The Best San Francisco Part-Time MBA Programs
Not every MBA candidate can manage a full-time degree program. So many business school students continue to work throughout their studies, balancing a job and graduate school through a part-time MBA program. Many of these programs take place in the evenings and on weekends, allowing for flexibility along with continued professional growth.
The Best San Francisco Part-Time MBA Programs
F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business – Babson College San Francisco
While its main campus is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Babson also opened a San Francisco location in 2011. The SF campus offers a Blended Learning MBA program—a part-time flexible program that combines about 20 weekly hours of online learning with classroom lessons every seven weeks on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Blended Learning curriculum features core classes such as Entrepreneurship and Opportunity, Financial Reporting, Managing Talent and Strategy, as well as a series of Signature Learning Experiences (SLE), which are unique courses that offer experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
Students can choose to pick a concentration in business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, global management and marketing. Every student is also required to take a capstone course before graduation. Overall, students must earn 46 credits over 21 months to complete their Blended Learning MBA.
Haas School of Business – UC Berkeley
Founded in 1898, The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley is the oldest business school at a public institution in the United States. Today, Haas offers a full-time, traditional MBA, in addition to the Executive MBA and part-time Evening and Weekend MBA.
The Haas part-time MBA program is a rigorous accredited three-year program. Available in both Evening and Weekend options, the program boasts a convenient class schedule for any working professional. Weekend classes alternate between Berkeley and a Silicon Valley location.
Students must complete 42 semester units of coursework split between 13 core courses and 19 units of elective courses. All part-time MBA students take 23 units of required core courses in their first year of study before breaking into one of the following Areas of Emphasis: Finance, Marketing, Strategy/Consulting, Corporate Social Responsibility, Energy and Clean Technology, Entrepreneurship, Global Management, Health Management, Nonprofit and Public Leadership, Real Estate and Technology.
Lucas Graduate School of Business – San Jose State University
San José State University is the oldest public school of higher education in the state. The College of Business was established in 1928, and in 1949 the Master’s Degree in Business Education was introduced. The school offers a full-time MBA program—available in both the conventional two-year and accelerated one-year format—as well as a part-time and the MBA For Professional program.
San Jose State’s accredited part-time MBA features the same curriculum and faculty and confers the same degree received by graduates of the full-time MBA program, so you’re not missing out on anything. Part-time MBAs are expected to complete their degree in 33-36 months with one course per session. Classes for this track are also held on the main SJSU campus.
In order to graduate, students enrolled in the program must complete 42 semester credit units containing 10 core courses and four electives. Core courses are often prerequisites to electives, and include Research and Communications, Managing in the Global Economy, Developing and Managing People, Strategic Thinking and more. Meanwhile, elective courses are offered in the following disciplines: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Development, Global Business Development, Entrepreneurship and Venture Development, Information Systems and Operations Management.
UC Davis Graduate School of Management
University of California–Davis, one of 10 schools in the University of California system, was originally established as a farm school for UC Berkeley. It offers a traditional full-time MBA as well as a part-time MBA for working professionals provided in both Sacramento and San Francisco.
The part-time degree requires 72 units of coursework: 27 units of core courses and 45 units of electives. After core classes are completed, most students go on to choose functional concentrations such as: Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Innovation Finance, Accounting, General Management, Marketing, Organizational Behavior Strategy and Technology Management.
Students must also take a two-part capstone before graduation where part-time MBAs demonstrate their business skills and knowledge by working on 10-week consulting team projects for partner companies ranging from Fortune 500 firms to ultra-fast-paced Silicon Valley startups.
Summer courses are available to students who wish to complete the program in just two years. Most students complete the degree in three years.
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
