Aurora University Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) & Dual MSW/MBA
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Aurora University (AU) offers an online master of business administration (MBA) with a series of healthcare and leadership electives for students to focus their MBA according to their professional goals. The 36-credit online MBA can be completed in just one year on a full-time basis or two years of part-time study. This program is fully online; however, students are encouraged to include an internship during their MBA program to gain hands-on experience in their area of expertise.
Additionally, a dual MSW/MBA is offered, combining a master of social work (MSW) with the online MBA. This dual-degree option takes four to five years to complete and comprises 84 credits. The courses for the dual MSW/MBA are fully online, but the MSW courses include four field instruction internship courses.
A unique feature of the AU online MBA is the ability to earn digital credentials or online badges to add to their portfolio of knowledge. These credentials are competency-based and can be earned by meeting specific criteria while taking the online courses in healthcare or leadership associated with that badge. For example, students must complete all course assignments and earn a grade of 90 percent or higher on assessments or final projects. The online badges available include:
- Healthcare Policy
- Healthcare Management
- Healthcare Quality
- Healthcare Leadership Expert
- Organizational Change Leader
- Organizational Strategic Leader
- Organizational Team Leader
- Organizational Leadership Expert
Some of the online badges are individual, while the Healthcare Leadership Expert and Organizational Leadership Expert badges can only be earned by those who have earned all other badges available for the healthcare or leadership series of courses. Interested students must create an account on Credly.com to accept and share badges. As well, digital credentials may be included elsewhere such as on LinkedIn and professional resumes.
Courses for the online MBA and dual MSW/MBA programs begin in the fall, spring, and summer, with courses lasting eight weeks each. No entrance exams are required, but those with a minimum GPA of less than 3.0 will need further individual review and must submit a personal statement with the other application materials.
Core courses for the online MBA focus on marketing management, ethical decision-making, financial management, strategic management, and leadership and organizational behavior. Healthcare courses cover topics such as healthcare policy, healthcare quality, healthcare management, and healthcare assessment. Leadership courses cover strategic leadership, leading teams, and organizational development.
Courses for the MSW portion of the dual degree focus on human behavior, individuals and families, working with groups, social welfare and policy, clinical theory and application, and research methods.
The array of careers available to MBA graduates is wide and may include titles such as sales manager, healthcare administrator, marketing analyst, chief executive officer, and financial consultant. Dual MSW/MBA graduates may go on to positions such as community leader, nonprofit leader, clinical social worker, social service director, and behavioral health director.
Aurora University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The MSW portion of the dual MSW/MBA degree is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). AU is located in Aurora, Illinois.
What to Expect from the Aurora University Online MBA and Dual MSW/MBA
Admission Requirements: Applicants to the AU online MBA or dual MSW/MBA program must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those with less than a 3.0 GPA will be considered individually. No GMAT, GRE, or work experience is required.
Application materials for the online MBA include a completed application, official transcripts, and a professional resume. Applicants with less than a 3.0 minimum GPA must also submit a personal statement and may be required to submit additional recommendation letters. These applicants may also need to participate in an interview with the program director.
Application materials for the online dual MSW/MBA include a completed application, official transcripts, a professional resume or CV, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement following the guidelines prescribed.
Study Plan: Aurora University runs courses every eight weeks. Students can complete the online MBA in one year by taking two courses every eight weeks and in two years by taking one course every eight weeks. The online dual MSW/MBA degree takes four to five years to complete. Start dates for both programs land in the fall, spring, and summer.
The programs are 100 percent online, not requiring any campus visits. However, the dual MSW/MBA program requires internships and practicum experiences for the MSW portion of the program. Additionally, the online MBA requires the completion of a strategic management capstone course and an internship course is available as an elective.
Note that students must maintain a grade of B or higher in all courses to graduate. As well, approved graduate courses transferred in must be from an accredited institution with a grade of B or higher.
Online MBA Curriculum: The AU online MBA comprises 36 credits, including 18 credits of electives. Core courses may include marketing management; budgeting and financial management; operations management; leadership and organizational behavior; ethics and decision-making; and strategic management.
Healthcare series electives through which students can earn digital credentials include healthcare policy: rules, regulations, and laws; healthcare quality and assessment; and healthcare management.
Leadership series electives through which students can earn digital credentials include strategic management; leading strategically; leading organizational development; and leading teams.
Other electives may include corporate finance; economics; applied business research; human resource management; applied research, insights, and evaluation; data analytics; nonprofit management and leadership; design-thinking; communication management; global business emergent; project management planning; entrepreneurial management; project management execution; leadership for not-for-profit organizations; and MBA internship.
Online Dual MSW/MBA Curriculum: The online dual MSW/MBA degree comprises 84 credits. Students complete the core MBA courses and choose 15 credits of electives in place of 18 credits for the online MBA alone.
MSW courses include social welfare policy and institutions; HBSE I-II: theories of human development I-II; social work practice with individuals and families; social work practice with groups; social work practice with communities and organizations; and social work research methods. Field instruction courses include four internships including two generalist courses and two advanced courses.
Additionally, students complete the courses social work perspectives on psychopathology; clinical social work practice; advanced clinical social work; and advanced social policy. Finally, students choose two of the following courses which may be applied to the MBA electives as well: leadership and organizational behavior; human resource management; and nonprofit management and leadership.
Online Experience: Aurora University utilizes the Moodle online learning management system (LMS) to deliver asynchronous online courses with Zoom for video, chat, and voice interaction when necessary. Discussion boards, live discussions, collaboration, assignments, career-focused activities, and assessments may all be included in the online courses.
Students have access to the Office of Financial Aid, the Phillips Library, the AU Bookstore, and Aurora University ITS for help with online systems. Other services include faculty mentoring, admissions counseling, and career counseling.
On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements as the AU online MBA is 100 percent online.
Paying for the AU Online MBA and MSW/MBA Programs
Online MBA and dual MSW/MBA tuition numbers are listed in the tables below and do not include additional fees. AU graduate students may have access to graduate student loans in accordance with the FAFSA. Online graduate students are also encouraged to check with their employers regarding a tuition reimbursement program and seek funding from other outside sources such as community and organizational scholarships and grants.
Aurora University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and offers other GI Bill benefits to veterans and military personnel. Interested parties should contact the AU Dunham School of Business and Public Policy for updated costs, military benefits, and financial aid.
Aurora University Dual MSW/MBA
SponsorFor the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
- The online dual MSW/MBA combines a master of social work with the online MBA
- Students complete four local internships throughout the program
- The MSW program meets licensure requirements in all U.S. states and territories and is CSWE-accredited
| Degree Level | Master's Degree |
| Program Start Dates | Fall, Spring, and Summer |
| Credits Needed to Graduate | 84 |
| Time to Complete? | Graduate in 4 to 5 years. |
| 100% Online? | Yes |
| Program Accreditation | CSWE |
| Level of Education Required? | Bachelor's Degree or higher |
| GPA Required? | 3.0 or Higher |
| GRE or GMAT Required? | No GMAT/GRE required |
| Work Experience Required? | Professional resume required |
| Credit Hours | 84 |
| Average Cost Per Credit | $600 |
| Estimated Program Tuition * | $50,400 |
Aurora University Online MBA
SponsorFor the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
- Graduate in as little as 1 year taking a full-time course-load or two years part-time
- The online MBA includes a series of healthcare and leadership courses through which students may focus their MBA
- Digital credentials or online badges may be earned for the healthcare and leadership series courses if criteria are met
| Degree Level | Master's Degree |
| Program Start Dates | Fall, Spring, and Summer |
| Credits Needed to Graduate | 36 |
| Time to Complete? | Graduate in as little as 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. |
| 100% Online? | Yes |
| Program Accreditation | None |
| Level of Education Required? | Bachelor's Degree or higher |
| GPA Required? | 3.0 or Higher |
| GRE or GMAT Required? | No GMAT/GRE required |
| Work Experience Required? | Professional resume required |
| Credit Hours | 36 |
| Average Cost Per Credit | $565.00 |
| Estimated Program Tuition * | $20,340 |
* Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the out- of- state, part-time student rate. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Total cost of tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please see the school website for the most up-to-date tuition costs.
