Core Courses
These required courses help students build essential skills in areas such as business strategy, economics and management.
CURRICULUM
Our curriculum is designed and delivered by UNC Kenan-Flagler’s world-class research and teaching faculty.
Your challenging coursework prepares you to become an exceptional leader with the ability to effectively analyze problems, think strategically and build strong global organizations. Because the online format is designed for working professionals, you can begin applying your knowledge now, not later—and build the career momentum you need to advance in your current role or pursue new opportunities.
Online students have access to the wider STEM-designated UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA portfolio, and may take elective courses on campus through our Full-Time, Evening Executive, Weekend Executive and Charlotte Executive MBA formats as well as our Master of Accounting (MAC) program.
Explore the Curriculum
Our curriculum helps you develop the technical business acumen and leadership skills you need to achieve your most ambitious goals.
Elective Courses
Elective courses give students the opportunity to advance their knowledge of specialized topics, competencies and skills.
Additional Course Offerings
Students can also take elective courses offered through other UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA formats and UNC programs.
Sample Course Schedules
To help professionals with varying commitments customize their MBA education and meet their goals, we offer several pacing options.
Core Courses
These courses help students establish a strong foundation in the concepts, topics and principles they’ll need to understand as a business professional.
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
4 Credit Hours | |
4 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
4 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
4 Credit Hours | |
4 Credit Hours | |
4 Credit Hours | |
4 Credit Hours |
Elective Courses
Elective courses—which make up almost half of your total credits—allow you to customize your curriculum and develop focused knowledge in the subjects that align with your personal interests and career goals.
In addition to options that bolster students’ core business knowledge, we offer courses like Python for Business Analytics, which equip you with important tech-focused skills.
We also offer six concentrations for students who want to focus on a particular field or discipline.
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
4 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours | |
2 Credit Hours |
Customize Your MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler
Request information to learn how you can customize your MBA education with 35+ electives and six concentration options.
Additional Course Offerings
MBA@UNC students are able to complement their online MBA coursework with a variety of alternative courses.
UNC Kenan-Flagler Electives
Residential MBA courses—including those featured in our Full-Time MBA, Evening Executive MBA, Charlotte Executive MBA or Weekend Executive MBA programs—provide an opportunity for online students to attend in-person courses, network and learn from students across the UNC Kenan-Flagler portfolio. Students may also take classes from UNC’s top-ranked1 Master of Accounting program. Course offerings are on a space-available basis and subject to change.
Below is a recent sample of campus-based courses accessed by MBA@UNC students:
- Real Estate Finance
- The Business of Renewable Energy
- Strategy of Project Finance
- Sustainability Reporting & Certification
- The Business of Energy Consulting
- Global Leadership
- Systems Thinking for Sustainable Enterprise
- Communicating with Data
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- People Analytics
Weeklong Intensive Courses at the Washington Campus
The Washington Campus—a nonprofit institution that provides management education focused on the relationship between business and the public policy process—offers intensive, weeklong courses in Washington, D.C., for MBA students from its member universities.
During these courses, participants gain firsthand exposure to the public policy process and its impact on corporate management and have the chance to speak directly with:
- Members of Congress
- Top executive agency officials
- Lobbyists
- The press
- Other key participants in the government
To learn more, visit the Washington Campus Web site or contact one of our Admissions Counselors.
Sample Course Schedules
You’ll complete this 62-credit degree—the most in-depth offered by any top-ranked online MBA program—at your own pace, in as few as 18 or as many as 36 months. Students generally take two classes per quarter in order to complete the program in 24 months.
Students can pursue an accelerated course schedule, scale back or increase their course load, and even pause their education if unexpected personal or professional obligations arise.
The charts below reflect sample suggested course sequences for the most common program completion schedules:
Standard 24-Month Track: Suggested Course Sequence
| Quarter | Course 1 | Course 2 | Course 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarter 1 | Analytical Tools for Decision Making (4 credits) | Marketing: Analysis and Development (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 2 | Financial Accounting (4 credits) | Leading and Managing (4 credits) | Summit I* (1 credit) |
Quarter 3 | Microeconomics (2 credits) | Operations (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 4 | Finance (4 credits) | Business Communication (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 5 | Business Strategy (2 credits) | Electives (6 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 6 | Electives (8 credits) | Summit II* (1 credit) | N/A |
Quarter 7 | Electives (6 credits) | N/A | N/A |
Quarter 8 | Electives (6 credits) | N/A | N/A |
Accelerated 21-Month Track: Suggested Course Sequence
| Quarter | Course 1 | Course 2 | Course 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarter 1 | Analytical Tools for Decision Making (4 credits) | Marketing: Analysis and Development (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 2 | Financial Accounting (4 credits) | Leading and Managing (4 credits) | |
Quarter 3 | Operations (4 credits) | Microeconomics (2 credits) | Business Strategy (2 credits) |
Quarter 4 | Finance (4 credits) | Business Communication (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 5 | Electives** (10 credits) | Summit II* (1 credit) | N/A |
Quarter 6 | Electives** (10 credits) | N/A | N/A |
Quarter 7 | Electives** (8 credits) | N/A | N/A |
Extended 27-Month Track: Suggested Course Sequence
| Quarter | Course 1 | Course 2 | Course 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarter 1 | Analytical Tools for Decision Making (4 credits) | N/A | N/A |
Quarter 2 | Financial Accounting (4 credits) | Marketing: Analysis and Development (4 credits) | Summit I* (1 credit) |
Quarter 3 | Microeconomics (2 credits) | Leading and Managing (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 4 | Operations (4 credits) | Business Communication (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 5 | Business Strategy (2 credits) | Finance (4 credits) | N/A |
Quarter 6 | Electives (6 credits) | Summit II* (1 credit) | N/A |
Quarter 7 | Electives (8 credits) | N/A | N/A |
Quarter 8 | Electives (6 credits) | N/A | N/A |
Quarter 9 | Electives (6 credits) | N/A | N/A |
*The Summit course (1 credit) can be taken in any quarter. Students can take up to 6 hours for credit: two Summits and two Global Immersion electives, or four Summits and one Global Immersion elective. Read more about Summits.
**Not all electives are offered in every quarter. Student Success Advisors can help plan course schedules in advance.
Get Started with a #3–Ranked Online MBA3 From UNC Kenan-Flagler
Learn how MBA@UNC can help you develop as a leader—before and after graduation.
Related Pages
1 UNC Kenan-Flagler’s online MAC program was top-ranked in August 2024 by U.S. News & World Report (www.usnews.com/education/online-education/business/rankings)arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2 UNC School of Government’s Public Affairs program was top-ranked in August 2024 by U.S. News & World Report (www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-public-affairs-schools/public-affairs-rankings).arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
3 UNC Kenan-Flagler’s online MBA program was ranked #3 in August 2024 by U.S. News & World Report (www.usnews.com/education/online-education/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-199120/rankings)arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference