4+1 = An Accelerated Path to Get Your MBA

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Nedda Gilbert October 29, 2014

At some universities, you can get your MBA in just one year, just after you finish your undergraduate degree. Here's the 411 on the 4+1 programs.

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

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If you are a forward-thinking undergraduate student with MBA plans in the future, then a 4+1 program might be right for you. This type of program takes a non-traditional, accelerated approach to receiving this degree, and this article explains how to get on the fast track.

The typical path to receive an MBA is to finish college, work several years, and then apply to a full-time, two-year program with some experience under your belt. But for many, this path doesn't work. The prospect of leaving the workforce and returning to school is too financially risky. For others, having to re-enter school in their mid-to-late twenties seems out-of-sync and might involve going with a partner or spouse in tow.

That’s why business schools are taking novel approaches to teaching the MBA degree. The increasing prevalence of online or part-time MBA programs reflects the demand for a non-traditional path. There's another option for students who are thinking ahead. Called a "4+1 program," it’s a fast track way to get your advanced degree and accelerate your coursework. The MBA is earned in tandem with your undergraduate degree, with just one additional year of study.

Most schools have eligibility requirements, such as a minimum GPA. They may also restrict the program to those with undergraduate majors such as business, engineering, and the sciences. That’s because those majors tend to fulfill the prerequisites necessary to complete both degrees in just five years. You should also check with each program to find out what the specific applications requirements are.

At most schools, 4+1 programs allows students to take advanced coursework beginning in their senior year of college and then go onto a fifth year of school for an intense, fast paced study of back-to-back B-school classes. Advanced MBA courses taken in your senior or extra year may also count as undergraduate electives. There will likely be a professional practicum built into the last year so you get real-life business experience as well.

Quinnipiac's 3+1 program begins freshman year and allows a student to graduate with both a BS and MBA in just four years. However, their program requires that you apply as an incoming freshman. In addition, it’s limited to those students entering the School of Business and Engineering who were in the top 20 percent of their high school class.

Getting an accelerated MBA over the more traditional two-year degree has been trending up in recent years. If you can handle the intense learning environment, and want a reduced time frame for getting the degree, then a 4+1 may be just right for you.