Application requirements for Carey Business School's Design Leadership MA/MBA program
We can’t wait for you to join our vibrant learning community and to build for what’s next together.
Please review the instructions below to prepare your application.
Your application checklist
Begin and manage your application by creating a username and password on the Johns Hopkins University-wide platform.
Tips for getting started:
- Select “Carey Business School” as your school of choice
- You can start your application, save your progress, and return to finish it by logging in with your credentials
- Your application will only be reviewed once it has been submitted and all supporting materials have been received
- For the best user experience, we recommend using Google Chrome
All official documents for the Design Leadership MA/MBA program that need to be mailed such as transcripts, credential evaluations, and official test scores, should be sent to:
Office of Admissions
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
100 International Drive
Baltimore, MD 21202
We understand that completing an application can come with some challenges. We will work with you individually to ensure your application is complete. Please reach out to an admissions officer for assistance.
Applicants to the Design Leadership MA/MBA program are required to upload two original essays through Carey Business School’s online application.
Essay prompts:
Required essay (500 words):
Why are you a strong candidate for the Design Leadership MBA/MA program? What makes this degree a good fit for you? How will you make a unique contribution to the Carey Business School and MICA communities?
Choose one (500 words):
- Describe your most significant success or failure. Please include the situation, factors that contributed to the outcome, and what you learned from it.
- Describe a time when your ethics were challenged. How did you address the situation and what did you learn?
Be sure your statements capture who you are, what you believe, and what you aspire to do.
Tips for writing your essay:
- Use a 12-point font and double space your document
- Indicate which question you are answering at the beginning of each essay
- Do not mail paper copies of your essay
- Upload all required essays
- Essays should be 300–500 words
You will also have the option to include additional information for the Admissions committee if you would like to clarify aspects of your academic record, personal history, or professional attributes.
Official transcripts from all U.S. schools must be sent electronically. All U.S. transcripts must come from an accredited institution recognized by the Department of Education. Please visit your school’s website to request an official transcript be sent electronically to [email protected].
We require transcripts from all institutions where you have attempted more than 15 credits. Final transcripts must clearly indicate any degrees earned. Your admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
If your school does not offer electronic transcript submission, please have official sealed transcripts sent to the address below:
Office of Admissions
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
100 International Drive
Baltimore, MD 21202
A current resume or CV is required. Please be sure to have it fully updated and include both the months and years of your various work experiences, as strong professional experience is preferred.
We suggest choosing someone who knows you personally and can speak directly to your strengths and experience for your letter of recommendation. It is more important to select someone with knowledge of your abilities than someone at the highest level in your company.
Be sure that you have been in their class, have reported to them directly, and/or have shared your interest in graduate school with them.
- Please use your recommender’s work email address rather than a personal account like Gmail. Work emails are preferred as they support our credential verification process.
- Recommendations from relatives and friends are strongly discouraged.
- One recommendation is required. We will read up to two.
READ: Choosing a strong reference for your graduate business school application
Applicants to the Design Leadership MA/MBA program are not required to take the GMAT or the GRE. However, you may choose to include scores to strengthen your application. We accept both tests that are up to five years old. We do not have a preference on which you submit, but be sure to do your research on which exam is best for you. Have your scores sent directly to Carey Business School.
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School codes:
- GMAT – KGB-B0-98
- GRE – 0834
For more information, use the links below.
A $100 nonrefundable application fee is due when you submit your online application.
Please review the application requirements for international applicants here:
Admissions policies
Work experience is preferred for admission to the program. Prior work experience may be required to be eligible for a GRE or GMAT waiver.
You can only apply to one specialty master’s program at a time. Candidates cannot apply to more than one program within the same round. If offered admission, you must accept or decline by the deadline for that round. You cannot wait to make a decision on a first offer while applying to another program in the next round.
Applicants to the full-time MS in Finance and MS in Marketing programs have the option to select Baltimore or Washington, D.C. as their preferred Carey location. We try our best to admit candidates to their preferred location, but cannot guarantee it. Space in Washington, D.C. is limited and often fills after round two.
Admission to other schools in the University
Each school at Johns Hopkins University has an independent Office of Admissions and its own application process. You must apply separately to programs housed within separate schools, although some established dual degree programs only require a single application. If you are interested in a dual degree program, please visit our dual degree page for special instructions on how to apply.
Current Carey Business School students who wish to enter a degree program at one of the other schools in the university must submit an admission application to that school. Admission to the Carey Business School establishes no claim or priority for admission to any other school in the university.
Questions?
Contact the Admissions team if you have additional questions or need more information to complete your Carey Business School application.