Widener University Online MBA & Dual MJ-MBA Programs - AACSB-Accredited

• Dual Master of Jurisprudence in Corporate and Business Law / Master of Business Administration
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Business Administration - Business Process Management
• Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Management

By Sara Navratil Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore Reviewed By School

Updated January 13, 2024

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Widener University School of Business offers an AACSB-accredited, online MBA with a general track or a concentration in business process management. In addition, the MBA is offered as a dual degree with a master of jurisprudence (MJ) in corporate and business law in cooperation with Widener University Delaware Law Graduate and Compliance Programs.

Through these integrative programs, students learn innovation, ethics, team-building, financial strategies, legal skills, and organizational leadership skills.

Those pursuing the business process management concentration are prepared to become credentialed by the Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) as a Certified Business Process Professional. Career options for this MBA concentration may include process analyst, quality assurance manager, and business process analyst.

The dual MJ/MBA degree reduces total credits from 62 to 48, allowing the degree to be earned in just 2.5 years. It offers a unique degree combination in both business administration through the MBA portion and legal and regulatory compliance through the MJ portion which is accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB).

Widener University, located in Chester, Pennsylvania combines theory, professional development, and hands-on activities to offer outstanding online master’s degrees. All students complete the required courses and electives in addition to five non-credit professional development workshops to enhance real-life application. Students without a business background may be required to complete up to five foundational courses before beginning the core MBA courses.

Meet the Expert: Anthony Wheeler, PhD

Dr. Anthony Wheeler is dean of the School of Business Administration and a professor of management at Widener University. He has nearly a decade of administrative leadership experience and teaches across all instructional levels, including doctoral programs, with a focus on human resource management, organizational behavior, and entrepreneurship and innovation.

Dr. Wheeler maintains an active research agenda centered on employee turnover, retention, stress, burnout, engagement, and leadership. His work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Management, the Journal of Applied Psychology, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, and Leadership Quarterly. He has served as associate editor for the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology and currently co-edits Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, in addition to serving on the editorial board of Group and Organization Management.

Beyond academia, Dr. Wheeler has extensive consulting experience in human resources and change management, working with Fortune 500 companies, high-tech firms, startups, and government agencies. His expertise has been featured in national media outlets including The Washington Post and the Financial Times.

He holds a PhD and MS in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma and a BA in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

BSchools.org: What is something you wish the public understood about dual-degree MBA programs?

Dr. Wheeler: Dual degree programs are often structured so that students either do not add any or just an extra semester to complete the second degree. Similarly, universities typically offer a set tuition price for both degrees that is far less expensive than doing two degrees separately. Some programs even offer dual degree programs where students only pay for a single degree while the second degree comes as part of the base program.

If prospective students do their homework on dual degrees, they will often be positively surprised by the time to complete both degrees and the cost.

BSchools.org: What advice would you give to aspiring students in dual-degree MBA programs?

Dr. Wheeler: Think of your dual degree options as building complementary skill sets. Often, the MBA gives you the knowledge and skills to thrive in any business within any industry. It is the complementary degree to the MBA that can give you an advantage within a specific industry. So think about building complementary skill sets and do your homework about the programs around time to completion and cost.

BSchools.org: What does the future look like for graduates of these programs?

Dr. Wheeler: Psychologists use the phrase “far transfer” to describe learning information in one discipline and seeing how far you can transfer that knowledge in a positive way to other disciplines. Far transfer is a hallmark of critical thinking, which is the most in-demand skill employers seek. Obtaining a dual degree now, more than ever, can boost your career because of critical thinking skills developed through far transfer.

Moreover, as technology continues to render obsolete technical skills, what used to be derisively called “soft skills”—critical thinking, communication, relationship development, leadership, teamwork, and the like—are actually the “durable skills” that the machines cannot replace. Earning a dual degree promotes durable skill development, which will ensure a long career!

Meet the Expert: Eileen A. Grena, RN, JD

Eileen Grena serves as assistant dean and executive director of graduate, international, compliance, and legal studies programs (GICLS) at Widener University Delaware Law School. She earned her BS in political science with a minor in biology from American University, her JD from Widener University School of Law, and later completed a BSN at the University of Delaware.

Before joining Widener Law, Dean Grena worked as assistant counsel for Jeanes Hospital in Philadelphia, served as county solicitor for Chester County’s Mental Health Court, and acted as an arbitration judge for Chester County. She lectures in healthcare compliance and serves on the Board of Advisors for Christiana Hospital’s Compliance and Ethics Program.

BSchools.org: What is something you wish the public understood about dual-degree MBA programs?

Grena: Dual-degree MBA programs, such as Widener University Delaware Law School’s fully online MJ/MBA, are more than a way to earn two credentials—they are an efficient, high-impact investment in your future. Delaware is the legal home to over 60 percent of Fortune 500 companies, making it one of the country’s most important jurisdictions for corporate law. Studying business and law at Widener University Delaware Law School offers students rare, practical insight into how top-level businesses operate and stay compliant.

One of the most significant advantages of this program is its efficiency. Through an integrated online curriculum, students can earn the master of jurisprudence (MJ) in corporate and business law and the master of business administration (MBA) in approximately 2.5 years.

