Success Over Sacrifice: How Zarb’s Online MBA Program Is Changing The Grad School Experience

Higher education is changing. Like in the workplace, technology has made remote coursework equally, if not more efficient, than attending in person. Many career-driven professionals prefer to maximize their time and seek more flexible ways to learn, hone and develop new skills, and expand their academic credentials.  

Balancing a career with family can prove challenging and requires sacrifices. Career advancement opportunities such as graduate school come with a more demanding and disciplined schedule that can be difficult to maintain. That is why the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University puts great stock in its 36-credit Online MBA program. 

As the first of its kind in New York state, Zarb’s Online MBA is ranked among the nation’s top 20 Online MBA Programs by Poets&Quants. The curriculum combines hands-on, personalized learning with the flexibility necessary to balance personal and professional life. 

Students learn from the school’s renowned full-time faculty, many of whom are business leaders in their own right. The Online MBA offers concentrations in business analytics, finance, marketing, strategic business management, and strategic healthcare management. Without sacrificing quality, the program allows students to attend classes from home, the library, or anywhere they feel comfortable. 

Dr. Jason D. Hanks, a graduate of Zarb’s Online MBA program, spoke about his experience – all while continuing his full-time position as an anesthesiologist. “The online learning environment exceeded my expectations with its high level of interaction and engagement. Discussions proved enlightening, providing real-time feedback from both instructors and peers.” 

When asked why he chose Zarb, Jason said, “As a physician leader with Northwell Health, maintaining my full-time position was essential, making an online program necessary. With Northwell Health’s continued growth on Long Island, earning an MBA from a Northwell affiliate positions me well for future leadership opportunities.”   

Over the years, Zarb’s Online MBA program has garnered acclaim from students and higher education publications alike, rising 12 spots from its previous position to No. 18 on Poets&Quants’ Best Online MBA Programs of 2024. Zarb’s Online MBA is sought after for its flexible scheduling, dynamic curriculum, experiential opportunities, and host of career advancement resources. 

An example is the program’s leadership assessment and individualized executive coaching. Using the globally recognized and scientifically designed Hogan Development Survey, we work to identify each student’s strengths and shortcomings to highlight where they are most likely to succeed as business leaders.

The MBA programs at the Zarb School of Business are not about simply pushing students through a predetermined curriculum but rather positioning them to take on leadership roles that showcase their brightest attributes. As for resources, the Zarb School has a supportive alumni network of over 40,000 members, comprising a wide range of industries and backgrounds. 

Despite its logical inference, the Online MBA offers the opportunity for worldly business experience. The program’s Global Practicum on Strategy involves a trip to one or two countries, where students gain exposure to cross-cultural and multinational business environments. 

Past Global Practicums have taken students to Japan, South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina – all with the goal of highlighting the strategic initiatives of various companies while granting students the critical knowledge to advance their careers. 

Dr. Kaushik Sengupta, executive director of the Online MBA program and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, spoke on the importance of the Global Practicum. “The Global Practicum is an essential component of the Online MBA program,” he commented. “It integrates a practical experience-based component in the global, strategic aspects covered in the program’s courses. This practicum provides the cultural and corporate immersion essential to an MBA education today.”

Only a few schools offer the varied and intuitive learning opportunities that are key to the Zarb Online MBA program. A favorite among busy business professionals, it has helped alleviate the pressure that can come from advancing a career, pursuing an education, and raising a family, among other personal responsibilities. Carving a new path in terms of the graduate experience, the Online MBA is a flexible and effective way to achieve your career goals without putting other important aspects of your life on hold. 

And the Zarb graduate experience doesn’t end there. Mid- to senior-level professionals seeking to expand their skills are encouraged to look into Zarb’s Executive MBA program. Meanwhile, the Zarb School also offers a flexible MBA, as well as several Master of Science programs and advanced certificates.  

Dr. Janet A. Lenaghan became the first woman dean of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University in 2019. During her tenure, the Zarb School developed several new degree programs which respond to emerging business and workforce trends. At the graduate level, she led the development of an interdisciplinary, theme-focused, experiential-based EMBA as well as new programs in cybersecurity. Under her leadership, the Zarb School has earned top rankings for its portfolio of graduate programs, including its online MBA.

To learn more about the Online MBA program and other initiatives at the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, visit here.