Calwest University

Business Degrees for Members of the ICMA Professional Organization

Important notice for members of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants

Calwest University currently offers the MBA and DBA educational programs, solely for ICMA's membership.

Please have your Membership Number [CID or MID] prior to commencing the Calwest Application process.

The Four Pathways Available

Choose the pathway that matches your existing qualifications.

MBA for CMAs

For CMA certification holders

The most attractive MBA pathway for CMA certification holders. Due to Calwest University's knowledge of the course content of the CMA Program; the CMA certification holders will automatically get Recognized Prior Learning (RPL) credit for 8 out of 12 courses. They will need to do only 4 further courses, (1) Business Ethics, (2) Global Issues, (3) Critical Thinking and (4) Philosophy, to obtain their MBA. Once you register for the MBA for CMA program, these four courses are done online at your own pace from anywhere in the world.

View Fee Structure

Discounted fees for CMA Certification holders

Apply for MBA for CMAs

MBA

For MAA, CAT, RCA, RBA, GMA and AMA members

The MBA pathway most attractive for MAA, CAT, RCA, RBA, GMA and AMA members of ICMA who have an undergraduate degree (or equivalent professional qualification). [Note that CMA, AMA and GMA level membership certificate holders of ICMA are considered to be equivalent to having an undergraduate degree in business]. No Recognized Prior Learning (RPL) credit is given initially, but members may apply for RPL credit for any courses they have done in previous studies in the subject area. Members who do not have examination transcripts for their prior studies may also apply for challenge exams. This also is good for CMA Certification holders who wish to revise their knowledge in some of the courses. Once you register for the MBA program (US$200), you need to complete 12 courses online at your own pace from anywhere in the world.

View Fee Structure

Fees depend on RPL credits — see full breakdown

Apply for MBA

DBA for MBAs

For ICMA members with both undergraduate degree and MBA

The most attractive DBA pathway for an ICMA member who has both an Undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and a MBA. Automatic Recognized Prior Learning (RPL) credit is given for the 11 'coursework' courses for their MBA studies. Students have to complete only the 'research' courses comprising of: (1) Research Methods; (2) Research Proposal and (3) Research Thesis. From the Research Proposal stage you will be assigned an individual supervisor to guide you through your proposal and thesis. Once you register for the DBA program and get your automatic RPL credit for the 11 'Coursework' courses, you need to complete the 3 'research' courses online at your own pace from anywhere in the world.

View Fee Structure

Automatic RPL credit for MBA coursework courses

Apply for DBA for MBAs

DBA

For ICMA members with undergraduate + master's

The most attractive DBA pathway for an ICMA member who has both Undergraduate and Master's degrees (or equivalent). [Note that CMA level membership certificate holders of ICMA are considered to be equivalent to having both an undergraduate and graduate degree in business]. No Recognized Prior Learning (RPL) credit is given initially, but members may apply for RPL for any 'Coursework' courses they have done in previous studies in the subject area. Members who do not have examination transcripts for their prior studies may also apply for challenge exams. No credit is given for the 'Research' courses comprising of: (1) Research Methods; (2) Research Proposal and (3) Research Thesis. From the Research Proposal stage you will be assigned an individual supervisor to guide you through your proposal and thesis. Once you register for the DBA program, you need to complete 14 courses and your thesis (6 courses equivalent) online at your own pace from anywhere in the world. If you have a CMA but do not have an MBA we suggest that you first undertake the MBA for CMA pathway and then apply for the DBA for MBA as described above.

View Fee Structure

Fees depend on RPL credits — see full breakdown

Apply for DBA

Points to Note

As you can see, Calwest University has achieved its aim of providing affordable, high-quality education to its students so they can work towards attaining a recognized degree at a substantially lower cost than that usually associated with such degree programs. All of the above courses would costs over US$30,000 in most face-to-face and online courses available in the USA, Europe and Australia.

Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) who are financial members of ICMA can go directly to MBA for CMAs or DBA program offerings. (Please have your membership ID number ready if you wish to apply.)

If You Are NOT a Member of ICMA

Calwest programs are only for members of ICMA.

Minimum Educational Requirements for MBA and DBA

The minimum educational requirement to do the MBA is a recognized undergraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification in any discipline, and for enrolling in the DBA program, the minimum educational requirements are both an undergraduate degree and a master's degree (or equivalent). Members of ICMA who have attained the CMA level of certification can go directly to the MBA for CMAs program. Those who already have an MBA can go directly to the DBA for MBAs program. They do not necessarily have to achieve CMA certification.

Not an ICMA member yet?

Become an Affiliate Member via the Calwest application process and join the programs.

Start MBA ApplicationStart DBA Application
Calwest University

A USA-based online university providing globally accessible graduate business programs. Sponsored by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants. Est. 2014.

California, USA

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