Rockhurst University’s Helzberg School Introduces Region’s First “Stackable” MBA

Kansas City, Missouri — For the fall 2023 semester, the Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University is launching a new way to earn their signature MBA degree — one that lets students build it from the ground up.

The new Stackable MBA, the first of its kind in the region, lets students build a degree by earning three certificates — one of which being the business administration certificate. It’s the same makeup of the traditional MBA degree, with courses in management, marketing, business intelligence and economics, in addition to a Jesuit core values course.

But what students wish to pair with that certificate — and in what order they choose to do so — is up to them. The list of 10 total certificates available at launch includes specialties ranging from analytics and insights to organizational leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion.

And with a growing number of certificates and new options to be added on an ongoing basis, the Stackable MBA is a living, breathing graduate business degree, able to adapt quickly to what the job market is looking for and give students freedom to earn a degree that caters to their current careers, their future goals and their lifestyle.

“This is all about flexibility and customization,” said Myles Gartland, Ph.D., dean of the Helzberg School of Management and the College of Business, Influence and Information Analysis. “Students in this program aren’t just choosing what certificates they earn. They also set the pace on when and how they earn them — all at once, over time, in person, online, or a hybrid.”

It’s a degree program made to fit a range of students — from the young professional who wants a degree tailored to their career to the lifelong learner interested in expanding their expertise over time. However, at its core the Stackable MBA continues the tradition of dedicated faculty and the Jesuit approach to business education based in leadership and service that many leaders in Kansas City and beyond have relied on for decades.

“Development of the Stackable MBA comes from listening to what students want — the ability to earn a graduate business degree on their terms that reflects their needs and interests,” Gartland said. “But it also reflects what employers tell us they want, too, which is employees who have the specific skills to succeed on day one and the ability to think critically and act ethically that comes from the Jesuit approach. Those are the time-tested leadership skills that help you succeed throughout your career.”

To learn more about the Stackable MBA and the available certificates, visit the program’s webpage.