Haas School of Business

About Haas

As the second-oldest business school in the United States, the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley is one of the world’s leading producers of new ideas and knowledge in all areas of business — which includes the distinction of having two of its faculty members receive the Nobel Prize in Economics over the past 15 years. 

The school’s mission is to develop innovative business leaders — individuals who redefine how we do business by putting new ideas into action in all areas of their organizations, and who do so responsibly.  The school’s distinctive culture is defined by four key principles — question the status quo; confidence without attitude; students always; and, beyond yourself.

History of Haas

The visionary concept of a College of Commerce at the University of California was first proposed in an 1883 commencement address by Arthur Rodgers, a Berkeley graduate and well-traveled businessman. He stirred his audience, inspired the governor, and set in motion ideas that, 15 years later, would create the nation's first college of commerce at a public university. At the time of Rodgers' commencement address, the university itself was only 15 years old. It owed its existence to the gold rush pioneers and the preachers and teachers who had followed them west. Their collective vision for a College of California predated even the admission of California as a state in 1850.

Courses Offered

Full-Time MBA Program

The Berkeley MBA Program is a two-year curriculum designed to prepare students for the business world in an experience that Haas calls "Leading Through Innovation." The process of "Leading Through Innovation" includes the core MBA curriculum and specialization in an area of interest, which may be one of seven areas of general management fundamentals, or a certification in one of five different areas of study. Another important part of the Haas MBA is the combination of executive skills seminars, such as the Leadership Development Series, and experiential programs, such as "Haas@Work," an applied innovation program that sends teams of Berkeley MBA students to work at large firms.

Core Courses: Data and Decisions, Economics for Business Decision Making, Leading People, Financial Accounting, Introduction to Finance, Marketing Management, Leadership,Communication, Operations, Macroeconomics in the Global Economy, Strategic Leadership, Ethics and Responsibility in Business

Electives: Economic Analysis and Policy, Accounting,Finance, Operations & Information Technology Management, Organizational Behavior & Industrial Relations, Marketing, Business and Public Policy, Real Estate, Management of Technology, Corporate Social Responsibility, Entrepreneurship

Check out the Course Schedule

Evening & Weekend MBA Program

The three-year, part-time Berkeley Evening & Weekend MBA Program emphasizes the delivery of growth and innovation to organizations, and allows participants to continue working full-time while pursuing the MBA. Like the full-time MBA, the part-time MBA program is built around "Leadership Through Innovation," and like full-time students, part-time MBA students can specialize in one of seven areas of general management fundamentals. However, the certificate programs available to full-time MBA students are not available to those on the part-time track. Evening & Weekend MBA students can focus on several special interests in addition to the general management fundamentals.

Core: Accounting, Business & Public Policy, Economic Analysis & Public Policy, Finance, Management of Organizations, Marketing, Operations & Information Technology Management

Special Concentration: Global Management, Real Estate, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Social Responsibility, Technology, Nonprofit and Public Leadership

Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA Program

The Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA curriculum draws from the best of both schools, offering a complete MBA experience as rigorous as each school’s full-time program. Global experience
is an integral aspect of the Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA experience. As part of the International Seminar, a program highlight, students travel abroad for a week of experiential
learning through lectures, discussions with local business and government leaders, and site visits. Each trip examines key factors influencing global business success in places as diverse as Latin America, India, Europe and China.

Core Courses:Corporate Finance, Corporate Strategy, Data Analysis, Decision Models (half-term), Financial Accounting, Global Economic Environment, Performance Management/Managerial Accounting (half-term), Managerial Economics, Marketing, Operations Management, Organizational Behavior

Required Courses: International Seminar

Quick Facts

• Founded in 1898; the oldest business school at a public institution in the United States

• Haas Professor Emeritus Oliver E. Williamson was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences “for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm.”

• Haas faculty are also active as business consultants and board members, and as high-level government appointees.

• Student Enrollment 2,264 students in six degree programs

• Number of Faculty 80 ladder-track faculty

• 129 professional faculty: International: 40%,   Women: 24%,  UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Awards: 10,  Nobel Laureates: 2, Academy of Arts & Sciences members: 4
  

• Number of Alumni over 36,000

• Market Value of Endowment $159.3 million

• Annual Operating Budget $90 Million

• Full-Time MBA Program 494 total students

         Class of 2010
            Applicants: 4064
            Enrolled: 239
            International: 31%
            Women: 28%
            Ethnic minority: 30%
            Median Age: 28
            Median years work experience: 5 years

• Evening & Weekend MBA Program :776 total students

• Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA Program 147 total students

Learn more about Haas School of Business