The School of Business

The Portland MBA

The Portland MBA hones your skillset in business fundamentals, including accounting, finance, management, marketing, supply chain and strategy. You’ll receive dedicated instruction in leadership and communication, and your experience will culminate with an immersive capstone project that gives you the opportunity to work with a local, regional or international company to solve a meaningful problem.

  • The Portland MBA for Career Explorers:
    • 21 months
    • Daytime classes
    • Core curriculum and specialization/certificate
  • The Portland MBA for Career Accelerators:
    • 21 months
    • Evening classes
    • Core curriculum with option to add specialization/certificate

Your coursework centers around the following three areas. 

Visit the Bulletin for course details.

Orientation

Orientation is an important part of the Portland MBA experience and is required for all students.

  • Portland MBA faculty-led orientation. In September before the start of Fall term (time and date will be announced).

         Attendance: Required for all MBA candidates.

Foundations of Competitiveness (18 Credits)

These courses provide you with a deepened understanding of the global and competitive challenges facing businesses today. Innovation, Creativity, Global Awareness, Ethics and Sustainability are themes emphasized throughout the following coursework:

  • Pioneering Innovation: MKTG 513 (4)
  • Economics & Sustainability of the Firm: FIN 515 (2)
  • Managerial Macroeconomics: FIN 516 (2)
  • Managerial Analytics: ISQA 519 (4)
  • Foundations of Strategy: MGMT 511 (2)
  • Integrated Strategy: MGMT 514 (2)
  • Business Law & Corporate Governance: MGMT 557 (2)
  • Managerial Analytics: BTA 519 (4)

The Value Chain of Business (24 credits)

These courses will give you the technical skills needed to analyze and systematically integrate different aspects of business operations including Accounting, Information Systems, Finance, Management, Marketing and Operations.

  • Financial Reporting: ACTG 511 (4) 
  • Managerial Accounting and Control: ACTG 513 (4)
  • Marketing Strategy: MKTG 512 (4)
  • Organizational Management: MGMT 512 (4)
  • Financial Management: FIN 513 (4)
  • Sustainable Operations Management: ISQA 511 (4)

Leadership Foundations (7 Credits)

Your leadership skills will be first assessed and developed through a series of leadership competencies integrated throughout the curriculum. Leadership is integrated through Managerial Competencies, Skills & Perspectives, One-on-One Leadership Coaching, a two-day Leadership Immersion and a Team-Based Consulting Capstone Project and further honed through the following courses:

  • Leadership Development and Assessment: BA 521 (2)
  • Leadership Immersion: BA 524 (1)
  • Capstone Consulting Project: BA 525 (4) OR Launch-in-9 Capstone Program

Electives & Specializations (11 credits required)

Students will complete 11 credits of electives in a variety of topics focused on applied skills, industry expertise, and advanced leadership. Students may choose to add additional electives to complete graduate Certificates outlined in the Specialization Options below.

Visit the Bulletin for course details.

Specialization Options

Enhance your skill set by specializing in:

Visit the Bulletin for certificate details.

*Students must complete 20 credits (12 required, 8 electives) from the Master of Science in Finance program to add the finance option to their MBA degree and earn an MBA in Finance. Please speak with an advisor for details. 

Capstone Consulting Project

Build your professional network and solidify your business knowledge by applying it to experience testing, strategy formulation and team collaboration. Local, regional and international companies rely on our MBA cohorts to solve meaningful problems. Over the course of two-terms, your team will be immersed in client work in your area of interest and produce high-impact deliverables with guidance from faculty.

 

For the Sample MBA Schedule, please use the materials on these pages:

*Leadership Immersion: Choose between Winter and Spring.
**Depending on the Certificate you choose, this may be more than 11 credits.

Waivers

Students may be eligible for a waiver of up to 13 credits from the following courses: ACTG 511 & 513, FIN 515 & 516, ISQA 511 and MGMT 512. Waivers are based upon the student holding an undergraduate degree (earned within the previous seven years) or an active license in the specific discipline for which the waiver is sought. Students must apply for waivers during the summer prior to entering the program.

To apply for a waiver
Once you are admitted to the MBA program you can apply for a waiver by emailing mbaadvising@pdx.edu and requesting a link to the waiver form.

Learn More about The Portland MBA