Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (depending on faculty availability)
and Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
All hybrid core courses blend on-campus immersion with online lectures, interactive group work and web-assisted study tools. Classes consist of four weekend visits per quarter, Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (depending on faculty availability) and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"I chose [hybrid] because it allowed me to stay in the Silicon Valley while exposing me to others who have a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. FEMBA has taught me that you will always feel like you don't have enough time, so you need to make the most of the time you have. Prioritize what's important to you and your goals, and the rest will fall into place."
Jane Sohn, FEMBA ('19)
Weekend Warrior
Hybrid allows students living outside the Los Angeles area to travel to campus on Saturday morning and return to their homes on Sunday evening. Hybrid students currently commute from different states and even countries outside the U.S., as well as across California.
WHAT IS THE HYBRID SCHEDULE OPTION?
The hybrid scheduling option for the Fully Employed MBA Program (FEMBA) consists of on-campus and online instruction. Students in the hybrid section attend campus four weekends per quarter while studying and completing assignments online in the intervening weeks. In most other respects, the hybrid section will be equivalent to other FEMBA sections such as attending the required Leadership Foundations and various capstone project meetings here on campus.
IS THE DEGREE THE SAME?
Yes. Hybrid students take the same core courses, receive instruction from the same world-class faculty and obtain the same degree as UCLA Anderson’s other acclaimed MBA programs.
WILL I STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL ACCESS PROGRAM OR BUSINESS CREATION OPTION (CAPSTONE PROJECT)?
Yes. Hybrid students will participate fully in either the Global Access Program or Business Creation Option.
DO I STILL DO LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONS (THE KICKOFF)?
Yes. Leadership Foundations (MGMT 401) is the first core course of the program and is typically held during the last week of August. All students are required to attend, no exceptions.
AM I GETTING THE SAME IMPACT AS THE TRADITIONAL FEMBA PROGRAM?
Yes. Hybrid students have access to all of the same resources and faculty support as traditional FEMBA sections, including opportunities to network, collaborate and get the most out of the MBA experience on-campus and online.
DO I HAVE TO STAY IN THE HYBRID SCHEDULE THE WHOLE TIME? CAN I CHANGE TO AN ON-CAMPUS SECTION?
For maximum networking benefits, we recommend that all students stay with their original section during core courses. If your circumstances change and a section adjustment is required, we will do our best to accommodate your needs, subject to availability. Upon completion of the core courses, students can choose any schedule depending on elective course availability.
CAN I FAST-TRACK DURING MY STUDIES AND COMPLETE THE PROGRAM IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS?
Yes. Students may choose to complete FEMBA early by taking extra electives once they have completed their core courses. The program can be completed in as few as 27 months, graduating at the end of the fall quarter of the third year. Not all elective courses will be available in the hybrid format, so schedules may vary in the second and third year of the program.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT FEES FOR HYBRID?
No. All FEMBAs in any given entering year pay the same fees, regardless of schedule. There are no out-of-state fees for FEMBA.
CAN I STILL GET FINANCIAL AID?
Yes. The Professional MBA Programs at UCLA Anderson offer low-interest government Stafford loans and Grad PLUS loans to United States citizens and individuals with permanent resident status. Non U.S. citizens (on an H-1 visa) with a credit history may apply for private loans. Financial aid is available throughout the 33 months of the program. For more information please visit financial aid.
HOW OFTEN WILL I BE REQUIRED TO BE ON-CAMPUS?
During core classes, the hybrid section meets on campus four times per quarter on Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. Certain classes may not require an in-person final exam and may only meet three weekends during the quarter. Not all elective courses will be available in the hybrid format, so your schedule may vary in your second and third academic years.
CAN I CHOOSE WHICH WEEKENDS I COME TO CAMPUS?
No. Campus weekends for hybrid are scheduled in advance.
ARE EXAMS ONLINE OR ON-CAMPUS?
Final exams are held during the last on-campus weekend scheduled for that quarter, unless otherwise indicated.
WHAT IF I’M SICK FOR ONE OF THE MANDATORY WEEKENDS? CAN I MAKE IT UP ONLINE?
Fewer on-campus sessions means that your attendance is critical. However, all on-campus classes are recorded and attendance may be made up by viewing the session online but is at the discretion and approval by the faculty.
WILL I HAVE TO LOG IN AT SPECIFIC TIMES?
It varies. Online instruction will consist of a mix of asynchronous and synchronous activities. Although there are fixed deadlines for assignments and communication, most online activities may be done on your own time. Your professor will inform you when you may need to be online for a live class event. All online class participation is recorded and monitored by the Online Learning Management System.
IF I DON'T DO HYBRID, CAN I TAKE FLEX ELECTIVES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE PROGRAM?
Yes, but first-priority access to hybrid electives is given to students who took hybrid for core courses. Other FEMBA students may sign up for hybrid elective courses subject to availability.
DOES HYBRID USE THE SAME APPLICATION?
Yes. There is no separate application for hybrid. After you are admitted you will have a chance to state your preference for the hybrid section.
DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE GMAT (OR GRE)?
Yes. Either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for all applicants. There is no minimum score requirement for application to the FEMBA program—the FEMBA Admissions Committee considers a number of factors in selecting candidates for the program.
IS MY ADMITTANCE DEPENDENT ON/INFLUENCED BY MY SECTION PREFERENCE?
No. Admissions decisions are not dependent on section preference, but there is no guarantee you will be placed in your first-choice section.
WHO GETS PRIORITY TO BE IN THE HYBRID SECTION? HOW IS THAT ALLOCATED? IS THERE A MAXIMUM NUMBER?
Space is limited in the hybrid section. If you are interested in the hybrid section, please indicate your preference and explain why the hybrid section is your first choice. Top priority will be given to applicants with the perceived greatest need based on geographic or scheduling constraints.
CAN I JUST APPLY TO THE HYBRID SECTION?
No. Admissions decisions are given for the overall FEMBA Program and are not made by section. If you are only interested in the hybrid section, please state your preference and your reasons to the Admissions department.
ARE THERE MATHEMATICS AND/OR COMPUTER PREREQUISITES?
No. However, all prospective students should have a working knowledge of algebra and differential calculus before beginning their coursework. Admitted students must also have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel; workshops are available at UCLA Anderson and students are advised to achieve competency before beginning graduate study.
Academic work involves accessing UCLA Anderson's electronic network, therefore each student is required to have an appropriately configured laptop computer. Admitted students will receive computer purchasing information and necessary laptop configuration details with their orientation materials.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM AN ONLINE DEGREE?
Hybrid courses combine equal parts on-campus learning with online tools and activities. On-campus classes, interactions and activities are critical to the online sessions, and vice-versa. The full UCLA Anderson student experience and network are also important benefits—your time spent on campus helps establish a lasting professional network with peers and faculty.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT ONLINE PLATFORMS?
UCLA Anderson hybrid classes use Moodle for class webpages, