Business Administration, MBA (Online)
Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Program Overview
The MBA at Weatherhead School of Management is built for working professionals ready to take on greater leadership responsibility. Whether you're stepping into management for the first time or preparing for advanced organizational roles, this program develops your knowledge and decision-making skills which are critical for effective leaders. Leadership coursework includes one-on-one sessions with a professional leadership coach to help you develop personal learning goals and a clear professional vision.
You'll engage with real-world projects, case studies, and courses led by instructors with advanced leadership experience which help you immediately apply what you learn. You can customize your learning by choosing from a growing list of concentrations to best fit your career goals.
At 42 credit hours, the program can be completed in as little as two years. Students work with an advisor to build a curriculum plan that fits their schedule and goals, with many classes offered either on campus or online. Small class sizes and direct faculty access create an engaged, connected learning experience—building the professional relationships and networks that extend well beyond the classroom.
Recognized among Northeast Ohio's leading evening MBA programs, Weatherhead prepares you for roles where where you're equipped to lead with greater influence and purpose.
Learning Outcomes
- Students function effectively in teams.
- Students are effective communicators in a business setting.
- Students are critical and creative thinkers.
- Students are competent analysts.
- Students can develop strategies to secure sustainable competitive advantage.
Program Requirements
The MBA is a flexible 42-credit-hour program that combines a core of key business skills with options to create specialized expertise.
Core classes are delivered in a hybrid (combination of live and pre-recorded content) format. The program offers flexibility to attend classes either online or on campus. Electives are available either online or on campus.
This flexible approach enables students to choose the method of learning that works best for them on a class-by-class basis, ensuring that they can tailor their education to fit their individual needs and preferences.
Students can choose their focus area from the available electives or one of our concentrations.
Concentrations
Students must complete all required courses in a desired concentration. Earning a concentration is optional.
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)
The Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) concentration at the Weatherhead School of Management offers MBA students a rigorous, structured, 12-credit pathway to business ownership through acquisition. As one of the fastest-growing routes in graduate management education, ETA is increasingly recognized as a lower-risk alternative to traditional startup ventures. Weatherhead has a distinctive 40-year legacy in this field, with participants in its network having acquired over 115 companies since 1992.
Healthcare
A blend of MBA core and healthcare core courses, the online MBA curriculum is designed to create future leaders in the growing
field of healthcare management. You’ll benefit from rigorous yet flexible classes and complete hands-on training during two in-person residency experiences at some of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals. Our immersive program allows you to apply healthcare management lessons in real life while you grow your network, hone your skills, and build your confidence to succeed across different healthcare settings.
Product Management
Weatherhead School of Management’s Product Management MBA is your gateway to leadership in the dynamic world of product development and strategy. The program offers flexible online learning, real-time interaction, and hands-on residency experiences, equipping you with AI-infused product management expertise and leadership coaching.
Nonprofit Management
Nonprofit leaders face a distinct set of challenges—mission-driven organizations require not only passion, but also refined management skills, strategic insight, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder ecosystems. The Mandel School’s Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management (CNM) offers emerging leaders and new executives a personalized, high-impact pathway to build exactly those capabilities. With coursework tailored to each student’s professional goals, the CNM helps leaders strengthen their expertise in governance, fundraising, program evaluation, and organizational effectiveness while one hands on residency provides access to local leaders in the Cleveland community.
For Weatherhead MBA students, pairing the MBA with the CNM creates a powerful combination: the broad managerial and analytical strength of an MBA, amplified by specialized nonprofit training that deepens purpose-driven leadership. The result is a uniquely versatile graduate who can move confidently between sectors—or innovate at the intersection of them.
Sample Plans of Study
General MBA
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MBAP 499 | Introduction to Learning Skills | 0 |
| MBAP 471 | Probability and Statistics for Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 472 | Regression and Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 473 | Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence for Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 470 | Leading Self | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 474 | Leading Others | 1.5 |
| MBAP 475 | Using Financial Statements to Evaluate Performance | 1.5 |
| MBAP 476 | Cost-Based Decision Making | 1.5 |
| MBAP 477 | Corporate Finance | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 482 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 483 | The Strategic Edge - Economics for Leaders | 1.5 |
| MBAP 484 | Introduction to Operations Management | 1.5 |
| Elective | 1.5 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 478 | Valuing Businesses | 1.5 |
| MBAP 479 | Leading Organizations | 1.5 |
| MBAP 480 | Introduction to Business Strategy | 1.5 |
| MBAP 481 | Marketing Planning and Management | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 485 | Business Strategy Applications | 1.5 |
| MBAP 486 | Mastering Prompt Engineering: Unlock the Power of AI for Business Advantage | 1.5 |
| MBAP 487 | Marketing Execution | 1.5 |
| MBAP 488 | Leading Change | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
Healthcare MBA
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MBAP 499 | Introduction to Learning Skills | 0 |
| MBAP 470 | Leading Self | 1.5 |
| MBAP 471 | Probability and Statistics for Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 472 | Regression and Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 422H | Digital Innovation in Healthcare | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 474 | Leading Others | 1.5 |
