The San Francisco One-Year MBA Programs You Need to Know
One-year MBA applicants already know which industry or area of concentration they want to pursue. They are MBA candidates who want to advance their current careers, rather than change them. Others chose the one-year route because it can be difficult to leave two years of work and salary. If you’re a prospective MBA in the San Francisco metro looking to make moves within your industry, we’ll show you what One-Year MBA options are out there for you.
Who Pursues One-Year MBA Programs?
According to U.S. News & World Report, accelerated MBA programs appeal to those who want to continue working in the same industry but want to move into a higher position; those who want to save time and money; and those who may want a faster return on investment for their MBA.
One-year MBAs condense what would be a semester’s worth of core business courses in a full-time program into only a few weeks. Most incoming students enter with a strong base of business knowledge. One-year programs typically do not feature a summer internship, which means that accelerated MBAs may not offer the same career opportunities that a full-time program does.
Popular One-Year MBA Programs
One-year programs have been popular in Europe for years, but have grown in popularity stateside over the past decade. Not all business schools offer a One-Year MBA, but a handful of top schools do, including:
- The Columbia Business School – Accelerated MBA Program
- The Kellogg School of Management – One-Year MBA Program
- The Johnson School (Cornell University) – Accelerated MBA
- The Goizueta Business School (Emory University) – Full-Time MBA, One-Year Experience
One-Year MBA Offerings in San Francisco
San Francisco is the cultural, commercial, financial, and educational epicenter of Northern California and Silicon Valley. Naturally, it is also home to some of the country’s premier business schools, like UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and Stanford University Graduate School of Business. However, those schools do not offer One-Year MBA programs.
Schools in the Bay Area that offer Accelerated MBA programs are:
- San Francisco State University College of Business
- Lucas Graduate School of Business – San Jose State University
Let’s take a closer look at these school’s One-Year MBA offerings.
San Francisco State University College of Business
San Francisco State’s full-time MBA degree is known as the Fast-Track MBA. The program features both afternoon and evening classes and can be completed in 12 months.
In order to graduate, students must fulfill a Professional Development Workshop series, eight foundation courses and ten advanced requirement courses. In the first semester of the program, students complete 15 units of core coursework, along with four workshops. After completing these requirements, students select 15 units of electives from nine possible areas of specialization, such as Accounting, Operations Research, Electronic Commerce, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Sustainable Business.
The program ends with a case study in Strategic Management, which evaluates strategy formulation, implementation, techniques and decision-making in the context of the economic, social, political and competitive global environment.
Tuition costs for the San Francisco State Fast-Track MBA program amount to $3,540 plus $270 per unit for part-time California residents and $5,546 plus $270 per unit for full time residents. For out of state and international students, part-time tuition is $3,540 plus $666 per unit while full-time tuition is $5,546 plus $666 per unit.
Lucas Graduate School of Business
Lucas Graduate School of Business at San Jose State offers an Early Career MBA Accelerated Track, designed for individuals who are willing to follow a very intense academic pace and wish to complete their MBA degree in 12 months. The fast-paced program is made up of 2-3 courses per session with 6-8 weeks of courses per class. The program is offered once a year starting in fall, and spans 12 months.
The Early Career MBA curriculum consists of 42 semester credit units containing 11 core courses and four electives. The core courses are often prerequisites to electives, such as Business Communications, Managing in the Global Economy, Developing and Managing People, Accounting Principles, Marketing Management, Law and Ethic, Managerial Decision Analysis, and Silicon Valley Experience.
Following core coursework, students must take a minimum of four classes (12 units) of elective coursework in the disciplines of: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Development, Global Business Development, Entrepreneurship and Venture Development, Information Systems, and Operations Management. Students may also participate in an international semester in the summer term.
Tuition costs for the Accelerated MBA program is $25,072 for in-state residents and $41,704 for out-of-state residents.
Which 1-Year MBA Program in New York Is Right for You?
New Yorkers are always in a hurry. For those looking for that same speed with their MBA, they’re in luck. The city—home to eight million people—has five schools where candidates can graduate with an MBA or similar degree within a year.
What better place to build your business knowledge than New York City? Business people from around the world come to the city—but not you. You’d be living in it. Plus, major international companies are headquartered there. JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and IBM, for example.
Check out some of the best one-year MBA programs in the city that never sleeps.
