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Thunderbird School of Global Management Full Time MBA

Thunderbird’s flagship MBA in Global Management gives you the world’s most in-depth academic and cultural global business education in today’s marketplace. Our innovative program philosophy leads you on a strategically choreographed progression through every facet of international management, with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that put academic theory into actionable practice, teaching you the practical, applicable nuances of global business. The core program is made up of 46.5 credit hours delivered through 12 months of academic study. Six themed modules over three trimesters allows for in-depth study concentrated on a primary topic while taking fewer classes at one time.

GPA:  GMAT: 

Contact

Directions Link
Phone
(602) 978-7100
Website
www.thunderbird.edu

Thunderbird School of Global Management Full Time MBA's Full Profile

Program at a Glance

Program Type Full Time

Program Information

Thunderbird School of Global Management Says

Thunderbird’s flagship MBA in Global Management gives you the world’s most in-depth academic and cultural global business education in today’s marketplace. Our innovative program philosophy leads you on a strategically choreographed progression through every facet of international management, with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that put academic theory into actionable practice, teaching you the practical, applicable nuances of global business.

The core program is made up of 46.5 credit hours delivered through 12 months of academic study. Six themed modules over three trimesters allows for in-depth study concentrated on a primary topic while taking fewer classes at one time.

Specializations Offered: Global Management
Degrees Awarded: MBA, Traditional Full Time.

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Rankings

Rankings

School Rankings

LinkedIn

#23 Best Graduate Universities for Marketers

The Princeton Review

N/A Best Business Schools (West)

Admissions

Admissions

Application Information

  • Acceptance Rate: 78% accepted out of 378 applicants
  • Average Age Admitted: 28
  • Average Incoming GPA: 3.31
  • Average Incoming GMAT: 610
  • Average Years Work Experience: 4
  • Out of State Application Fee: $125
  • In State Application Fee: $125

Admission Considerations

Very Important: Personal Essay, Standardized Test Scores

Important: Recommendations, Undergraduate GPA

Admission Information

To apply to Thunderbird, students must submit a completed online application, three personal essays, GMAT scores (and TOEFL scores for international students), two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and a resume. For the accelerated program, applicants must have the above requirements and the following additional requirements: an unde...To apply to Thunderbird, students must submit a completed online application, three personal essays, GMAT scores (and TOEFL scores for international students), two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and a resume. For the accelerated program, applicants must have the above requirements and the following additional requirements: an undergraduate degree in business or completed course work in statistics, accounting, finance and management, or a minimum of five years work experience with managerial and budget responsibilities. Prior to the beginning of the traditional or accelerated MBA program, all students must have completed course work in microeconomics and macroeconomics. Thunderbird offers an online economics boot camp prior to the beginning of Foundations Week that will satisfy the micro- and macroeconomics requirement. Waivers for micro- and macroeconomics are evaluated and granted during the admission review. While there are no prerequisite requirements for statistics, accounting and finance, applicants lacking course work or expertise in these subjects can take part in a series of pre- MBA programs on campus, two weeks prior to the beginning of Foundations Week.

The Princeton Review

Important Dates

Round 1
November

30

Deadline
August

13

Start
Round 2
January

30

Deadline
August

13

Start
Round 3
May

10

Deadline
August

13

Start

School Information

School Information

The following section features data representative of the entire business school, and numbers here are not necessarily reflective of the specific program.

Students and Faculty

Total Graduate Students 380
Percent International Students 52%
Total Full-Time Faculty 48

Student Life

With its global focus, it is no surprise that the school has an “international mystique” from its “diverse student body” that offers a “priceless” “cross-cultural perspective.” “I am still learning from my fellow students every day,” one happy student says. The “intelligent, hardworking” students “come from everywhere.” “We are 60% international here” and “the three largest minority groups are Indians, Chinese, and Mormons”“There are forty-five different professional, regional, and sports clubs for a school with only about 500 students,” meaning there is plenty to do for students who want to get involved. Most students “are very active and organize lots of cultural and professional events. I am always confused which one should I go to, because most of them are really good,” one happy student says. “Students are addicted to travel, so with nowhere to go nearby we travel mostly abroad.” Thunderbird students “spend a lot of time together out­side of school,” for example going to “‘regional nights’ where the students celebrate dif­ferent global cultures.” This creates a “very tight and very involved” student community.