| MBAP 475 | Using Financial Statements to Evaluate Performance | 1.5 |
| MBAP 476 | Cost-Based Decision Making | 1.5 |
| MBAP 477 | Corporate Finance | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 484 | Introduction to Operations Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 485 | Business Strategy Applications | 1.5 |
| MBAP 483 | The Strategic Edge - Economics for Leaders | 1.5 |
| MBAP 426H | Finance Issues and Applications in Healthcare | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 482 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 479 | Leading Organizations | 1.5 |
| MBAP 480 | Introduction to Business Strategy | 1.5 |
| Elective | 1.5 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 431H | Empowering Healthcare Innovation: Frameworks for Real-World Impact | 3 |
| MBAP 478 | Valuing Businesses | 1.5 |
| MBAP 481 | Marketing Planning and Management | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 428H | Healthcare Decision Making and Analytics | 3 |
| MBAP 424H | Economic Issues and Applications in Healthcare | 1.5 |
| Elective | 1.5 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 425H | Action Learning in Healthcare | 3 |
| MBAP 488 | Leading Change | 1.5 |
| MBAP 487 | Marketing Execution | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
Nonprofit MBA
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MBAP 499 | Introduction to Learning Skills | 0 |
| MBAP 471 | Probability and Statistics for Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 472 | Regression and Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| SASS 411 | Nonprofit Leadership Dialogues | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 474 | Leading Others | 1.5 |
| MBAP 475 | Using Financial Statements to Evaluate Performance | 1.5 |
| MBAP 476 | Cost-Based Decision Making | 1.5 |
| MBAP 477 | Corporate Finance | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 482 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 483 | The Strategic Edge - Economics for Leaders | 1.5 |
| MBAP 484 | Introduction to Operations Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 473 | Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence for Management | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 480 | Introduction to Business Strategy | 1.5 |
| MBAP 485 | Business Strategy Applications | 1.5 |
| SASS 407 | Nonprofit Revenue Planning and Development | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 478 | Valuing Businesses | 1.5 |
| MBAP 481 | Marketing Planning and Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 487 | Marketing Execution | 1.5 |
| MBAP 488 | Leading Change | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SASS 450 | Nonprofit Law | 3 |
| SASS 405 | Nonprofit Ethics and Professionalism | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 495N | The Role of Nonprofits in the Community Ecosystem | 1.5 |
| SASS 410 | Nonprofit Databased Decision-Making | 3 |
| Elective | 1.5 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
Product Management MBA
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MBAP 499 | Introduction to Learning Skills | 0 |
| MBAP 470 | Leading Self | 1.5 |
| MBAP 471 | Probability and Statistics for Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 472 | Regression and Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 450P | Foundations of Product Management | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 474 | Leading Others | 1.5 |
| MBAP 475 | Using Financial Statements to Evaluate Performance | 1.5 |
| MBAP 476 | Cost-Based Decision Making | 1.5 |
| MBAP 477 | Corporate Finance | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 455P | Product Architecture and UX Design | 1.5 |
| MBAP 483 | The Strategic Edge - Economics for Leaders | 1.5 |
| MBAP 481 | Marketing Planning and Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 457P | Building AI-based Products | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 479 | Leading Organizations | 1.5 |
| MBAP 480 | Introduction to Business Strategy | 1.5 |
| MBAP 485 | Business Strategy Applications | 1.5 |
| MBAP 456P | Product Development & Delivery | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 453P | Business Model Design | 1.5 |
| MBAP 452P | Product Discovery, Analytics, & Customer Insights | 1.5 |
| MBAP 451P | Product Strategy & Leadership | 1.5 |
| MBAP 454P | Product Management in Startups | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 478 | Valuing Businesses | 1.5 |
| MBAP 482 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 484 | Introduction to Operations Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 458P | Sustainable Product Management | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 486 | Mastering Prompt Engineering: Unlock the Power of AI for Business Advantage | 1.5 |
| MBAP 487 | Marketing Execution | 1.5 |
| MBAP 488 | Leading Change | 1.5 |
| MBAP 459P | Digital Marketing & Customer Analytics | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MBAP 499 | Introduction to Learning Skills | 0 |
| MBAP 477 | Corporate Finance | 1.5 |
| MBAP 475 | Using Financial Statements to Evaluate Performance | 1.5 |
| MBAP 470 | Leading Self | 1.5 |
| MBAP 471 | Probability and Statistics for Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 472 | Regression and Decision Modeling | 1.5 |
| MBAP 476 | Cost-Based Decision Making | 1.5 |
| MBAP 478 | Valuing Businesses | 1.5 |
| MBAP 474 | Leading Others | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 473 | Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence for Management | 1.5 |
| DESN 421 | ETA Fundamentals: The Acquisition Entrepreneurship Lifecycle | 1.5 |
| BLAW 417 | Legal Environment of Management | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBAP 484 | Introduction to Operations Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 482 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 1.5 |
| DESN 419 | Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition III | 1.5 |
| DESN 420 | Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition II | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 481 | Marketing Planning and Management | 1.5 |
| MBAP 487 | Marketing Execution | 1.5 |
| MBAP 480 | Introduction to Business Strategy | 1.5 |
| MBAP 479 | Leading Organizations | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBAP 486 | Mastering Prompt Engineering: Unlock the Power of AI for Business Advantage | 1.5 |
| ENTP 444 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
| Elective | 1.5 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBAP 483 | The Strategic Edge - Economics for Leaders | 1.5 |
| MBAP 485 | Business Strategy Applications | 1.5 |
| MBAP 488 | Leading Change | 1.5 |
| MBAP 495E | Applied ETA: The Search-to-Operator Practicum | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |