As a national leader in early career MBA education, Willamette's Early Career MBA is specifically designed to prepare students for their first professional career position, career change or advancement.

In just 21 months, Early Career MBA students learn the core principles of general management, refine their career interests, develop an in-depth understanding of one or more career areas of interest, and build the portfolio of experience needed to succeed in a competitive job market.
Areas of interest include:

Curricular areas of interest include:
Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Human Resources
Marketing
Operations, Analysis & Systems
Organizational Analysis
Public & Not-for-Profit Management

Students interested in international management will also find an assortment of courses that support their career interests.

More information about Willamette University's Early Career MBA program is presented on this web site and at http://www.willamette.edu/mba.

We welcome and encourage qualified applicants from around the world and are proud of the international spirit of our Early Career MBA program. With 30% of students coming from outside of the U.S., the Willamette MBA is truly a global community. To learn more about our international spirit, watch this video created by Willamette MBA students about their experience in the program:

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More information about Willamette University's Early Career MBA program is presented on this web site and at http://www.willamette.edu/mba.

Willamette University is the first university in the West, and is widely recognized for the excellence of its academic programs, the quality of its students, dedication of its faculty and the achievements of its graduates in both the private and public sectors. The University offers 34 undergraduate majors and three graduate professional degrees: the Master of Business Administration for Business, Government and Not-for-Profit Management; the Master of Arts in Teaching; and the Doctor of Jurisprudence. Willamette's motto -- "Not Unto Ourselves Alone are We Born" -- epitomizes the University's commitment to prepare students for service and leadership in their communities and professions.

General information about Willamette University's undergraduate programs, College of Law and School of Education is available at http://www.willamette.edu.

Willamette University is a national leader in early career MBA education. The learning environment emphasizes quality teaching, experiential learning and teamwork. From the first day of class, Willamette MBA students apply what they learn to real organizations and build the knowledge and experience employers value.

The curriculum offers a balance of required and elective course work which provides both a general background in management and the opportunity for students to pursue their individual career interests. The result is more open doors, more career options and more choices.

Willamette University is located in Salem, Oregon. The University's campus is spacious and one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. The Willamette campus is comprised of 43 buildings on 61 acres of land.

Salem is the third largest city in Oregon and is Oregon's capital city. Salem has been twice honored as an "All American City," and offers a lifestyle that is friendly, uncomplicated and inexpensive compared to the larger cities of the West.

The downtown area is a short walk from the university, offering major department stores linked with sky-bridges, traditional and ethnic restaurants, coffeehouses and movie theaters. Salem is home to many historic sites, 96 city parks, indoor and outdoor concerts featuring international performers, art and wine festivals, bike paths, running trails and the Oregon State Fair. Life in Salem is pleasant. The manageable pace and relaxed atmosphere enable students to focus their energies on success in their graduate program.

Willamette students find pleasure in the region's beautiful natural environment and close opportunities for big-city excitement. An extraordinary variety of activities are within a short drive of Salem. Students can ski the Cascade Mountains, enjoy the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, hike and mountain bike the Willamette National Forest, windsurf and hike the Columbia River Gorge--- or explore the urban and cultural offerings of the Portland metropolitan area.

The Early Career MBA program is two academic years (21 months) in length. In just twenty-one months, students develop an in-depth understanding of management, refine their career goals, and build a resume of professional experience.

The curriculum is project based and cross-functional. Class consulting projects, internships, in-depth case studies, the Student Investment Fund, the Ethics in Business project, a complete program of career services, and the PACE program (where students serve as consultants for non-profit organizations, develop a plan for an entrepreneurial venture, and start their own business) prepare students for the next step in their career.

The program includes a powerful combination of required and elective course work that provides:

1) a strong foundation in the fundamental principles of management - the basics you need to succeed in any management position.

2) an integrated understanding of general management.

3) enhanced professional, communication, leadership, team and career management skills.

4) in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience, and

5) the opportunity to pursue your individual goals in one or more of career areas of interest.

International exchange programs are also available with Copenhagen Business School (Denmark) and Bordeaux Business School (France).

Willamette University's MBA degree is a master's degree and applicants must have a bachelor degree from a U.S. college/university accredited by the appropriate regional institutional accrediting agency, *or* an equivalent degree from another country.

Three and four year bachelor degrees from international colleges/universities are considered equivalent if the degree is Bologna Accord compliant or if the degree granting institution is recognized by the country's national or regional accreditation/quality assurance organization.

