A NEW WORLD OF OPTIONS

Are you thinking about earning an MBA? It’s different now with a whole new world of programs available. And with more than 40 universities across the country offering MBA degrees, they are looking outside the box to attract students.

“You name it, we have it,” says Sue McCracken, director of the MBA program at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business in Hamilton.

With full-time, part-time, co-op and accelerated programs, there is an MBA program for every lifestyle.

“The co-op program here is the big draw,” McCracken says. “It’s a 28-month program with four academic terms and three work terms, and it really offers an opportunity to explore and learn about different types of careers.”

At the other end of the spectrum is the eight-month accelerated program, which allows students who already have an undergraduate degree in business to fast-track their MBA.

But that’s not all. Some universities are reaching out to potential students by offering entirely new programs, such as Queen’s School of Business in Kingston, which launched a oneyear master of entrepreneurship and innovation degree earlier this month. The university also offers the option of completing a one-year master of finance degree offered in Toronto. As well, Queen’s offers the opportunity to earn two MBA degrees in just 17 months while you work — one from Queen’s and one from Cornell University in the U.S

Other schools go even further, offering students an opportunity to complete their studies abroad. International trips to Europe or China, for instance, allow students to use their skills at different organizations around the world.