Business Administration (M.B.A.)

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 M.B.A. 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 (Final Semester of Undergrad): 3 Credits

Ethical Leadership of Organizations (3 credits)
(Offered Online)

Summer Term: 3 Credits

Internship (3 credits)**
Roger’s Review workshop – 3-4 days in August

Fall Semester (Graduate): 15-18 Credits

Financial and Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
Data Analytics (3 credits)
Managerial Economics (3 credits)
Decisions in Marketing Management (3 credits)
Elective (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)
International Experience (3 credits)
Elective (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 M.B.A. year; in January of M.B.A. year; or summer after completion of M.B.A. coursework.

Competency Goal 1. Decision Making Competence

M.B.A. 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

M.B.A. 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. 

M.B.A. 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

M.B.A. 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.

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.  RWU Students should apply for the semester following their undergraduate graduation date (if you graduate from undergrad May 2025, apply for the Fall 2025 term) and should have all application materials completed during the Fall semester of their 2nd year of undergraduate study.

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.  RWU Students should apply for the semester following their undergraduate graduation date (if you graduate from undergrad May 2025, apply for the Fall 2025 term) and should have all application materials completed during the Fall semester of their 3nd year of undergraduate study.

Offered with the RWU School 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 Roger Williams University School of Law as well as the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, RWU offers 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 M.B.A. 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 RWU School of Law on our Bristol campus.

To earn the J.D./M.B.A. 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 J.D./M.B.A. degree must be in good standing at the end of their first year of study in the RWU School of Law. Prior to starting the application through the RWU Office of Graduate Admissions, students should meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Colleen A. Brown. 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. 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

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

ECON550 Managerial Economics (3 Credits)
MGMT510 Data Analytics for Business (3 Credits)
FNCE 550 Corporate Finance (3 Credits)
MGMT599 Strategic Management (3 Credits)

Remaining required School of Business courses to earn MBA:

MGMT520 Ethical Leadership of Organizations (3 Credits)
ACCTG505 Financial and Managerial Accounting (3 Credits)
MRKT520 Decisions in Marketing Management (3 Credits)
IB540 Global Business (3 Credits)

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

LAW 784 Bankruptcy*
LAW 635 Business Associations
LAW 729 Civil Rights
LSM 888 Climate Change Law and Policy*
LAW 604 Contracts I
LAW 831 Corporate Compliance and Governance
LAW 819 Employment Discrimination
LAW 820 Employment Law
LAW 647 Federal Income Tax
LAW 720 Health Law and Policy*
LAW 788 Insurance Law
LAW 740 Intellectual Property
LAW 792 International Business Transactions
LAW 770 International Law*
LAW 822 Labor Law
LAW 793 Marine Pollution*
LAW 809 Mergers and Acquisitions
LAW 733 Mediation
LAW 736 Negotiation
LSM 744 Patent Law*
LAW 653 Secured Transactions
LAW 832 Securities Regulation
LAW 756 Transactional Lawyering and Contract Drafting* 

(*2 Credit Course)

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.

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

Graduate Certificate Offerings

Real Estate Graduate Certificate

Adding a Real Estate Certificate to your M.B.A. at RWU can significantly enhance your professional profile by equipping you with specialized knowledge and skills in a rapidly growing industry.  Gain multidisciplinary expertise, build a strong professional network, and enhance your career opportunities without any additional coursework needed!

Certificate Curriculum:

*REAL 501 - Real Estate, Equity, and Environment
*REAL 543 - Project Development and Finance
ACCTG 505 - Financial and Managerial Accounting
ECON 550 - Managerial Economics
* Real Estate courses would be embedded into the MBA program as electives.

Construction Management Graduate Certificate

The rapid growth in the field of Construction Management has been driven by factors such as urban development, infrastructure projects, and the increasing complexity of construction projects.By adding a Construction Management Certificate to your MBA, you position yourself to meet the demands of this expanding industry!

Certificate Curriculum:

*CNST 500 - Fundamentals of Construction Management
*CNST 505 - Construction Business Management & Development
MGMT 524 - Ethical Leadership of Organizations
MRKT 520 - Decisions in Marketing Management
* Construction Management courses would be embedded into the MBA program as electives.

M.B.A. Data Analytics Concentration

For more information on this program, please visit our Data Analytics Webpage! *This program is a 39-credit program that requires students to take an additional class beyond the MBA requirements.

How to Apply

Applicants adding a graduate certificate to their M.B.A. should indicate their chosen certificate on the Application Form.  (RWU Enrollment Questions Section)