Discover How Elective Courses Work for the Foster Hybrid MBA Program
Beyond the traditional full-time and part-time MBA program options available at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, there is also the Hybrid MBA program. This unique work-compatible MBA option allows students to complete 95 percent of their program work online with only 5 percent of sessions requiring a visit to the campus. It’s a two-year program that’s ideal for working parents, business travelers, and young professionals.
In a recent Foster blog post, the school broke down how elective courses work as part of the Hybrid MBA. Just like for full-time and part-time students, hybrid students can enhance their academic studies by enrolling in five, unique two-credit elective courses during their second year.
Here’s how it will work. The Hybrid MBA is broken down into four quarters:
- Q1: Autumn, year one
- Q2: Spring, year one
- Q3: Autumn, year two
- Q4: Spring, year two
During quarter one of the Hybrid MBA, all students are required to participate in a preference survey. This survey reveals the areas of knowledge that are most interesting to the class. From there, the program team and faculty work together to determine which course topics and, thus, electives would best fit the Hybrid MBA class. Then, early in their second quarter, students receive a list of all possible electives—broken down by quarter—so that they can begin to plan their coursework for year two.
As for when students start to take their electives and how many electives they can choose between:
- Three courses offered: Students choose one elective during autumn, year two.
- Four courses offered: Students choose two electives during winter, year two.
- Four courses offered: Students choose two electives during spring, year two.
All elective courses are determined based on the interest survey completed by the Hybrid MBA students. Most often, the areas of highest interest include Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Leadership, and Data Analytics. It’s important to note that elective courses are, most likely, only offered once during the second year, so if a student sees an elective they want, they should take it when they have the opportunity.
To learn more about how the Hybrid MBA program works, take a look at this infographic designed by the Foster School.
The Foster School Ranks Highly as Research-Focused Business School
Research universities ask questions, generate knowledge and solve problems. According to the Association of American Universities, research-focused universities perform more than half of the nation’s basic research, the results of which are applied to real-world problems every day.
Why does a school’s research agenda matter for MBA candidates? According to a 2014 Financial Times article by Paul Danos, then-Dean of Dartmouth’s Tuck Business School, it’s one thing that all great MBA programs have in common: a strong representation of outstanding researchers. The reason for this is that part of the value of earning an MBA from a leading school is the expertise that students receive from their professors.
“Broadly speaking, business professors are experts in how to explore the limits of knowledge in important fields,” explained Danos. “Their students should be introduced to that expertise because they have a lot to gain from learning how knowledge is created and how the value of business techniques can be developed and tested.”
Students at research universities also benefit from cutting-edge knowledge that is too new to be found in case studies or textbooks. Because the research conducted by business schools focuses on solving real-world issues, MBA students at research universities have more exposure to new analytical approaches that can be applied to practical problems. Students at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business are among those who enjoy the benefits of studying at a research institution. Continue reading…
The Best Seattle Entrepreneurship MBA Programs
MBAs who have or are seeking careers centered upon entrepreneurship have countless options. Those who are looking for just the right place to live, learn and work might do well to remember that Seattle entrepreneurship MBA programs are some of the country’s most innovative.
Starbucks, Amazon, and yes, that other great behemoth, Microsoft, were all born from the ambition of of young business people with no shortage of creativity, and a love for a thriving community of like-minded people.
Try These Open House Events for Seattle MBA Candidates
Trying to figure out where to get your MBA in Seattle? Well, there’s good news. This week, both UW’s Foster School of Business and Seattle Pacific University’s School of Business, Government, and Economics are hosting events for interested Seattle MBA students. It’s your perfect opportunity to meet current students, gain insight from alumni and ask questions of the admissions team. Continue reading…
Meet Milkana Brace, a Foster School TMMBA Alumni
The technology management MBA at University of Washington’s Foster School of Business is a unique program that offers co-curricular sessions for students and alumni to interact. During these sessions, both sides learn from business leaders about how to manage, grow and change their career. And, in many cases, entrepreneurialism becomes a major topic of consideration. During a recent event, Milkana Brace shared her experiences and her ultimate decision to join the Seattle startup community. Continue reading…
LBS Adds New Video Submission Element to MBA Application
London Business School (LBS) this fall has introduced a new video submission element to its MBA application. In a blog post last week David Simpson, admissions director for the MBA and masters in finance programs, shared his team’s thinking behind this newest addition to the LBS application process.
“This was not a decision we took lightly,” Simpson writes, adding that they’ve been giving it some thought for a couple of years. In fact, the team piloted the process last year with a handful of candidates, primarily those whose English-language skills warranted assessment. “But this year we are going all-out and using the videos to help us learn a lot more about you,” Simpson says.
Earlier in his post and in past interviews with Clear Admit, Simpson has stressed the importance of the LBS alumni interview. “We gain a HUGE amount from the interview process and love having our alumni conduct them, so that you can learn a huge amount about life at LBS, too!” he writes.
Like many other top business schools, LBS recently reduced the number of written essays it requires of its applicants, keeping just one, about candidate’s aspirations. “A top MBA is a career and indeed life-changing experience,” he writes. LBS’s remaining question on future goals is key, he continues, even though, given the transformative nature of an MBA, those aspirations will change during your studies.
LBS Adds New Video Element for All Invited to Interview
But as it drops a written essay, the London school has decided to add a video submission for all applicants who are invited to advance to the alumni interview portion of the application process. Round 1 LBS applicants who made it to the interview stage all received an invitation to participate in the new video element.
But have no fear, reassures Simpson. “We are being very thoughtful about how we use this exciting new addition to our process,” he says. A video component has its limitations, and he and his team have set their expectations accordingly.
LBS recognizes that factors ranging from cultural differences, diverse professional backgrounds and differing personal comfort levels with being in front of the camera mean that not all applicants will approach the video submission feeling on equal ground. “Some people will feel a lot more comfortable than others filming themselves answering questions,” Simpson recognizes. But even those who are apprehensive should rest assured, he says. “We are NOT looking to use this as a tool to disqualify candidates or ‘catch you out’.” (For those unfamiliar with the term “catch you out,” is just means to expose error or shortcoming in someone.)
In fact, you don’t even need to worry too much about timing your answers just right, Simpson says, adding that they won’t deduct points. “We just want to see how you perform on both the prepared question and the unprepared section,” he says. “We love meeting candidates at events, but it’s not possible to meet you all, so this helps us see you in action.”
LBS partnered with Kira Talent, an online platform that allows higher education institutions to interactive video and written components into their application processes. Kira Talent’s other customers include Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, INSEAD and the Foster School of Business, among others.
“First round applicants have all now submitted, and we can’t wait to watch all the videos!” says Simpson.
Round 1 LBS applicants who have taken part in the new video component, don’t forget to share your experience with others in the Clear Admit Interview Archive!
This post was originally published by clearadmit.com
