Finding The Right Accelerated Los Angeles MBA Program

Beyond just the financial commitment, earning an MBA requires immense energy on many levels. There is, of course, working while earning a degree, studying, going to class, extensive immersion-style courses, case competitions and plenty more to consider. For those looking to earn an MBA out west, an accelerated option may alleviate some of those dilemmas. So, how can you find the best accelerated Los Angeles MBA program to fit your needs?

Finding The Right Accelerated Los Angeles MBA Program

Argyros School of Business – Chapman University

Founded as Hesperian College in 1861 by members of the Disciples of Christ, the school was was renamed as Chapman College in 1934 to honor a donor. Chapman College became Chapman University in 1991. The University is located an hour from Los Angeles in Orange County, California.

Chapman doesn’t offer a traditional Accelerated MBA program, but an Integrated 5-Year MBA program is open to all Chapman University undergraduates. This sequential MBA program, also referred as 4+1, for full-time students allows undergraduates to obtain a graduate degree with one additional year. The Integrated MBA has students begin taking MBA coursework in their senior year and earn a MBA degree within one year finishing their undergraduate studies. The program is open to all undergraduate majors and does not require any previous coursework in business.

California State University, Long Beach

California State Long Beach began offering business classes in 1949 with only 24 business students and four faculty members. Today, the College of Business Administration is located in state-of-the-art building, complete with decision support laboratories, classrooms with the latest in technology, multimedia capability and modern lecture halls. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International accredited school is also offers a Daytime Accelerated MBA Program.

CSULB’s Daytime Accelerated MBA Program allows students to complete MBA in a little more than one year, taking classes in five ten-week sessions. The program’s cohort-based structure is on a semester system and can be completed in 18 months beginning in August. Cohorts are made up of 25-35 students. The program also includes a one-week international experience.

In the first two semesters of the program, students with undergraduate degrees in non-business disciplines take the four first-year core courses along with second-year courses. Following core studies, advanced study courses must be taken from different disciplines with a special focus on entrepreneurship and innovation within the College of Business Administration. Students at CSULB also have the opportunity to participate in the CBA Incubator and Innovation Challenge which starts each September culminating in a potential startup for the student team.

Graziado School of Business and Management – Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University’s business school was founded in 1969 and launched it’s first MBA program in 1988. In 1996, the school was named after benefactor George L. Graziadio. The university’s main campus is located at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road. Full-time MBA, International MBA, Executive MBA and Presidents and Key Executives MBA classes meet on the Malibu campus.

The Accelerated One-Year MBA is an intensive, 12-month full-time program for three consecutive semesters consisting of 49 units. The program is built for students who have already completed at least three years of business experience and have an undergraduate degree in business. Students enrolled in the 12 month program can also choose to specialize in either finance, marketing, or with a Socially, Environmentally and Ethically Responsible (SEER) certificate.

Graziadio also offers a 15-Month MBA program — not quite one year, but still fairly short. This full-time program lasts over four consecutive semesters and consists of 51 units. This program is designed for students who have at least three years professional work experience but do not hold an undergraduate degree in business. Specializations include digital Innovation systems, dispute resolution and entrepreneurship, as well as finance, marketing and the SEER certificate.

Marshall School of Business – USC

The Marshall School of Business was founded in 1920 as the College of Commerce and Business Administration. The school was renamed in 1997 after a $35 million donation from alumnus Gordon S. Marshall. USC’s business school is also the oldest AACSB accredited school of business in Southern California.

The International Business Education and Research MBA or IBEAR MBA, a one-year, accelerated, full-time, international MBA program designed for mid-career professionals being groomed to assume senior global positions. According to the school, the IBEAR program has produced over 1500 alumni in leadership roles in 60 countries across the globe since being established in 1978.

The IBEAR MBA class size is limited to no more than 60 diverse participants per year. Each year 13-16 different countries are represented in the program ranging from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and India to Norway, Poland, Argentina, Ecuador, South Africa, Nigeria Peru, Mexico, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, France, Canada and the United States.

According to the school, participants complete 19 courses and earn 57 credits over five intense eight-week terms. The curriculum includes IBEAR courses, electives at Marshall and other USC schools, retreats, networking events, and multiple international travel study components, besides a four-and-a-half-month long management consulting project.

regions: Los Angeles

About the Author