MBA Full-Time

The Knauss School of Business has been a leader in offering relevant, personalized management education for over 50 years. USD’s business programs are professionally accredited by AACSB International–The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. At USD, there are several graduate business programs to choose from, the largest being the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The MBA program is offered in a two-year, full-time format; a part-time, evening format; and a Flex hybrid format.

The Full-Time MBA is a two-year, cohort-based program committed to developing responsible leaders who will make a positive impact in the global business environment. The Full-Time MBA provides students with the professional skills they need to succeed in the global marketplace. Students in the Full-Time MBA who earn a concentration in business analytics or finance may request to be enrolled in the management science major, which is STEM approved. The Full-Time MBA starts in early August each year and may be completed in fewer months if accelerated.

The Part-time MBA and Flex MBA programs are designed for working professionals by offering evening, weekend and flex/hybrid classes year-round. The flexible schedule allows for program completion in 1-3 years while attending courses on a part-time basis. The Part-time and Flex MBA programs follow the same curriculum as the Full-Time MBA program, with the Part-time program starting in the Fall (evening format) and the Flex MBA staring in the Spring (flex/hybrid format) each year.

Students in all of our MBA programs join together for our varied elective offerings, career and professional development opportunities, socially responsible leadership development programs and study abroad programs creating a variety of innovative learning opportunities.

Faculty employ a mixture of lecture-discussion, case studies, cutting-edge technology, practical field projects and business simulations in the classroom and course assignments. The small classes and personalized attention foster a supportive environment that stresses strategic thinking and collaborative teamwork. The end result is a rigorous academic experience in which graduates emerge with a mastery of analytical techniques and an understanding of how to apply business theory to solve real-world problems for their companies and society.

With the approval of the director and subject to the program requirements of specific concentrations, students may take as electives a maximum of 6 units of relevant coursework from the USD School of Law or other USD graduate programs.

All three MBA programs begin one to three weeks prior to the university semester calendar to allow for completion of orientation activities and preterm coursework.

In addition to the regular Full-Time MBA, Part-time MBA, and Flex MBA programs, the Knauss School of Business offers a number of USD dual degree programs. See the MBA Dual Degree section for additional information. 

For more information about the MBA programs contact the MBA office at mba@sandiego.edu.

Additional Admission Requirements

See the Admission page for basic admission requirements.

International Dual Degree Programs

Graduate business students at the University of San Diego have the opportunity to enroll in a Dual Degree Program with the Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec) in Mexico or WHU, Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany. As dual degree candidates, students complete one year of coursework at USD and one year at one of the partner institutions to complete two master’s degrees in approximately two years of full-time study. Students may start at either USD or one of our international dual degree partner institutions. Students who start at USD will receive an MBA from USD along with an MBA or MS in Finance from Tecnológico de Monterrey or an MBA from WHU. Students in an international dual degree program must complete all USD MBA program requirements by taking coursework at either USD or the partner institution and are required to take a minimum of 30 semester units at USD.

Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec)

The Tec system includes several campuses across Mexico as well as a Virtual University, which provides cutting-edge, distance education throughout the Americas. The Monterrey Campus has been consistently ranked as one of the top MBA programs in Latin America and the world (America Economia, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times). The Monterrey campus is also fully accredited by AACSB International and by EQUIS standards of the European Foundation for Management Development. Applicants must meet admissions requirements at USD and Tecnológico de Monterrey. Courses at some of the campuses in Mexico are offered in English, although a working knowledge of Spanish upon arrival is suggested. Particular courses will be required by each institution to ensure that students receive both the traditional foundation in business and/or their chosen area of expertise and also courses which reflect the business and economic environment of the U.S. and Mexico. Graduates of this program, after being fully immersed in two cultures, will be highly proficient in English and Spanish as well as have a strong understanding of the business systems in both countries.

WHU, Otto Beisheim School of Management

WHU, The Otto Beisheim School of Management, was founded in 1984 at the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Koblenz to serve the business needs of the region. Their MBA program is offered in English and is well known for excellence in Marketing. The programs are accredited by Equis and well respected throughout Europe. Applicants must meet admissions requirements at USD and WHU. Particular courses will be required by each institution to ensure that students receive both the traditional foundation in business and/or their chosen area of expertise and also courses which reflect the business and economic environment of the U.S. and Europe. In order to expand their European knowledge, USD students will do a European Management Project. Additional requirements for the WHU Dual Degree include the International Management Module in Asia, in which students will travel to China and India to learn about business opportunities and management challenges. Graduates of this dual degree will also write a master’s thesis.