MBA program types

What are the different types of MBA Programs? Once you have decided to do an MBA is for you, you need to choose which program suits your aspirations and your circumstances. There are some things you need to think about.

• Firstly, what do you want to achieve with your MBA?
• What are your personal and your career objectives?

Once you have worked this out, you will have a focus that you could use for which type of MBA program and which courses you want.

Then you have to work out how long you wish to study for.
MBA programs last from between one year full-time course to five years part-time course. All programs that you take will involve a major time commitment. You must make sure you could give that commitment.

Then you should look at the type of mba program and the course content and work out if it matches your needs. The first MBA program that was ever created was a full time course where the student needed to attend MBA Colleges every day and most of the courses were compulsory. Over the last 25 to 30 years, MBA program types have developed in terms of content.

Types of MBA program:

To help narrow the field of schools you are considering, think about the career, lifestyle, financial issues, and curriculum that are important to you. Use the following list of questions to help you work through the issues involved in choosing a MBA program type.

Two-year, Full time MBA Program:

Two-year MBA program are usually four semesters, spread over two academic years, with a three- or four-month break for an internship.

• The first year includes core courses required of all MBAs.
• The second year allows for functional specialization (a specific concentration of study and elective courses).
• Students do not work full time during the program; school is considered their first priority.
• People often relocate to attend their full-time program of choice.
  

Two-Year, Full-Time Advantages:

Two-year, full-time MBA program have several advantages for both career switchers (who change job functions or industries) and career enhancers (who continue in the same job function or industry). These MBA program provide an opportunity to develop knowledge in a specific discipline, leading to new job skills and prospects. If you are early in your career development, more specialized study may help you to continue in a particular industry or job function and to progress more effectively.

The following are some other advantages:

• Academic and Nonacademic Learning
• You can customize course work through electives and concentrations.
• Two-year MBA program accept the widest variety of academic backgrounds, usually with the basic requirement that you have an undergraduate degree that meets the business school's standards (usually, this means a four-year college equivalent).
• The environment encourages learning far beyond classroom instruction.
  

Two-Year, Full-Time Limitations:

Two-year, full-time MBA programs can be a wonderful experience for people who have well-defined career goals, are ready to spend an extended period of time out of the workforce, and have the resources to pay for such a program.

If you do not meet this description, a two-year, full-time MBA program may not be for you. It is a very expensive and time-consuming way to explore what you want to do in the future, and a lack of focus can limit the value of what you learn and what you gain from networking opportunities.

Before you consider a two-year, full-time MBA program, you should be confident about what you wish to do in the future and willing to commit the necessary time and resources to furthering these goals.

One-year, Full time MBA Program:

One-year MBA program are dramatically different from their two-year counterparts. They usually have very strict prerequisites for either work background or academic training.Program length is typically 11 to 16 months.
The program is shortened by:

Reducing the time in core classes, or Limiting opportunities to specialize In addition:

• Students do not work full-time; school is considered the first priority.
• Relocation may be required to attend a one-year program that meets your specific needs.
  

One-Year, Full-Time Advantages:

One-year MBA program offer several advantages, particularly for career enhancers (who wish to continue in the same job function or industry but at a higher level). These advantages include the following:

• A very specialized program can make full use of your current career or industry specialty and save you time in completing an MBA.
• You may be able to customize your course work through electives and concentrations, if the program reduces core curriculum requirements rather than elective content in order to decrease the duration of the program
  

Other advantages include the following:

The environment encourages learning far beyond classroom instruction.

• The spirit of competition and program intensity tend to be high.
• Full-time exposure helps to develop a cohesive network of MBA colleagues in your chosen field.
• A full immersion learning experience includes career services (such as campus interviews), social and professional clubs (often across areas of industry and functional preference), executive speakers' series, career counseling, and other "campus life" services.
  

One-Year, Full-Time Limitations:

• A one-year MBA program does present some limitations you should consider.
• Internship opportunities are limited because there are no extended breaks between semesters, which could especially hurt career switchers.
• Some employers who require an MBA for career advancement may not consider a one-year program a favorable option for earning the degree. You should be sure your post-MBA employer will be supportive before you choose this type of program.
  

