University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business

The USC Marshall MBA: What You Need To Know

Ask anyone who goes what makes the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business MBA program distinctive, and the first thing they say is “The Trojan Network.” USC Marshall is a global business school in the heart of Los Angeles and no doubt about it, the school has a loyal following that has seen many MBA’s through to graduation since opening its doors in 1960.

The B-School is Los Angeles, California – just south of the downtown area in close proximity to several large corporations and startups – which translates to networking, internships, and plenty of potential job opportunities. The city’s “Silicon Beach” region is becoming increasingly competitive with Silicon Valley, with startups like Snap, Hulu, Dollar Shave Club, ZipRecruiter, and the Honest Company.

“Los Angeles is the best city on Earth. It has something to offer everyone (unless you like bad weather then you definitely shouldn’t live here). Not only are you immersed in a city that is bursting with diversity and culture, you are also at the heart of almost every major industry. Plus, there are so many great restaurants – I can have any dish I want at any time of day. Lastly, growing up in Florida, I need to be close to the ocean and there are so many great beaches in LA. If beaches aren’t your jam, you can also hike in the mountains. Everything is at the reach of your fingertips,” says MBA Cody Wei.

At USC Marshall the curriculum is designed to help develop global entrepreneurial mindsets rooted in diversity and inclusion. Marshall also has a strong academic track record, with international and experiential opportunities, backed by cutting-edge research and industry engagement, and a collaborative friendly student culture that makes it a superb place to get an MBA.

When asked his favorite aspect of the Marshall MBA, Assistant Dean Evan Bouffides says for him, it’s the students. “It’s a joy to craft Marshall classes that are different from year to year. Every enrolling class at Marshall is unique, but the single common trait is the ineffable spirit that exists within each cohort. My favorite aspect of this process is the understanding and reality that each class will leave its mark on Marshall, just as Marshall will impact and transform each member of the class. It’s an honor to be part of that process.”

The two-year program welcomed 220 students this fall, and recognizing that every person has a different journey, the curriculum is designed to help students navigate theirs personally.
Students have 15 core courses to complete such as Organizational Behavior and Leadership, Accounting, and Finance and the flexibility to choose from almost 100 different electives based on their interests and goals. That number includes up to nine elective units from other graduate schools at USC like the School of Cinematic Arts or Viterbi School of Engineering.

Marshall offers 23 areas of emphasis including areas such as Health Care Administration, Social Entrepreneurship, International Business, and Sustainability for full-time MBA students, as well as 11 specialized master’s programs.

As for co-curricular activities, Marshall is home to 39 graduate student organizations in addition to numerous case competitions and conference opportunities. Popular at Marshall is the Challenge 4 Charity, which awards the “Golden Briefcase” each year and the John R. Lewis Case Competition.

MBA Program Consideration Set:

Stretch Schools: Carnegie Mellon, UCLA, North Carolina

Match Schools:  Texas at Austin, Emory, Indiana, Georgetown

Safe Schools: Minnesota, Notre Dame, Washington University, Rice, Vanderbilt

Notes: MBA Program Consideration Set: If you believe you’re a close match to this school–based on your GMAT and GPA scores,  your age and work experience, you should look at these other competitive full-time MBA programs as well. We list them by stretch, match, and safety. These options are presented on the basis of brand image and ranking status.