Wayne Hutchison, Assistant Dean of MBA Programs at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, shares how MSU’s new Professional Online MBA expands access, embeds teamwork, and prepares students to lead across diverse sectors.
MBAGRADSCHOOLS spoke to Wayne Hutchison, Assistant Dean for MBA Programs at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Broad College of Business, in the United States, about their newest program with exciting benefits beyond the scope of their current range.
Wayne explains that the new Professional Online MBA was launched to expand access to Broad while maintaining the same dynamic content found in its on-campus program. “[We wanted] to reach students we knew we wouldn’t be able to engage in residence, but with the same dynamic content,” he says. (00:28)
Students can now interface with MSU’s top-tier business curriculum from anywhere in the world, benefiting from a digitized, collaborative learning environment.
The new online format preserves MSU Broad’s team-based ethos. Students work in small, diverse project groups across 8-week modules. “The foundations are truly team-based because we believe that that type of experiential learning framework is the best opportunity for growth,” Wayne notes. (01:25)
This design helps mirror real business environments, with adaptable group structures based on the course’s subject, be it accounting, supply chain, or entrepreneurship.
“[This program is for] any professional looking to make a difference,” Wayne states. (02:04) Be that a career jump, pivot, or lane change, this program delivers a dynamic curriculum. “It’s grounded in executive leadership style and skills, [but includes] …tactical, skills-based [elements] like artificial intelligence… critical thinking, design thinking, [and] ideation,” he adds. (02:19)
Whether you’re in a nonprofit, a Fortune 100 company, or the military, the skills taught, especially AI, critical thinking, and design thinking, are valuable across sectors.
Unlike traditional MBA programs, MSU’s online MBA offering is self-paced, allowing students to adjust their course load to their schedules. “We’re student-centered… to be able to meet that learner where they’re at,” Wayne explains. (03:29)
Students also benefit from curriculum crossover with other Broad College programs and access to graduate certificates, making it a highly customizable experience. Leaving with extra credentials sets graduates of this program apart, elevating their skillset for an unpredictable job market and volatile economy.
In response to whether an MBA is still worth it in 2026, Wayne defends the MBA’s relevance in today’s fast-paced economy. “The professional environment is changing literally nanosecond by nanosecond… and we need to scale up as professionals,” he says. (05:06)
He sees the MBA evolving into a “dynamic skills-based incubator” that teaches not just management but also data visualization, AI, and more, thus offering immediate ROI. (05:56)
AI is embedded throughout the MBA curriculum, not as a crutch, but as a tool. “We use AI as a tool analogous to any other… be it a textbook [or] calculator,” Wayne clarifies. (07:26)
Students gain foundational competencies to apply AI tools in professional settings. The goal is to help graduates “understand AI tools in the moment and be able to apply them.” (07:58) This kind of practical upskilling is vital for any post-graduate program, adding career relevance to this unique MBA where many schools have yet to catch up.
In addition, MSU’s Professional Online MBA aims to help upskill the state’s workforce. A topic close to Wayne’s heart, he beams at the prospect of this program’s grads contributing to the growth and prosperity of his adopted home state.
“The way this MBA program can help with that is by taking the things that we do, our institutional competencies in supply chain and in marketing and in finance, and putting those in small packages in the right context at the right time for students that can use them in their businesses today and tomorrow,” Wayne says. (08:54)
By integrating these locally-demanded skills into practical coursework, Wayne says that Michigan State aims to be the state’s university, and its programs will act as a “talent accelerator” for Michigan’s evolving economy.
MSU places strong emphasis on creating a vibrant online student experience. “The centerpiece of any educational program is the student experience,” Wayne emphasizes. (09:53)
There are 14 different student organizations, broken down by professional interest. Through these student organizations, professional development, and even opportunities to visit campus, online students can tap into MSU’s broader academic and career support system.
With many good business schools to choose from across the nation, Broad College of Business has some strong cards to play.
“I think the biggest opportunity that we provide is really access to the specialties and curriculum that we’re not only most proud of but are very strong nationally. I think our supply chain [specialization] is obviously top of mind,” says Wayne. (12:44)
MSU may be a state university, but its Professional Online MBA holds both national and global ambitions, drawing from the unique spirit of the Spartan community.
“Most consulting opportunities are about creating value,” Wayne explains. (15:30) MSU’s Professional Online MBA equips students to do just that; by teaching them to budget, market, tell data stories, and showcase ROI.
“These skills are portable,” he emphasizes, highlighting the MBA’s broad utility across industries. (16:55)
MSU offers embedded certificates, or micro-credentials, in fields like data analytics and artificial intelligence. “Those small certificates… help students branch out into areas they’re most interested in,” Wayne shares. (14:48)
As the market evolves, so do these certificate offerings, adding depth and adaptability to the core MBA degree.
Taking an MBA online is no longer a second fiddle to the on-campus MBA experience. The Broad MBA proves this with a hyper-connected delivery format and many opportunities to experience the network, support, and reach of the Broad College of Business community.
“[This is about] providing access and equity to a new generation of students,” Wayne concludes. (17:28) With students from increasingly diverse backgrounds applying, MSU’s online MBA is championing inclusion and adaptability.
Round 2 applications close on March 16, 2026. Are you a Spartan in the making?
Want to study for an MBA at Michigan State University, Broad College of Business? Take our eligibility quiz to see if you qualify!
