Professional MBA
Overview
The nationally ranked MBA program helps students develop analytical skills and creative abilities, and promotes collaboration with experienced and diverse classmates. In USF's MBA you will learn from world-class faculty, guest speakers and leaders of industry. The MBA can be completed on the Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses.
Powered by Analytics, Driven by Creativity
The term "data analytics" may seem numerical and cold on its surface, but it can take many human forms in business: A boss going on a reality TV show to find out what her employees really think of corporate. A sports team figuring out how much its fans are willing to pay for prime tickets. FedEx deciding to deliver on Mother's Day so moms can receive flowers, but not on most Sundays. Businesses have mountains of data that can tell them what is happening now and to make educated guesses about what might happen tomorrow – but this information is only useful when it can be understood. Not everyone can look at that data and make a connection to the profit and loss statements.
Although creativity is considered an innate skill, research has shown creativity can and should be cultivated in the classroom. While creativity transcends traditional ideas to create new forms, methods, and interpretations, analytics are utilized to describe, predict, and improve business performance. These two competencies provide our students with a competitive advantage.
Key elements of the USF MBA
Students can choose electives according to their career aspirations. The USF Muma College of Business has strengths in business analytics and creativity that are woven into the core curriculum. In consultation with an academic advisor, students can choose a series of electives across a broad range of disciplines, or develop an emphasis in a given area. Electives are available in the following disciplines:
- Accounting
- Analytics & Business Intelligence
- Creativity and Innovation
- Digital Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- Healthcare Management
- International Business
- Leadership Concepts & Organization Theory
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing Strategy
- Project and Process Management
- Sustainable Business
Finance Concentration
Starting in Fall 2021, in addition to the individualized areas of emphasis above, Professional
MBA students can elect to add a Finance Concentration to the degree program. This
concentration strengthens the financial acumen for of MBA students. Students who intend
to work in the financial services sector will benefit from the tailored elective offerings
in areas like financial modeling, investments, and capital markets. Those that seek
leadership roles in business will benefit from the analytical and creative thinking
mindset this concentration encourages, facilitating improved problem-solving techniques.
Concentrations differ from individualized areas of emphasis in that they appear as a stated credential on a student’s transcript upon graduation, and specific courses will be required as electives.
Team collaborations are part of your learning experience at USF that help hone students' leadership skills in real life situations. Most courses require collaboration with a team of students in order to do research, analyze case studies, and deliver presentations. The capstone course is Integrated Business Applications, involving an in-depth consulting project for a live company in strategy, marketing and finance with actionable recommendations.
Additionally, the college offers courses in leadership and invite C-level executive speakers with respected and proven leadership skills to share their best practices. Muma College of Business MBA students learn from well-credentialed faculty as well as industry leaders.
Networking with classmates and employers is a very important part of the MBA experience. Students will develop a professional network as they go through MBA courses, learning alongside students with a variety of experiences and backgrounds.
To help students advance their careers, the college hosts two Corporate Connections events annually, networking events that are exclusively for graduate students and allow MBA students to interact with corporate recruiters. Companies such as Tech Data, Coca-Cola, Tribridge, Bank of America, and Northwestern Mutual participate in these networking programs.
Muma College of Business MBA students have an opportunity to request placement with an alumni mentor. A mentor might provide tips on how to balance new work-life-study obligations or discuss potential career paths that students might take when they graduate. Mentors help expand professional networks and provide access to networking opportunities in the field.
Similar to an executive in residence, the Muma College of Business leverages the talents of several active or recently retired business leaders to consult with MBA students on a variety of career goals or challenges. After working with a career advisor to identify a specific goal or challenge, a student may be paired with an MBA coach for valuable one-on-one consulting.
The Muma College of Business hosts a virtual MBA Case Competition where individual students analyze a case, come up with a solution, and deliver the recommendation all within 24-hours! In addition, the Muma College of Business participates in intercollegiate case competitions against other universities.
On a university-level, USF Career Services hosts multiple career fairs each year, drawing representatives from national and local companies to all three USF campuses.
Most people choose to pursue an MBA to advance their careers – or change professions. USF staff make this easier by providing a myriad of services to help. Professional staff are always available to provide feedback on résumés or to help prepare cover letters as students apply for jobs. Staff offer professional development programs throughout the year, too, including workshops that focus on how to land an interview, business etiquette, and showcasiing your skills and talents to a potential employer.
The Muma College of Business MBA curriculum takes an international approach as faculty include international business models and case studies as part of the classroom discussion. Additionally, USF fosters relationships promoting international faculty and student exchanges. The college and university host many international students and bring in scholars from all over the world, ensuring diverse viewpoints are part of the conversation.
This global approach extends to study abroad opportunities. USF offers study abroad experiences for graduate students — shorter experiences for working adults as well as semester-long opportunities for those who are able to spend more time overseas. These powerful educational experiences help students understand how business differs from nation to nation and helps them learn how to adapt and succeed in a changing business world.