Marshall School of Business – University of Southern California (USC) - Online MBA
USC Marshall Online MBA Program Structure
The USC Marshall Online MBA (OMBA) begins with a two-week course that includes both online and on-campus components—one week of online discussions, readings and assignments, followed by a six-day residential intensive of on-campus activities and coursework. The remaining five semesters is composed of fully online asynchronous and synchronous coursework.
Courses are offered during the fall, spring and summer semesters, but students can start the OMBA only in the summer or winter. The fall term begins in August and the spring term begins in December. If students choose to take a break, they can resume their studies the following semester. The program can be completed in just 21 months.
Curriculum
The USC Marshall Online MBA is a 51-credit program, offering an integrated curriculum comprising a residential intensive and five required cross-disciplinary courses. In each course, students acquire essential knowledge about the corresponding core subject areas—marketing, finance, management, accounting, entrepreneurship, and more—and gain a holistic understanding of how these disciplines fit together in an organization.
The program begins with The Role of the Manager, a two-week course that includes a six-day residential intensive component. While on campus, students engage in team-building activities including a competition that requires them to analyze and make recommendations to solve a business problem of a prominent company or organization.
The five remaining courses are fully online, each spanning 15 weeks. They are the Fundamentals of Business, Opportunity Recognition and Implementation, Managing Inside the Firm, Managing Outside the Firm, and Business Environment and Leadership. This advanced integrated curriculum is the cornerstone of the Marshall Online MBA and supports our primary goal of developing students into leaders ready to succeed in the global marketplace.
These online courses consist of award-winning asynchronous and synchronous coursework. Asynchronous activities include video presentations, moderated discussion boards, and a range of other virtual learning experiences. Synchronous coursework consists of an array of real-time interactions including live online class sessions, collaborative virtual activities, and one-on-one meetings with faculty.
A defining element of the Marshall Online MBA is its use of a full range of technological learning tools to create an engaging online learning experience and provide students with practical skills, such as virtual collaboration, that apply to today’s global, digitally-driven business environments.
Live online class meetings take place two to three times per week, on any day of the week, and last between one and two hours. The schedule accommodates working professionals and varies each semester.
Online MBA Rankings
• U.S. News & World Report: 5
Class Profile
The average student GPA is 3.2 and the average GMAT and GRE scores are, respectively, 630 and 314 . The average age of students entering the full-time MBA program right now is 28 years, and they have an average of five years’ work experience upon entering the program. Female students make up 40 percent of the typical class.
Career Statistics
The average salary of recent USC Online MBA graduates is around $132,844.
Tuition, Scholarships, and Financial Aid
The approximate overall cost of the Marshall Online MBA is $109,858. It covers tuition, textbooks and course materials, and the one-week on-campus session including lodging. It does not include meals, travel to and from the USC campus, or student health insurance (which may be waived).
Marshall offers a limited number of scholarships to students in the Online MBA program. Additionally, many employers participate in tuition assistance programs and there are several loan options available for students.
Three types of loans are available to finance the OMBA—Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans and private student loans. It is recommended that U.S. citizens or permanent residents apply for Federal Stafford Loans first, because they offer favorable interest rates and origination fees. International students are not eligible for this loan program.
Admissions
Applicants to USC Marshall Online MBA program must have a four-year undergraduate degree or equivalent. At least two years of professional work experience is desired. Applicants must submit a completed application form, all college transcripts from degree-granting and non-degree-granting institutions, a current résumé, and three letters of recommendation, with at least one being written by a professional contact. The school also requires applicants to complete an essay about their leadership experiences and goals, and provides them with the opportunity to submit five additional documents to convey other relevant information to the Admissions Committee. The Committee will invite some applicants to interview via web conference. GMAT or GRE scores (GMAT is preferred, however these will be waived for 2020-2021 due to COVID-19) and a nonrefundable $155 application fee also are required. A few applicants may be granted a GMAT waiver. More information on GMAT waiver requirements can be provided by an enrollment counselor.
International applicants may need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Application deadlines for USC Marshall Online MBA August 9, 2021 start date:
Round One – Feb. 25, 2021
Round Two – April 15, 2021 (Scholarship Deadline)
Round Three – June 3, 2021 (Final Deadline)
USC Marshall Online MBA FAQ’s
How has the university coped with the pandemic?
Events are predominantly online to keep students and staff safe.
What MS programs does USC offer?
The university offers multiple Master of Science programs including finance business analytics, and social entrepreneurship.
Are dual degrees a possibility with the USC Online MBA?
Yes, they include MBA/MS in Systems Architecting and Engineering, MBA/Master of Social Work, and MBA/MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering.