GLENDALE, Ariz., March 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thunderbird School of Global Management is taking its No. 1-ranked MBA program to new heights this fall with the launch of a new curriculum that infuses an innovative, shorter format, cutting-edge delivery and more affordable pricing into its long-standing global offering.
"Building on our nearly 70 years of success in global management education, the new curriculum keeps Thunderbird on the forefront of market trends in a changing global economy and in an ever-growing competitive business education landscape," said Thunderbird School of Global Management President Larry Edward Penley, Ph.D.
"Students today have less time and are competing in a fierce labor market, so they are choosing affordable programs that can get them back into the workforce quickly with the critical skills and knowledge demanded in today's global marketplace," he said.
Penley said the new program was specifically crafted to better meet the needs of employers, which the school considers as key customers. This employer-focused curriculum also benefits students, who want a high quality program that leads to a successful career.
"Thunderbird has designed the new curriculum with an even greater focus on developing graduates who can quickly apply their learning and who can easily combine analytical and quantitative skills with their global business knowledge," Penley said.
The new full-time MBA program starts with a core curriculum that now can be completed in 12 months for about $20,000 less than the former 20-month program. Because students can choose to customize their MBA with various business concentration areas, internships or additional global learning experiences, actual cost will vary.
The new curriculum is delivered in theme-based modules, which allows students to take fewer classes concurrently. This enhances interaction between students and professors. It allows a deeper dive into the coursework. And it provides the opportunity to assign more demanding deliverables.
The design changes also model how a manager thinks and acts. New and innovative, cross-enterprise courses will approach the same case studies from two different global management disciplines. Now, one case can be studied and analyzed from multiple perspectives. This will improve course integration and students' absorption of material. It will also give the student knowledge of individual disciplines – such as finance and marketing – in a context that allows them to see how they work together in an effective business environment.
While Thunderbird always has incorporated global learning opportunities abroad, the new curriculum lengthens those global experiences and adds additional multi-disciplinary, on-location coursework to provide students with an integrated look at the context, industries, firms and functions within a specific region of the world. The global experiences give students opportunities to learn on multiple continents in both developed and underdeveloped economic regions.
Inside and outside of the classroom, Thunderbird always has delivered a truly global experience. Global study opportunities, a global faculty and learning opportunities with students from around the world help to retain Thunderbird's competitive advantage over other MBA programs. This is achieved through a fusion of truly global management coursework, cross-cultural insight, regional studies and foreign language components. It includes hands-on, experiential learning that puts academic theory into actionable practice.
"Thunderbird has been recognized time and again for being the best in international business," Penley said. "We aren't looking to change that. This new curriculum ensures that the school and its graduates are prepared for global business today and in the future."
The Thunderbird MBA was reshaped by a team of faculty, driven by direction from employers, alumni and students. It was approved Feb. 1 by the Thunderbird Board of Trustees.
Multimedia downloads are available here: http://media.thunderbird.edu/curriculum
Virginia Mungovan
Public Relations Specialist
Thunderbird School of Global Management
(602)978-7081
virginia.mungovan@thunderbird.edu
About Thunderbird School of Global Management
Thunderbird is the world's No.1-ranked school of international business with nearly 70 years of experience in developing leaders with the global mindset, business skills and social responsibility necessary to create real, sustainable value for their organizations, communities and the world. Dedicated to preparing students to be global leaders and committed global citizens, Thunderbird was the first graduate business school to adopt a Professional Oath of Honor. Thunderbird's global network of alumni numbers 40,000 graduates in 147 nations worldwide. The school is sought out by graduate students, working professionals and companies seeking to gain the skills necessary for success in today's global economy.
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The following files are available for download:
| wkr0006.pdf | PDF of press release |