World-class skiing, hiking and climbing in the Rocky Mountains has made Colorado one of the nation’s largest hubs for the outdoor industry. Whether you want to start your own business or rise in the ranks of companies like The North Face, our unique Outdoor Industry MBA will provide you with a strong business acumen and a competitive edge.
Program Overview
Turn your passion for the outdoors into a business opportunity.
Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Western Colorado University’s Outdoor Industry MBA is the first of its kind in the United States. The five-year accelerated degree program was created to foster leaders with executive-level skills in one of Colorado’s critical economic engines—the outdoor industry. In the program, you’ll not only acquire a robust business acumen through traditional MBA courses, but you’ll also be immersed in issues specific to the outdoor industry including sustainability, stewardship and global trade.
To customize your educational experience, you can pick from two specialized tracks for either the product or service side of the industry. The Product Concentration track focuses on sustainable development and the Service Concentration track imparts critical resort management skills. Before graduating, you’ll have the opportunity to work with an outdoor company, which will help expand your industry network and could even lead to permanent placement. Through intensive coursework and hands-on opportunities, you’ll be well-prepared to run environmentally-conscious companies in the booming outdoor industry.
An outdoor playground
Outdoor Recreation Industry MBA students have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to live, learn and play in the heart of the Rocky Mountains—one of the nation’s largest hubs for outdoor recreation.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
The Business Management Emphasis requires a minimum of 48 credits including the 21-credit Base Curriculum, the 15-credit Business Administration Nucleus, BUAD 491 Strategic Management, and nine credits of Business Administration electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Base Curriculum | ||
| ACC 201 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 202 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| Select one of the following mathematics courses: | 3-4 | |
MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | |
MATH 141 | Precalculus (GT-MA1) | |
MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
BUAD 220 | Spreadsheets and Analysis | |
CS 120 | Professional Computer Skills | |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics | |
ECON 216 | Statistics for Business and Economics | |
| Total Credits | 21-22 | |
The 15-credit Business Administration Nucleus forms the core for each of the emphasis areas and also comprises the bulk of the Standard Program. It is important that the student achieve a high level of understanding of the basic fundamental concepts represented by these courses to be successful in the completion of the required upper- level course work and in their business career. If BUAD 350 Human Resource Management Human Resource Management is used to satisfy the requirements of the Business Administration Nucleus, then it cannot be used to satisfy the elective requirement within the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration Nucleus | ||
| BUAD 185 | Business Communication | 3 |
| BUAD 210 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| BUAD 360 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
BUAD 333 | Organizational Behavior | |
BUAD 350 | Human Resource Management | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
At least six credits of the nine credits must be upper-division Business Administration electives, and no more than three credits may be from: BUAD 101 Business of Life and BUAD 150 Introduction to Hospitality. An internship, BUAD 499 Internship in Business Administration, is required. Electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor. BUAD 397 Special Topics or BUAD 497 Special Topics courses are allowed to count toward the nine-credit requirement only with Business School approval.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core MBA courses: | ||
| MBA 600 | Sustainability Accounting | 3 |
| MBA 601 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MBA 603 | Leadership, Ethics, and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MBA 605 | Project Management | 3 |
| MBA 606 | Marketing and Brand Strategy in the Outdoor Industry | 3 |
| MBA 611 | Topics in Outdoor Industry | 0 |
| One of the following (based on desired concentration): | 3 | |
MBA 609 | Sustainable Outdoor Product Development and Material Sourcing (Product Concentration) | |
MBA 614 | Sales and Customer Experience (Service Concentration) | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Upon successful completion of the prescribed courses listed above, University defined General Education, and elective requirements totaling 120 credits (with 40 at the 300-level or higher), students are eligible for their B.A. conferral. Students electing to complete the MBA program must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum.
For a full description of the required Graduate coursework, please see the appropriate MBA program in the Western Graduate Catalog.
Capstone Course Requirement
The following courses in the Business Administration Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BUAD 491 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Careers
Take the first steps toward your dream career.
Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.
The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Degree Details
Graduate in just 5 years with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree
- B.A. in Business Administration: A versatile degree that covers all corners of the business world—from marketing and sales to resort management and entrepreneurship.
- B.A. in Environment & Sustainability: A timely and solution-focused degree that prepares students to become industry leaders who promote corporate sustainability.
- B.A. in Recreation & Outdoor Education: A experiential degree focused on familiarizing students with the hands-on aspect of the outdoor industry and helping them learn how to build rapport with a diverse variety of consumers and clients
- Outdoor Industry MBA: A rigorous, online graduate degree with traditional MBA coursework and specialized courses for the product and service side of the outdoor industry.
A booming industry
Students pursuing an MBA in outdoor business administration are the future of an industry that is establishing itself as an economic force.
Get Involved
Expand your community and your network.
There are so many ways that you can maximize your educational experience at Western. Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your career.
- Career Fairs: Connect with future employers during the various career fairs in the School of Business and around Colorado.
- ICELab: The Innovation + Creativity + Entrepreneurship (ICE) Lab on upper campus is a space that provides startups and expanding businesses with the materials and support needed to succeed.
- Office of Career Success: Business students have a department-specific career services professional.
- Study Abroad: Experience Harlaxton College in the English Midlands.
A one-of-a-kind experience
Western’s Outdoor Industry MBA program, the first and only outdoor-focused MBA program in the country, teaches courses in marketing and brand strategy, leadership, bringing socially responsible products to market and understanding and integrating inclusivity in the workplace.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
School of Business
Associate Dean
Kevin A. Nelson, Ph.D.Associate Dean of the School of Business, Graduate Faculty for Outdoor Industry MBA
Executive Assistant
Christina SorensenExecutive Assistant
OIMBA Program Director
Jennifer DeBoer, Ph.D.Director, Outdoor Industry MBA; Assistant Professor of Business Administration - Strategy; Graduate Faculty for Outdoor Industry MBA
Contact Information
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Borick Business Building 223
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231