Willamette University Atkinson Graduate School of Management

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School Says - General Information
Willamette's MBA programs build the knowledge and experience needed for careers in business, government and not-for-profit organizations.

Programs include the Early Career MBA for students seeking their first professional position; the MBA for Career Change for students seeking career change or advancement; and the MBA for Professionals for experienced students seeking career enhancement or advancement.

All Willamette MBA programs emphasize hands-on learning and are accredited by AACSB International Ââ€" the global hallmark of excellence in business education.

School Says - Student Body
Our students are described by their references as energetic, creative, ethical, exceptional, friendly, mature, hard working, insightful, professional, reliable, team-players and leaders.

Early Career and Career Change students come from around the world and across the U.S. The average student is 25 years of age, has zero to five years of work experience, and is utilizing the MBA to prepare for career entry or career change.

MBA for Professionals students have three or more years of work experience and are preparing for career advancement and enhancement. The average student is 33 years of age and employed while completing their MBA. Students represent a wide variety of organizations from the Portland/Salem metropolitan areas (business, consulting, entrepreneurial ventures, government, not-for-profit).

School Says - Academics
Early Career MBA and MBA for Career Change

The Early Career MBA and the MBA for Career Change are full-time MBA programs designed for students seeking career entry, change and advancement. In just 21 months, students learn the core principles of 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

Faculty are excellent teachers who are committed to their students and to the educational model of '"learning by doing." From the first day of class, students apply what they learn to real organizations. Class consulting projects, internships, in-depth case studies, the Student Investment Fund, the PACE program, Oregon Ethics in Business Awards, and a complete program of career services offer powerful opportunities for professional development.

Areas of interest include accounting; entrepreneurship; finance; human resources; marketing; operations, analysis and systems; organizational analysis; sustainability management; and public and not-for-profit management.

Courses are taught on the Willamette University campus in Salem, Oregon. International exchange programs are available at Bordeaux Business School (France), Copenhagen Business School (Denmark) and E.M. Strasbourg Business School (France).

MBA for Professionals Willamette's MBA for Professionals provides individuals with three or more years of work experience the opportunity to complete their MBA while employed. The program offers a quality AACSB International accredited MBA, experiential learning and convenient evening classes.

Students learn from professors who emphasize an integrated and practical approach to management concepts. The structure of the program helps students immediately apply what they learn to their job and accelerate their career in their organizations.

The MBA for Professionals is cohort based and can be completed in 24 months of evening study in Portland or Salem.

School Says - Admissions
Applicants interested in the Early Career MBA or the MBA for Career Change should visit http://www.willamette.edu/agsm/full-time/admission/ for information. Applicants interested in the MBA for Professionals program should visit http://www.willamette.edu/agsm/pmba/admission/ for information.

School Says - Campus Life
Location and lifestyle are two important benefits of the Willamette MBA experience. Our locations offer an excellent quality of life, friendly people, mild climate and the recreational resources of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Professionally, the Portland-Salem area provides convenient access to a multitude of businesses (including Northwest legends Nike, Intel, and Tektronix) and hosts a number of government and not-for-profit organizations.

The MBA community participates in a variety of professional and social/recreational activities. Student professional organizations are available in accounting, consulting, finance, human resources, marketing, net-impact, project management, and the National Association of Women MBAs. Social organizations include the Atkinson student association, international graduate student association, golf association, and outdoor club. Barbecues, receptions, the international student dinner, community service projects, holiday celebrations, alumni activities, pizza nights, traditional Thursday Night Out events, and recreational activities balance the academic demands of the program.

The Salem campus includes two libraries, recreational and fitness facilities, dining centers, student center, concert hall, art museum, and more. The Portland Center is conveniently located in the Pearl District with easy access to public transportation and public parking. All facilities offer wireless access to the Internet, email, network software and printing services.

