Miami University Ohio - Farmer School of Business

Students at Miami University’s School of Business say their efficient program is “the best option in the Cincinnati area for working professionals with families to get their MBA.” Before they even enroll, the school of business makes it easy for fully employed professionals to consider a graduate degree, offering prerequisite coursework online (as well as proficiency exams for students who want to test out of foundational classes) and a GMAT prep course right on campus. Once they have been accepted, students find the MBA program is “designed to be convenient for the working professional,” with classes offered two evenings per week over the course of two years. The school’s administration makes every effort to streamline the experience, offering “concierge-level” services for students. Among other conveniences, the all-inclusive tuition includes all fees and materials; at the beginning of each semester, the administration will “register you for class” and “buy all your books.” They even have dinner service for evening classes, which “is a significant help to make the day easier.” A current student enthuses, “They understand that we are working full time and make every effort to cater to us so all we have to do is study and attend class.”

“A very focused professional MBA,” the curriculum includes thirty-six credit hours of upper-level business courses, of which twenty-seven are core courses in economics, accounting, marketing, management, and other key business areas. With the remaining nine elective credits, students may choose to pursue a concentration in marketing or finance. Throughout the curriculum, there is an emphasis on collaboration, with a “cohort-based” program that maintains students within the same small academic community during the full MBA. Note that the program does not allow flexibility in the academic calendar; “the classes are prescheduled to keep the cohort together.” Throughout the program, professors rely on case-based instruction, encouraging students to use critical thinking skills and real-world experience to solve business problems in the classroom. This interactive approach to education is particularly effective at Miami University, as students are “extremely intelligent with a lot of work experience,” making them valuable contributors to class discussion. In fact, students range from “very early in their career to executives that have owned multiple companies.” Staying on top of the coursework is not always a breeze, but it is rewarding: “Academically, the work is a challenge to keep up with, but it is that challenge that keeps it engaging.”