Graduate Business

Quality Programs for Working Professionals

At Saint Mary's College, you'll discover a culture of excellence that offers a graduate business experience like no other. Tailored to varying experience levels and lifestyles, each program option offers a different path to achieving your goals.

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As home to the Bay Area’s first executive MBA program, the Saint Mary’s School of Economics and Business Administration has a long history of tailoring quality business degree programs for working professionals. With three different locations, various schedule options and many programs offered in a hybrid format (half online/half on-campus), Saint Mary’s provides you with more ways to earn a graduate business degree than any other school in the Bay Area.

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Explore SMC's Graduate Business Programs

In a global economy, leaders need a global MBA

Saint Mary’s Trans-Global Executive MBA Program gives students an opportunity to not only learn finance, accounting, and marketing principles but also put them into practice during two trips, lasting two weeks each, to developing nations. Past programs have taken students to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Kenya, Spain, and Thailand, among other countries.

During the first trip, students collect primary data for a social service project, often working with a nonprofit. Upon their return, students apply the concepts, tools, and techniques learned in the MBA program to develop a comprehensive report. Near the end of the program, students present their project to the nonprofit in the form of a PowerPoint presentation and written report.

Read more and watch the video on SFGate.com

Saint Mary’s College enables a bright future without lasting debt

The cost of Bay Area MBA programs has increased so dramatically over the past several years that many people now wonder whether pursuing an MBA is worthwhile. Saint Mary’s College of California offers a quality MBA degree that enables a bright future without lasting debt. Ranked number two in the nation for return on education by SoFi, the Saint Mary’s MBA offers flexible executive MBA and professional MBA program options specifically designed for working professionals.

Watch the video on SFGate.com

Business schools boost career services as students shop for best ROI

As more students invest in graduate business programs, either right after college or later in their careers, they want to see tangible results for their efforts. And with tuition costs climbing, return on investment, or ROI, has become even more important as prospective students choose an MBA or specialized master’s program.

Bloomberg Businessweek data shows that top-tier schools don’t necessarily offer the best deal, so it pays to shop around. Elite business schools are so expensive that it takes students several years to profit from their degrees. More moderately priced programs, the study showed, allowed students to earn back up to 60 percent of tuition costs in the first year.

Read more on SFGate.com

New one-year program gives recent grads a fast track to success

As new college graduates face increasing competition in the workforce, it takes special finesse and a fair amount of luck to secure a “real job” after graduation. But for students who would rather not leave employment to chance, there is something else they can do to get ahead.

Adding a solid foundation of business skills to a liberal arts or other non-business degree can make graduates much more attractive to employers. Combining the broad perspective that comes from a liberal arts education with the critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills acquired through a business degree, gives a recent graduate a much greater chance of landing a career-oriented position.

Read more on SFGate.com

How online MBA programs can offer flexibility without sacrificing quality

Busy executives who want to pursue an MBA can achieve their goal without sacrificing their career. If demanding schedules don’t permit rush hour commutes to a classroom a couple of days a week, there is an alternative— online learning. However, until recently, the promise of online education has outpaced the adoption of effective teaching tools. Schools have been struggling to figure out how to deliver an online experience that rivals the traditional classroom.

Well known for its small classes and personal attention, Saint Mary’s College may not at first seem like a likely leader in the online space. However, it is exactly that focus on creating a similar online environment that has earned the college accolades—just this year, Saint Mary’s online MBA program was recognized as the second best MBA program in California, and CEO Magazine ranked it as the 16th best online program in the world.

Read more and watch the video on SFGate.com

Business and Big Data: Today’s leaders combine business, analytics

With the rise of the Internet, businesses have, not just streams, but oceans of data at their disposal. As many companies have become adept at collecting more and more information, the business challenge has evolved: after you capture an ocean of data, how do you keep from drowning in it?

Mobile technology, social media, the Internet of Things (think WiFi-enabled automobiles, the Nest learning thermostat), and the cloud have led to this “Big Data” explosion. Because of data’s potential to reveal key customer insights, today’s business leaders need both management and number-crunching experience.

Read more on SFGate.com

Why business leaders need liberal arts

A business person knows how to apply analytical skills to manage a budget, combat crisis, and efficiently run an operation. But to be truly successful in today’s globally connected and socially driven business environment, a leader must understand business issues and the role of business in society in a much larger context.

More than ever before, today’s leader looks at issues from a multitude of perspectives and communicates with a diverse set of individuals. While business fundamentals go a long way in preparing students to successfully navigate organizational challenges, business skills alone can’t prepare a student for this type of holistic leadership. A business education must incorporate both liberal arts and business foundations in one comprehensive package.