Career

Thunderbird is all about preparing students for work in the global economy. “My class­mates, professors, and curriculum are the best preparation that I am aware of for a career in international business,” one student explains. “Thunderbird consulting and emerging market practicums are amazing” and there are “many great opportunities to learn about where business is going in the world today that other schools aren’t able to match.” However, while the alumni network is “world-class” students say they “have almost no engagement with current students” and students think that “job placement” could be improved. However, alumni around the world host "First Tuesday" networking events every month and current students are encouraged to engage with other T-birds at these events. The average base salary for graduates in 2012 was $83,000. Technology, Consumer Products, and Financial Services were the most common industries that students found work in. The top five employers were Eli Lilly, Deloitte Consulting, L’Oreal, Intel, and US Airways.

The Princeton Review

About

Thunderbird offers degree programs for full-time students and working professionals, as well as a comprehensive suite of executive education certificate programs. All courses are taught from a global perspective by world-class faculty who are recognized around the globe for their innovative teaching methods, global business best practices, and groundbreaking research. Ranked as the top international MBA program by U.S. World News and Report, a Thunderbird education is recognized around the world. As a Thunderbird student, you’ll become part of a powerful network of students, alumni, and faculty. In fact, Thunderbird's campus is often referred to as a mini-United Nations, due to the extraordinary level of cultural and ethnic diversity among its student body and faculty. Dedicated to creating global citizens and committed to using the power of business to create sustainable wealth worldwide, Thunderbird was the first business school to implement an Oath of Honor which is signed by graduating students pledging to conduct business in an ethical, civil and sustainable manner. Thunderbird's world-renowned degree programs include our MBA in Global Management, Executive MBA (U.S.), Online Global MBA, Distance Learning Global MBA - Latin America, a Master of Arts in Global Affairs, Master of Science in Global Management and multiple dual-degree and post-MBA programs. Where will the world's leading international business school lead you? Find out at www.thunderbird.edu

The Princeton Review

Students Say

As the “#1 International Business School,” Thunderbird has a “global emphasis, collabo­rative student body, world-class professors, and a fantastic alumni network.” “Thunderbird is a very special business school with what we like to call the ‘Thunderbird mystique,’” one student explains. “The international experience is the best in the field,” which is a major draw for students who are interested in the global community. “In our current world, where nationalist fences are falling and globalization is rising, we need more global leaders,” says one student. “That’s why I came to Thunderbird.” The school heavily emphasizes the “international component of the curriculum,” allowing students opportunities to “spend several semesters abroad, consult for a business in a developing country, and learn from professors that on average speak 3 languages.”If there is a downside in students eyes, it is the administration which is “very bureaucrat­ic” and “seems disorganized.” “I love Thunderbird, but it has more insane bureaucracy and hypocrisy than any other organization I have seen,” an IT Senior Management stu­dent says. On the other hand, the professors are quite literally “world-class,” having “global work experiences” and being “distinguished members of the academic and busi­ness world internationally.” Professors care about students and “are willing to help stu­dents out in any way possible.” Thunderbird’s “values most closely aligned with mine,” an International Education student says of their decision to attend. “It valued my previ­ous experience, which was all international, and provided a context where I could devel­op as a truly ‘global’ leader.” Another simply declares “I love Thunderbird!!!!!!!”

The Princeton Review

Academic

Full-Time Students: MBA in Global Management - Start dates in either August or January - Trimester format offering either traditional or accelerated schedule - Focus areas and electives deepen your global education - Core business courses in accounting, finance, management and marketing – all from a global perspective - Two years of professional work experience & GMAT score required to apply Master of Arts OR Master of Science - Start dates in August - Earn your degree and be prepared to enter the workforce in just 16 months - Specialized classes designed to prepare you for a career in global business (Master of Science) or international affairs (Master of Arts) - Core business courses in accounting, finance, management and marketing – all from a global perspective

Working Professional Students: - Executive MBA - weekends in Phoenix - Take classes all day Friday and Saturday, on alternate weekends for 17 months. - Benefit from five week-long sessions in residence – two in Glendale, Arizona Needed to Apply: - Eight years of minimum full–time work experience since receiving undergraduate degree - At least three years in a managerial position - Currently hold a middle or senior management position - GMAT not needed to apply