Willamette MBA students come from around the world and across the United States. Approximately 75 new students enter the Willamette's Early Career MBA program each year. The average student is 22 to 28 years of age and has zero to five years of work experience. Sixty percent of the students are men, and forty percent are women. Thirty-two percent are international students. The most common undergraduate majors include the liberal arts, social sciences and business.

The student profile is characterized by the same diversity of age and experience that is common to the work environment of most organizations. Students come with a variety of academic backgrounds and work experience. Some have years of management experience and are pursuing career advancement or change. Others have recently completed their bachelor's degree and are preparing for entry-level management positions.

Willamette MBA faculty are excellent teachers who share an intense commitment to the academic and professional successes of their students. In addition to being excellent teachers, the faculty are leaders of community and professional organizations; authors of books and articles; editors and reviewers of professional journals, entrepreneurs; consultants to business, government and not-for-profit organizations; and members of national and regional boards that make important decisions about management education in America. Their professional experience with current management issues and dedication to teaching make Atkinson an exciting place to learn.

What sets the Willamette MBA faculty apart from other programs is the faculty's commitment to individual student achievement. They take the time to get to know each student's strengths, interests, and goals. They then work with students, academically and experientially, to help them reach those goals. The Willamette MBA is a place where a faculty with outstanding professional credentials loves to teach and collaborate with students.

One hundred percent of Willamette MBA faculty have a doctorate degree. Three endowed faculty chairs (business, public policy, and international management) provide special resources that enhance teaching innovation and scholarly research. Teaching methods include the hands-on experience of starting a real enterprise in the PaCE program, case studies, team projects, consulting projects with organizations, group discussions, simulations, student presentations, internships and independent study/research, and lecture.

All Willamette MBA courses are master's level courses.

Many off-campus apartments are available in Salem and the surrounding area. Although most graduate students choose to live off-campus, limited on-campus housing is available on a space available basis.

Willamette University's MBA program has a long history of welcoming international students from around the world. With over 30 percent of students coming from countries outside the United States, the Willamette MBA offers a global environment for learning.

International students choose the Willamette MBA for the excellence of its program, the quality of teaching, the personal attention they receive from MBA faculty and staff, and the real-world experience they develop through Willamette's distinctive experiential approach to learning.

Our international students also have a long history of success in the Willamette MBA program. They have consistently served in a variety of leadership roles, excelled academically, and been selected for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, international professional honor society for students of management.

International students also benefit from Willamette University's MBA merit-based scholarship program.

Willamette University's MBA program provides a nationally recognized MBA education at a reasonable and manageable cost. Tuition for full-time students enrolled in 12 to 18 semester credits of course work is $13,600 per semester or $27,200 for the 2008-2009 academic year. MBA students are required to have a laptop computer with 802.11b wireless LAN capability and a standard suite of software.

International students may be eligible for merit-based scholarships ranging from 25% to almost 100% of tuition, and may be eligible for private credit-based educational loans if they have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. However, international applicants and/or their sponsor should be prepared to fund the entire cost of educational and living expenses for the two-year program.

Early application deadlines are in January and March. The final application deadline is May 1st. Applicants are encouraged to apply online from the Willamette MBA website at http://www.willamette.edu/mba.

Applicants are always welcome to contact the Admission Office at mba-admission@willamette.edu or 503-370-6167 to check on the status of the application and communicate with members of the admission staff.

Applicants must have a bachelor degree from a U.S. college/university accredited by the appropriate regional institutional accrediting agency, or an equivalent degree from another country. Three and four year bachelor degrees from international colleges/universities are considered equivalent if the degree is Bologna Accord compliant or if the degree granting institution is recognized by the country's national or regional accreditation/quality assurance organization.

There are no specific course prerequisites or work experience requirements for admission, but students should have an understanding of mathematical principles and well developed writing skills. Experience with word processing and spreadsheet applications is also helpful.

International applicants for admission to the Atkinson School MBA program must submit the following materials (in English) to the Willamette MBA Admission Office: online application for admission (available at http://www.willamette.edu/mba), personal statement of experiences and professional goals, two letters of evaluation, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work, official GMAT or GRE scores, and an official TOEFL score of 230 or higher on the computer-based test or an official IETLS Academic score of 6.5 or higher.

International applicants must also submit the following information required for processing an I-20: Statement of Financial Responsibility, official bank verification showing sufficient resources to cover educational and personal expenses, and a photo copy of the name page of their passport.

Contact us! Feel free to contact any member of the Willamette University Early Career MBA Admission Team: