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Language Requirements

The study of modern languages and cultures has long distinguished Thunderbird from other graduate business schools. Thunderbird integrates language instruction into the overall educational experience to help students strengthen the global mindset that sets T-birds apart from other MBA graduates. The language program is taught in an intensive format and includes exposure into cultural norms and indicators associated with a language.

Language instruction in the Executive MBA program is offered in Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. To earn your MBA degree at Thunderbird, you must reach a specified level of proficiency in a language that is not your native language. There are a few ways to meet this requirement:

If your native language in not English, you have met the language requirement and no additional courses are needed. The additional language curriculum is optional for you. (This waiver is subject to application review by the Registar.)

If your native language IS English and you speak a second language, you have several options, as noted below.

Option 1

You can test out of the language requirement by successfully completing the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) which is administered thru Language Testing International (LTI). You will be required to meet the stated levels of accomplishment depending on the language chosen. The fee for this test is an additional expense.

Option 2

You can take the Thunderbird language curriculum offered through the Executive MBA program. This program is 6 credits and is offered in an intensive format during October and January of the first year of the Executive MBA program for an additional fee of $6,000. This fee includes lodging on campus, most meals, and all books and interactive materials. Successful completion of this coursework fulfills the language requirement.

The language curriculum will be offered in October 2010 and January 2011 for the next Executive MBA cohort starting in August 2010.

Option 3

You can take language classes somewhere other than Thunderbird and test out of the language requirement through the process noted in Option 1.