Part time MBA program:

• Part-time MBA program are designed for working professionals.
• Most part-time MBAs work full-time during the day and attend classes in the evening.
• Some schools offer both a full-time and a part-time program.
• Here are some considerations when exploring part-time programs.
• Courses are scheduled year around and do not allow for internships.
• Some part-time MBA program offer the same ability to specialize (through concentrations and open electives) as full-time programs, but others only offer a limited number of concentrations.
• Some part-time programs require fewer courses than their full-time counterparts. Their curriculum usually includes a core body of knowledge and does not offer the ability to specialize.
• Some part-time programs require the same number of courses as a full-time program, but spread out over a longer time. For example, you might take one to two courses at a time over four or five years for a degree requiring 20 courses.
  

Part-Time Advantages:

Part-time MBA program are popular among career enhancers (who have a good foundation of experience and want to further their career in a chosen field). They are also good if you already have a network in your field to aid in a job change.
The following are also advantages:

• Work-related
• Classes are scheduled outside standard business hours.
• Students develop new skills without interrupting current employment.
• Students can bring current, real-world problems into the classroom and explore workable solutions they can implement on the job.
• Financial
• Loan money is available for eligible students.
• Part-time may be a good choice if your employer offers tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit.
• The cost is spread over a longer period of time, helpful to those who must continue to earn an income or who are unwilling or unable to take on more debt.
• If you can't relocate Part-time programs may offer some geographic flexibility if you are unable or unwilling to relocate. A two-hour commute might be palatable for one class a week, but not daily.
  

Part-Time Limitations:

• You should consider the following things when deciding whether a part-time program is right for you.
• Scholarship money may not be available, because you can work and spread out the expenses over time.
• Career services may be limited. Many placement offices are closed in the evenings, when part-time students are on campus. This practice varies widely but is of particular concern for people who wish to change careers once they receive their degree.
• If you travel or relocate frequently for work, you may have difficulty completing a part-time MBA degree. Some programs do allow students to fulfill some course work through distance learning, but you should check the flexibility of the programs you are considering.
• Do not assume that you can take some MBA courses part-time, then transfer to a full-time or other kind of program. Most programs do not accept transfer credits.
  

Executive MBA program:

• Executive MBA (EMBA) program are geared toward enhancing the careers of working executives, many of whom are company sponsored. These programs are for professionals who are already specialists in a field or industry and need to hone their general management skills to continue up the corporate ladder.
• Enrollment is often tied to a new or anticipated promotion.
• Student’s professional experience and expertise become part of the fabric of the curriculum.
• Classes typically meet on Fridays and Saturdays, usually on alternate weekends, over two academic years.
• EMBA programs offer full immersion, with learning outside the classroom and extensive faculty and student/team interaction.
  

EMBA Programs Differ from Full-Time Programs:

• Because they are fully employed, EMBA students do not hold internships between their first and second years of school.
• University scholarships are generally not available for EMBA students, but loan programs such as the Graduate Management Admission Council's MBA LOANS are. 
• There is limited or no opportunity to specialize. Students all take the same general management curriculum at the same time, rather than core courses one year and electives the next.
  

Executive MBA Advantages:

• EMBA programs have several advantages for executives who need career-broadening management training:
• They feature a well-constructed curriculum of several courses in each of the major business disciplines.
• They usually do not require permanent relocation, making them good for those who can travel virtually anywhere on a regular basis.
• EMBAs earn their degree in two years or less, faster than their part-time counterparts.
  

Executive MBA Limitations:

• EMBA programs require a high level of commitment from the students, their families, and their employers.
• Most EMBA students put in 80 to 100 hours a week between job and school.
• Employers must agree to give EMBA students time off from work to attend classes.
• Because classroom time can be squeezed into four days per month, absences from class are not tolerated.
• In addition, company-sponsored EMBA students generally do not take part in career services activities to avoid a conflict of interest.