students in the full-time MBA program to take a substantial part of their coursework at a partner school outside the United States. The student must complete at least thirty-six semester hours of graduate coursework in residence at the McCombs School and must also fulfill the partner school’s requirements for coursework in residence. Students who complete the program earn both the MBA from the University and the equivalent degree from the partner school.
Applicants must be proficient in English and must meet the language requirements of the partner school. The McCombs School offers this program in cooperation with the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Escuela de Administración de Negocios para Graduados, Lima, Peru; Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil; Guanghua School of Management, Bejing, China; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago; WHU—Koblenz Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar, Germany; and various campuses of the Instituto Technológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico. Additional partner schools may be added in the future. Further information on the Double Degree Program is published by the McCombs School at www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MBA/Full-Time/Hands-On/International/Double-Degree.aspx .