Professional MBA

The GW School of Business Professional MBA (PMBA), a part-time program, is more than passive classroom learning — it’s a dynamic experience in teamwork, critical thinking and judgment. Our program focuses on the fundamentals of business and reflects the growing value of ethical leadership, globalization, sustainability and social responsibility.

The PMBA is rigorous in theory, experiential in practice, and capitalizes on our location in Washington, D.C., where business and politics intersect. It’s also designed to work for your lifestyle, with four paths to completion: Cohort, Self-Paced, Online, and Hybrid. Our main campus is just two blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro station, convenient to work and home. Your classes, professors' offices, academic advisor, and the F. David Fowler Career Center are all located in the same building.

Our PMBA gives you flexibility to complete your degree in two to five years, on campus or online, with a cohort of fellow students or independently. You can dive deeper with intensive weekend formats or explore experiential courses that leverage our unique location. You may even choose to participate in a short-term study abroad program to earn up to six academic credits in just 1-3 weeks. Balancing school, work and family is a lot of work, so we've designed this program to ensure you get as much out of your MBA experience as possible.

Class Profile

The George Washington University School of Business (GWSB) is a school on the move. Over the past several years, we have committed to strengthening our class profile through increased selectivity. As a result, admission to each of our programs has grown more and more competitive. At the same time, we’ve remained committed to maintaining a diverse student community who share our passion for global, ethical business.

At the GWSB, community comes first, and students work toward shared goals. Our class profiles can be a helpful tool in understanding how your profile compares to our current students, but to fully understand our MBA community, we recommend you come see it for yourself.

Number enrolled: 241
Age: 35 (Mid-80% range: 26-46)
Work Experience: 7.78 years (Mid-80% range: 2-15 years)
Female: 46%
International: 8%
U.S. Underrepresented: 27%
U.S. Military/Veteran: 20%

Mission & Learning Goals

Mission

The mission of the Professional MBA Program Office is to ensure the highest overall academic quality of the GW MBA program in order to provide students with the best possible graduate business education. We believe that the creation and dissemination of knowledge is essential for effective management. Our mission is to serve current and future leaders, managers, and professionals in the global community by offering superior learning opportunities in business and public management. We engage in research and other scholarly activities to advance management theory and practice, and provide management and professional expertise to businesses, government and not-for-profit organizations.

Learning Goals

1. Global Awareness and Perspective
   Each student will be able to address the implications of global, environmental, political, economic, legal and regulatory considerations when resolving management situations.
2. Moral Reasoning
   Each student will be able to incorporate ethical principles and concerns about social responsibility into the resolution of management situations.
3. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
   Each student will be skilled in critical thinking and able to use quantitative and decision-making tools and technologies to identify, analyze, and solve management problems.
4. Team Leadership and Effectiveness
   Each student will learn the critical factors for team success and develop skills necessary to participate in and lead teams.
5. Oral and Written Communications
   Each student will be an effective communicator with the ability to prepare well-written reports and deliver professional presentations.

Academic Program

The Professional MBA program is 46.5 credit hours long. Three-credit courses are a full semester long (14 weeks). Courses that are 1.5 credits are seven weeks in length and are offered either in the first or second half of a semester. One-credit courses meet for 12 hours of total class time and are offered in various formats, such as a four-day weekend or four Saturdays in a row. The program typically takes two to five years to complete.

Program Options

In our self-paced, part-time MBA programs, there are three program formats: On-Campus, Online and Hybrid.

The on-campus option allows you to design your own course schedule to meet your professional and personal needs and interests. Designed with greater flexibility in mind, the self-paced format is completed in two to five years based on the number of courses you complete each semester. PMBA-self-paced core and elective classes are generally held weeknights Monday through Thursday.

The online option allows students to take advantage of our unique MBA curriculum from wherever you are in the world. Offered completely virtually but still taught by our esteemed business school faculty, this program enables you to complete your GW MBA from anywhere, while earning the same AACSB-accredited degree awarded to our on-campus students. Online courses are predominantly synchronous. Students participate in a weekly one hour online session led by sync session leaders. These weekly sessions may consist of live discussions, guest lecturers, and Q&A.

The Hybrid option provides you with ultimate flexibility. You can decide not only which courses to take, but also what delivery format you prefer — online or on-campus. The ability to hybridize our Professional MBA is attractive to students with busy seasons in either their personal or professional lives.

Curriculum

PMBA core requirements make up 31.5 credits, with the remaining 15 credits reserved for analytics/technology-focused selectives and general elective classes. Electives are typically completed after the majority of core course requirements have been fulfilled, and may also be completed with short-term study abroad programs.

Elective Courses

With 12 credit hours of general electives built into the curriculum, students are able to add a certificate to their degrees, choose additional courses from over 200 electives offered at the School of Business, or take graduate-level classes offered through other GW schools or area universities. Students can also apply to add a second master’s degree to their MBA through GW’s many dual and joint degree offerings.

 

Connect With Us

Join our LinkedIn group to connect, network, and get acquainted with fellow GWSB grad students in your academic program, and learn about upcoming professional development opportunities, student engagement events, online events and more. Please note: this group is only open to current students and alumni.

Join our LinkedIn Group

Degree Requirements

Admissions

Admission to the PMBA MBA program is highly competitive and enrollment is limited. Students operate in two cohorts throughout the academic year.