BSchools.org: What advice would you give to aspiring students in dual-degree MBA programs?

Grena: Take full advantage of [studying] from anywhere: Widener’s online MJ/MBA connects you to the legal foundations of the corporate world and allows you to study the laws and frameworks governing global business, no matter where you are logging in from.

Use the online format strategically: The program’s flexibility allows you to study on your schedule. Whether you work full-time, care for your family, or pursue other goals, the online format helps you integrate education into your life.

Pursue professional certifications: The program is designed to align with industry certifications like the certified compliance & ethics professional (CCEP) ananer (CFE). Earning one of these alongside your degrees can enhance your resume in business, compliance, risk management, and more.

Network Actively, even online: Build relationships with your peers, professors, professionals, and alums across disciplines—stay connected, collaborate, and learn from each other.

BSchools.org: What does the future look like for graduates of these programs?

Grena: Widener Delaware Law’s online MJ/MBA program graduates are uniquely positioned to lead in an evolving, compliance-driven corporate world. With in-depth knowledge of the laws that shape the operations of major companies—and the business acumen to navigate leadership roles—alumni are prepared for impactful careers in compliance, corporate governance, risk management, executive leadership, and legal consulting. The future for MJ/MBA graduates is one of opportunity!

What to Expect from the Widener University Online MBA & Dual MJ-MBA Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the Widener online MBA or MJ/MBA dual degree must hold a BS (or graduate degree) with a 2.7 GPA or higher. A GMAT is required for MBA students. A waiver is available for those with five years of relevant work experience or a master’s degree. Those pursuing the MJ/MBA dual degree do not need a GMAT; however, they are expected to maintain sufficient academic progress in their MJ studies. If students do not maintain proper academic progress they must take the GMAT and earn a 450 or higher to continue in the MBA program.

Application materials include an application, statement of purpose, resume, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. International students must have a score of 80 or higher on a TOEFL test in order to participate in the online MBA and MJ/MBA degrees.

Study Plan: The online MBA consists of 11 courses and can be completed in 18 to 24 months. The dual MJ/MBA degree includes 16 courses and can be completed in 2.5 years. There are six terms per year of seven weeks each in length. Students complete one capstone course for the online MBA and two capstone courses for the MJ/MBA dual degree. Students without a business background must complete foundation classes before beginning the MBA program unless waived due to prior academic experience. Students also complete five professional workshop modules that take one to three hours each, during school breaks. The programs begin in the fall, spring, or summer.

MBA Curriculum: The Widener online MBA consists of 33 credits: 24 core credits and nine elective credits. Core courses include leading organizations and people, managerial economics in an innovative environment, information systems and data analytics, accounting and managerial decision making, marketing, strategic financial management, managing business processes, and a capstone course (managing for results).

Those pursuing the general MBA track choose electives from both general offerings and business process innovation classes. General electives include developing management skills and the management of change.

Business process management concentration electives include business process management (modeling to monitoring), business process strategy and innovations, and knowledge management and social BPM.

Students may need to take up to five foundation courses prior to beginning the MBA program. Some or all of these courses may be waived depending on one’s academic background. The foundation courses include applied quantitative analysis, accounting and legal environment of business, organizational behavior and management, financial foundations for managers, and principles of economics.

In addition to the core courses and electives, students complete five non-credit professional development workshops that take one to three hours each to complete. These are completed during each two-week semester break. Workshops include leadership presence, ethics, advanced interviewing, negotiation, and working your career plan.

MJ/MBA Curriculum: The MJ/MBA dual degree reduces the course load from 62 credits to 48 credits and includes the following MJ courses: introduction to law, critical legal analysis and writing, risk management and auditing, corporate regulatory compliance (rules and standards), corporate compliance and ethics I, corporate deviance, corporate compliance and ethics II, and a capstone for corporate regulatory analysis and compliance.

MBA courses include leading organizations and people, information systems and data analytics, managerial economics in an innovative environment, marketing, accounting and managerial decision making, strategic financial management, managing business processes, and the capstone managing for results.

Online Experience: The online MBA and MJ/MBA degrees offer an experiential curriculum and include reading assignments, lectures, discussion boards, group projects, video, chat, email, instant messaging, and professional workshop modules. Most of the courses and coursework are asynchronous, but some synchronous activities may be included. Each student works with a program manager and a personal student services coordinator. In addition, students have 24/7 technical support, financial aid advisors, and a career services department.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for any of the programs. Students are also welcome to visit campus and participate in campus graduation.

Paying for the Widener University Online MBA & Dual MJ-MBA Programs

Widener University online MBA and dual MBA/Master of Jurisprudence tuition numbers are listed in the tables below. Prospective students should always verify current tuition with the college or university.

Financial aid is generally available in the form of federal graduate student loans. Students must fill out the FAFSA to determine eligibility. Widener participates in military discounts and programs as well and may have a limited number of university-endowed scholarships depending on the program of study. Other outside funding sources may be found through community organizations and societies. Students can also check with their employers about tuition reimbursement programs. For more information, prospective students can contact Widener University Financial Aid Services.

Sara Navratil

Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She's the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about entrepreneurial and general business topics, and providing detailed information on online MBA programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.