Binghamton University School of Management
Binghamton University’s School of Management sits in Midtown New York City. Students will have easy access to Bryant Park, Penn Station, Grand Central Station, Port Authority, all the shopping they need—and the nearby beauty of Chelsea.
The school came to the area in 1970. Its Professional MBA is what sets Binghamton apart. It takes no more than a year, and students meet only on Saturdays. The curriculum does demand a full Saturday, but at least it wraps up in a year. And since it’s on the weekend, full-time working professionals are good to go, too. The school reports students can save $20,000-$50,000 compared to other MBA programs in New York City.
Zicklin School of Business – Baruch College
Baruch College formally created its Zicklin School of Business in 1998 after an endowment from an alumnus Lawrence Zicklin. But the MBA program has been offered since 1920.
Its one-year MBA program is fairly new. The first cohort enrolled this past summer. The program begins in June and takes 12 months. Applicants are expected to have two to five years experience. Given the program’s speed, the class schedule will be intense and build on already acquired knowledge. Students have the option to study abroad during the winter intersession.
Lubin School of Business – Pace University
The Lubin School of Business at Pace University has been around for more than 100 years. Since 1906, the school has been cranking out business graduates ready to take New York City by storm. It offers a unique one-year fast-track MBA—only in financial management.
This specialty in finance gives business students an edge. Graduates will walk away from Lubin knowing how to provide financial consultation to corporations. Lubin is sure to plug its students into any necessary resources for them to succeed. For example, MBA candidates can access the Bloomberg workstation and other financial databases. Classes are based in New York City and Westchester, a short train ride away.
Stern School of Business – New York University
New York University is one of New York City’s most well-known university, so the Stern School of Business is too, naturally. In the middle of Greenwich Village, students can occupy themselves with endless activities when they’re not in class.
However, the Stern School of Business doesn’t quite offer one-year MBAs. Its specialized one-year programs are for its MS in accounting, MS in business analytics, and an MS in global finance. These programs add an oomph to any business professional looking to build their expertise. Most of the programs include a global format, preparing graduates for a global field.
Lehigh University College of Business and Economics
Editor’s Note: As part of the Lehigh 1-MBA program enhancements, the internship component was replaced with a Consulting Practicum. Click here to learn more about the 1-MBA.
Defining Your Career Path With a Lehigh College of Business 1-MBA
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Editor’s Note: As part of the Lehigh 1-MBA program enhancements, the internship component was replaced with a Consulting Practicum. Click here to learn more about the 1-MBA.
While crafty interview skills and a sharp résumé can greatly help the pursuit of a career, there’s no greater asset to future employment than a productive internship.
Two MBA students at the Lehigh University College of Business and Economics are learning the exceptionally valuable lessons of the intern experience, although the pathways to their current roles are certainly unalike. Richard London, a former law enforcement member from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, and Suzanne Zar, a Central New Jersey native who spent the majority of her career in the healthcare industry, will both officially earn their MBA degrees before the end of 2017.
London was eligible to retire from law enforcement in 2015, but he wasn’t simply going to settle without a career moving forward. In a recent interview with MetroMBA, London revealed his ultimate decision to join the business school after viewing a 1-MBA presentation at a local community college.
“I immediately saw the advantages of obtaining an MBA for myself and I explored the differences between the Flex MBA and 1-MBA programs,” he says. “Given my age and my proximity to retirement, I determined the 1-MBA program was the best option for me.”
Zar, on the other hand, followed the more traditional MBA path. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine/Human Physiology from the University of Delaware, Zar’s career has been centrally focused in global pharmaceuticals. However, Zar felt her career in the competitive industry could only go so far without an MBA.
“I had a long career in different facets of marketing and my clients were in the healthcare/pharmaceutical space,” she says. “I wanted to continue that work but as the decision maker working for a top pharma company ideally in oncology. To do so I needed to up my game! The level of positions I was looking at required an MBA and I wanted to keep a competitive advantage to ensure my success.”
The Lehigh 1-MBA program offered both London and Zar a direct chance to work in their desired fields. Zar earned a position with German chemical, pharmaceutical, and life sciences giant Bayer, which has its North American headquarters in Whippany, New Jersey. London’s role lead back to working side-by-side with law enforcement, through Montreal technology company Genetec Inc.