Due to the rolling admissions policy, it is highly recommended that candidates submit applications early. The candidate’s major and trend in grades, personal achievements, and letters of recommendation also affect the admission decision. This program seeks social, ethnic, cultural and geographical diversity in its student body.

Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Strong academic performance
• Demonstrated professional interest in business

Admissions Process

Applying to a program at the GW School of Business may seem like a complicated process, but the GWSB admissions team is here to help. The application process for this program can be found on our How to Apply page. All application materials should be sent to the GWSB Graduate Admissions Office. The GRE or GMAT test is not required — however, if you feel that submitting your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them. We also offer a wealth of resources to help you finance your degree, from scholarships and fellowships to loans and work-study arrangements.

Application Requirements

To be considered complete, the following must be included in the application:

• Completed online application form Application fee (non-refundable)
• Current résumé uploaded through the online application system
• One letter of recommendation from a professional and/or academic reference
• Statement of Purpose: In no more than 500 words, describe how this program fits into your professional life and your career objectives.

Additional Application Requirements

• Upload copies of your transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, whether or not the program was completed or the credit appears as a transfer credit on another transcript. Note that admitted students will be required to submit official, sealed transcripts with proof of bachelor’s degree. There is no need to submit them at the time when you first apply.
• The GRE or GMAT test is not required for this program — however, if you feel that submitting your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them. Learn more about our test-optional policy on the How to Apply page. GW School of Business applicants interested in taking the exam can benefit from 10% off any Kaplan GMAT or GRE preparation course. Use discount code GWUSB10.

International Applicants

Applicants who require a visa to study in the United States must also fulfill additional requirements in order to be considered for admission to a graduate program at the School of Business. Please visit our How to Apply page for further details.

Tuition & Fees

Please visit the Student Accounts Office for a complete list of tuition rates and fees.

Additional Costs

• Student Health Insurance
  GW offers voluntary comprehensive health insurance through Aetna Student Health. All F-1 and J-1 international students are automatically enrolled. See the Student Health Insurance page for rates and other important information.
• Housing
  View information about on-campus and off-campus housing for full-time GW graduate students.

Financial Resources

From scholarships and fellowships to loans and work-study arrangements, we offer a wealth of resources to help you finance your degree.

GWSB Fellowships and Financial Support

The GW School of Business offers merit-based fellowships to incoming students at the time of admission. While applying to graduate degree programs at GWSB, prospective students may opt in to be automatically considered for all fellowship award opportunities funded by the School of Business as well as various university-funded tuition awards administered by the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF). Unless otherwise stated, no separate application is required.

In limited circumstances, current students may also be eligible for merit-based tuition fellowship awards.

Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) maintains a comprehensive database of GW and external fellowships to support graduate-level study and/or research. Incoming and current students are encouraged to browse the OGSAF website for information about additional merit-based funding opportunities.

Federal Financial Aid

U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens may qualify for:

• Federally sponsored education loans through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Programs
• Need-based financial assistance through the Federal Work Study Program, which allows students to earn income while working part-time at pre-approved organizations during their program

To apply for federal financial aid, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the appropriate deadline using GW’s FAFSA school code: 001444. Please note that students must apply for federal financial aid each academic year.

Visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance for details about eligibility criteria, application steps, and deadlines. Information about alternate private and federal loans is also available.

Tuition Discounts

Employer Discounts

The GW School of Business offers a tuition discount to current employees of the following companies:

• Leidos
• Lockheed Martin
• Organization of American States (GS/OAS)
• SAIC

Please note that eligible programs vary by employer. View details about eligibility, conditions, and the application process.

Veterans and Military

Nationally recognized as a top military- and veteran-friendly university, GW offers a wealth of services and benefits to student veterans, military personnel, and dependents of the United States Armed Forces. As a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, GW funds tuition expenses exceeding the maximum base pay amount covered through the GI Bill^®, and its contributions are matched by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program and other education benefits, visit GW Veteran & Military Services (VMS).

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

Student Employment and Internships

The F. David Fowler Career Center supports GWSB student and alumni professional development by providing career management resources, career fairs and expos, and employer information sessions. GWSB students also have access to employment services and resources provided through GW’s Center for Career Services.

Handshake is the official online recruiting platform and event calendar for the F. David Fowler Career Center and the Center for Career Services. To search for jobs and internships, find and register for events, and connect with career coaches, log in to Handshake.

Federal Work Study

The Federal Work Study Program is a federally-funded and need-based work program that allows GW students to earn income through part-time employment during the academic year at GW and other pre-approved organizations. Graduate students interested in the program must submit the FAFSA and apply through the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The Center for Career Services provides awarded students assistance with finding positions. Visit the Center for Career Services for information about the Federal Work Study Program at GW.

International Students

Students studying at GW on F-1 or J-1 visas may have additional restrictions on their employment due to visa regulations. F-1 Students are required to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization from the International Services Office for all paid, off-campus internships and employment. GW-sponsored J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to obtain employment authorization for all employment, whether on-campus or off-campus.

For more information about the CPT application process, see GWSB Global & Experiential Education’s Curricular Practical Training page.

For information about how your visa status may affect your employment options, please visit the International Services Office.

Billing and Payment Processing

The Student Accounts Office manages all student accounts and processes student bills, refunds, disbursements, payment plan enrollment, employer reimbursements, third party billing, and financial holds. For inquiries regarding your Student eBill, tuition and fees, or payment options and due dates, visit the Student Accounts Office.

Next Steps