University of Pittsburgh

MBA

One-Year MBA

About The Program

In 1963, the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business launched the only MBA program in the world that presented the traditional two-year American format in less than one calendar year. This ambitious program combines a formidable core curriculum with the choice of an array of concentrations in all business disciplines, taught by a world-class faculty dedicated to the merger of research and teaching.

You begin your program in August and finish the following July, covering the same ground that a traditional MBA program does in two years. For added flexibility, Katz offers electives in the day and evening, as well as some Saturday courses, so that you can design a schedule that fits your needs. You also have the opportunity to build your professional competencies through one of the many Katz co-curricular elements, including Project Courses, Professional Development Electives, case competitions, community service projects, and the Executive Spotlight Series.

Courses assume a decidedly global point of view, drawing considerably from cases outside the United States. You can further enrich your experience by taking advantage of our study abroad option to gain nation-specific business understanding and tackle projects with firms in target countries.

Is This Program Right For Me?

The one-year program is designed primarily for people with strong academic backgrounds in economics or business and substantial work experience.

Examples of people who might benefit from the one-year program and who meet the admissions criteria are:

  • Certified public accountants or chartered accountants who want to transition into another area of business or need to broaden their managerial expertise
  • Individuals sponsored by and who plan to return to their current organizations
  • Individuals with undergraduate degrees in business or a combination of education, training, and work experience, and who know that they will direct themselves into a specific area such as corporate finance or product marketing
  • Individuals poised to take the reigns of their family business
  • International students who will return home to continue their professional careers
  • Entrepreneurs who know that they must grasp the breadth of business before they can create the future
  • Medical doctors, medical residents, or attorneys who want to add a deep managerial acumen to their core profession

One-Year Curriculum

Degree Requirements

After formal admission to the MBA program at the Katz School, a student must fulfill the following requirements in order to receive the MBA degree:

  • a minimum of 48 credits of approved graduate work,
  • the appropriate distribution of 27 credits of required core courses and 21 credits of elective courses, and
  • a minimum cumulative quality point average (QPA) of 3.0 (B).

A Sample Schedule with All Required Courses for One-Year MBA

Transition Module

Community Learning Workshops
Ethics Workshop
Registration and Information Procedures Sessions

Fall Term: August–December
  • Financial Accounting (3.0)
  • Economic Analysis for Managerial Decisions (3.0)
  • Organizational Behavior (3.0)
  • Statistical Analysis: Uncertainty, Prediction, and Quality Improvements (3.0)
  • One year students may choose two of the four required courses:
    • Decision Technology in Manufacturing and Operations Management (3.0)
    • Financial Management (3.0)
    • Information Systems (3.0)
    • Marketing Management (3.0)
Spring Term: January–April

Additional required courses from summer term:

  • Decision Technology in Manufacturing and Operations Management (3.0) or
  • Financial Management (3.0) or
  • Information Systems (3.0) or
  • Marketing Management (3.0)
  • Strategic Management (3.0)
  • Electives
Summer Term: April–July

Choice of one:

  • Managerial Accounting (1.5)
  • Global Macroeconomics (1.5)
  • Human Resources for Competitive Advantages (1.5)
  • Electives

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
One Year Students: 48.0 credits minimum (required core: 27; electives: 21)
Per Term: 18.0 credits maximum
Minimum QPA of 3.0