programs provides for increased

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1 EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Modern Master s The latest wave of graduate business programs provides for increased flexibility, creativity, and innovation. A GRADUATE education in business is a gift that keeps on giving. That was the message in a recent study by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a nonprofit organization representing business schools throughout the country. The study, which polled business school recruiters for 565 companies, revealed that grads earn average base salaries that are almost double those of undergraduates who hold only bachelor s degrees. The study showed that the projected median U.S. base salary for MBAs in 2014 was $95,000, compared with a median annual salary of $50,000 for bachelor s degree recipients. And the compensation boost continues throughout For students whose schedules require more elasticity, online MBA programs that can be completed on a student s own time are proliferating. an individual s lifetime. But it s not just the prospect of fatter paychecks that is attracting students to MBA programs these days. So are a host of new programs that allow for higher levels of flexibility, creativity, and innovation in business education. Throughout the country, graduate schools are offering choices that range from exclusively online programs to weekend MBAs, and they often combine programs in two disciplines public policy and legal affairs, for example into joint degree programs. At some institutions, humanitarian fieldwork programs allow students the option of studying in developing countries, where their job is to do well by doing good. There s a need for options in the business school arena that are tailored to modern-day MBA candidates, including top executives, says David M. Smith, dean of the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. MBA programs that provide something exclusive to these individuals offer the greatest return on investment by enabling them to augment their real-world experience with theory and direct application to expand business opportunities. At Pepperdine, a unique twist on the executive MBA is the Presidents and Key Executives MBA, one of the only programs in the world geared specifically to senior executives. The program is designed for presidents and C-level executives charged with strategic decision-making and driving bottom-line results. Classes are structured in an intimate boardroom setting where top-level peers exchange ideas and problem-solve as a group. For students whose schedules require more elasticity, online MBA programs that can be completed largely on a student s own time are proliferating. Temple University s Fox School of Business prides itself TO ADVERTISE IN OUR EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SECTIONS, CONTACT DIRECT ACTION MEDIA OR RON MOSS

2 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION EXECUTIVE EDUCATION on its complete classroom experience to those outside the classroom. The program begins with a weeklong residency for networking, professional development, and team building. Once the online-only portion of the program begins, students can access the Fox School Video Vault, which has more than 1,500 academic videos produced by Fox faculty, with a searchable archive and HDquality, mobile-friendly transcribed videos. The program is based on a flexible curriculum and uses a flipped classroom approach a 24/7 on-demand format that allows students to learn content at their pace and collaborate with peers and professors digitally. Then, in an integrated, synchronous online classroom setting, they are able to put into practice what they have learned. The Fox Online MBA is ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and for good reason, says Dr. Darin Kapanjie, academic director of Fox s Online MBA program. While other online programs may rely on third-party providers for program delivery, the advantage of our program lies in providing the same academic experience, faculty access, and student support as any other program on campus. We have invested in the resources necessary to deliver a top-notch learning environment that fosters collaboration and community, with academic excellence at our core. Some MBA programs are especially attuned to the needs of particular demographic groups. Georgia Southern University s Online MBA program is known as one of the most friendly for members of the military, who often must complete their studies while serving on active duty or when deployed overseas. The university has a host of supports in place for military members and their families, including its Military Resource Center, and access to a veterans affairs coordinator. In all of Georgia Southern s programs, says Allen C. Amason, dean of the College of Business Administration, we focus on practicality and impact. We invest in our students and inspire them with a resultoriented, can-do attitude that differentiates them in the marketplace. Naturally, they will be competent and well trained, but that s just a start. What we add is an energy and work ethic that gives them an edge. One factor that gives Colorado State University s graduate program an edge is its customizable format. CSU s College of Business offers six graduatelevel certificate programs in accounting ethics and auditing, applied finance, business information systems, business intelligence, information technology project management, and marketing management Schools are looking for a chance to leverage their strengths and to provide something unique to the marketplace. DAVID M. SMITH, dean of the Graziadio School of Business and Management, Pepperdine University that can be added to an existing MBA degree or applied to one in progress. The courses, often taught online by College of Business professors, provide targeted, industry-specific knowledge. For example, the business information systems certificate targets those who work with information technology departments, have clients or customers in technology fields, or want a broad introduction to information systems. The applied finance certificate is designed for individuals interested in gaining a broader knowledge about advanced corporate finance, international finance, and financial institutions and credit markets. The marketing certificate program is aimed at those interested in marketing strategy execution and the applications of marketing in a business environment. What kind of results are these modern graduate programs yielding? A second GMAC survey, which polled 12,000 former MBA students, suggests that in addition to earning more, B-school graduate students climb to the executive ranks and give high marks to the value of their education in driving their professional success. With an increasing number of innovative graduate business programs available, the gift that gives back now promises to give back even more.

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