School of Business to Launch 11-Month International MBA Program

A new International MBA (IMBA) degree at the University of San Diego provides professionals with a path to propel their careers forward while gaining valuable global business experience — and expanding their global business networks — in less than one year.

The 11-month program, which begins in July of 2018, includes the possibility to study in multiple countries, beginning with a required term in Spain, along with an international consulting project in Asia, Europe or Latin America, interspersed with courses at the University of San Diego campus in California and field trips to Mexico.

“Only a selective number of schools in the world offer such an international one-year business program,” said USD School of Business Dean Jaime Gómez. “With this uniquely designed program, we are satisfying a demand in the market for business professionals to accelerate their careers through intensive, hands-on business education with cross-cultural teams in multiple locations around the globe.”

The USD IMBA program starts in Madrid, Spain, where the university has its own center with on-site support from USD and local faculty and staff. Focusing on current business practices in Europe, students will gain in-depth learning of global best practices and the skills required to lead multicultural teams and organizations. Visits to companies in Madrid will allow students to experience the successes and challenges of global businesses firsthand.

After the summer in Spain, students will enrich their networking in the United States by joining other MBA students at the University of San Diego to continue the program with a broad scope of curriculum ranging from courses in financial analysis and strategic management to entrepreneurism and consulting.

Courses will include guest lectures from local business leaders and site visits to firms in the San Diego and northern Mexico bi-national region.

The international consulting projects take place in January and students can choose the country to which they travel for the experience. Business topics are diverse, such as supply chain in Buenos Aires, marketing in Shanghai or finance in Munich among other options.

The new IMBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). For information on this affordable, time-effective program go to www.sandiego.edu/imba.

— Liz Harman