University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business Online MBA

The online MBA at the University of Southern California’s Marshall Business School offers students a global- and entrepreneurial-focused business education.

“That means we encourage innovative ideas from faculty, staff, and students in educational programs and courses, and in research and teaching content,” Patricia H. Mills, Vice-Dean of Online Learning and Executive Education at the Marshall School of Business, says. “That approach led to the integrated curriculum that was designed and produced with collaboration from corporate focus groups, faculty, instructional designers, and media specialists.”

Typical Curriculum

The Marshall OMBA takes roughly 21 months to complete, with an estimated weekly time commitment of 25 hours per week.

Marshall OMBAs kick off their first year with the Residential Intensive Week, an in-person experience where students complete their first course covering topics of Communication and Strategy, capped off by a case competition.

“The Residential Intensive Week gives students a wonderful opportunity to get to know their faculty and all of their classmates in person before completing the rest of the program, which is equally interactive but entirely online,” Miriam Burgos, Professor and Academic Director for the Marshall Online MBA, says.

After the first course, Marshall OMBAs take five additional courses, one per semester, to complete their degree. Each of the five courses cover four subject areas that pertain to a central theme. The five courses include Fundamental of Business, Opportunity Recognition and Implementation, Managing Inside the Firm, Managing Outside the Firm, and Business Environment and Leadership.

Global Emphasis

Globalization has been a priority…

The online MBA at the University of Southern California’s Marshall Business School offers students a global- and entrepreneurial-focused business education.

“That means we encourage innovative ideas from faculty, staff, and students in educational programs and courses, and in research and teaching content,” Patricia H. Mills, Vice-Dean of Online Learning and Executive Education at the Marshall School of Business, says. “That approach led to the integrated curriculum that was designed and produced with collaboration from corporate focus groups, faculty, instructional designers, and media specialists.”

Typical Curriculum

The Marshall OMBA takes roughly 21 months to complete, with an estimated weekly time commitment of 25 hours per week.

Marshall OMBAs kick off their first year with the Residential Intensive Week, an in-person experience where students complete their first course covering topics of Communication and Strategy, capped off by a case competition.

“The Residential Intensive Week gives students a wonderful opportunity to get to know their faculty and all of their classmates in person before completing the rest of the program, which is equally interactive but entirely online,” Miriam Burgos, Professor and Academic Director for the Marshall Online MBA, says.

After the first course, Marshall OMBAs take five additional courses, one per semester, to complete their degree. Each of the five courses cover four subject areas that pertain to a central theme. The five courses include Fundamental of Business, Opportunity Recognition and Implementation, Managing Inside the Firm, Managing Outside the Firm, and Business Environment and Leadership.

Global Emphasis

Globalization has been a priority for USC Marshall for the last 25 years, with the b-school investing heavily in programs, centers, and intellectual capital emphasizing global issues.

“Our student body and faculty are globally diverse and value global experiences,” Mills says. “The University of Southern California is one of the most international universities in the world with a commitment to increasing its global presence.”

And the emphasis on global issues is prevalent in the Tepper OMBA coursework.

In “Opportunity Recognition and Development,” students identify and implement new business opportunities on a global scale.

In “The Role of the Manager,” students are introduced to business issues facing global executives today including marketing and communications concepts, analysis of financial statements, operational assessments, innovation and technology management, and strategic growth initiatives in a global economy.

Just this year, a group of Marshall OMBAs participated in a trip to China and Hong Kong, visiting seven different business including Volkswagen and Huawei.

“Advancing Marshall’s position as an innovator and leader in global business education requires cultivating a global mindset among faculty and students, creating and delivering global educational experiences, and producing research that speaks to global business issues,” Mills says.

Career Support

OMBAs have extensive resources available to them in career planning.

Two corporate career coaches work individually with Marshall OMBAs in planning for their career goals.

Additionally, OMBAs can join the USC Marshall and Leventhal Alumni Association, or “The Network,” on day one of their enrollment as Marshall students. Membership in The Network gives students access to the world-wide USC alumni network, including events that take place across the U.S. and all over the world.

