The UC Davis MBA program cultivates each student's ability to deal successfully with the challenges of a continually changing, increasingly complex global business environment. We believe that a general management education provides the strong foundation, perspective and balance needed to be an effective manager and leader. Taught by world-class faculty, our MBA curriculum has been designed specifically with the working professional in mind.
You will spend the first year in the program building the foundation of your business school education. The required core curriculum is designed to provide a foundation in the functional areas of business—accounting, economics, finance, marketing, organizational behavior and statistics. These management disciplines are examined through case studies, lectures and the analysis of a few select companies on which to base illustrations and spark discussions.
The breadth courses reflect the UC Davis Graduate School of Management's ongoing commitment to keeping the MBA program relevant. These courses are designed to enable you to bring into focus the initial required topics of study, and apply them to your chosen concentration. You will choose the three breadth courses that will most benefit you as you focus on your specific area of management.
The UC Davis MBA allows you the option of remaining general in your course of study, or choosing a functional concentration by integrating elective courses into your curriculum beginning the second year of study. Most students choose functional concentrations such as:
Elective courses place an emphasis on real-world application of management principles through the use of executive guest speakers who present "live" case study analyses and actual "client" businesses for student projects. Many courses require team projects and emphasize managing through innovation and entrepreneurialism. These team projects will develop your independent research abilities and hone your presentation skills.
Many students cap off their education with one or two in-depth courses focusing on a specific specialization. Other options for developing your specialization include participating in the International Study Trip, completing an MBA Consulting Center project or working with a faculty member to develop an independent study. Common specializations include:
To earn the Master of Business Administration, you must successfully complete 72 hours of credit (24 courses) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.
Most students finish in three years on a part-time basis, although you may progress at a faster rate. The program also offers provisions for a leave of absence to meet pressing business or personal demands.
