Highly Ranked UW Foster School of Business Launches Hybrid MBA

Woman at cafe using laptop; person hiking in front of Mt. Rainier; Foster professor leading lecture; woman using phone and laptop on train

The Foster School of Business has fueled the growth of many of the region’s most iconic companies and accelerated the careers of more than 54,000 graduates. Now the school has created a new MBA program that will expand access to its outstanding leadership development opportunities to working professionals across the Northwest and beyond. This flexible program features a unique blend of online and in-person instruction, referred to as a hybrid format.

The Foster School surveyed hundreds of professionals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii to determine their top priorities for a highly accessible MBA program. The majority desired a format that offers the flexibility of an online learning environment while providing the networking, collaboration, and leadership development opportunities fostered by in-person, on-campus sessions.

Flexibility Equals Access

Participants will come to the UW Seattle campus three times per year for intensive 3-5 day sessions. The remainder of the program is online. The two-year Hybrid MBA Program transforms Foster’s highly ranked MBA curriculum into a convenient format that emphasizes leadership and teamwork.

Foster students sitting in front of PACCAR Hall using laptop

“As a public business school, we are committed to access,” stated Jim Jiambalvo, Orin and Janet Smith Dean of the Foster School of Business. “By offering the majority of the Foster MBA curriculum online, this program increases access for working professionals to an MBA program that has a strong reputation in the U.S. and abroad. Faculty at Foster are leaders in their fields and their expertise in teaching and research will be clearly evident in this program.”

“We agree with business leaders that the school should make its world-class development experiences more accessible to working professionals, and that drove our decision to develop a more flexible format,” said Dan Turner, Associate Dean of Masters Programs at Foster.

“As we designed this new MBA program, we asked hundreds of working professionals about their priorities,” explained Program Executive Director Tracy Gojdics. “The Hybrid MBA responds to the demand for a high quality program that fits with students’ work and life responsibilities and offers an exceptional learning experience. So many companies involve virtual teams and this program will emphasize leading and collaborating effectively, both online and in-person.”

All the rigor and relevance of a Foster MBA

“The essence of the Foster MBA is about providing an academic, professional, and leadership development experience that enables students to elevate their impact in the real world,” emphasized Turner. “As in our other MBA programs, Hybrid MBA students will master theories, frameworks, and tools that will add immediate value and provide a strong foundation for their future success. Ultimately, we expect our students to create a compelling vision for their organizations and then inspire and empower others to bring those visions to reality.”

Business woman standing with laptop in front of Portland, Oregon bridge

Students in the Hybrid MBA will have access to a slate of online electives to customize their degrees in the second year, which culminates with a team-based capstone graduation project. In addition to personalized career coaching, Hybrid MBAs can participate in transformational learning opportunities at the Foster School including the annual Buerk Center Business Plan Competition and an optional international study tour.

The Foster School of Business is the most highly ranked business school in the Northwest and the largest provider of MBA degrees in Washington. Students in the Hybrid MBA will join a network of more than 900 MBA students and 54,000 Foster School alumni worldwide.

Published 01.21.2021

Updated 07.21.2021

Leave a Reply