“Part of my responsibility before I retired from law enforcement was to manage the technology projects for the agency I worked for,” London notes. “ We have all seen the strained relationships between law enforcement and the public over the past few years. Part of the solution to easing that tension has been the development of technology products for law enforcement; particularly Body Worn Cameras (BWC) for officers.”
“I offered them [Genetec Inc.] some domain knowledge they did not have access to, and they offered me the opportunity to explore the law enforcement market to determine if my experiences were similar to other agencies across the country,” he continues. “I spent the summer traveling around the U.S. talking with law enforcement executives about their views and challenges with the new technology that is being thrust upon the industry and created a business and marketing strategy for the new group.”
Forging the directions in both London and Zar’s career trajectories relied both on an immeasurable internal work ethic and the significant hands-on approach Lehigh provides its students.
“What I would recommend about Lehigh is the personal connection students receive from the faculty and department heads,” Zar says. “The curriculum covers all of the bases in a traditional MBA as well as staying relevant with classes that tackle current business trends such as big data, technology and innovation.”
“It is the experience itself that has made this journey worth every minute,” London adds. “Real life is deadlines, commitments, relationships, time management; all things that can’t be learned in a classroom or by reading a book. From the moment you start the 1-MBA program, you are part of something; just like you would be in the real world; it’s like going to work for a small corporation. You are learning something new; but, you are learning it along side others in your cohort and you have to learn to rely on yourself, your classmates and the 1-MBA staff. If any part were missing, the experience would be different. For me, these are the real lessons from the 1-MBA program.
“The 1-MBA program stands apart from many of the programs out there by offering the highest level of education with professors that go above and beyond to help their students,” Zar concludes. “The size and diversity of the students in the program lends itself to great collaboration and experience sharing.”
For more information about the Lehigh University College of Business and Economics 1-MBA, visit the official school website here.
Searching for the Perfect 1-Year MBA in Boston
Not everyone has two years to dedicate toward earning an MBA. For some, maybe a year is just a better option. Luckily, Boston has more than enough options for those who would rather trek down the one-year path.
Currently, Boston is the 20th most populous city in the U.S., with its historical roots grounded in advanced academia. It has proven to be a perfect home for students, with a population that skews young. Almost one out of every three residents is between the ages of 20 and 34.
The largest employers might be hospitals like Brigham & Women’s Hospital or Massachusetts General Hospital, but the coastal city’s true jewels are its universities like Harvard and MIT. While most schools in the area offer MBA programs, not all offer options that’ll allow students to graduate with an MBA within one year. Below, we outlined some of the best Boston 1 Year MBA program opportunities.
F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business — Babson College
The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business isn’t too old; it’s been around since 1947. Students can take its one-year MBA program on its main campus in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It’s about 14 miles away from Boston, so students will still be just a short drive away.
The program takes 12 months, but students can build close bonds with each other in this short period of time. This program’s participants operate as a cohort, but they also get the chance to mingle with some students in the school’s two-year and evening MBA programs. All MBA candidates have the opportunity to participate in Signature Learning Experiences, a hands-on approach to education that prepares students for real-world situations.
Sawyer Business School — Suffolk University
The Sawyer Business School isn’t as old as the university, but that hasn’t stopped it from getting recognized. The school began to offer an MBA in 1948 and never quite began to offer a formal one-year MBA program, but it does offer accelerated ones.
Sawyer has a couple accelerated MBA programs: one for attorneys and for certified public accountants. The way it works is that students enter the program with credits already under their wing. The catch is that students complete a certain number of credits in the business school—but these could have been before chasing an MBA. It all really depends. That’s 37 credits for attorneys; 34 for CPAs.
MBA candidates with an interest in law can also learn a concentration while at the school. Courses include an immersive, travel seminar. As for CPA candidates, their curriculum is nearly identical to the attorney pathway. The only difference is one class required for the attorney curriculum and not the CPA: Corporate Financial Reporting and Control.
Sloan School of Management — MIT
MIT may mostly be known for tech industry and Good Will Hunting scenes, but its Sloan School of Management is frequently ranked as one of the best in the world by esteemed publications like The Economist. While Sloan doesn’t exactly offer a one-year MBA, its MIT Sloan Fellows Program only takes one year—and fellows walk away with an MBA.
The school calls the program a “change-the-world toolkit.” Mid-career managers from around the world are invited to apply for the fellowship. Once accepted, fellows arrive in April and begin their journey together. They take summer courses, fall courses, and some during the spring too. There’s an optional independent activities period where fellows can take part in a four-week term made up of how-to sessions, forums, or tours for 12 credits max.
