Villanova School of Business Graduate Brochure

STUDENT - FOCUSED

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The Villanova School of Business is known for its commitment to teaching excellence, distinguished research, academic rigor, superior faculty, and the integration of ethics and service into extracurricular experiences.

# 16

BEST ONLINE GRADUATE BUSINESS DEGREE PROGRAM

National Rank

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

# 19 # 23

BEST ONLINE MBA PROGRAM

National Rank

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

BEST ONLINE MBA PROGRAM

National Rank

POETS&QUANTS # 25

BEST GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM

International Rank

CEO MAGAZINE

A Graduate Degree for Any Point of Your Career

The Villanova School of Business (VSB) offers graduate education that spans the spectrum of experience, academic interests, professional goals and schedules of our diverse student population.

From specialized degree options in Finance, Accounting, Taxation, and Business Analytics to our top-ranked, flexible Professional MBA and Executive MBA programs, VSB continues to deliver transformational experiences for wherever you may be in your career.

SPECIALIZED MASTERS

PROFESSIONAL MBA

EXECUTIVE MBA

Obtain in-depth training in functional areas, enabling you to become a specialist within a specific discipline.

Broaden your business acumen, advance within your organization or change careers.

Expand your strategic leadership and overall business perspective without pausing your career.

LAUNCH ADVANCE LEAD

Recent graduates transitioning into the workforce and people seeking to accelerate growth or pivot their career.

Professionals with four or more years of valuable work experience.

Seasoned professionals, typically with managerial responsibility.

MAC

The Master of Accounting with Data Analytics (MAC) at VSB equips students with the skills needed to meet the real-world, real-time challenges of global business and the accounting industry. The MAC’s enhanced curriculum integrates data analytics, elevates accounting acumen, builds leadership and negotiation skills, and offers specialized elective courses to support corporate and advising career paths. It also prepares students with the 150 credit hours necessary for CPA licensure. The program follows a full-time, year-long format that begins each fall.

COHORT EXPERIENCE

INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM

EMPHASIS ON DATA ANALYTICS

ACCESS TO TOP ACCOUNTING FIRMS & BIG 4

AVERAGE STUDENT PROFILE

Age: 22

GPA: 3.6

Male: 63% / Female: 37%

COMMON CAREER PATHS

• Auditing

• Advising

• Consulting

• Corporate Finance

• Forensic Accounting

COMPANIES THAT HAVE HIRED RECENT GRADUATES

100% Secured a job in accounting by graduation

95% Took a position in public accounting

The faculty in the MAC program were extremely supportive, understanding, and flexible throughout the entire MAC program. They showed willingness to help everyone both in and out of the classroom academically and professionally.

Grant Thornton

Morgan Stanley Olympus ParenteBeard

Sade Meeks, ’22 MAC

Class of 2022 outcomes data. Career outcomes are based on self-reported student data collected by the VSB Graduate Business Programs Office.

MBT

The Master of Business Taxation with Data Analytics (MBT) integrates advanced coursework in taxation with quantitative applications in data, analytics and technology. The program equips students with the multi-dimensional skills needed to navigate the rapid changes in data and technology within the tax profession. The MBT curriculum covers in-depth topics such as the impact of taxation on business operations and planning as well as corporate, partnership and international taxation. The full-time, 12-month program also provides experiential learning opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

COHORT EXPERIENCE

INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM

ACCESS TO TOP ACCOUNTING FIRMS & BIG 4 EMPHASIS ON DATA ANALYTICS

AVERAGE STUDENT PROFILE

Age: 22

GPA: 3.7

COMMON CAREER PATHS

• Tax Consulting & Advising

• Wealth Management & Financial Planning

• Tax Analytics & Technology

CAREER SUPPORT

• Dedicated career coaches and individualized support

• Campus recruiting and employer networking events

• Access to alumni community and mentor program

• Career management portal and premium job search tools

I loved my education from Villanova in the undergraduate program and it made sense to continue it getting an advanced degree in accounting. The program emphasized data analytics and accounting software. The program gave me a leg-up entering the industry with the advanced knowledge I learned.

Connors

Natalie

’21 MBT

MASTER

MSF

The Villanova Master of Science in Finance (MSF) is a rigorous, STEM designated, 11-month, full-time degree program that combines a solid foundation in finance with exposure to the areas reshaping finance today. Over the span of three semesters (summer, fall and spring), you will take an intensive course load of financial theory and principles, along with electives in analytics, quantitative finance, investment management, real estate, machine learning, and more. The MSF program ties in the latest technology with VSB’s Gmelich Lab for Financial Markets. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, you will put theory into practice with every class, giving you the confidence to think and respond on a professional level.

