Online MBA Curriculum

The program is 100% online and does not require any residencies. You’ll attend classes year-round for 30 months, taking two to three courses per semester. However, you may take up to five years to complete your degree.

Core MBA principles form the foundation for WashU Olin’s online MBA. In addition to accounting, finance, marketing, microeconomics, strategy and operations, your core includes values-based/data-driven decision-making and business analytics. The core courses—all taken in your first and second years—are viewed through a digitally progressive lens to give you a forward-leaning perspective on business theory and practice. Once the core is complete, you’ll choose from more than 20 electives in nine functional areas of business.

Electives

Toward the end of your second year, you’ll choose from electives in all functional areas of business. Examples include:

Dynamic Learning Format

The program uses prerecorded content mixed with interactive live sessions that focus on discussions, providing flexibility and keeping you connected to your instructors and fellow students. Your time outside of the live sessions will include watching prerecorded lectures, submitting questions and responses to online discussions, reading cases and articles, writing case memos, and working in teams.

Online learning specialists in our state-of-the-art Center for Digital Education support our renowned faculty to create dynamic, interactive learning approaches:

• Live cases use recent examples of companies managing their digital environment and often include a live interview with business executives discussing their organization’s challenges.
• Sector deep dives are tailored to your interests. You spend two weeks analyzing a subject from the perspective of a few key industries that you choose.
• Experiential exercises like simulations, role-playing and peer-to-peer/group work promote collaborative, hands-on learning.

Digital Impact Project

A unique component of the OMBA program is the Digital Impact Project. This future-leaning, ambitious challenge empowers you to use the skills and knowledge base you’re gaining in your courses to formulate a high-potential digital initiative. You choose a focus—your current organization, an emerging technology or practice, an industry segment—and create a project aspiration statement. Each semester, you’ll apply new thinking and lessons learned from your courses, reflecting on your topic and fusing ideas together. This learning journey, designed for students at all levels of digital mastery, culminates in your final two semesters as you refine and finalize your project. At the program’s end, you’ll have codified your learnings into a plan with the potential to make a difference in an organization, business or society.

Meet the Professors

Get to know some of the WashU Olin faculty members teaching and hear a little about the courses they teach in our Online MBA program.

Andrew Knight
Professor of Organizational Behavior

Liberty Vittert
Professor of Practice in Data Science

Peter Boumgarden
Koch Professor of Practice in Family Enterprise

Doug Villhard
Professor of Practice and Academic Director of Entrepreneurship

Download OMBA Course Pathway PDF