Art FalconeThe Wings of Success

JULY 2016 | SFBWMAG.COM | $7.95

40 JULY 2016 • www.sfbwmag.com

SPECIAL REPORT: EDUCATION

For busy senior executives with hardly a free moment to spare, part-time MBA programs can be a great option. Many South Florida universities offer degrees through a combination – or choice – of evening, weekend and online classes. Below, we break down the programs available at each school, along with tuition costs and program highlights.

Hybrid ApproachPart-time MBA programs meld online, night and weekend classes

BY MARTIN LENKOWSKY

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY H. WAYNE HUIZENGA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Nova Southeastern University’s Assistant Dean of Graduate Affairs Steven Harvey does not refer to the school’s part-time MBA program as an executive MBA, although in many respects, it does have many of the same concepts. “We consider ours a part-time program with either weeknight, weekend or online options,” he says. “It clearly allows a person to work during the day.” Online courses are the most popular, he says, adding, “They are convenient and the state of the technology is always improving.”

Several factors set NSU’s MBA program apart. For example, students are

required to take courses in seven out of 10 concentrations before they choose which to focus on for their degree.

Additionally, NSU has partnered with Korn Ferry, an executive search fi rm. Each of NSU’s MBA candidates can take the Korn Ferry Assessment of Leadership Potential to determine their strengths and weaknesses in various aspects of leadership potential. “They can understand what their skills and gaps are,” Harvey says. “About 30 percent of our faculty are trained to understand the assessment. They will work one-on-one with each student to close those gaps.” Harvey believes NSU is the only school in Florida working with that particular assessment tool.

Another area in which Harvey feels NSU is unique is its “process

improvement” concentration. “You can use process improvement in any organization,” he says. “You fi nd ways to squeeze more effi ciency out of a process. We are one of few schools that offer this.”

Average Tuition: $33,000Website: business.nova.edu

LYNN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Unlike most part-time MBA programs that are completed between 18 months and two years, Lynn University offers a one-year program. “We are on an accelerated eight-week term schedule,” says Steven Pruitt, director of graduate and iLynn admission. (iLynn is the university’s online degree program.)

Also unlike other MBA programs, Lynn

FIU has a variety of programs for busy executives to earn their MBA

SPECIAL REPORT: EDUCATION

does not require its applicants to take the GMAT or GRE for entrance. “We don’t fi nd that’s a successful measure of how students will do,” Pruitt says. “We look at a student’s background and resume, and ask them to write something about themselves.”

According to Pruitt, the average age of part-time MBA students ranges from the early 30s to the early 50s. “They are here for a reason,” he says. “Many need an MBA for promotion or career advancement. They’re using the MBA to springboard their career in one way or another.”

Pruitt says there are approximately 100 to 150 part-time MBA students at Lynn. “It’s our fl agship program,” he says. “We don’t really consider it to be an executive program, although it functions that way.”

The program recently added two more specializations to the nine already available. One is in “social innovation” and partners with the Amani Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, and Sao Paolo, Brazil. “It’s for individuals who want to be a leaders in directing change either here or globally,” Pruitt says.

The other new specialty is the total opposite, he says, adding that it’s more “capitalist” oriented. “It’s a partnership with Wyncode from Miami to launch a career in coding design.”

Average Tuition: $25,000Website: lynn.edu

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

There are a number of unique executive MBA programs at the University of Miami’s business school. The Global Executive MBA in Spanish, for example, is designed for highly experienced Spanish-speaking business executives. “We are the only institution offering a program completely in Spanish,” says Anuj Mehrotra, vice dean for graduate business programs. The 18-month program not only attracts local students, but those from all over Latin America. It is designed to enable business executives to increase their business knowledge and sharpen their managerial skills. Students attend classes every three months, two weeks at a time, in addition to networking and interacting with business and corporate leaders throughout Latin America.

Another MBA program is called the Miami Executive MBA for the Americas, which is similar to the Global program, but classes are taught in English. It’s a 17-month degree program with 50 percent of the instruction done online, with weekend sessions on campus every two months. The fi rst session is a week long. This program is specifi cally designed for those with significant business experience and leadership potential. It has a good partnership with the corporate world, both here and abroad, Mehrotra says. The fact that it’s a “hybrid” program, part online and part classroom, makes it attractive to many students.

UM also offers an Executive MBA in Health Sector Management and Policy, which is designed to prepare graduates for leadership positions in all phases of health care and health-related organizations. “We have participants representing a microcosm of the health care industry,” Mehrotra says. “We have physicians, nurses and those involved in fi nance in this program.” The 23-month program focuses on professionals who are already fully employed in a health-related industry. Courses are held Friday through Sunday once a month.

A completely online MBA program lasts about 23 months, and is intended for those interested in changing careers or advancing in their current position.

Average Tuition: Professional MBA, $94,598; Executive MBA in Health Sector Management and Policy, $95,000; Global Executive MBA in Spanish, $96,746; Miami Executive MBA for the Americas, $111,800; Online Professional MBA, $77,000

Website: bus.miami.edu/grad

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Florida International University offers a variety of part-time MBA programs to accommodate the busy executive, says Angel Burgos, executive director of executive programs at the FIU College of Business. “We have a variety of different programs designed to meet the various market needs – MBAs designed for busy working professionals,” he says. Programs run from 18 to 24 months.

