USC
University of Southern California
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Graduate Degrees

The Marshall School of Business prepares men and women to become leaders at every level of management. Today's successful businesses demand flexibility, innovation, creativity, teamwork and leadership from their employees. The Marshall School's goal is to help students meet those demands through a rigorous grounding in all functional areas of business and the honing of analytical and interpersonal skills required to address real business problems.

The more than 185 faculty members at the school include authorities recognized around the world for their contributions to business theory and practice. They are also distinguished by their dedication to teaching excellence.

The Marshall School of Business offers five graduate degrees: The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), the Master of Science in Business Administration (M.S.), the Master of Management (M.M.), the Master of Medical Management (M.M.M.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The Marshall School jointly offers a Master of Long Term Care Administration. The Graduate Certificate in Management Principles is also offered.

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

M.B.A. students gain an understanding of the forces confronting business across the globe and are encouraged to take an active role in making a difference -- to seek out opportunities for personal and professional growth and to empower others in the pursuit of shared goals. The Master of Business Administration is offered through four distinct programs.

While the four programs are designed to meet the needs of different types of students, all programs have the same goals: providing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective leaders; developing a thorough understanding of business fundamentals such as economics, accounting, finance, marketing and operations; and refining basic skills, such as use of information systems and statistical analysis. Each student is challenged to develop self-understanding and an appreciation for the complexities of organizations.

The Marshall M.B.A. Program
The Marshall M.B.A. program, a traditional, full-time program, is designed for individuals who can leave the world of work and commit themselves "full time" to two years of graduate education.

At the program's beginning, each student undertakes a comprehensive analysis of his or her personal leadership potential and learns to frame the responsibilities of leadership in terms of both the organization and the greater society. Over the first year's course of study, a "hands-on" approach to business education combines case analysis, management simulations and executive seminars with traditional methods for establishing a conceptual understanding of the general management role.

In year two, students chart their own course of study, selecting concentrations in a specific business field or continuing to pursue broad-based management educations.

The M.B.A. Program for Professionals and Managers
The M.B.A. Program for Professionals and Managers (MBA.PM) allows fully employed individuals to pursue an M.B.A. degree while continuing their career development. Students can pursue the first year of study at the University Park campus or at the USC Orange County Center in Irvine. Elective course work is completed on the University Park campus. The curriculum, offered in the evening, is the same curriculum offered to full-time M.B.A. students but is modified to allow completion of the program in 33 months.

Executive M.B.A. Program
The Executive M.B.A. program provides those with significant work experience, particularly mid- to senior-level professionals who have high potential as business and industry leaders, a chance to complete an M.B.A. on Fridays and Saturdays over a two-year period without interrupting their careers.

This program uses a non-traditional, interdisciplinary approach to executive and management education through "themes" that integrate various functional areas and address classic, yet dynamic business issues.

Through the integrated curriculum, participants develop a complete understanding of decision-making, a focus on the future and the international context of business as well as strong interpersonal, leadership and analytical skills. More specifically, participants achieve advanced skills in corporate and international finance, marketing, environmental and strategic analysis, information technology, organizational leadership, managerial communication and corporate relations.

Core faculty include the school's most senior, experienced members as well as nationally renowned academic and business specialists. The program includes an executive speaker series, a program for spouses and a required international residential program.

International Business Education and Research M.B.A. Program (IBEAR)
For early to mid-career managers who are pursuing international and Pacific Rimrelated careers, the IBEAR M.B.A. program offers 12 months of intensive study emphasizing business in and among Asia, North America and South America.

In addition to an internationalized set of core courses, the program includes elective course offerings on international management, international financial management, global e-business, global marketing strategy, international trade, politics for global managers and global strategy.

The program features a two-term international business consulting project, a cross-cultural team-building retreat, a visiting international expert speaker series and participation in IBEAR's annual Asia/Pacific Business Outlook Conference.

Marshall IBEAR M.B.A. graduates join a network of well-placed alumni in 49 nations.

M.B.A. Program for Japanese Managers
This program builds on USC non-credit course work completed in Japan through satellite broadcasting. Courses completed in Japan parallel the basic courses in the other M.B.A. programs (Business Economics, Macroeconomics for Managers, Marketing Management, Applied Managerial Statistics, Corporate Financial Reporting, Managerial Accounting, and Corporate Finance). Having completed these courses, students may apply to the M.B.A. Program for Japanese Managers. If accepted to the program, students complete the remaining degree requirements in 12 months at Marshall.

Dual Degree Programs

Dual degree programs offer graduate students the opportunity to complete concurrently the requirements for two degrees. The Marshall School offers the M.B.A. in conjunction with a number of other programs at USC:

  • Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (J.D./M.B.A.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in East Asian Area Studies (M.B.A./M.A.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Planning (M.B.A./M.Pl.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Real Estate Development (M.B.A./M.R.E.D.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Gerontology (M.B.A./M.S.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (M.B.A./M.S.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Dental Surgery (M.B.A./D.D.S.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Education (M.B.A./Ed.D.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Medicine (M.B.A./M.D.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Pharmacy (M.B.A./Pharm.D.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service (M.B.A./M.A.)
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Social Work (M.B.A./M.S.W.)

Master of Science in Business Administration (M.S.)

The Master of Science in Business Administration is designed to provide students with an opportunity to pursue an area of specialization subsequent to successfully completing the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). The program is especially valuable for those who wish to enhance their knowledge base in a specialized area of business. In cooperation with a faculty member, the student in this program designs a course of study to meet his or her individual needs. The degree can be completed on either a full- or part-time basis, and classes are available during both daytime and evening hours.

Master of Management

This program is designed for business professionals working in Japan. The program focuses on teaching the necessary knowledge and skills in the various business disciplines and is delivered using distance learning technologies in Japan. Requisite organizational behavior concepts are taught and team-building exercises are used during the in-person class sessions scheduled in Tokyo. An integrative capstone experience (GSBA 574) will demonstrate students' ability to apply their learning.

Master of Medical Management

This program is designed for physicians and executives in the medical field. After earning the ACPE Certificate in Medical Management, students may choose to continue on for the M.M.M. degree. Significant project and course work is completed primarily through distance learning venues and three one-week intensive residential sessions.

Master of Long Term Care Administration

This program is designed to prepare competent individuals to administer the long term needs of America's elderly population. It is jointly offered by the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, the Marshall School of Business, and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development. For information, see the School of Gerontology.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Doctor of Philosophy program in business administration is designed to produce research-oriented graduates who, from positions in academia, business or industry, can advance the state-of-the-art business practice and enhance the contributions that business can make to the larger community. These goals can be advanced through research contributions in theory, concepts, methods and practices, and education of the next generation of business leaders.

Graduate Certificate in Management Principles

The Graduate Certificate in Management Principles focuses on teaching the fundamental knowledge and skills in the various business disciplines using distance learning technologies in Japan. Requisite organizational behavior concepts and team-building exercises are taught during the in-person courses in Tokyo.