Philly’s Fastest MBA Programs
You’re education is important—but so is your time. And for those looking to earn an MBA to accelerate their job growth or fast track their careers, the faster you can earn that degree the faster you can get back to earning money and making an impact in your field.
Most business schools offer a variety of MBA programs for students to choose from, allowing everyone from recent graduates to experienced executives the flexibility to choose a program that best fits into their life and schedule. For driven students who just can’t wait to reap the benefits of their MBA, many schools offer accelerated or One Year MBA programs that shortens the traditional length of time it would take to earn an MBA. While the curriculum can be rigorous, the programs give students the chance to quickly earn their degree, both minimizing the amount of money spent on classes and the income lost from not working full time.
In Philadelphia, there are a number of programs that allow you to go from applicant to degree holder in as little as twelve months. And since a 2017 study ranked Philadelphia as one of the five most-improved economic cities in the U.S., you won’t want to miss your chance to reap the benefits of this economic boom with your degree in hand.
The Fastest Philadelphia MBA Programs
Fox School of Business – Temple University
The Temple University Fox School of Business Executive MBA is one of Philadelphia’s quickest and most flexible MBA degrees. The program takes place over the course of 16 months, with classes delivered on one three-day weekend per month. The program is designed for experienced professionals who want to pursue their degree without giving up their career, and is constructed to accommodate a full-time work schedule.
For those looking for a quick MBA without the ten or more years of work experience an EMBA requires, Temple Fox’s Online MBA can be earned in just 20 months. Outside of one week-long residency at the start of the program, the digital aspect of this degree gives students not just time flexibility but also location. After the residency, this program can be pursued from pretty much anywhere!
LaSalle University School of Business
The School of Business at LaSalle University offers a One-Year MBA program for students with undergraduate experience in business. Knowing that important business pre-requisites for the degree are already out of the way, students can jump right in and earn their MBA in as little as 12 months.
The AACSB accredited One-Year program is an intensive degree program that requires students to take a full course load for the fall and spring semester as well as working through a winter intersession and summer semester. Students in this program also have the opportunity to specialize their degrees in the fields of accounting or finance, and will help prepare graduates to take the CPA and CFA exams by the end of the year. Students will also be paired with an academic adviser throughout the year who will help plan for their future careers. And the success of past graduates of the One-Year MBA program seems pretty clear, joining major companies like Deloitte LP, KPMG, PwC, and JP Morgan Chase, among others.
The La Salle One-Year MBA is among the fastest MBAs you can earn in any major East Coast city.
Haub School of Business – Saint Joseph’s University
The MBA at Saint Joseph University’s Haub School of Business can be completed in as little as one year for students who meet certain undergraduate requirements. Students can pursue this degree in a variety of ways, whether on campus or online, and whether full or part-time. Regardless of format, the MBA at Haub gives students the option to choose major for their degree, among high-demand disciplines like marketing, data intelligence, finance, international business and more.
The overall data which shows that those with an MBA earn more and have more career opportunities most certainly rings true for graduates of Haub’s MBA program. Nearly 76 percent of graduates said their SJU MBA helped their career advance, and 73 percent reported a salary increase as a result of their graduation. With the chance to limit the time of an SJU MBA to just 12 months, students can work their way to these benefits even faster.
Lehigh University College of Business and Economics
The 1-MBA at the Lehigh University College of Business and Economics is a full-time, one year MBA program designed for professionals looking to either accelerate their career or looking to change careers and move towards a business-related field. The rigorous program, which is located all on campus, cuts the time it takes to pursue a traditional Lehigh MBA in half.
Unique benefits of the 1-MBA at Lehigh include a team of mentors and coaches assigned to students even before they arrive on campus, including a faculty adviser, industry mentor and career coach who will help guide students through their year-long program. The program is also centered around a consulting practicum, which both trains students in practical skills for consulting and provides hands-on experience in the field. The 1-MBA program also focuses intensely on the professional development of every student in the program, offering personalized coaching and global immersion study opportunities that can help shape and prepare students for future business success.
10 Networking Skills You Need to Know, from this Saint Joseph’s Professor
Marc Kramer, author and executive in residence at Saint Joseph’s Haub School of Business, recently wrote an article for BizJournals.com called, “Ten Steps to Better Networking.” Kramer’s article offered important tips for building valuable relationships and alliances in any situation. Some of the advice was more intuitive, for example, the first tip was, “Look professional and well groomed.” However, suggesting that networkers wear a unique article of clothing that could be a conversation piece was less standard. Kramer cited his own “conversation-starter ties” as an example of this sort of business posturing.
Kramer also recommended that networkers never begin a conversation by talking about themselves.
“Always introduce yourself and then ask the person for their name and what they do,” Kramer said. “Most everyone is comfortable talking about themselves.” Meeting as many people as possible was of paramount importance to Kramer, who said that at networking functions, he tries to get at least 10 business cards per hour. Having so many people’s cards can get confusing later, which is why Kramer advised readers to jot some notes down on each person’s business card right away. Kramer’s final tip was to write to each person within 24-48 hours of meeting them.
Haub Professor Marc Kramer
“Send a short email that tells them that your were please to meet them, where you met and ask the person how you can help them.,” Kramers said of writing follow-up emails, adding, “Don’t ask for anything.”
Kramer’s background as a businessman and entrepreneur made him an ideal person to offer advice on networking. He pioneered the original investor angel network (the Private Investors Forum, formerly the Pennsylvania Private Investors Group), as well as a variety of other organizations, such as the Eastern Technology Council and Kramer Communications. In addition to his entrepreneurial work and current position at Haub School of Business, Kramer has authored six books, instructed at the Wharton School, and contributed articles popular publications like Forbes.
Direct from the Dean: Joseph DiAngelo of the Haub School of Business
Joseph DiAngelo has been dean of Saint Joseph University’s Haub School of Business (HSB) since 2000, during which time the student body has doubled, making HSB the largest Jesuit business school in the country. Before that, he was dean of Widener University for 13 years. “I am the longest serving dean in the Philadelphia metro region,” he asserts proudly. Continue reading…