“Liberal arts skills and business skills need to be combined in a way that will help individuals succeed,” says Zhan Li, dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration at Saint Mary’s College of California. “Contrary to what many people on both sides of the spectrum believe, these are not separate worlds. They must be integrated.”

Read more and watch the video on SFGate.com

Responsible investors drive social change and generate profit

The social benefits of responsible business practices have become common knowledge to most of the world. However, businesses and investors are increasingly learning that doing the right thing for people and the planet is also the right thing for the bottom line.

Climate change, food scarcity, income inequality, and a myriad of additional social and environmental issues are problems for all of humanity. Companies and investors, realizing that they can make a dent in turning our planet into a sustainable global economy, have been incorporating new philosophies into their business plans more and more. Not only do they want to increase profits, but they also strive to improve the lives of other human beings in the process.

Read more on SFGate.com

Meet a Student

Seun Ayeni

Executive MBA Program
University of Maryland, BS

"The academic quality of the professors has pushed me to work harder. The results have been immediate. My colleagues have noticed a difference in the level of my work since enrolling at Saint Mary's."
Paul Abraham

Senior Principal Technical Account Manager, Oracle
Trans-Global Executive MBA Program

"Professors at other programs might just show up, teach, and then go home. But the culture is different here. My professors are so personable and take a deep interest in what I’m doing—not just as a student, but also on a personal level. On immersion trips—you’re not just sitting in a classroom, the classroom is a bus driving through Africa, 6,000 miles from home—and our professors are teaching us from 8 o'clock in the morning to 8 o’clock at night. That kind of dedication is very, very impressive."
Tom Battersby

Senior Manager, Siemens Healthcare
Executive MBA Program
University of California, San Diego, Ph.D; University of California, Davis, BS

"I have two children under the age of 10 and I work full-time. Making sure my time is being well spent is important to me. The way Saint Mary’s designs their MBA program allows me to balance my professional, personal and academic life in a way that works for me."
Charles Drummond-Hay

Global Operations Analyst, Salesforce.com
MS in Financial Analysis and Investment Management
University of Washington, BS

"I was looking at the MS-FAIM program because of how focused it was on preparing students to take the CFA. It was a no nonsense approach about giving me the knowledge I need to succeed. Plus it’s strategically located in downtown San Francisco—you’re in the largest financial center on the West Coast."
Dana Edwards

Specialist, PG&E
Executive MBA Program
Emmanuel College, BS

"There are managers and there are leaders. Managers maintain while leaders inspire. That’s one of the most important things I learned here. Your decisions should inspire others to do their work well. I want to be a decision maker and a leader, not a follower."
Joy Ervan

Director, Surplus Line of California
Executive MBA Program
Saint Mary’s College of California, BA

"Saint Mary’s is a different kind of place. I believe in what the school stands for. Professors care more about the students and more about the experience. Students get a lot of personalized attention. I felt such a strong connection with my professors that I volunteered to help teaching her undergraduate classes."
Julio Gutierrez

Junior Designer, Huntsman Architectural Group
Professional MBA Program
University of California—Berkeley, BA

"One of the reasons why I chose Saint Mary’s was because of the scheduling. A lot of the other of programs in the area weren’t as flexible. Saint Mary’s schedule allows me to work full time during the day and take classes at night. It’s very manageable."
Shenita Hurskin

American Home Life International, Program Director
Executive MBA Program
California State University, Hayward, BS

"The world is moving at such a fast pace that we sometimes forget that as managers or directors we still need to grow. I came to Saint Mary's for that personal growth. This growth is what is going allow me to advance in the business world."
Kimberly Jackson

Lead Treasury Consultant, SWIFT Airlines
Trans-Global Executive MBA Program
Georgia State University, BA

"All of the teachers have been excellent. They’re open to feedback and receptive students who are seeking advice. They’re great communicators who have been in the real world and know what they’re talking about."
Radhika Jain

Global Technical Designer, Levi Strauss & Co.
Executive MBA Program
Delhi University

"I feel like there is a need for mindful, conscientious leadership. The Saint Mary’s MBA is a principled degree, they strive to build the kind of leader that I want to become. I want to equip myself with an education that will help me be a mindful leader."
Akuwa Kalu

MS in Financial Analysis and Investment Management
University of Lagos, MBA

"Think Globally, for someone like me who came to Saint Mary’s from an international background, means being aware of how the world works now and getting the education you need to manage problems. Lead Responsibly is about making sure that you’re solving problems in a way that helps people."
Brad Larson

