A-Z Best Business Schools: C

Established in 1916, Columbia Business School (CBS) is one of the oldest business schools in the world. Its prime Manhattan location means the world is your oyster if you study here. Whether its dinner and a show down Broadway, an ice hockey game at Maddison Square Garden, or checking out the views from the top of the Rockefeller Center, you’ll never be bored in New York City.

There’s no shortage of on-campus clubs and activities either. Notable ones include the Military in Business Association, which leverages the capabilities and experiences of current and former members of the armed forces and Cluster Q, the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance.

Columbia Women in Business and the Black Business Student Association also deserve your attention, with both hosting sold-out conferences every year.

Full-time MBA

The full-time MBA offered at CBS is split over two years. It features over 200 electives as well as access to over 4,000 graduate-level courses, available through the university’s 12 graduate and professional schools. 

There are also several dual-degree options available through the institution, including: an MBA/DDS in oral surgery, an MBA/JD in law, an MBA/MS in engineering and applied science, and an MBA/MIA in international affairs.

A ‘Global Immersion Program’ is available in the second term of your first year. Students work on team projects with a chosen country of focus. After initial meetings in New York, students then make a one-week visit to the focus country to meet with executives and government officials, before returning to CBS for a wrap-up session. Recent destinations include: China, Costa Rica, India, Brazil, and South Africa.

EMBA

Columbia’s flagship Executive MBA program — EMBA-NY — offers two distinct schedule options: Friday/Saturday and Saturday, with both curriculums identical to the full-time MBA.

The Friday/Saturday option meets biweekly for five terms over 20 months, beginning in August, whereas the Saturday option meets (except holidays and breaks) for six terms over 24 months, beginning in May.

Core courses on the EMBA are: Corporate Finance; Financial Accounting; Managerial Statistics; Managerial Economics; Strategy Formulation; Leadership and Organizational Change; Marketing Strategy; Operations Management and Strategy; Business Analytics; and Global Economic Environment I and II.

Popular electives at CBS include: Advanced Corporate Finance; Catching the Growth Waves in Emerging Economics; Napoleon’s Glance; Starting and Running an Entrepreneurial Company; Supply Chain Management; Global Electives- special weeklong global electives in NY, Hong Kong and more.

Marketing

CBS’ master’s programs often land top spots in our QS rankings, and this year their marketing program was no exception.

The Master of Science in Marketing Science program is a two-term STEM-eligible curriculum that focuses on marketing analytics. The program trains marketing researchers to work in industry, consulting firms, non-profits, government, and other organizations where marketing analytics adds value.

In a competitive job market, the technical skills and expertise gained through the coursework component of a PhD program become increasingly valuable.

All students are required to complete coursework in mathematical methods, marketing models and multivariate statistics.

They’re also required to take or exempt from these MBA courses: Marketing Research 360: From Discover to Decisions; and Strategic Consumer Insights.

Carlson

Situated in Minneapolis (part of the Twin Cities), Curtis L. Carlson School of Management offers students an array of amenities not necessarily found at other business schools. 

Bisected by the Mississippi River, Minneapolis is known for its parks and lakes. It’s also home to cultural landmarks including the Walker Art Center, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Business Analytics

You can earn your Master of Science in Business Analytics at Carlson in one year (accelerated) or two years (part-time).

In the summer semester, students learn Business and Management Fundamentals; Technical Fundamentals in the fall semester; and Advanced Analytics and Experiential Learning in the spring semester.

For any students who want to take on a dual degree, Carlson offers a dual MBA-MSBA degree program that can be completed in two-and-a-half years.

CEMS (The Global Alliance in Management Education) is more than just an institution – it’s a network of around 30 member schools from across the globe, including: ESADE Business School (Barcelona); HEC Paris; London School of Economics; University of St. Gallen (Switzerland); Cornell SC Johnson College of Business; Corvinus Business School (Budapest); HKUST Business School (Hong Kong).

Management

The CEMS Master’s in International Management (CEMS MIM) ensures five major learning outcomes: Internationalism, Business-embeddedness, Responsible Citizenship, Reflective Critical Thinking, and Comprehensive Leadership.

During your first term, you must complete a CEMS course in Global Strategy; followed by a CEMS course in Global Management Practice in the second term.

There are elective courses, exclusive courses, and open electives. Students are provided with the opportunity to develop a more holistic view by taking courses in history, psychology, political science and more.

Cross-cultural knowledge and awareness are imparted in a number of ways, most notably via the semester(s) that students must complete abroad in another member school.

The MIM Program features two academic terms and an internship term. CEMS students must spend at least two out of the three terms abroad – further solidifying the international nature of the alliance.