Because MBAs are among the most popular degrees, schools have come up with all kinds of degree programs that are faster or easier to complete. Some, like “one-year” MBAs, are not quite full master’s degrees. But even if you do want to traditional “full” MBA, there are lots of ways to get it done faster if you are willing to work at a rapid pace. But you can complete a degree even faster if you pay attention to credit transfers and course waivers for experience.
Don’t Waste Your Credits Or Your Experience
To absolutely maximize your speed to completion, make sure to look into the option of transferring the credits you may already have into an accelerated MBA. These programs generally require 50 to 60 credits to finish, though some schools are pressing the envelope a bit by offered full MBAs at a 45 credit level.
Whatever program you look at, you stand a good chance of making it even shorter if you have some past business credits you can transfer in or, in some cases, actual real world business experience that you can get credit for.
High Speed MBA
Some very accelerated programs can be quickened even further with credit transfer. American Intercontinental University’s special one-year MBA program involved 48 credits in total. But up to 12 credits can be accepted from another grad program, contingent on certain grade and subject requirements. Benedictine University offers a range of online accelerated MBAs, most of which are 64 credit hours and can be completed in 12 months. But students who have taken business courses previously can waive up to 16 credit hours (a grade of at least “B” in each of those is required). Alternatively, a student with a professional certification in a business specialty can also apply to waive certain courses. Both options can help you get this degree done quickly.
One very quick option is possible from California State University-Dominguez Hills, a public school that offers an online MBA that’s relatively short – just 33 credits. It normally takes 18 months to complete, but you can transfer in up to 9 credits from previously coursework to bring your completion time down.
Nine Credit Transfers Is Typical Limit
9 credits, you’ll find, is a very typical limit for transfer credit acceptance with accelerated MBA programs. Marylhurst University and Post University are two schools with good accelerated MBA options that both accept up to 9 credits in transfer, based on certain requirements.
You need to check, however. One school we’ve written about previously, Regent University in Virginia, states on it website that where it’s accelerated MBA program is concerned: “Due to the streamlined nature of this program, transfer of credits into this program is not permitted.” And Western Governors University, generally a very transfer-friendly school, does not accept transfers into it’s graduate programs. That’s mainly because Western Governors doesn’t focus on credits very much at all, instead using competency testing to determine when students have finished with their courses.