William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business is redefining what it means to earn an MBA online.
Launching in the spring of 2026, the Online MBA 2.0 will offer more personalized and flexible pathways for working professionals. The redesigned program reflects the Raymond A. Mason School of Business’s focus on connection, customization, and career relevance, while maintaining the academic rigor and reputation of a William & Mary degree.
“Today’s graduate business students seek career relevance, flexibility, speed to completion and ROI. Mason’s modular, stackable online curriculum was designed to deliver on those needs—an approach that reflects innovation in both curriculum design and in how we prepare graduates for meaningful career growth,” said Colleen Drummond, retired KPMG partner and former Partner-in-Charge of KPMG’s Innovation Labs, who now serves the Mason School as a Foundation Board Member and Executive Partner.
Serving in an innovation advisory role, Drummond supported the Online MBA 2.0 initiative, providing guidance on the innovation process from strategy alignment through execution.
An MBA Program Designed Around the Student
The updated program builds on years of data, student feedback and competitive research. Faculty and administrators identified opportunities to give students more choice and support in shaping their MBA experience.
The new program introduces nine specializations across finance, marketing, accounting and analytics/AI. These options allow students to focus their studies around specific career goals and build toward additional master’s credentials through stackable courses already offered in the Mason School’s specialized online programs.
Expanding Executive Partner Connections
The refreshed Online MBA program strengthens one of the Mason School’s most defining features: its Executive Partner (EP) program, a network of experienced business leaders who mentor and coach students. The new Virtual EP initiative expands that network nationwide, connecting online learners with alumni and executives wherever they live or work.
“Many of our online students live far from campus and their frequency of visit is really tied to the residency weekends,” said Terry Shannon, visiting professor and executive partner. “The virtual executive partner role opens up the geography of alumni or professionals who are interested in getting involved. Now this brings our online students the same kind of connection our residential students enjoy.”
A Streamlined and Stronger Curriculum
The revised curriculum maintains program length while giving students more control over their academic experience. Students begin with Renaissance Leader—a course that integrates leadership and self-assessment through design thinking—and finish with the Revolutionary Strategic Leader Capstone, which challenges them to apply what they’ve learned to complex business problems.
In between, students will explore their interests deeper through the nine specializations. Specializations are defined by three courses: one core course and two electives, which are available through the various specialized master’s programs already being offered through the Mason School’s online graduate programs portfolio. The result is a curriculum that blends analytical depth with leadership development and strategic execution.
“This opportunity will allow students to have an expanded selection of specialized concentrations aligned with emerging industry trends, redesigned courses that integrate real-world simulations, and personalized support for each student’s academic needs and professional goals,” said Neina Osibogun, interim associate dean of Online Programs and director of Student Experience and Affairs.
Achieve More With William & Mary’s Online MBA
With the launch of the Online MBA 2.0, the Mason School continues to advance its leadership in online business education, combining innovation with the personal connections that defined the William & Mary experience. The program reaffirms the school’s mission to develop adaptive, ethical, principled leaders who understand not just how business works, but why leadership grounded in purpose matters.
Want to learn more? Schedule a call with one of our helpful admissions outreach advisors today to learn more about the new opportunities available to you with the launch of this next-generation MBA.
This post is adapted from an article that was originally posted on October 22, 2025. Read the full post >>