The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor announced in late July that it will add a new weekend format to its existing part-time MBA program. Beginning in May 2010, part-time students will have the option of earning a Ross MBA by attending classes two weekends a month over the course of two years.
As part of Ross’s existing evening format part-time MBA program, students generally take three to four years to earn their degree. “We’re pleased now to be able to offer two part-time formats so students can choose how best to integrate their studies with their other commitments and responsibilities,” Ross Dean of Business Robert Dolan said in a statement announcing the new program. The evening format program will continue to offer maximum flexibility of schedule and courses, while the weekend format program will give students an opportunity to obtain their degree in less time, Dolan added.
Participants in the weekend format program will take classes on Friday afternoon and evening and all day Saturday over the course of six 14-week terms. Most courses will be held in Ann Arbor, with a few taking place at the Ross satellite campus in Southfield. All weekend students will complete their coursework together as peers.
Though their timelines differ, the core curriculum for each the weekend and evening format programs is the same. Both feature courses in accounting, finance, strategy, marketing, business economics and management and organization. Ross’s signature Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP) course will also be a core requirement of the weekend format. As part of MAP, student teams work with faculty advisers to address real business challenges faced by sponsoring organizations.
The second year of coursework in the weekend format program will feature a creative multidisciplinary approach, in which courses will be woven into three themed groups and students will examine a common case across several disciplines. “The benefit of this approach is that it trains students to synthesize many perspectives so they can assess different kinds of risks and opportunities,” says Paul Clyde, Ross professor and academic director of the part-time MBA program.
The addition of the weekend format part-time MBA program is part of Ross’s commitment to provide as many options to its students as possible, especially during difficult economic times. “In the world of part-time MBA programs, one size does not fit all,” Valerie Suslow, Ross associate dean for degree programs, said in a statement.
To learn more about the Ross part-time MBA program, including admission deadlines and procedures, click here.
