From South Carolina:
For students seeking a path to a global business career, there’s no better place to earn an MBA than the Darla Moore School of Business. The Moore School has long been recognized as one of the nation’s leading centers for international business education. The Moore School’s:
- International MBA is ranked #1 in the nation by S. News & World Report
- Faculty are ranked #1 in the nation for international business research productivity
- Alumni are business leaders in more than 80 countries on six continents
The same forward-thinking, experience-based approach that built the Moore School’s reputation for excellence in international business extends to its other programs as well. Its programs in accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, human resources, marketing, risk and insurance management and supply chain and operations management all produce graduates who are in high demand.
The Moore School places a strong emphasis on a curriculum that’s up-to-date with the latest developments in global business and that prepares students to anticipate and respond to future needs. To that end, the school has developed an extensive network of corporate partners and a wide range of business centers, which keep the curriculum in tune with the latest needs of the business community and create exceptional opportunities for hands-on corporate learning experience. The result is graduates who are valued by hiring companies because they are business-ready from the start.
Three MBA Options
The Moore School offers three MBA programs. Its International MBA, ranked the #1 MBA in the nation for international business by U.S. News & World Report, combines a rigorous business core with extensive in-country experience on one of five continents. Our rigorous one-year MBA program combines an MBA core with the opportunity to develop functional expertise in key career disciplines and earn a certificate in business analytics. The Professional MBA program, ranked #1 in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report, allows students to earn an MBA in about two-and-a-half years without interrupting their careers.
In addition to providing strong training in all the traditional core functions, the Moore School MBA curriculum emphasizes a broad understanding of the wider context in which business is conducted. Through their exploration of factors such as politics, local and regional customs and more, students are trained to understand and assess all the factors that can impact how business gets done, both in the U.S. and anywhere in the world. As a result of the extensive hands-on training they have the opportunity to receive, they are also known for their strong skills as communicators, problem solvers and team leaders.
International MBA
Not all MBA programs are the same—and unique features of the Moore School International MBA provide unrivaled opportunities to learn international marketplace dynamics and develop the skills needed to work effectively anywhere in the world. While other programs teach cases about international business, Moore School international MBA students live it, spending time in-country completing intensive language study. Although most students complete a U.S. based internship, students can pursue international corporate internships if that best meets their career development goals.
In addition to intensive training in another country, Moore School International MBA students complete a rigorous global business core and have the opportunity to develop functional expertise in areas such as global supply chain management, business analytics, marketing and finance.
Another distinctive feature of the program is its emphasis on contextual understanding of the dynamics of conducting business in international markets—cultural differences, sociopolitical dynamics, varying business practices and more. The Moore School’s International MBA teaches contextual intelligence—the knowledge of when and how to select and flex appropriate solutions when making decisions in dynamic situations.
The program teaches students how to assess opportunities and challenges and make decisions based on the unique dynamics of local markets anywhere in the world. The program places a strong emphasis on agility: not getting stuck on one model but learning how to adapt to settings of rapid and even precarious change. Developing contextual intelligence is essential for long-term success in the international business arena. Moore School International MBA students have a significant head start.
These distinctive features of its curriculum combined with a faculty ranked #1 in the nation and #2 in the world for research productivity explain why the Moore School’s International MBA has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top three MBA programs in the world for international business for 25 consecutive years.
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MBA
The Moore School’s MBA program, which can be completed in 11 months, allows students to engage in the immersive experience of a full-time MBA without a long-term interruption of their careers. That has made it especially appealing to students who already have a clear sense of their post-MBA career objectives and to students who seek an MBA as a complement to other graduate training such as a law or medical degree. The program offers a joint JD/MBA degree in partnership with the University of South Carolina School of Law, and students may also earn a one-year MBA in conjunction with other graduate programs at the University of South Carolina or at other universities.
In addition to completing a rigorous core curriculum, MBA students have the opportunity to develop functional expertise by selecting one of three tracks or by drawing on the program’s extensive list of electives to create a customized specialization. The three standard tracks include:
- Global supply chain and operations management
- Finance
- Marketing
Examples of customized specializations include:
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Global Strategic Management
- Human Resources
Students may also concurrently complete a certificate in business analytics – a key skill and a strong need in today’s world of business. Students will develop skills and experience using a range of cutting edge business analytics tools that are highly valued by leading companies.
Many MBA students who pursue functional specializations benefit from engagement with one or more of the school’s research centers, which create opportunities to gain significant hands-on experience and to connect with business leaders across a variety of industries. Centers that MBA students frequently work with include:
- The Center for Global Supply Chain & Process Management
- The Faber Center for Entrepreneurship
- The Riegal & Emory Human Resources Center
- The Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER)
- The Center for Marketing Solutions
- The Center for Advancement of Accounting
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Professional MBA
Ranked #1 in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report (2015), the Moore School’s Professional MBA program allows working professionals to earn an MBA without interrupting their careers. The program combines the rigor of a Moore School MBA with the flexibility to accommodate students’ schedules.
The Professional MBA is offered at six locations in South Carolina—Aiken, Bluffton, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg—and in Charlotte, North Carolina. Students attend class one night a week and on occasional Saturdays and typically complete the degree in 26 months. The program uses blended learning formats, including face-to-face instruction, remote interactive learning and captured instruction, to create the flexibility students need to take part in class discussions, presentations and team meetings, regardless of their business travel and other scheduling demands.
The Professional MBA curriculum features ten core courses and six electives, which create opportunities for functional specialization. Optional study-abroad short courses are also available. Students may begin the program in January or August. Professional MBA students frequently cite the relevance of the curriculum and the quality of the cohort as particular strengths of the program. Many students find that they are instantly able to apply what they’ve learned to boost their performance in their current position. And the cohort of working professionals from all over the state brings a wealth of business experience and insight from a variety of industry sectors into the classroom.
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Business Leadership Careers start in South Carolina
The Moore School’s location in Columbia, South Carolina positions MBA students in the midst of one of the nation’s fastest-growing transportation hubs and connects them to a dynamic, fast-growing business corridor. Named the #3 state in the nation for doing business in 2014 by Area Development, South Carolina has attracted significant investment from companies such as Amazon, BMW, Boeing and Michelin in recent years. With more than 1200 international firms having facilities in South Carolina, Moore School students have ample opportunities to engage with both U.S. and international companies.
Industries that are thriving in South Carolina include agribusiness, aviation, automotive, fuel cells, insurance technology and nuclear energy. Moore School centers, such as the Faber Center for Entrepreneurship and the Center for Global Supply Chain and Process Management, facilitate students’ exposure to these industry sectors and enhance their ability to gain meaningful real-world experience.
New Building, New Opportunities
The Moore School’s new building, which opened its doors in fall, 2014, significantly boosts the school’s capacity to deliver leading-edge business education. The building’s many innovative features and open, flexible design reflect extensive input from students, faculty and members of the business community about how space can be optimized for business education.
Designed to LEED Platinum specifications, the Moore School’s new home has hundreds of individual green features that collectively create significant energy efficiencies and environmentally responsible business practices. Careful choices of construction materials and practices have also allowed the Moore School to extend its definition of sustainability beyond environmental stewardship to include a healthier work environment. In these and other ways, the building is a physical embodiment of the Moore School’s commitment to forward-thinking thought leadership for the business community.
For MBA students, notable features of the building include a graduate lounge, reconfigurable classrooms, 10,682 square feet of designated collaborative learning space and ample outdoor space, including an expansive green roof and a number of comfortably furnished terraces.