AVERAGE STUDENT PROFILE

Age: 22

GPA: 3.4

GMAT: 640–680

Fellowships Awarded: 4

COMMON CAREER PATHS

• Equity Research

• Consulting & Advisory

• Corporate Finance

• Investment Banking

• Real Estate Valuation

• Sales & Trading

• Wealth Management

Percent of students that were employed within 6 months of graduation

94%

91%

Secured a job offer within 90 days of graduation

COMPANIES THAT HAVE HIRED RECENT GRADUATES

Accenture

Bank of America

BlackRock

Deloitte

Deutsche Bank

EY

Goldman Sachs

Jefferies

Johnson & Johnson

Lockheed Martin

Merck

PwC

AVERAGE MSF SALARY CLASS OF 2021

I knew VSB had a wonderful reputation and was excited for the opportunity to learn from Villanova faculty. For me, what set the MSF program apart from others was the professional development portion of the curriculum that focused on growing as a professional and connecting with alumni and the greater Villanova network.

Devin Moeller,

Class of 2021 outcomes. Career outcomes are based on self-reported student data collected by the VSB Graduate Business Programs Office

’21 MSF

MSBA

Our flexible, fully online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) degree helps expand students’ expertise in the latest analytics technologies, applications, and business practices while also preparing them to advance their business careers. The program is designed for working professionals – allowing them to complete an MSBA degree in as few as 24 months.

MSBA’s comprehensive curriculum is taught by our world-class faculty of experts in business, analytics, statistics, mathematics, and computer science. Through the support of the Center for Business Analytics, one of VSB’s five Centers of Excellence, the 36-credit-hour program has three components: the Fundamentals, the Core and the Practicum. SKILLS-BASED

SMALL CLASSES & TALENTED PEERS

AVERAGE STUDENT PROFILE

Age: 29

GPA: 3.3

Male: 60% / Female: 40%

COMMON CAREER PATHS

• Business Analytics

• Data Management Analyst

• Data Scientist / Data Science Specialists

• Market Research Analyst

• Business Research & Intelligence

• Operations Research Analyst

• Data Consultant

Fully Online Program

The MSBA considers a student’s busy schedule with courses taught completely online – many held synchronously in the evenings to encourage real-time discussions.

Skills-Based Curriculum

Our AACSB-accredited, top-ranked MSBA program is custom designed to meet current and evolving business needs, ensuring students learn the necessary data skills to succeed across the analytics spectrum. With guidance from industry executives and faculty, each course addresses skills organizations most urgently need from data collection and analysis through implementation and application.

Upon graduation, students will be proficient in multiple programming languages and will have experience with an evolving array of cutting-edge big data management and cloud analysis tools.

Programming Languages

• R

• Python

• SQL

Data Management and Cloud Analysis Tools

• Amazon SageMaker

• Hadoop

• Hive

• Pig

I was in a project lead role in a financial services company, and most recently moved into a data analyst role thanks to Villanova’s MSBA program. Now I’m in a job that I love. I enjoy doing research and analyzing the data while helping others read graphs and tell a story from the large data sets that we collect every day.

Jackie Feather, ’19 MSBA

PROFESSIONAL

MBA

The Professional MBA offers working professionals a specialized education along with a valued credential supported by a market-driven curriculum. Students can advance freely between courses on campus, online, hybrid, or cohort classes, fulfilling their personal and professional obligations while advancing their career prospects.

With entrepreneurship, data analytics, emerging technology, and innovation at the center of our curriculum, our top-ranked Professional MBA prepares students for the workplace of the future. We encourage our students to choose a curriculum path that meets their needs and equips them with the knowledge and leadership skills to develop their business expertise.

AVERAGE STUDENT PROFILE

Age: 30

GPA: 3.3

Male: 60% / Female: 40%

Future of Work

Working professionals can advance in their careers by focusing on specialized areas related to the future of business. Our future-focused specializations—Applied Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Business Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, Strategic Management, and Sustainability—provide students with a unique opportunity to complement their MBA education and reach their professional goals.

Our comprehensive MBA program can be completed in as little as two years, with fall, spring, and summer start dates. Students are required to complete 48 credits to graduate. In order to earn a specialization, students must take 7.5 elective credits. Students will also obtain a downloadable, digital credential badge once completed.

Our Professional MBA program includes seven innovative, market-driven specialization areas

Applied AI & Machine Learning

Business Analytics

Finance

International Business

Marketing

Strategic Management

Sustainability

By specializing in marketing and strategic management, I can go in a lot of different directions now. I’m not just stuck in one part of my career or one department. Villanova’s MBA experience has opened up a lot of different doors, and I’m very excited.

Allie Fazzalaro, ’19 MBA

A Schedule to Fit Your Life

Pursue the Professional MBA that fits your schedule – on campus, online, hybrid, or cohort.

ON CAMPUS

Fully immerse yourself by taking classes in-person at one of our two Philadelphia-area locations. Join us at Bartley Hall on main campus, at our Center City location or at both. Our on campus classes are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday from 6:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

ONLINE

Learn on your own time through a fully immersive class curriculum accessible from your remote location. Our online courses have a weekly 1-hour live session supplemented by asynchronous content and instructor moderated assignments.

HYBRID

Choose where you learn by taking courses on campus or online, based on your schedule. Our world-class faculty and staff will help you find a hybrid combination to meet your personal and professional obligations.