Getting an MBA in San Diego Without The Full-Time Commitment
Despite the obvious return on investment, not everyone has two to three years to devote to earning their MBA. Pursuing an accelerated MBA may be a wise choice for students unfazed by a rigorous workload. An accelerated MBA provides is an attractive alternative to longer programs. Fast-tracking your degree will cut both costs and time, and allow you to propel your career forward as quickly as possible.
For those hoping to bring a comprehensive knowledge of business fundamentals to their industry without the daunting time commitment, we’ve laid out a couple of the best San Diego accelerated MBA programs.
Fermanian School of Business – Point Loma Nazarene University
The Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University offers a One-Year MBA for students looking to obtain their degree with efficiency. The daytime One-Year MBA halves the time of the Evening MBA, which takes 24-28 months to complete. This track requires students to earn 42 credits, as well as participating in a Field Experience. The Field Experience thrusts students into an business environment, wherein they have the opportunity apply their classroom knowledge to hands-on company work. This program is designed for recent graduates. In addition to taking the One-Year MBA, students who can commit more time to the program have the flexibility to take on more courses and obtain their degree more quickly.
This program helps promote the university’s core Christian values, specifically geared toward students aspiring to use their education to actively better their community. Fermanian integrates the what they believe are the core categories of career success into their curriculum: business knowledge, hands-on experience, purpose and networking. Even the school’s concentration options demonstrate their commitment to developing upstanding leaders. Students can pursue a concentration in Healthcare, Sustainability, Organizational Leadership, or Not-for-Profit. Another distinguishing facet of this program is its unique elective options. Fermanian even offers a gold class to help students with networking.
Alliant School of Management – Alliant International University
The Accelerated MBA at Alliant School of Management is offered to students that meet specific requirements. Only Alliant undergrads qualify for this track, and they must be pursuing either a B.S. in Business Administration or a B.S. in Political Science. They must also maintain a GPA above 2.75. Though the number of students who meet these specifications is limited, those who are eligible for this track can complete their MBA in as few as two semesters.
The program entails the following bridge courses students can take during their senior year: Organizational Behavior and Global Leadership, Statistical Analysis and Modeling for Business, Strategic Management and International Marketing Management. In order to transfer these courses into the MBA program, students must obtain a B or higher in each one. Since students in this program take MBA courses while they are still undergrads, they will have completed for of their required fore classes by the time they officially enter the MBA program.
Alliant is particularly supportive of veterans. The school has made the “Military-Friendly Schools” list in GI Jobs magazine three times, and has been on the Military Times EDGE magazine’s “Best for Vets Colleges” list twice.
Lehigh Business Heading To Forté Foundation Forums
From mid-August and into the fall, the Forté MBA Forums will be held across 12 cities in the U.S., Canada and UK. Representatives from dozens of highly-reputable business schools will be in attendance for the 12-city event, including the Lehigh University College of Business and Economics.
Michael Tarantino, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, will be attending the August 14 event in Washington DC as well as the August 29 Forté MBA Forum in New York City. There, prospective MBA applicants will have a one-on-one chance to learn about the school and its advantageous MBA programs. Lehigh currently offers a full-time One Year MBA and the award-winning part-time Flex MBA, along with multiple dual MBA opportunities.
Forte has offered a more richly detailed account of the upcoming events:
”The format for these events is highly interactive. Each event will consist of two panels, the Alumnae Panel and the Admissions Panel. The Alumnae Panel will include a moderator and four to five panelists from various industries and career stages. The Admissions Panel will include a moderator and three to four senior admissions officers to discuss the MBA application process. Women will have the opportunity to network with school representatives during the entire program.”
On the event, former attendee Madeline Keulen notes, “The Forté Forum event provided the exact insights we were looking for. Most of the schools I was interested in had representatives at the event who could speak to the specifics of their programs, and panels of alumni enhanced the richness of the experience through their personal stories of why they chose to pursue an MBA. I have a much better sense of where I’d fit best.”
The August 14 event will be held at the Renaissance DC Downtown Hotel at 999 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 and the August 29 forum will be held at New York I, Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282.
For more information on the events and the many other upcoming Forté MBA Forums, visit the official Forté website.
Check out more of Lehigh University’s upcoming events here.