  • A convenient series of 10 one-week modules delivered over 16 months
  • Benefit from five week-long sessions in residence – two in Glendale, Arizona
  • An international cohort, three international field seminars beyond Geneva, and a global perspective in all business disciplines
  • Co-curricular professional activities, guest lectures, site visits and networking will expose you to Geneva's influential international community, with over 100 multinational headquarters, the United Nations, private banks and dozens of International Organizations and NGOs.
  • Earn Thunderbird’s #1 ranked MBA in Global Management, studying with the same faculty, same curriculum as the full-time program
  • Start dates in August
  • Two years of professional work experience & GMAT score required to apply
  • Distance Learning Global MBA - Web-based and on-location training
  • 75% of the coursework is delivered online
  • 25% is delivered via four one-week, on-site field study seminars in the United States and various locations abroad
  • Primary program format is 19 months with accelerate and extended tracts available
  • Distance Learning Dual Degree with Indiana University's Kelley Direct
  • In 28 months, earn an Indiana University Kelley Direct MBA and a Thunderbird Master of Global Management
  • 80% online study including Web based interactions and information sharing
  • 20% face-to-face interaction with your classmates and faculty during three on-site learning experiences on each campus and abroad
  • Classes begin in August each year

Executive Education Courses for Working Professionals (Non-Degree)

The Princeton Review

Student Services

  • Campus Wide Network
  • Centers Of Research:

    CIBER, extensive MyThunderbird intranet, on line, The Lincoln Center for Ethics in International Management, The Garvin Center for Cultures and Languages of International Management, and the Entrepreneur Center

  • International Student Support Groups:

    International Student Resources - http://students.thunderbird.edu/thunderbird-international-student-services

    Student Clubs - http://www.thunderbird.edu/why-thunderbird/student-experience/student-government-clubs

  • Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Support Groups:

    Student Clubs - http://www.thunderbird.edu/why-thunderbird/student-experience/student-government-clubs

  • Minority Support Groups:

    Student Clubs - http://www.thunderbird.edu/why-thunderbird/student-experience/student-government-clubs

  • Research Facilities:

    CIBER, extensive MyThunderbird intranet, on line, The Lincoln Center for Ethics in International Management, The Garvin Center for Cultures and Languages of International Management, and the Entrepreneur Center

  • Study Abroad:

    Exchange Programs: COPPEAD, Rio de Janiero, Brazil EM Lyon, Lyon, France ESADE, Barcelona, Spain ESSEC Business School, Paris, France European Business School (EBS), Oestrich–Winkel, Germany Fudan University, Shanghai, China The HEC School of Management, Paris, France Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India Instituto Centroamericano de Administraciòn de Empresas (INCAE), Costa Rica Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico National Taiwan University, College of Management, Taipei, Taiwan Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan Tsinghua School of Economics & Management, Beijing, China Unversidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile Mannheim Business School, Mannheim, Germany Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea

  • Women Support Groups:

    Student Clubs - http://www.thunderbird.edu/why-thunderbird/student-experience/student-government-clubs

    Project Artemis - http://t4g.thunderbird.edu/

Famous Alumni

Well known alumni of Thunderbird School of Global Management include:

Jim Alling - CEO and COO, T-Mobile USA

Saad Abdul-Latif - CEO, Asia, Middle East and Africa, Pepsico

Jacques Tapiero - President, Emerging Markets, Eli Lilly

Bob Dudley - CEO, BP Group

Luis Moreno - President, Inter-American Development Bank

School Outcomes

Average Debt At Graduation: $49,564

Top Employers Of Graduates From This School Include: Eli Lilly, Deloitte Consulting, L'Oreal, Intel, US Airways

Industry Percent Employed Median Starting Salary
Other 65% $80,619
Marketing / Sales 31% $94,211
Finance / Accounting 19% $70,533
Business 19% $92,600
Other 15% $70,667
Technical 15% $74,611
Other 14% $100,625
Consulting 13% $83,438
Financial Services 12% $72,500
Operations / Logistics 9% $63,286
Consulting 9% $89,700
Manufacturing 9% $78,688
General Management 7% $86,489
Government 5% $77,288
Human Resources 4% $93,002

School Employment Information

Graduation Employment 24%
Three Month Employment 46%
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