COHORT

Complete your degree in only 24 months with like-minded working professionals. Our cohort format is built for students wanting to cultivate diverse business connections that will span beyond their MBA experience. Beginning in the fall, you will take two classes per semester—two evening classes per week, each meeting weekly—on our main campus or Center City location. You will be placed with a small group of students that will follow the same path in lockstep, offering you a unique perspective and networking opportunities.

Villanova Main Campus

In-person classes are offered at Villanova’s Main Campus or at our Center City location.

Locations are conveniently located to public transportation and major highways.

Locations Main Campus

800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova

Center City Location 17th and Market, Philadelphia

Villanova Center City Location

EXECUTIVE MBA

The Villanova Executive MBA (EMBA), rooted in our cutting-edge curriculum and premier executive coaching, delivers rich and immersive learning experiences designed for today’s leaders. Our 19-month program builds collaborative, creative problem solvers who harness the power of business to navigate uncertainty and complexity and shape the future. Renowned faculty and a cutting-edge curriculum transform students’ ability to tackle complex business challenges, positioning them for increased leadership opportunities and higher earnings. The program offers students a unique and customized one-on-one opportunity to work directly with a highly skilled and qualified executive coach throughout the duration of their EMBA experience.

AVERAGE STUDENT PROFILE

Average Years of Experience: 15

Male: 54% / Female: 46%

CURRICULUM CONTENT STREAMS

• Strategic Leadership

• Quantitative Decision-Making

• Innovation and Creativity

• International Business

• Professional Development

EVERY THIRD WEEKEND

We pace our 19-month program to fit your life but also to give you time to absorb what you learn without losing any momentum.

FORWARD-LOOKING AND PRAGMATIC

Our curriculum pushes students to envision the future of business while developing the agility and resourcefulness to build it.

LEADERSHIP ON YOUR TERMS

We use executive coaching that emphasizes individual strengths over competition to ensure you achieve your leadership potential.

100%

EMBA graduates felt their experience prepared them for the next steps in their career and life and said their experience strengthened their commitment to pursue lifelong learning.

Source: 2022 Executive MBA Student Exit Survey

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED

Consulting Consumer Products

Financial Services

Healthcare

Hospitality

Manufacturing

Non-Profit / Government

Retail

Media

Technology

It was important to select a school that would challenge me to be my best self. After researching many programs, Villanova stood out as the top choice. The faculty, the structure of the EMBA program, the international business immersion, the cohort structure and the Systems Thinking curriculum made Villanova the ideal fit.

Joanne Ryder ’17 EMBA

Beyond the Classroom

Professional development is an essential part of the VSB experience. Graduate students benefit from dedicated career support – but it doesn’t end there. Networking, mentoring, skill development and unique learning opportunities enrich the academic experience with real-world perspective from the VSB alumni community and industry professionals.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The Victoria and Justin Gmelich ’90 Lab for Financial Markets is a state-of-the art facility where students and faculty can study and research in an environment parallel to a Wall Street trading floor with greater exposure to real estate, analytics, management information systems and other fields. The Wildcat Fund and Real Estate Society—student-run organizations that actively manage a portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities and a real estate investment fund— are among the many groups that use the lab extensively to obtain real-world experience.

Davis Fund for Student Experiences

This fund provides financial support for students to participate in unique and exceptional learning experiences. Thanks to the generosity of Jim C. Davis ’81 VSB and Kim Davis, the Davis Fund makes grants to applicants who engage in opportunities to enhance their VSB education in exceptional ways.

This may include conferences, research, independent study, case competitions, nonprofit service, global opportunities or something truly different.

VSB Mentor Program

The VSB Mentor Program brings Villanova students and alumni volunteers together in one-onone mentoring relationships to support students’ professional development.

Alumni mentors provide industry insights and share their knowledge and experience. Mentees gain a trusted advisor and role model to support them in decision-making, navigating professional growth opportunities and advancing their careers. Mentoring pairs work together through graduation and beyond.

31,550

VSB Alumni Making a Difference Around the World

VSB is a dynamic and evolving environment characterized by a world-class, committed faculty; an energized student body; and an engaged alumni base consistently bringing meaningful change in countries and companies around the world.

The Villanova Network

At VSB, students and alumni share a desire to connect and help each other. Sharing unique career paths and job opportunities, offering personalized mentorship support and exchanging business tips and ideas – there’s no limit to the passion VSB alums have for engaging and supporting our graduate students.

Villanova Women’s Professional Network

VSB is committed to supporting women in business, advancing their careers and helping them reach their full potential. We support organizations including the Villanova Women’s Professional Network, Women in Business Society, the Women in Finance Society and the Women’s MBA Network. VSB has also launched a women’s alumni engagement program to extend support beyond graduation.

VU Women in Tech

VSB supports VU Women in Tech, which seeks to bring together students, faculty, staff and alumnae who are leading and innovating with technology across Villanova’s campus and alumnae base. It serves as a platform for women in our community to share experiences, highlight opportunities for women in technology, and motivate those who hesitate. Its annual summit allows women to imagine a technology-based career; share successes and failures; and network across schools, disciplines and generations.