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Florida MBA Programs
International Attraction: Florida's MBA programs have worldwide appeal
MBA degree programs at Florida schools attract students from all over the world who like the diversity at the schools and opportunities to interact with local businesspeople.
FSU
Zhiqiang Shu
Florida State University
Adding an MBA to his Ph.D.
Born and raised in China, with a degree in biology, Zhiqiang Shu, 25, came to the U.S. in 2011 to study molecular genetics in FSU’s doctoral program in molecular biology.
While working on his Ph.D. in cancer research, Shu, described by his professors as a “stellar student,” enrolled in the university’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship.
With offers from other university programs, he chose FSU “because Florida is a good place to live, the people and professors at FSU were great, and also I was very interested in the cancer research they were doing.”
Shu graduated last year and plans to combine his business studies with his expertise in genetic research.
His goals?
“I don’t envision myself as a researcher or scientist,” he says. “My broad goal is to apply what I’ve learned through the MBA program to the business industry and perhaps start a company focused on genetic research.”
» Florida State University’s online MBA program recently jumped from 44 to 14 in a 2015 ranking of public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual assessment of online graduate business programs.
FSU’s online master’s degrees in management information systems and risk management and insurance maintained their top 10 online ranking, says FSU spokesperson Melanie Yeager.
“This steep rankings climb in such a competitive field reflects solid, collaborative work by faculty, students and staff,” says Michael D. Hartline, dean of the College of Business.
FSU’s overall MBA program, which offers the same curriculum online and on campus, increased its total enrollment in 2016 by 30% over 2015.
Barry University
Nerea Hernando
Barry University
Strong Principles
A native of Bilbao, Spain, 22-year-old Nerea Hernando is in her second semester at Barry, focusing on management. She already holds an undergraduate degree in engineering.
Hernando says she chose Barry for several reasons, including Miami’s vibrant Hispanic community and the university’s commitment to teaching strong principles in business practices.
“Nowadays, it’s not just about making money, but it’s also about ethics and honesty, and those are strong core values at Barry,” Hernando says.
Another factor was the MBA program’s national accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
“For me it was important that my MBA degree will be accredited by the AACSB. I tell prospective students that you will be traveling all over the world, and you need an MBA degree that will be recognized all over the world,” Hernando says.
Barry offered Hernando an assistantship that helps defray tuition costs. She works part time in the MBA program office and goes to classes at night. “I help plan seminars, am involved in student recruitment, work with international students coming to Barry, and also I create marketing materials,” she says. “It keeps me very, very busy, but it’s all been a great opportunity for me.”
» Andreas School of Business Dean Tomislav Mandakovic recently visited Universidad de La Sabana in Bogotá, Colombia, to present the Master of Science in Entrepreneurial Management degree opportunity to students, their parents and faculty. Four students from Universidad de La Sabana are already taking advantage of the degree agreement between the Universidad de La Sabana and Barry University’s School of Business.
UT
Neema Komba
University of Tampa
Inspiring Youths
Tanzania native Neema Komba, 29, is a prize-winning author and founder of a Tanzania-based company that manufactures eco-friendly soap and skin-care products.
After graduating from Ohiobased Franklin University, Komba brought her entrepreneurial skills and MBA aspirations to the University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business.
“UT gave me a graduate assistantship, which made the decision to attend their MBA program an easy one,” Komba says.
“I expected a rigorous, challenging and handson program, and so far I am getting that,” she says. “The program is mostly about teamwork. And in this global economy, having the opportunity to work with diverse teams while still a student is an added advantage.”
She recently participated in a leadership summit sponsored by Tampa-based TECO Energy.
“Learning from various business leaders in Tampa definitely adds to my education,” she says.
On track to graduate in December, Komba says she’s eager “to get back to what I love: Entrepreneurship and inspiring positive change among youth in my own country and beyond.”
» For the 11th year in a row, the University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business has been named an outstanding business school by the Princeton Review. The 2017 edition features UT’s Sykes as among the 294 best business schools in the world. Students surveyed said low tuition, strong interaction with professors and an overall supportive academic environment provided a strong foundation prior to entering the business world.
Last page: A List of MBA Programs in Florida
