Graduate programs

Professional MBA

Elevate your influence. Accelerate your impact.

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Program format

In person, weekday evenings

Commitment

Part time

Duration

24 months, 50 credit hours

Overview

The Professional MBA (PMBA) at SMU Cox is designed for ambitious professionals who want to advance their careers, expand their leadership capabilities or pursue new opportunities without stepping away from the workforce. Combining rigorous academics with exceptional flexibility, the program allows students to tailor their educational experience through more than 170 electives and 11 concentrations while balancing the demands of work and life. Delivered in a modular format with seven-week courses and evening classes, the PMBA is built to help students make meaningful progress toward their goals on a schedule that works for them.

What students learn in the classroom can be applied immediately in the workplace. Through real-world business cases, consulting projects, simulations and experiential learning opportunities, students develop the strategic, analytical and leadership skills needed to address complex business challenges and create value within their organizations. Personalized career support, leadership development programming and access to senior executives further enhance the learning experience and help students prepare for the next stage of their professional growth.

The PMBA experience is enriched by a community of professionals who bring diverse perspectives, industries and expertise to every discussion. As students learn alongside peers who are advancing careers, changing industries and leading teams, they gain insights that broaden their thinking and strengthen their professional networks. These relationships, combined with access to our 42,000-plus-member alumni network and deep ties to the Dallas business community, create connections that support career growth long after graduation.

A Big Career Move

Elevate your career or pivot industries with the SMU Cox Professional MBA, backed by rigorous training, personalized support and a powerful network to help you achieve your goals.

Student success

The Professional MBA combines rigorous academics with dedicated career support designed for experienced professionals. Through individualized coaching, leadership assessments, networking opportunities and engagement with the Dallas business community, students gain the guidance, connections and confidence needed to pursue new opportunities and accelerate their careers. This comprehensive support helps graduates translate their MBA experience into meaningful professional growth and lasting career outcomes.

This program prepares you to excel in the following areas and professions:

  • Strategy
  • Finance
  • Technology/IT
  • Real estate
  • Supply chain and operations management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership
  • Marketing

Top 20%

Best part-time MBA in the U.S.

U.S. News & World Report (2026)

95%

earned a promotion within four months of graduation

2025 Professional MBA Employment Report

47%

average base salary increase within four months of graduation

2025 Professional MBA Employment Report

Student stories

Hunter Clay, ’25

“The SMU Cox Professional MBA has transformed my career trajectory, launching me into a new profession where I'm thriving every day on a path of exponential growth—equipped with the confidence, perspective and network to lead at the next level.”

Bora Laci ’13, ’19

“I could never have imagined the personal growth that would come from SMU Cox. I learned how to come out of my shell. I learned how to stand out in a crowd and how to tell my story. At SMU Cox, you’ll get the attention you need to grow.”

Admissions

Deadlines and details

Key dates and admissions information to help plan your application with confidence.

International students

All the essential admission requirements international students need to know.

Application questions

Meet 1:1 with a Cox Graduate Admissions team member about the application process.

Additional links

Requirements

  1. Required and optional essays: Follow and submit your answers to the essay prompts in the application
  2. Unofficial transcripts: Upload with your application. (Note: Official transcripts are ultimately required from all colleges and universities where you completed 12 or more credit hours)
  3. Submit standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment): SMU Cox is test optional and not required
  4. Two professional references: Names and contact information of two people who can speak to your character and professional background (Note: Not letters of recommendation)
  5. Résumé or curriculum vitae

View all requirements

Ready to apply?

Get started here. No application fee required.

Tuition and financial aid

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for graduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at SMU.

Curriculum and learning

Featured courses

MNO 6215

Master Negotiation

Provides the conceptual foundation and basic tools needed to negotiate like a master negotiator—the elite class of negotiators who are most capable of obtaining substantial value through negotiation. Master negotiators use a flexible set of strategies that allow them to be proactive and reactive, to partner with the other party by increasing their value and decreasing their costs and options for going elsewhere, and to make the process a pleasant one.

BA 6042

Digital Strategy

Business today is increasingly done through digital mechanisms, ranging from software on personal and corporate computers to global data networks and smart appliances. While the first wave of digital applications in business focused on the internal processes of firms, the focus of most digital innovation in business today is on the market interface of the firm. Digital technologies are reshaping not only the key processes used to interact with stakeholders in the marketplace but are also leading to new and enhanced products and services, new business models and even new organizational structures. In this course, students examine some of the key aspects of digitalization, and how they are impacting firms of all types. The course combines lectures on relevant frameworks with case studies and applied projects.

FINA 6430

Asset and Wealth Management

Combines hands-on money management of equity and fixed income investments and the survey and application of the asset allocation and portfolio management process. Includes active investment management, student investment presentations, case studies, discussions of current investment topics, the study and applied analysis of different asset classes and the management of multi-asset portfolios. Admission is by application in the spring term prior to the fall term enrollment; an application does not guarantee admission.