Investment Associate, Bailard
MS in Financial Analysis and Investment Management
Carroll College, BA

"The days of exclusively doing business with someone locally are pretty much over. With technology moving as fast as it does, you have to think globally just to keep up. Because the world has gotten so much smaller, ethics has become even more important. Responsible leadership is a part of that, particularly in investment management."
Edward Le Cara

President/CEO, Sports Plus
Professional MBA Program
Rocky Mountain University, PhD
University of California—Davis, BS

"Being able to take what I’ve learned and apply it to a real world situation helped put things in perspective for me. Being able to help those who are less privileged, being able to serve a population that’s in need makes the MBA experience that much richer."
Chandra Mohan

Products Manager, Citrix Systems
Trans-Global Executive MBA Program
Doctor Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, BS

"The faculty here motivated me to go the extra mile. When I first got here I was behind in these areas, I was out of my comfort zone. Now I’m excelling with honors. In other places it’s about meeting the minimum requirements, but here I was pushed to go beyond where I felt comfortable and reach for more, and that motivation came from the faculty."
Nikki Roberts

Global Network Services Manager, Robert Half International
Trans-Global Executive MBA Program
Birmingham City University, BS

"Think Globally Lead Responsibly means that business today has a much larger impact today than it has in the past. Most things today are done on a global platform which requires responsible leadership. It’s no longer okay to think that the things you don’t have an impact on the people around you. Everything is connected now, more than it ever was, and that has created a demand for responsible leadership."
Cindy Robins

Director, Crestwood Center – San Jose
Executive MBA Program
San Jose State University, BS

"I truly bonded with the members of my cohort. I couldn’t have picked a better group of people to go on this journey with. They come from a variety of backgrounds and we really value the perspectives our cohort members offer. We support one another—there’s no one who doesn’t want the very best for each other."
Coleman Stecyk

Inventory Control Manager, Pet Food Express
Professional MBA Program
University of California—Davis, BS

"None of the other programs that I looked at had the social justice emphasis that Saint Mary’s has. After serving in the military and now enrolling at Saint Mary’s, I feel like I’m wired to serve and I want to better my nation and my community. It was important to me that I went to an institution that values service and social justice."
Mark Stefanik

Command Center Controller, U.S. Coast Guard
Hybrid Executive MBA Program
American Military University, BS

"The experience and expertise of my cohort was very attractive to me. Getting to be with a peer group that has so much knowledge from so many different perspectives was a significant factor in enrolling in the Executive MBA Program."
Sharon Stone

Category Insights, PepsiCo
Executive MBA Program
American Intercontinental University, BS

"The faculty is brilliant and they're willing to go above and beyond for their students. They know the theory, but they also know practical application as well. It's the kind of knowledge that you can take out of the classroom directly back into the real world."
Jason Towle

Hybrid Executive MBA Program
Senior Project Manager, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
University of California—Berkeley, MS

"I wanted to continue my lifelong learning experience. I’m learning a lot, not only about the course topics but also about myself. I’m learning new concepts and learning new perspectives. I always feel like I’m on the edge of my chair and leaning forward. I’m always trying to learn, I’m always engaged here."
Beth Van Meter

E. & J. Gallo Winery, Project Specialist, New Projects, Asia
Trans-Global Executive MBA Program
California State University – Stanislaus, BS

"After serving in the military, I felt like it was important to continue to give back. Not many MBA programs go to third world countries and help rebuild or expand an NGO or overseas company. That was the kind of experience I wanted. I wanted to be able to make that difference."
Leah Waititu

Finance Associate, Blue Cross of California
MS in Financial Analysis and Investment Management
Edith Cowan University, BA

"Having a diverse cohort has been beneficial because we ask different types of questions. The person who has a different professional background brings a different perspective and nuance into the classroom. There are times when I’ll hear something from one of my classmates and think ‘I never would have thought about it like that."
Langston Walker

LCW Enterprises, Oakland
Professional MBA Program

"Things like teamwork, problem solving, overcoming setbacks, working collaboratively are things that happen in the work place. These are the skills I learned in the NFL, and these are the things I’m looking to translate to the business world."
Allen Ward

Manager of Hospital Services, California Transplant Donor Network
Executive MBA Program
Gonzaga University, BA

"There is a very diverse interaction at work in everything we do. The world isn’t egocentric, every decision should be considered from a larger perspective. That’s what Think Globally, Lead Responsibly means to me."