Can you remember what your best learning experience was in your lifetime? Which class taught you the most? What one thing made the difference in your learning? If you think back on all the years of education you’ve experienced in your life from Kindergarten to now, most people would answer that a good teacher made the difference. Now think about today. What do you think is one of the biggest indicators of your learning success? Faculty. What’s one of the most important things to consider when searching for Washington, D.C. MBA programs? Faculty. What’s one of the items folks tend to forget to look at when researching MBA programs? Faculty.
Although it will be difficult to know which professor will have the biggest impact on your life, it’s important to consider the backgrounds of those teaching you. Where did they receive their degrees? Are they currently actively conducting research? What professional experience do they have that they can share with you? Consider this information as you conduct your research and define your path to a MBA.
In the Washington, D.C. MBA programs, there is a plethora of highly educated faculty with a great deal of academic and professional experience to offer students. Here’s a short break down about the faculty at each of the top ranked Washington, D.C. MBA Programs.*
George Mason University
At George Mason’s School of Management, faculty provide students with real world insights, a strong theoretical base, and applied learning opportunities that will create a solid foundation for your business future. It’s more than a textbook – it’s about experiential learning. In the Mason MBA program, you learn from instructors that have achieved international renown for their groundbreaking work in areas such as executive compensation, effects of insider trading on stock and e-commerce, and internal work groups and teams. You will have a chance to work with and learn from instructors that are on the cutting edge in their fields of expertise.
In addition, the Mason MBA faculty has on-going partnerships and relationships with business leaders in the Washington, D.C., metro area. These relationships give you a chance to learn in a real-world business environment and gain a much deeper understanding of specific industries that helps them achieve their career goals.
In the classroom, our instructors incorporate daily opportunities to connect business theory with business practice. Role-playing, simulations, projects, and guest speakers are used to illuminate learning from textbooks, lectures and discussions. Our instructors use the Harvard Case Study method so you spend your time thinking about real business problems, not just theory.
As you move through the George Mason University MBA program, your appreciation for your professor’s applied knowledge will grow. You’ll absorb the lessons they have learned during their decades in the business world and be able to apply them yourself.
Georgetown University
The faculty at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business represents a diversity of intellectual perspectives and a depth of professional experience. Faculty members regularly contribute to scholarly and trade publications, participate in ongoing debates and conferences, publish pioneering books and papers, and serve as consultants to businesses, governments, and non-governmental agencies throughout the world.
George Washington University
MBA students are taught by 130 full-time faculty members at the School of Business. The school’s commitment to excellence in learning is further strengthened by the location in Washington, D.C., where they draw on the knowledge of skilled practitioners in finance, business-government relations, and international business. These professionals share their experiences with students in the classroom as guest speakers and adjunct faculty members.
American University
At Kogod, faculty are dedicated to researching cutting-edge issues, and delivering the knowledge and experience students need to pursue the many career tracks available to them. Faculty members are well-known researchers and distinguished professionals comprised of some leading researchers in the field. Faculty members also make use of Kogod’s Washington, D.C. location to invite leaders from local corporations, regulatory and government agencies to speak at Kogod.
Howard University
At Howard, faculty train students to provide them with the necessary knowledge, skills, tools and essential values needed to become competent, ethical managers in any for-profit or non-profit organization they choose to work for or to function successfully as entrepreneurs. Faculty strive to achieve excellence, professionalism and recognition in teaching, faculty research, and community activity; to provide students with a top quality management education.
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Whether you’re looking at Washington, D.C. MBA programs or MBA programs in another location, always be sure to evaluate the faculty that will serve as your teachers, mentors, and partners. Try to take advantage of all opportunities available to you with faculty. Faculty are often available during office hours to offer their insights into various fields of study, research, or career paths and can provide you with invaluable information to enhance your learning outside of the classroom. And in the classroom, ask tough questions and make the most of your education. Each faculty member is there with a wealth of knowledge to share.
*Data obtained from U.S. News & World Report and individual university websites.
