Best Part Time MBA Programs - Part 2 (Booth, Haas & UCLA)

This is the second part of the series – Best Part Time MBA programs. If you have missed the first part, read Best Part Time MBA Programs - Part 1 (Kellogg & NYU Stern)

3) University of Chicago (Booth)

Booth offers working professionals a flexible, Part-time MBA program that has a unique international edge. The International MBA Degree (IMBA) adds onto the typical Booth MBA, with five international business courses, one term studied in a foreign country, and proficiency in a language other than English. The International Business Exchange Program (IBEP) allows students to study one academic quarter at one of 21 countries, chosen from 33 partner schools.

Course Duration: The course can be completed in 2.5 – 5 years, and has two schedule options, weekend and weekday. Students from one stream can take classes in the other, and can even attend Full-time MBA courses. They can choose from 14 concentrations, with a curriculum identical to that of the regular MBA program. Chicago Booth does not transfer course credits from any other school.

Loans and Scholarships: While Booth does not offer any grant or scholarships to students, loan assistance is offered. Students have access to all the labs, research centers and career resources available to the Full-time student body. They also benefit from a Booth’s 47,000-strong global alumni network spread across 116 countries

Course structure and study options

The Part-time MBA program has a mandatory Foundation course followed by electives that lead to a choice of 14 concentrations: Among them are Analytic Management, Econometrics & Statistics, Entrepreneurship, International Business, Managerial & Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management, Operations Management and Strategic Management. The two options available for part time study are the evening and the weekend program.

The Evening MBA Program: Preferred by Chicago residents, the weekday program admits students four times, during the autumn, winter, spring, and summer quarters. Classes are held once a week from 6pm to 9pm for 11 weeks. Young professional with 1 – 3 years’ experience seeking an MBA can opt for the Chicago Business Fellows (CBF) Program where their Part-time MBA experience will be enriched by peer mentoring, specific cohort programming and CBF seminars.

The Weekend MBA Program: Booth’s Weekend MBA Program takes in students only during the autumn quarter. 80% of professionals who attend this course come from outside Illinois State. Classes are conducted each Saturday for 11 weeks. The timings can be from 9am - 12pm or 1:30pm - 4:30pm, for 11 weeks. The school offers an airport shuttle service and has arrangements with hotels for discounted rates.

4) University of California--Berkeley (Haas)

Located in Silicon Valley, Haas makes best use of its unique environment to offer an Evening & Weekend MBA (EWMBA) that focuses on innovation, disruptive thinking and constant industry interaction. This is a 3-year program perfect for those who work in and around Silicon Valley, or those who would like a career there. They can specialize in any of the 11 specializations, and benefit from a curriculum that is identical to the Full-time MBA program. The school offers students scholarships – both Haas’ own, and other organizations.  Located at the heart of the global technological revolution, Haas regularly brings in leaders, visionaries and innovators to help students gain new insights. They also have access to all the facilities and resources available to the regular MBA students, including the career center.

Course structure and study options

The two schedule options, weekday and weekend only admit students in fall. Participants are offered various means to enrich their learning experience like the Seminars in International Business – where students travel to a foreign country to understand its business and social cultures, and Mid-Program Academic Retreat – an off-campus weekend of intense team competitions. Students who miss class due to work can view a video recording on the internet. There is a wide choice of electives, leading to specialization in fields like Finance, Marketing, Strategy/Consulting, Corporate Social Responsibility, Energy & Clean Technology, Entrepreneurship, Global Management, Nonprofit & Public Leadership and Technology.

Evening Schedule: Classes are conducted 6pm to 9:30pm, Monday to Thursday. During the first year, students need to attend only 2 classes a week. They get to choose from around 20 electives each semester in the second and third year.

Weekend Schedule: Classes are held on Saturdays. First year students attend them from 9am to 6pm while second- and third-year students have classes between 9am and 4pm. Weekend classes are conducted at Berkeley and a facility in Silicon Valley. Students pick from eight electives each semester, four of which are offered in the morning, with the remaining four in the afternoon.

5) University of California--Los Angeles (Anderson)

UCLA Anderson has a Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) that offers a 33-month management program for working executives. What makes this course special is its high flexibility, combined with a customizable curriculum that lets students pick electives from other UCLA schools like the UCLA School of Theater, Film & TV, David Geffen School of Medicine, School of Law, School of Public Affairs & Urban Planning and School of Public Health. This helps students take up unconventional career options. Students can choose from 14 specializations. The program can be accelerated to 27 months with three schedule options. Another unique feature is that second year students are offered internships while on-campus recruiting is also open to Part-time students in their third year. They benefit from an alumni network of more 35,000+ in more than 100 countries. Loan assistance is offered, and the school helps students gain scholarships from outside sources.

Course structure and study options

Students can first complete the core curriculum and choose from a host of electives to specialize in up to 14 fields like General Management, Business Leader (Moving Up), Entrepreneur (Moving Out), Investment Banking/Investment Management, Brand Management and High Tech. There also are Optional Special Studies, like the International Travel Study Programs and International Exchange Programs. Students can choose from 3 schedule options.

Weekday Program: Classes are held twice a week, on Tuesday & Thursday, from    6:30pm to 9:45pm.

Weekend Program: Classes are held on Saturdays, between 9:30am & 12:45pm and between 2pm and 5:30pm.

Flex Program: This is a hybrid program, with a mix of campus and online programs. It requires only one weekend on campus every month, with the rest of the curriculum taught online.