Fastest MBA to Complete

[sanantone]

The OP's question was answered. The most accelerated MBAs are competency-based. Some have managed to finish in 6 months, which is not going to happen in a non-competency-based program. If you want to avoid test-heavy programs, then you have to opt for writing heavy programs. Some are able to write a bunch of 10-page papers quickly and others are not. Traditional state universities tend to have more quizzes and tests than a bunch of papers, especially in fields like business and science. I believe someone said that Southeastern Oklahoma State University relies more on exams than papers.

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Honestly, the whole competency-based concept is in opposition to the point of studying for a graduate-level degree.

Is it necessarily? Traditional graduate school becomes less about following course schedules, more about research competencies.

I agree. Research is usually self-paced and not collaborative with other classmates. However, MBAs are not research degrees, and many schools focus on collaboration and an exchange of ideas in MBA programs. Therefore, I wouldn't group all graduate programs together and say they aren't fit for the competency-based model. The thesis or dissertation already work similar to competency-based programs.

[joshua27]

The OP's question was answered. The most accelerated MBAs are competency-based. Some have managed to finish in 6 months, which is not going to happen in a non-competency-based program. If you want to avoid test-heavy programs, then you have to opt for writing heavy programs. Some are able to write a bunch of 10-page papers quickly and others are not. Traditional state universities tend to have more quizzes and tests than a bunch of papers, especially in fields like business and science. I believe someone said that Southeastern Oklahoma State University relies more on exams than papers.

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Honestly, the whole competency-based concept is in opposition to the point of studying for a graduate-level degree.

Is it necessarily? Traditional graduate school becomes less about following course schedules, more about research competencies.

I agree. Research is usually self-paced and not collaborative with other classmates. However, MBAs are not research degrees, and many schools focus on collaboration and an exchange of ideas in MBA programs. Therefore, I wouldn't group all graduate programs together and say they aren't fit for the competency-based model. The thesis or dissertation already work similar to competency-based programs.

Let me elaborate on my comment.  Per the OP they are looking for a competency-based MBA program that they can finish the fastest.  This tells me that the OP cares less about the education and more about the diploma.  In this instance compentency-based graduate studies are 100% in opposition to the point of a graduate level degree as it does allow someone to finish very quickly, often times without actually learning anything long-term.  Graduate studies, in general, are more self-paced but certainly not competency-based as they don't traditionally allow you to demonstrate "mastery" of the material in order to move on to the next class.

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Hmm, Even though the MBA may be the 'biggest and most general degree at the Masters level', they're like a dime a dozen. It really depends on the student and their needs or wants... not all people need the MBA, some may want the MAcc (MS Accounting), MAOL or the MSM, especially if the MAcc or MSM has the AACSB accreditation), instead of being in Business Admin, they'll have a slightly different specific major and it would be in their field of interest.

Here's an article I just posted about people with 'Mickey Mouse degrees', they get things done and are paid for that, it's pretty sweet that a 'check the box' degree can get them where they are.  Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-degree-to

I agree to be honest.  The MBA is a very generic degree that doesn't really offer any substainial additional knowledge that someone with a business administration degree doesn't already have.  The MBA is really more suited for someone like my business partner, he has a civil engineering bachelors and got his MBA afterwards to ensure he had the business background he needed.  

In the business world I think we would be better served with folks obtaining more specialized graduate level degrees that provided mastery of particular subject but unfortunately that isn't how it works.  The MBA is the gold standard because of the networking that was afforded by folks attending a traditional business school to obtain that MBA.

[Jonathan Whatley]

In this instance compentency-based graduate studies are 100% in opposition to the point of a graduate level degree as it does allow someone to finish very quickly, often times without actually learning anything long-term.

Let’s not valorize traditional semester schedules. There’s plenty of cramming, participation points, credit for light quizzes, online discussions, and group projects, and so on by which some people complete some traditional semester-scheduled programs without retaining much long-term.

Do we have evidence that long-term retention is worse in a competency-based graduate program than in a traditional program with approximately the same curriculum? For example, will a Capella semester-scheduled MBA impart materially more long-term retention than a Capella FlexPath competency-based MBA will impart? I'm not convinced it will.
 

In the business world I think we would be better served with folks obtaining more specialized graduate level degrees that provided mastery of particular subject but unfortunately that isn't how it works.

I agree.

[dfrecore]

I agree to be honest.  The MBA is a very generic degree that doesn't really offer any substainial additional knowledge that someone with a business administration degree doesn't already have.  The MBA is really more suited for someone like my business partner, he has a civil engineering bachelors and got his MBA afterwards to ensure he had the business background he needed.  

In the business world I think we would be better served with folks obtaining more specialized graduate level degrees that provided mastery of particular subject but unfortunately that isn't how it works.  The MBA is the gold standard because of the networking that was afforded by folks attending a traditional business school to obtain that MBA.

Agreed - I think the MBA is better for someone without a business degree, and if you have a business degree, you'd probably be better off getting a specialized degree in something else OR going more in depth in the area of business that interests you.  So for your business partner, an engineering degree + MBA is great.  For me, with a BSBA in HR, just getting a generic MBA doesn't provide me with a lot of bang for my buck, but an MS in Data Analytics (if I was working on an HRIS) or a Master's in HRM probably would do more for me.  Someone working in accounting with a Business degree would do well to get a MS in Accounting or Finance.