Master of Business Operational Excellence

Admissions & Fees

You will be asked to upload an updated copy of your resume during the online application process.  Your resume should include work experience and career progression. Applicants must have at least three to five years of professional work experience.

We require official transcripts for any college credits taken, regardless if a degree was earned. This includes college-level courses taken during high school, even if those credits are listed on another transcript. 

Electronic Delivery:

If your school offers electronic delivery, choose that option to avoid processing delays. If ordering a transcript online, select The Ohio State University as a recipient. In the absence of a list of universities to select, have your school send your transcript directly to gpadocs@osu.edu.

US Mail:

If your school does not offer electronic delivery, please have your transcript(s) mailed to the address below:

The Ohio State University
Graduate/Professional Admissions
PO Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004

Transcripts should not be delivered by the student or sent to other addresses on campus. Doing so will prevent acceptance of the transcript as official, and a transfer credit evaluation will not be completed.

Note: Transcripts for course work or degrees received from The Ohio State University can be obtained internally by the MBOE program.

Applicants submitting transcripts from foreign institutions must provide official transcripts (originator certified) of all post secondary academic coursework and a certified English translation of their credentials, if the originals are not in English. This can take much longer than domestic transcripts, so please plan accordingly. 

Send copies of international transcripts, diplomas or degree certificates and English translations in sealed university envelopes to:

Graduate and Professional Admissions
The Ohio State University
Student Academic Services Building
281 W. Lane Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210-1132 USA

Note: Certification must be obtained from a university/school official, embassy official, the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Certification by a notary public 18 is not acceptable.

You will be asked to submit a response to the following prompt during the online application.

Shaping Your Vision Essay:

Fisher's MBOE program admits a select group of talented professionals who have demonstrated the potential to become successful business leaders in an increasingly competitive and global environment. Briefly summarize your professional accomplishments to date. Why do you want to earn an MBOE degree from the Fisher College of Business? Include your goals post-MBOE and how you believe Fisher's program will help you achieve them. (maximum 750 words)

You will be asked to upload a company letter of support from your employer during the online application. 

The letter should include endorsement of your candidacy by your employer, including an explicit commitment of financial resources (if applicable) and time, as well as an endorsement of the capstone project are critical factors in the admission decision. A sample letter is available within the online application.

We have found that active participation by the sponsor is a key ingredient to maximizing the success of the student on their project. During the online application process, applicants are asked to identify their sponsor, and the sponsors are then asked to agree to the following:

• Attend interview with student - either physically or via a conference call
• Give the student time to attend class for the eight class sessions
• Support the student's effort on their Capstone project
• Have systematic communication with the student
• Be a part of their gate review one time each quarter (this is a review of the student's progress).

Once you have submitted your online application, you are expected to participate in a virtual interview to review your academic as well as your managerial experience. Be prepared to describe projects you have handled that demonstrate your management skills as well as your capstone project ideas.

You will be contacted by the program director to schedule an interview once a complete application packet is submitted.

The application fee is $160. Prospective students who attend a preview day or one-on-one chat, will receive an application fee waiver code. 

You do not need to submit GMAT/GRE scores if you have a GPA of 3.0 or above and/or have a post-baccalaureate degree, or if your work experience meets our requirements.

Some candidates may be asked to take the GMAT if more evidence of academic prowess is needed, however what matters most is your work experience and the value you can add to the cohort classroom environment.

Success at Ohio State depends upon your ability to converse in, write and understand English. The university requires official TOEFL or IELTS scores from applicants:

• whose native language is not English,
• who have been educated primarily outside of the U.S., or
• who have held U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee status for less than one year from the first term of enrollment.

To be official, score results must be received directly from the testing agency (ETS or IELTS) by your application deadline.

Minimum test scores

Note: Many graduate programs require a score above these minimums.

• TOEFL
  • 19 on each section of the paper-based TOEFL
  • 79 on the internet-based TOEFL or TOEFL Special Home Edition
• IELTS
  • 7.0 on the IELTS exam or IELTS Indicator (6.5 for Moritz College of Law applicants)
• Duolingo (2021 terms only)
  • 105 or higher
  • Note: The Duolingo test cannot be used to exempt an admitted student from the English placement exam or the Oral Proficiency Assessment for Graduate Teaching Associates.

Exemptions

Applicants who are citizens of, or who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher from, one of the following countries are exempt from the English proficiency requirement: Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States and Wales.

If you are admitted

With few exceptions, international students (including those who were exempted from English proficiency requirements) are required to sit for an ESL Composition Placement Test upon arrival. In addition, if you are awarded a Graduate Teaching Associateship and English is not your first language, you will be required to certify your oral proficiency in English before assuming your associateship duties.

Read more about requirements after you are admitted.

Completing the Master of Business Operational Excellence program at Fisher College of Business translates into tangible returns for our students in the form of enhanced career prospects. Equipped with a robust skill set spanning operational excellence, finance and leadership, our graduates become highly desirable candidates for a wide range of roles across industries.

Through the required capstone project, students effectively demonstrate their ability to deliver substantial financial savings to an organization. 

You will join an exclusive community of high-achieving professionals and industry leaders. Our program offers unparalleled networking opportunities, connecting you with a diverse group of peers, alumni and industry leaders. These relationships extend beyond the classroom, opening doors to new career prospects, partnerships and business ventures.

Stay ahead of the curve with a curriculum crafted to deliver the latest in operational excellence. Our program empowers you with actionable insights and innovative thinking, ensuring you're equipped to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape.