There’s no question MBAs are the crown jewel for many resumes in the business realm. While earning one of your own won’t necessarily guarantee you a fast-tracked career, it can help qualify you for more business jobs—nearly 250,000 more, according to our analysis of business positions posted this past year.*

No matter what your motivation, earning a graduate degree is something to be proud of. You want to be sure you pick a program that you can have pride in. But not all MBAs are created equally.

You’ll want to do your due diligence in researching any MBA program you’re interesting in to ensure it will provide you with the experience, knowledge and outcomes you’re seeking. And if you’re considering the MBA program at Bellarmine University, we’ve compiled all of the pertinent info you’re looking for.

9 Notable facts about the Bellarmine MBA program

The Bellarmine MBA program was designed for experienced business professionals who are motivated to develop the leadership skills needed to advance, and for recent college graduates who seek the prestige of an advanced degree. Learn more about some of the impressive features that make this a world-class program.

1. Students can opt for weekend or weeknight classes

You have a steady job that you can’t afford to just put on the backburner, even for the sake of furthering your education. You’re also counting on that paycheck to help finance your graduate education. The Bellarmine MBA program was built to be flexible for working professionals.

Varied schedule options means you can attend class on weeknights and weekends, depending on what works best for you. Bellarmine MBA students can chose between the following schedule options:

Weeknight MBA: In this program, you’ll meet once or twice per week with core classes on Monday or Wednesdays nights. Students can graduate in about two years in the two-nights-per-week program or four years in the one-night-per-week program.

Weekend MBA: This accelerated format meets on alternate weekends, Friday evenings and Saturdays during the day. This option can be completed in 16 months.

Executive MBA: Specifically tailored for experienced managers, this accelerated program is offered on alternate weekends on Friday evenings and Saturday during the day. Students in this program graduate in 12 -16 months.

Though the weekend or weeknight MBA options may take longer to complete, most working professionals find them more manageable with the time and financial commitment spread out over time.

2.  Students gain necessary leadership skills

Most MBA students are aiming to becoming leaders in their industry or specialty, so it’s no surprise that at least one-third of the top 100 Fortune 500 CEOs are armed with an MBA. The Bellarmine MBA program offers many courses in leadership to help students develop the skills needed to effectively lead in the workplace.

Take a closer look at two of those courses:

Leadership and Managing People — examines the roles of human resource management and its influence on performance, satisfaction, retention, and attendance. Provides insight on personnel planning, recruitment, compensation, and professional development. 

Innovation— develops students’ capacity for innovation and ability to create change in work processes.  

While reading is valuable, you can’t become an effective leader simply by pouring over case studies. In the Bellarmine MBA program, you’ll study alongside other students who are immersed in the business world as well. In class, you’ll share experiences as you progress through your coursework. By learning from each other’s diverse backgrounds, you’ll widen your knowledge base and become better prepared for new responsibilities that come your way.

3.  The School of Business has received elite accreditation by the AACSB

The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), an esteemed accreditation held by fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide. This elite accreditation means that the college has satisfied 15 specific standards pertaining to the school’s innovation, impact, and engagement in the higher ed business world.

In addition, The Bellarmine University Business School has also earned a spot on Princeton Review’s list of best business schools.

4.  Students can specialize in analytics while earning their MBA

Choosing a specialized MBA can help set you apart from other MBA graduates. Bellarmine offers an MBA with a concentration in analytics in the weeknight, weekend, and executive MBA tracks. Within the typical number of 39 MBA credits, MBA analytics students will take 12 credits of analytics classes that span topics from business analytics, database management systems, system analytics, and includes a capstone in advanced analytics.

This concentration allows students interested in the growing analytics sector to gain the skills necessary to succeed in roles merging business acumen and data analytics, while still providing them the coveted MBA credential.

5.  Student do not take exams

It might be hard to envision an MBA program with no exams, but that’s the case at Bellarmine University. Students’ grades combine scores on team projects, in-class discussions, and individual assignments. A large portion of MBA learning is facilitated through assessing case studies. First popularized by Harvard Business School, Bellarmine MBA students examine some of the most complex business situations and engage in discussion about their own analyses and possible solutions. All students will take an exit assessment at the end of the course as part of our accreditation requirements, but it doesn't count toward your grade.

6.  Students can chose electives that reflect their interests

In each MBA track at Bellarmine, students are required to take two elective courses totaling six credit hours in order to help them either gain a broader base of knowledge or go deeper in a particular discipline by choosing an emphasis topic. Options include an emphasis in finance, marketing, or management. Keep in mind that emphasis options are achieved within the 39 credit hour degree by selecting elective courses that fall within the desired subject areas.

Here’s a glimpse at what a Bellarmine MBA emphasis can look like:

Finance emphasis: choose from two courses — business valuation, investment analysis, special topics in finance

Marketing emphasis: choose from two courses — buyer behavior, special topics in marketing, MBA Project (with a related marketing topic)

Innovation emphasis: choose two courses from applied consulting, small business management, topics in business (with related innovation topic), MBA project (with a related innovation topic)

Management emphasis: choose two from project management, negotiations, corporate governance, special topics in business (with related management topics), MBA project (with related management topics)

No matter what area of business you currently work in or are hoping to transition to, one of these emphases can likely help you reach your goal.

7.  Students with managerial experience can prepare for executive success

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program at Bellarmine University is an accelerated weekend program created for managers with significant experience and executive ambitions. In 2019, the average executive MBA student was 38 years old with about 15 years of work experience and approximately nine years in a management role.

This level of experience and practical know-how makes for impressive cohorts of EMBA students. In this program, you’ll develop group problem-solving skills, diving into the nuances of business in order to become a more effective manager.

In the Bellarmine University EMBA program, students can continue working their respected jobs while taking Friday and Saturday courses every other weekend and graduate in 12-16 months.

8.  Louisville is home to world-class employment opportunities

Graduates of the Bellarmine MBA program have opportunities to connect with Louisville’s thriving business sector. Home to companies like Hillerich & Bradsby (makers of the Louisville Slugger), KFC, and two Ford Motor Company plants, Louisville can be a strong job market for recent graduates.

There’s also demand for bourbon tourism in Louisville with many major distillery tours and tastings for enthusiasts and increased business for the hospitality industry—including hotels and restaurants. Those in the healthcare industry can also find promise in Louisville with its many hospitals, research facilities, and specialty centers. 

In the Bellarmine University MBA program, you’ll also be eligible to take advantage of the MBA mentor program. This connects students to successful MBA graduates, both in and outside of Louisville.

9.  Graduates have access to career center services for life

Finding the perfect job for you is not always easy. Bellarmine University offers many career services through its career development center, including personal assessment, career exploration, educational planning and leadership development. And whenever a current student or graduate is looking for their next job or internship, the career development center can help connect them with alumni and employers.

Whether you need help preparing for an interview, finding a volunteer opportunity, or getting a resume reviewed, the career development center will be available to you at any time—during your time as a student and as an alum.

The facts you need to decide

Choosing an MBA program takes careful consideration of what works best for you both now and in the future. Now that you know some of the unique features of the Bellarmine MBA program, you’re one step closer to beginning your graduate education journey.

If you’re intrigued by the information laid out above, take your research a step further by visiting the Bellarmine University MBA program page.

*Burning-Glass.com (analysis of business job postings by education level, Jan. 01, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2019).