Exciting changes are coming to Otterbein University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Starting in the fall of 2024, the MBA program will be transferred to the Coalition for the Common Good (CCG) to be taught through Antioch University, Otterbein’s collaborating partner. The CCG is a bold, new national system of universities committed to meeting the needs of working professionals and adult learners.

Otterbein and Antioch University founded the CCG in 2023 as a higher education system of private, independent nonprofit colleges and universities aligned around the shared mission of educating students to advance their careers and preparing learners to further social and racial justice, democracy, and the common good.

Both Otterbein and Antioch University had MBA programs when the Coalition was founded, and a cross-institutional team of Antioch and Otterbein business and management faculty, and academic administrators worked together to move forward to offer the best of both programs in a single, stronger program.  

“What sets this redesigned MBA apart is the additional focus on sustainability and leadership,” said Mary Ann Short, Associate Dean, Distance and Extended Education at Antioch University. “Industry research indicates that engaged employees and a company’s potential workforce are expecting and looking for organizations to think more broadly, beyond just their financial bottom line. In the partnership MBA, students will study business concepts with an eye towards organizational profitability while also examining a company’s social and environmental impact. Students are exposed to the idea of a ‘Triple Bottom Line’ framework through coursework, readings, projects and discussions.” 

For central Ohio students, the MBA program offered through Antioch University has several advantages, including six different start dates to begin their degree, new courses starting every seven weeks, and no GMAT or pre-requisite classes required for admission. Students can complete their master’s degree within 22 months with an online class model that puts them in charge of their schedule and learning. 

Students can choose to get the expertise they want with MBA concentrations in: Leadership and Teams, Healthcare Leadership, Nonprofit Leadership, Sustainable Business, and Self-Designed.  

In addition to the MBA, central Ohio students will have access to Antioch University’s business and management master’s degree programs in Human Services Administration and Non-Profit Management.  

The transition of the MBA program creates new opportunities for Otterbein’s undergraduate students and prospective students. 

“An exciting opportunity associated with the new MBA program is the Graduate Early Admissions Pathway for Otterbein undergraduate students. Undergraduate students from all majors can get a head start on graduate education in business through Antioch University online course work,” said Bridget M. Newell, associate provost for graduate studies at Otterbein. “With this collaboration, undergraduate students can begin coursework toward an MBA or a graduate degree in Non-Profit Management or Human Services Administration.” 

Through the Graduate Early Admissions Pathway, students can take three courses (9 credits) in a graduate program during their senior year at Otterbein, and the course credit applies to both their Otterbein undergraduate degree and an Antioch graduate degree. Because the pathway coursework is covered by undergraduate tuition, students also save on the cost of a graduate degree — saving both time and money. Students who graduate from Otterbein and continue in an Antioch graduate degree program receive a 15% alumni discount per credit. 

Graduate Early Admissions Pathways also have been developed for Antioch University’s master’s degree programs in Art Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with more in development. These pathways increase opportunities for students in a variety of majors to pursue graduate degrees, making Otterbein an attractive option for prospective students. 

“By moving Otterbein’s MBA program to the Coalition to be operated by Antioch University, Otterbein will be able to focus on the thing we do best — providing a life-changing education to traditional-age undergraduate students — while offering them a pathway to continue their education,” said Steve Osborne, chair of Otterbein’s Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics. 

“This has the power to broaden opportunities for current graduate study for Otterbein students and to increase enrollments in the Antioch programs. It is a win-win for all,” said Short.  

Learn more at: otterbein.edu/gradschool/mba