Options include the Downtown MBA program at FIU’s Brickell Avenue campus, where classes meet two nights a

:

University of Miami’s Anuj Mehrotra

FIU’s Angel Burgos

SPECIAL REPORT: EDUCATION

For busy senior executives with hardly a free moment to spare, part-time MBA programs can be a great option. Many South Florida universities offer degrees through a combination – or choice – of evening, weekend and online classes. Below, we break down the programs available at each school, along with tuition costs and program highlights.

Hybrid ApproachPart-time MBA programs meld online, night and weekend classes

BY MARTIN LENKOWSKY

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY H. WAYNE HUIZENGA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Nova Southeastern University’s Assistant Dean of Graduate Affairs Steven Harvey does not refer to the school’s part-time MBA program as an executive MBA, although in many respects, it does have many of the same concepts. “We consider ours a part-time program with either weeknight, weekend or online options,” he says. “It clearly allows a person to work during the day.” Online courses are the most popular, he says, adding, “They are convenient and the state of the technology is always improving.”

Several factors set NSU’s MBA program apart. For example, students are

required to take courses in seven out of 10 concentrations before they choose which to focus on for their degree.

Additionally, NSU has partnered with Korn Ferry, an executive search fi rm. Each of NSU’s MBA candidates can take the Korn Ferry Assessment of Leadership Potential to determine their strengths and weaknesses in various aspects of leadership potential. “They can understand what their skills and gaps are,” Harvey says. “About 30 percent of our faculty are trained to understand the assessment. They will work one-on-one with each student to close those gaps.” Harvey believes NSU is the only school in Florida working with that particular assessment tool.

Another area in which Harvey feels NSU is unique is its “process

improvement” concentration. “You can use process improvement in any organization,” he says. “You fi nd ways to squeeze more effi ciency out of a process. We are one of few schools that offer this.”

Average Tuition: $33,000Website: business.nova.edu

LYNN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Unlike most part-time MBA programs that are completed between 18 months and two years, Lynn University offers a one-year program. “We are on an accelerated eight-week term schedule,” says Steven Pruitt, director of graduate and iLynn admission. (iLynn is the university’s online degree program.)

Also unlike other MBA programs, Lynn

FIU has a variety of programs for busy executives to earn their MBA

SPECIAL REPORT: EDUCATION

does not require its applicants to take the GMAT or GRE for entrance. “We don’t fi nd that’s a successful measure of how students will do,” Pruitt says. “We look at a student’s background and resume, and ask them to write something about themselves.”

According to Pruitt, the average age of part-time MBA students ranges from the early 30s to the early 50s. “They are here for a reason,” he says. “Many need an MBA for promotion or career advancement. They’re using the MBA to springboard their career in one way or another.”

Pruitt says there are approximately 100 to 150 part-time MBA students at Lynn. “It’s our fl agship program,” he says. “We don’t really consider it to be an executive program, although it functions that way.”

The program recently added two more specializations to the nine already available. One is in “social innovation” and partners with the Amani Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, and Sao Paolo, Brazil. “It’s for individuals who want to be a leaders in directing change either here or globally,” Pruitt says.

The other new specialty is the total opposite, he says, adding that it’s more “capitalist” oriented. “It’s a partnership with Wyncode from Miami to launch a career in coding design.”

Average Tuition: $25,000Website: lynn.edu

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

There are a number of unique executive MBA programs at the University of Miami’s business school. The Global Executive MBA in Spanish, for example, is designed for highly experienced Spanish-speaking business executives. “We are the only institution offering a program completely in Spanish,” says Anuj Mehrotra, vice dean for graduate business programs. The 18-month program not only attracts local students, but those from all over Latin America. It is designed to enable business executives to increase their business knowledge and sharpen their managerial skills. Students attend classes every three months, two weeks at a time, in addition to networking and interacting with business and corporate leaders throughout Latin America.

Another MBA program is called the Miami Executive MBA for the Americas, which is similar to the Global program, but classes are taught in English. It’s a 17-month degree program with 50 percent of the instruction done online, with weekend sessions on campus every two months. The fi rst session is a week long. This program is specifi cally designed for those with significant business experience and leadership potential. It has a good partnership with the corporate world, both here and abroad, Mehrotra says. The fact that it’s a “hybrid” program, part online and part classroom, makes it attractive to many students.

UM also offers an Executive MBA in Health Sector Management and Policy, which is designed to prepare graduates for leadership positions in all phases of health care and health-related organizations. “We have participants representing a microcosm of the health care industry,” Mehrotra says. “We have physicians, nurses and those involved in fi nance in this program.” The 23-month program focuses on professionals who are already fully employed in a health-related industry. Courses are held Friday through Sunday once a month.

A completely online MBA program lasts about 23 months, and is intended for those interested in changing careers or advancing in their current position.

Average Tuition: Professional MBA, $94,598; Executive MBA in Health Sector Management and Policy, $95,000; Global Executive MBA in Spanish, $96,746; Miami Executive MBA for the Americas, $111,800; Online Professional MBA, $77,000

Website: bus.miami.edu/grad

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Florida International University offers a variety of part-time MBA programs to accommodate the busy executive, says Angel Burgos, executive director of executive programs at the FIU College of Business. “We have a variety of different programs designed to meet the various market needs – MBAs designed for busy working professionals,” he says. Programs run from 18 to 24 months.

Options include the Downtown MBA program at FIU’s Brickell Avenue campus, where classes meet two nights a

:

University of Miami’s Anuj Mehrotra

FIU’s Angel Burgos

www.sfbwmag.com • JULY 2016 41

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