Located in Los Angeles, Marshall has deep ties to the neighboring region allowing students to access a number of opportunities.

“USC’s location in Los Angeles gives students the opportunity to interact with businesses and nonprofit organizations, in classes, as interns, and in other experiential ways,” Mills says. “It gives faculty the opportunity to acquire and create knowledge through research, writing cases, and developing other curricular materials.”

The Online Master of Business Administration from USC Marshall, an internationally-recognized business school, is a bold program that capitalizes on the potential of the online format and welcomes students into the greater Trojan Family with strong networking connections. The program teaches students to become forward-thinking business leaders that can analyze a situation from diverse perspectives and create effective, practical solutions.
The coursework of the Marshall Online MBA provides students with the rigor and camaraderie they would expect of a top MBA program, pairing powerful virtual tools with a comprehensive curriculum. Every course is designed top-to-bottom specifically for an online format and led by several members of the Marshall faculty. Each class uses contemporary, real-world scenarios to help students develop abilities that today’s employers expect of executive-level leaders, including decision-making through metrics, efficient communication, and effective virtual and remote collaboration.
Program Format and Schedule
Most assignments and learning exercises can be completed independently at the student’s convenience. In addition to these independent assignments, the program includes a one-week on-campus residency, and every course contains collaborative exercises like team-based activities, group discussions, and faculty-led, live sessions via webcam. Each week, students will have the opportunity to interact directly with classmates and faculty to examine learning materials and participate in active discussions.
The live online class meetings take place two to three times per week and are held at convenient times for working professionals. Through these live exercises, the online format enhances…

The Online Master of Business Administration from USC Marshall, an internationally-recognized business school, is a bold program that capitalizes on the potential of the online format and welcomes students into the greater Trojan Family with strong networking connections. The program teaches students to become forward-thinking business leaders that can analyze a situation from diverse perspectives and create effective, practical solutions.
The coursework of the Marshall Online MBA provides students with the rigor and camaraderie they would expect of a top MBA program, pairing powerful virtual tools with a comprehensive curriculum. Every course is designed top-to-bottom specifically for an online format and led by several members of the Marshall faculty. Each class uses contemporary, real-world scenarios to help students develop abilities that today’s employers expect of executive-level leaders, including decision-making through metrics, efficient communication, and effective virtual and remote collaboration.
Program Format and Schedule
Most assignments and learning exercises can be completed independently at the student’s convenience. In addition to these independent assignments, the program includes a one-week on-campus residency, and every course contains collaborative exercises like team-based activities, group discussions, and faculty-led, live sessions via webcam. Each week, students will have the opportunity to interact directly with classmates and faculty to examine learning materials and participate in active discussions.
The live online class meetings take place two to three times per week and are held at convenient times for working professionals. Through these live exercises, the online format enhances the program’s emphasis on efficient, effective teaching. Students have numerous opportunities to expand their network while gaining practical, hands-on expertise in leading virtual and remote teams – an essential skill for next-generation business leaders.
Recognized and Acclaimed
The Online MBA holds a top-10 ranking from U.S. News & World Report. The program’s curriculum designers have been honored by the Online Learning Consortium and its video content has earned two Telly Awards. USC Marshall is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a longstanding quality benchmark for business schools. The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts also honored the program with the Davey award, which celebrates the best in web, design, video, advertising, mobile and social from small agencies around the globe.
Our faculty include professionals and researchers who have conducted influential projects and published award-winning research in top business journals. Marshall faculty members also are recipients of prizes for their teaching excellence; authors of many of the textbooks our students read; and thought leaders in multiple arenas including business, government and the media.
About the USC Marshall School of Business
Consistently ranked among the nation’s premier institutions, the USC Marshall School of Business is known worldwide for its emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, social responsibility, and groundbreaking research. Marshall offers its 5,700-plus undergraduate and graduate students a unique world view and impressive global experiential opportunities with more than 89,000 members in their alumni community spanning 92 countries. USC Marshall students join a worldwide network of thought leaders who continually redefine the way business works.