Students Say - Academics
With a unique focus on young professionals, Willamette's friendly but rigorous MBA is a great way to get your feet wet in the business world. While most MBA programs require work experience before matriculation, this program is "specifically geared toward the early career or career change MBA." In fact, many Willamette students have never held a professional position. The focus on early career students does not mean that the curriculum is a cake walk. On the contrary, this "very fast-paced, intense program" is more like a crash course for future business leaders. "Active participation and discussion is strongly emphasized in most classes," and the "very well-thought out curriculum for first-year students," is augmented by excellent elective courses in the second year. Attracting a surprisingly "idealistic" business school crowd, many students also choose Willamette because of its unusual areas of concentration, especially it's "reputation for non-profit, government, and social entrepreneurship excellence." On the flip side, many note that, as the school does not offer a focus in information technology, "This school's weakest academic discipline is in fields of information technology and the use of computers to make business decisions." However, Willamette has hired new faculty in the area of ‘operations, analysis and systems' and are building curriculum in that area. While Willamette students may begin the program with very little career experience, they won't leave that way. Experiential learning is key to the curriculum, helping "students with all levels of experience gain that edge usually gained through lots of years in corporate jobs." For example, through Willamette's required Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises (PACE) program, students are "placed in a ten-person team for the year to do consulting work for an area non-profit organization." Practical applications take center stage in the classroom, as well. "Accomplished professionals" in their fields, professors "definitely bring expertise and know-how with a clear distinction between theory and real world practices." In addition to attending lectures, students "work on a lot of case studies," which prepare them "with the skills to analyze a situation from many different points of view." In addition, "There is also a lot of stress placed on teamwork and presentation skills," staples of a successful business career. Bringing both warmth and enthusiasm to the classroom, "Most professors really make you love their courses, even if you're not an innate financier or marketer." With a clear focus on the student, "They are approachable and flexible if you require out of class time for assistance." A student agrees, "The learning environment at Willamette is incredibly unique in that it is more intimate than most business schools. Professors are very accessible and truly invested in helping students understand course material." Adds another, "Rarely do I write an e-mail to any of my professors without receiving a reply (and usually a solution to my problem) by the next day."

Students Say - Admissions
Applicants to the Early Career MBA must submit the application, GMAT or GRE score, references, and undergraduate transcripts. Qualified applicants are invited to interview. Last year's entering class had a mean GMAT score of 608 and a mean undergraduate GPA of 3.3. Thirty-eight percent of Willamette MBAs studied liberal arts or social sciences in college. The Early Career MBA program is designed for students with little or no professional experience. Applicants to the MBA for Professionals Program must submit the application, GMAT score, references and undergraduate transcripts. A minimum of three years of professional experience is required for the MBA for Professionals Program.

Students Say - Campus Life
The life of a frazzled Willamette business student is comprised of "lots of classes, preparations, [and] project meetings, blended with a coffee mug at Bistro's (the university's student-managed coffee shop.)" With so much on their plates, "Free time can sometimes be scarce." Fortunately, "Social activities like Thursday Night Out, the small size of the class, along with the design of the class schedule, allow us not only to get to know all of our classmates but also to maintain the family atmosphere that characterizes Atkinson." Drawing a large international population, the MBA program is "extremely ethnically diverse and that brings a high level of intercultural experience to the students." For overachievers (of which you'll meet a few), "There are many ways to be involved in more than just class: associations, peer advisor positions, TA positions, etc." Set in Oregon, "The campus is gorgeous," with "a river crossing the university and many green areas." "Being in Oregon you always have things to do outside of the town like the beach, mountains, forests, trails, and hikes" and there are "lots of bars nearby" in downtown Salem. Savvy business students also point out that despite the private school tuition, "the low cost of living made Willamette University cheaper by thousands per year."

Students Say - Careers
In addition to the ample experiential education included in the Willamette curriculum, the Career Management Office offers recruiting programs, resume revisions and interview preparation services, company site visits, peer advisors, networking events, and career counseling. On the Willamette campus, "There are many activities and events that provide students with the opportunity to network with alumni and other professionals," though some would like to see those efforts expanded, especially when it comes to the alumni network. When it comes to career placement, one of the biggest obstacles is that "WU is still relatively unknown beyond the Northwest region"â€"though, fortunately, the school does enjoy an "incredible reputation in the Northwest" and strong ties in Portland and Salem. In recent years, 70 to 80 percent of Willamette graduates had a job offer within three months of graduation, and 90 to 100 percent had received an offer within six months, with salaries ranging from about $36,000 to $100,000 annually. Athird of graduates chose to pursue careers in non-profit or government organizations. Willamette graduates were hired by companies including Hewlett Packard Company, Americorps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, SENTECH Inc, and LinkedIn.

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