Marshall School of Business
Master’s Degree and Graduate Certificate Programs
MBA Program for Professionals and Managers
The MBA Program for Professionals and Managers (MBA.PM) is a part-time, comprehensive MBA program that allows fully employed individuals to pursue their MBA degree. The program offers flexibility and a rich array of elective courses. Students in the MBA.PM program complete the degree in 33 months attending classes in fall and spring semesters and summer sessions.
The MBA.PM offers the following advantages:
- the scheduling design allows students to complete the degree in a timely way, while continuing to work full time;
- program flexibility allows students to tailor their selection of elective courses to their individual interests;
- PM.GLOBE, a course which includes an international trip, gives all MBA.PM students first-hand exposure to international markets;
- a cohesive group of student colleagues proceeds through the core together, providing opportunities for building relationships with other talented and ambitious individuals;
- special academic and social activities enhance the richness of the MBA experience; and
- interaction between faculty and students enhances the overall learning experience.
The first year of the MBA.PM program is also offered at the Orange County Center in Irvine. All students take their elective courses at the University Park Campus in Los Angeles.
Students attend core classes two nights per week for 12 months. Students must complete the core courses in the prescribed sequence and within the prescribed time frame. Elective courses are offered on a semester basis during the remaining portion of the program, including summer session.
During the elective portion of the program, MBA students are encouraged to pursue a course of study that meets their professional goals. Students design their course of study by taking electives offered in the Marshall School and by sometimes taking courses in other areas of the university. Up to 9 units of graduate-level electives may be taken at USC outside the Marshall School of Business for elective credit provided the student shows sufficient reason why a selected course is relevant to the Marshall School of Business program. Permission to take courses outside the Marshall School must be requested via petition to the MBA.PM Program Office in Popovich Hall 106.
International Exchange Program
The Marshall School offers a range of international semester-long and summer exchange programs in cooperation with leading business schools around the world. Since many of the exchange programs are taught in English, language proficiency is not a requirement for all countries. Students must complete the MBA core courses and maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to participate in the exchange program. This program is open to full-time MBA and MBA.PM students.
Application
Applicants should have significant full-time work experience. Letters of recommendation submitted with the application should relate to the student’s work performance (résumé).
The program enrolls students one time per year in the fall. For more information, contact the Marshall MBA Admission Office in Popovich Hall (JKP) 308; (213) 740-7846; Fax (213) 749-8520; marshall.usc.edu. Apply online at marshall.usc.edu/admissions/applyonline.
Sample Program
A total of 63 units is required for the program. The following outlines the typical MBA.PM student’s schedule:
| First Year “Core” Required Courses — Fall term | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GSBA 510 | Accounting Concepts and Financial Reporting | 3 |
| GSBA 511 | Microeconomics for Management | 3 |
| GSBA 519a | Strategic Formulation for Competitive Advantage | 1.5 |
| GSBA 542 | Communication for Management | 1.5 |
| 9 | ||
| Winter term A&B | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GSBA 506ab | Applied Managerial Statistics | 3 |
| GSBA 522ab | Managerial Perspectives | 3 |
| GSBA 581ab | Information Management | 1.5 |
| 7.5 | ||
| Spring term | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GSBA 528 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| GSBA 544 | The Firm in the National Economy | 1.5 |
| GSBA 548 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| 7.5 | ||
| Summer Session | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GSBA 518 | Accounting Control Systems | 3 |
| GSBA 519b | Strategic Formulation for Competitive Advantage | 1.5 |
| GSBA 534 | Operations Management | 3 |
| 7.5 | ||
| Second Year — Fall Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GSBA 586 | Current Trends in Business | 1.5 |
| Graduate business electives (2) | 6 | |
| (500-level ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, FBE, IOM or DSO, MKT or MOR) | ||
| 7.5 | ||
| Spring Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GSBA 582 | Business Environment and Management Practices in the Pacific Rim | 3 |
| Graduate business elective | 3 | |
| (500-level ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, FBE, IOM or DSO, MKT or MOR) | ||
| 6 | ||
| Summer Session | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate business electives (2) | 6 | |
| (500-level ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, FBE, IOM or DSO, MKT or MOR) | ||
| Third Year — Fall Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate business electives (2) | 6 | |
| (500-level ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, FBE, IOM or DSO, MKT or MOR) | ||
| Spring Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate business electives (2) | 6 | |
| (500-level ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, FBE, IOM or DSO, MKT or MOR) | ||
Total units required for degree: 63