View course catalog

Outside the classroom

Research

The faculty at SMU Cox are recognized scholars whose research addresses some of the most important challenges facing organizations today. Their expertise spans disciplines across business, providing students with access to current thinking, emerging trends and evidence-based insights that strengthen strategic decision-making. The result is a learning experience grounded in both academic rigor and real-world relevance.

Faculty

SMU Cox faculty are recognized experts whose work influences business practice, public policy and academic thought. As researchers, consultants and industry leaders, they bring relevant insights and emerging trends into the classroom, helping students strengthen their strategic thinking and approach complex challenges with confidence. Their combination of scholarship and practical experience creates a learning environment that is both rigorous and immediately applicable.

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Vishal Ahuja

Associate Professor
Corrigan Research Professorship
Michael Braun

Michael Braun

Associate Professor
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Wayne Crawford

Professor of Practice

Russ Hamilton

Clinical Professor

Sohail Hamirani

Adjunct Professor
Robert Lawson

Robert Lawson

Clinical Professor
Jerome M. Fullinwider Centennial Chair in Economic Freedom
Director,…
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Joonwook Park

Professor of Practice
Michael Seeligson

Michael Seeligson

Clinical Professor
John Semple

John Semple

Professor
Eugene J. and Ruth F. Constantin, Jr. Distinguished Chair in Business
Don Shelly

Don Shelly

Professor of Practice

Zhen Zhang

Professor
O. Paul Corley Distinguished Chair in Organizational Behavior and Administration

Facilities

Students in the professional MBA program at Cox can collaborate with the Career Management Center.

Career Management Center

The pioneering Career Management Center is your go-to for everything from personalized career strategy and coaching to personal branding, job search and innovative mentoring programs. From the moment you enroll, the CMC is ready to help you accelerate or transition your career.

The Business Leadership Center at SMU Cox helps professional MBA students learn to lead.

Business Leadership Center

The Edwin L. Cox Business Leadership Center enhances classroom experiences by developing MBA students’ leadership skills through seminars, executive speaker series, experiential learning programs and coaching.

Frequently asked questions

A Professional MBA is designed for professionals who want to accelerate their careers while continuing to work full time. The degree combines advanced business education with flexible scheduling, allowing students to strengthen their leadership, analytical and strategic decision-making skills while applying new insights directly in the workplace. At SMU Cox, students can tailor their MBA experience through 11 concentrations, more than 170 electives and experiential learning opportunities aligned with their career goals. 

Yes. The Cox PMBA is definitely worth it. The program provides rigorous training that aligns with working life: you can apply what you learn immediately, leverage small classes and leadership development, access our Dallas-area business ecosystem and benefit from a flexible schedule—all without pausing your career.

Data collected from the PMBA Class of 2025 shows—within four months of graduation—95% earned a promotion, 63% changed employers, 42% pivoted function and 32% pivoted industries. The average salary increase upon completion of the program was 47%.

Key employers of SMU Cox PMBA graduates are AT&T, CBRE, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Infosys, Lockheed Martin, PwC, Toyota and more.

No. Unlike a full-time traditional MBA, the Professional MBA is structured for part-time attendance so you can keep working. It matches academic rigor with flexibility, evening and weeknight classes and elective specialization, rather than requiring full-day commitment away from work.

Both the Professional MBA and Executive MBA are designed for working professionals, but they serve students at different stages of their careers. The Professional MBA is typically a strong fit for professionals who want to accelerate their careers, expand their business expertise or prepare for greater leadership responsibilities while maintaining flexibility in their schedules. Students can customize their experience through a wide range of electives and concentrations and immediately apply what they learn in the workplace.

The Executive MBA is designed for more experienced professionals, often those already leading teams, business units or organizations. The program places a greater emphasis on executive leadership, strategic decision-making and organizational impact, with opportunities to engage with senior executives, participate in executive coaching and gain a global business perspective. The best choice depends on your level of professional experience, leadership responsibilities and long-term career goals.

With the Cox PMBA, you’ll gain leadership, analytics, strategy and problem-solving skills that you can apply immediately in your role. You’ll also tap into the Cox Career Management Center, experiential learning and the global alumni and business network, which together help open new leadership roles, promotions or career pivots.

The PMBA is delivered over six consecutive terms across 24 months.

Yes. The curriculum includes electives and concentrations that allow you to deepen expertise in new areas, plus career services and a strong alumni network to support transitions. While staying employed, you can shape your program toward roles that align with your desired career path.

Yes, All PMBA applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. The maximum direct merit award is $15,000. For early applicants (Round 1), there are guaranteed interviews and priority scholarship considerations if admitted. Military benefits like the Yellow Ribbon program also apply to eligible students.

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