I am looking into general MBA programs, and was curious about what to look for in the curriculum. Thanks in advance.
You can do a fair amount of evaluation just by judging the accreditation. Is it NA or is it RA? Does it have an extra business accreditation, as well? Is the extra accreditation IACBE, ACBSP or AACSB. In both cases, the later accreditations are the most highly regarded. How about the reputation of the school? All of these factors come into play. Probably the best way to evaluate an MBA is to decide whether it will take you where you want to go. Will it meet your standards of education ? Will it get you the job you are looking for? You should speak to others who are doing the job you would like to be in. What type of MBA do they have? Do they even have an MBA ? Not all jobs will require an MBA with a high pedigree.
is it in the top 10 ? or even the top 20? Best Business School Rankings | MBA Program Rankings | US News if not, then can you really justify spending so much money on an MBA ? I would imagine they're like law schools and legal careers. If you don't graduate from a very high ranked school then you aren't going to get a very good paying job. You'll just be working long hours with a lot of debt. I think law and business are two careers where the name of the school really matters
Here's my list of things to consider, which has evolved from the list in my book 'Bear's Guide to the Best MBAs by Distance Learning'. (The book is unavailable, except on the used market, but I'm working on a new edition . . . and thus would be pleased to have suggestions on more factors to add to this list. Thanks.) ------------------ 1. Specialized vs. General (Generic MBA; in health care; insurance, etc.) 2. Theoretical vs. Practical (How much math, Algebra? Calculus? etc.) 3. Cost; financial aid options 4. World View (international course content or US-focused) 5. Reputation 6. Ranking in US News, other rankers 7. Interactiveness with faculty, other students 8. Lockstep or flexible time 9. Exams: many, few, none 10. Exams: proctored, open book; objective, subjective, etc. 11. Writing: many papers, some, none. 12. Thesis or major paper required 13. Degree title (MBA, MA in Econ, MS in marketing, etc.) 14. Time involved (minimum, maximum) 15. Going on for a doctorate? Yes, no maybe 16. 100% on line/distance or less 17. Concession for prison, disabled, blind, A.D.D., other special needs 18. Language of study; language of exams. 19. Case study based (the Harvard model; all, some, none) 20. Accreditation: regional, national, AACSB, state approval, etc. 21. School in US or in other country. 22. School also has on-campus MBA or other programs as well, or not. 23. Credit for prior academic work: much, some, none. 24. Credit for career experience: much, some, none. 25. Cohort groups working together: yes, no, optional.
One thing you don’t want to do is enroll yourself in MBA programs that offer only academic knowledge without hands-on experience. Today’s fast-changing business world requires you to be tech-savvy, stay ahead of developments, and respond quickly to market situations. I found the MBA programs offered by the Bentley University totally prepare you for the real business world. They have a global focus that combines learning with practical skills, academic knowledge, and the ability to adapt to change as it arises. Where job prospects were concerned, this course put me way ahead of the other candidates. That’s because Bentley University holds an excellent reputation as a business school. It ranked number 73 in the nation as “America's Best Graduate Schools 2012” according to the U.S. News & World Report.
Way to shill Jen! :thumbsup: Hint: Most MBA programs with AACSB, EQUIS and EMBA accreditations provide similar educations. Bentley's programs are more focused on people who already have a lot of real-world experience and it shows in the program.
