CURRICULUM

Our cutting-edge curriculum is designed and delivered by the world-class research and teaching faculty at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Through varied and challenging coursework, you’ll develop the skills to analyze complex problems, think more strategically and strengthen global organizations—capabilities that prepare you to become an exceptional, sought-after leader. And because the online format is designed for working professionals, you can begin applying what you learn immediately, building the momentum you need to advance in your current role or pursue new opportunities. 

Online MBA students also 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.

Our curriculum has been specifically designed to respond to the most pressing issues faced by those across the global business landscape. As such, it helps you deepen your strategic expertise, expand your leadership capacity and build the data-driven decision-making skills you need to meet evolving organizational needs head-on.

Core Courses

These required courses help students build essential skills in areas such as business strategy, economics, team and talent management, and responsible use of AI.

View core courses ▸

Elective Courses

A regularly updated list of more than 30 electives gives students the opportunity to advance their knowledge of hyper-relevant topics, competencies and skills.

View elective courses ▸

Additional Course Offerings

Students can also take elective courses offered through other UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA formats and UNC programs.

View additional course offerings ▸

Leadership Academy Certificate

Students may also earn this additional formal credential that highlights their leadership excellence while completing coursework that counts toward the MBA.

View the Leadership Academy Certificate
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The core curriculum consists of 12 courses (24 credit hours). All core courses are five weeks long and students typically take 2 courses during each 5-week block (4 courses each quarter). The core curriculum is intentionally sequenced, so students gain a common skills foundation before moving into electives after just three quarters. 

As business evolves, our online MBA course is subject to change to ensure the curriculum remains current and students are equipped to lead into the future.

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. Our electives are continuously refreshed to ensure graduates enter the workforce with the capabilities today’s employers seek most.

We also offer six concentrations for students who want to focus on a particular field or discipline.

Students in the online MBA program are eligible to pursue the Leadership Academy Certificate, an additional credential designed for high achievers aiming to excel in senior-level roles across industries. Building on the core MBA curriculum, courses taken as part of the certificate also count toward your MBA degree.
To learn more about this certificate and its credit requirements, visit the Leadership Academy Certificate page.

Online MBA students are able to complement their online MBA coursework with a variety of alternative courses.

On-campus 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 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 Online MBA students:

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:

To learn more, visit The Washington Campus website or contact one of our Enrollment Specialists.

1. Best Online MBA Programs (2026), U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
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