MBADesign Strategy

DMBA faculty bring expertise from their outside practices to the classroom, ensuring that students learn the most current methods. Together, through focused student and faculty collaboration, we take advantage of the space between disciplines and reimagine problem-solving in ways that are unconventional and unexpected.

As a low-residency graduate program for early- to mid-career professionals, the MBA in Design Strategy is intended for those who have a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of post-degree professional experience—and many of our students have far more than that. Ours is a rigorous and accredited graduate program, taught at an advanced level.

Students come from all over the world, and every continent, with an annual international student body of approximately 30%. Our student body veers from the usual makeup of MBA students, as is only to be expected given the degree to which the program differs from the norm. Only slightly more than half of our students come from design backgrounds. The rest come from business, NGOs, education, and, increasingly, engineering. Read our FAQ to get a high-level overview.

Start your application

You’ll apply to CCA and submit all required application materials via SlideRoom. Afterward, you may be contacted for an interview with a faculty member as part of the application process. Being selected for an interview doesn’t indicate applicant status or increase or decrease an applicant’s chances of being admitted into their desired graduate program. Interviews are conducted at the program’s discretion and are used to gain more insight into an application.

DMBA application requirements

• Application and $70 nonrefundable application fee
  To be completed and submitted on SlideRoom.
  
  
• LinkedIn profile link
  We use LinkedIn instead of a PDF resume or CV to understand your educational and professional background and relevant experiences and activities, including community work. You’ll be asked to provide your profile link in SlideRoom as part of your application.
  
  
• Two recommendation letters
  You’ll request two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources in SlideRoom by entering the contact information for your recommenders/references. They will then receive an automated email from SlideRoom with instructions for uploading their letter of recommendation.
  
  
• Unofficial college transcripts
  You are required to provide your complete undergraduate academic history. Students who have already taken graduate courses are encouraged to submit those transcripts, too. For international applicants, all transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
  
  Please provide an unofficial transcript from the college where you will receive or have received your bachelor’s degree, as well as unofficial transcripts for all other undergraduate coursework. Unofficial transcripts will be used for review purposes.
  
  Once you have been admitted and enrolled, all students will need to submit official, sealed transcripts showing the completion of a bachelor’s degree to our graduate admissions office by August 1 of the fall semester they begin enrollment at CCA.
  
  
• Proof of English proficiency (international applicants only)
  Review and plan to meet our English proficiency requirements for graduate students.
  
  
• Personal essay
  Answer four open-ended questions. We encourage you to use mediums that feel expressive to you (such as slides, video, infographics, etc.), but require at least two of these to be submitted in written format. Aim for 500 to 1,000 words per question for written answers:
  
  
  • The DMBA is demanding in terms of balancing traditional and creative methods of analysis and problem-solving. What draws you to pursuing an MBA, and specifically this MBA, at this time?
  • We talk a lot about optimism and the view that any system can be designed to be better. Tell us about a system that you’d like to design to be better and how you might start doing that.
  • A big theme in our program is collaboration. Tell us about the best and worst teams you’ve ever been on and what you look for in teammates.
  • Tell us about a leader you respect and why. How much do you know about what made them the leader they are today?
    
    
• Portfolio
  Portfolio submissions are optional for DMBA applicants. If you choose to submit a portfolio, consider how your portfolio complements your admissions essay. Works included should be relevant to your other application materials and should visually explain your approach. We encourage you to communicate in the manner that feels most expressive to you.
  
  The portfolio can include up to 10 items. Technical specs are as follows:
  
  
  • Images (up to 5 MB each)
  • Videos (up to 250 MB each)
  • Audio (up to 30 MB each)
  • PDFs (up to 10 MB each)
  • Models (Sketchfab)

For prospective student inquiries, including questions about the program or how to apply, please contact us