Undergraduate Business Programs

More and more high school students, and better qualified ones, are choosing to studying business in college. And they’re nailing fatter salaries when they get out.

Meanwhile, academic programs are getting more specialized across different undergraduate programs, ranging from finance to marketing to entrepreneurship. More information on undergraduate business programs can be found at Business Week and US News and Reports.

MBA (Full time)

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a master’s degree in business administration. The MBA originated from in the US at the start of the 20th century as the country industrialized and companies sought our more scientific approaches to management. It was modeled on the standard American two-year postgraduate academic program and most students enrolled straight after taking a first degree.

This model was first criticized for alleged lack of academic rigor and poor relevance to business issues, however over time has gained significant acceptance and today receives worldwide recognition as an advanced business degree.

Each year, well-known business publications such as Business Week, US News & World Report, Fortune, Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal publish rankings of selected MBA programs that, while controversial in their methodology, nevertheless can directly influence the prestige of schools that achieve high scores.

MBA (Part time)

Part-time MBA programs are tailored for working business students that do not want to quit their jobs full-time to pursue a MBA degree. Schools normally hold classes on weekday evenings, after normal working hours.

Part-time programs normally last three years or more and students generally take a lighter course load for a longer period of time until the graduation requirements are met.

Distance Learning

Distance learning MBA programs developed as online learning took off for undergraduate programs in the 90’s. These programs can be offered in a number of different formats: ranging from purely online (correspondence courses by postal mail or email, online course videos), to offline/online combination (live teleconference, partial class participation a few times in the semester).

Due to the advancements in online communication methods, many respectable schools offer these programs. However, many “diploma mills” have also followed this trend. Students should check the school’s accreditation before undertaking distance learning coursework.

EMBA

Executive MBA (EMBA) programs developed to meet the educational needs of managers and executives, allowing students to earn an MBA or another business-related graduate degree within two years while working full time.

EMBA candidates are managers with a higher level of work experience, often 10 years or more, compared to regular MBA students. In response to the increasing number of EMBA programs offered at the time, the Executive MBA Council was formed in 1981 to advance the spread of executive education worldwide.

Executive Education

“Executive Education” is the special term that was developed for programs at graduate-level business schools that aim to give classes to mid to top level managers or entrepreneurs. Ranging from a few days to a few weeks, a group of selected executives undertake programs at top business universities taught by well known professors that will help them in the managerial roles.

The fastest growing segment of the market is so-called “customized” programs, which are tailored courses suited for the specific needs of the business. Schools also offer “open enrollment” programs regularly during the year, which are pre-structured courses around a specific subject.