There are thousands of graduate schools in the U.S., and each one of those schools offer multiple graduate programs. Simple math tells us that’s a lot of programs to choose from when deciding on a master’s degree. But how do you know which one is best for you?
It would probably help to know which of those programs stand out from the crowd.
That’s why we’ve highlighted five graduate programs that are different than all of the rest. These schools have implemented innovative solutions to provide students with a relevant, competitive business education, and make real-world knowledge a top priority. Take a look at these programs to see if one might be right for you.
1. The University Of Vermont’s Sustainable Entrepreneurship M.B.A.
The University of Vermont’s School of Business Administration created its new Sustainable Entrepreneurship M.B.A. (SEMBA) in January of 2014, in the hopes of bringing forth innovative future business leaders in-tune with diverse and productive business practices. The program itself is 12 months long, and is broken down into nine months of classroom experience and three months of hands on practicum.
What’s unique about the SEMBA is that it’s curriculum focuses on ethics, entrepreneurship, poverty, and inequality—four things entrepreneurs are facing in the 21st century business environment. The practicum project is a full-time, hands-on experiential engagement with either existing companies or new ventures from the US or around the world, where students deliver a detailed and comprehensive business action plan for the host organization. At the end of the program, students will pitch their plans to a panel of executives, chief sustainability officers, entrepreneurs, financiers, and the host organization.
2. George Washington University’s Global M.B.A.
The George Washington University School of Business developed its Global M.B.A. to enable students with a real-world-based overseas consultancy program. The full-time program is 21 months long, and has 11 concentrations to choose from, including entrepreneurship, finance, global management, and information systems and technology management.
Students spend the first year of the program taking required courses with 40-45 classmates. Classes are held Monday through Wednesday during the day, and include lectures, working on case studies and team projects, and participating in experiential learning opportunities. At the end of the first year, students begin the unique Consulting Abroad Project, a nine-week study led by a faculty member who guides a team through real-life consulting engagement for a global firm. Seven of the nine weeks are spent in D.C. doing research, and the final two weeks are spent abroad in the firm’s home country to deliver the newly constructed business strategies.
3. The University Of Illinois’ M.S. In Financial Engineering
The University of Illinois’ M.S. in Financial Engineering (MSFE) is unique because it covers a relatively new area—financial risk management pioneered with math and programmable knowledge. The field has emerged due to the growing complexity in describing and solving business problems dealing with economic principles and finance theory.
The MSFE is a three-semester program. The first semester consists of basic economics, finance, statistics, and programming. The second semester focuses on risk management, stochastic calculus, and the optimization of numerical methods. The final semester is where students apply what they’ve learned, conducting a semester-long inquiry into a problem posed by a corporate sponsor.
4. The University of Michigan’s Global M.B.A.
The University of Michigan’s School of Business developed its Global M.B.A. to meet the needs of corporate-sponsored students who will return to their companies after graduation. The program is 16 months long, but has the option to extend to 22 months based on students’ needs.
The program begins with an introduction to written and oral managerial communications, and continues with quantitative courses. What sets this program apart is that during the first two semesters, students will spend three months in Asia—one month in each Korea, Japan, and China. The program also features a Multidisciplinary Action Project, which requires students develop solutions that address demands in national and international corporate, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit organizations.
5. Bentley University’s M.S. In Human Factors In Information Design
Bentley University’s M.S. In Human Factors In Information Design (MSHFID) was created to educate leaders in the user experience (UX) profession. The program helps students focus on the strategic role that UX plays in competitively positioning a business, and creates a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and how that impacts product design and optimizing UX.
There are several things that make this program unique. One is that the UX field is relatively new, and while other schools are just beginning to offer specialized degrees in it, Bentley has has been offering the MSHFID for 15 years. Another unique aspect of this degree is that students can choose a research-based approach, a design-based approach, or a hybrid of the two. There is a California campus for this degree, based in San Francisco, where students get more instruction on west coast business strategies. Corporate projects are brought into the classroom, and students have the opportunity to be employed at the Bentley User Experience Center to apply what they’re learning to real situations.
Find Your Exact Fit
As you begin looking into graduate programs, keep in mind that there are many different options to fit a variety of needs—these five programs illustrate that. A unique graduate degree has the potential to set you apart from the crowd, so look for a program that will help you focus the skills, knowledge, and network you need to develop your future career.