Academics
Offering AACSB-accredited graduate programs since the 1930s, the University at Buffalo School of Management has a long history of excellence, operating both a full-time and part-time MBA, as well as a twenty-month executive MBA for seasoned professionals. The academic programs are 鈥渧ery well-organized鈥 and 鈥渢he school does a great job of emphasizing 鈥榤anagement鈥 as an underlying factor in each course鈥 in the core curriculum. While covering business fundamentals like finance and marketing, the curriculum moves ahead with the times, and 鈥渃ourses are constantly updated and altered to reflect real-world experience based on current events,鈥 and integrated ethics. Getting a strong practical perspective isn鈥檛 a problem: UB complements the academic offerings with 鈥済reat opportunities outside the classroom,鈥 including 鈥減rofessional speakers, networking events, country forums, [and] community service,鈥 as well as case competitions and special offerings, like business projects with corporate partners. To further augment the curriculum, UB operates several formal exchange programs with business schools overseas, as well as shorter 鈥渢rips to China for international business classes.鈥
Along with affordable tuition, UB offers a 鈥渟maller, more intimate MBA experience鈥 with an 鈥渆mphasis on teamwork and leadership skills鈥 throughout the curriculum. Within each incoming class, full-time students are divided into fixed cohorts then assigned to a fixed study group of five to six students. 鈥淕roup meetings outside of class require a lot of time and commitment鈥 and can be among the most challenging aspects of the program. A student elaborates, 鈥淭he curriculum is difficult and pushes students to their limits in all realms, especially in regards to working in a team environment with people you may not know to start out or who have very different perspectives than you.鈥 Despite the challenges, the focus on teamwork 鈥渟imulates the real world鈥 and 鈥減rovides for a great learning environment.鈥 A student admits, 鈥淚 have created a great network here, both with the students, professors, alums and other community members.鈥 Adds another, 鈥淭he students are all very close and the faculty and administration are extremely involved.鈥 While the environment is friendly, the teaching staff can be 鈥渉it and miss鈥 in the classroom, and some professors are universally disliked. Fortunately, 鈥減rofessors are very good overall鈥 and 鈥渕any are leaders in [their] fields.鈥 Even more importantly, 鈥渢he professors have been great and are always accessible if needed, whether鈥fter class, during weekly office hours, or by setting up a special time to meet.鈥
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