The curriculum includes a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous course materials; students attend two virtual class meetings each week, held in the evenings and taught by the same professors who conduct the on-campus courses. The rest of the week is dedicated to asynchronous online coursework, such as pre-recorded lectures and assignments.
CMU offers several specialization options that allow students to develop and refine their professional focus, in the form of both concentrations and tracks. Concentrations are automatically awarded after candidates complete three or more elective courses in a subject area, such as communications, organizational behavior, or marketing.
The MBA curriculum requires at least one concentration, but most students earn three or four. Professional tracks are more specialized, encompassing eight to 10 electives and a capstone course. CMU offers five unique options, preparing students for specialized work in particular fields or career paths after graduation: business analytics, energy business, entrepreneurship,
management of innovation and product development, or technology leadership. Students who choose not to pursue a professional track still complete one of the program’s capstone experiences, which includes study abroad options or business simulation exercises.
While most coursework is held online, CMU also hosts in-person “access weekends” six times each year in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington,
D.C., and Silicon Valley. These required immersion sessions occur in between each mini-semester, giving students the opportunity to meet with faculty and peers and develop professional connections outside of online courses. Access weekends serve as the starting point for new classes, allowing online learners to build deeper connections to classmates through face-to-face interactions. Students also participate in workshops,meet CMU alumni, and gain firsthand knowledge of advanced business practices through visits to partner companies.
