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MBA Program Formats: From Full-time to Online

MBA programs at AACSB-accredited schools are offered in many formats. There are full-time, part-time, online, evening, weekend, and one-year programs. Here is a little information about each to help you decide which format is right for you.

Traditional Full-Time Programs

Students are usually considered full-time if they are taking 3 or more classes per semester or a minimum of 9 credit hours. MBA classes are almost always offered during the day and the evening. So even with a full-time job, you can be a full-time student. However, a lot of full-time students do not work full-time due to the difficulty of the classes and schedules.

Part-Time Programs

Part-time programs allow students to take less than 3 classes (or 9 credit hours) per semester. Most schools with part-time programs offer classes in the evenings for working professionals. If you are seeking financial aid or student loans, be sure you are not required to be a full-time student in order to qualify.

Online Programs

There are numerous AACSB-accredited schools that offer online MBA programs. Online programs allow students to take classes through a Web platform. Class discussions are held via chat rooms and posting boards. Quizzes are typically taken online and sometimes tests are as well. Online programs also require additional work such as term papers and other assignments. Students that choose online programs should be self-motivated. It can be easy to not perform well in an online format.

Weekend Programs

Some MBA programs are offered on weekends. These MBA programs generally run all day on Saturday. They are great options for working professionals with children or those that cannot attend classes in the evening. But be sure you can handle 8-9 hours of classes in one day. 

One-Year Programs

Most MBA programs take students 2 years to complete. But, one-year programs are designed to be fast-paced without breaks between modules or semesters.

To search AACSB-accredited MBA programs, visit AACSB's student website at: www.bestbizschools.com. 

Common Questions About AACSB Accounting Accreditation

AACSB Accreditation has two aspects. The first, the one that most people are familiar with, is the accreditation of business programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral level. This means that if a university has AACSB Accreditation, all of its business programs have been reviewed. 

Now, the second aspect is the accreditation of accounting programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral level. This is an additional accreditation a school can earn above and beyond AACSB Business Accreditation. AACSB Accounting Accreditation is a specific, extra designation for business schools that have more elaborate accounting programs and/or have a strong focus on accounting. Schools must hold AACSB Business Accreditation in order to apply for the additional accounting designation.  AACSB Accounting Accreditation also is guided by a set of rigorous quality standards, and the review process is performed by teams and individuals with years of education experience from high-quality, AACSB-accredited schools. The standards focus specifically on accounting courses, curriculum, faculty, and a variety of other related operations. 

Currently, there are only 173 institutions that hold both AACSB Business and Accounting Accreditation. 

View a list by location of institutions with both AACSB Business and Accounting Accreditation.

Want to be a Business Giant? CNN Money Releases its Top 40 Under 40

The newest list of the most successful business people under 40 includes some pretty talented business professionals. From the 26-year-old Founder and CEO of Facebook to the 39 year-old President of Wal-Mart West, this list is a good place to be inspired if you are an aspiring business mind.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/fortune/1010/gallery.40_under_40.fortune/index.html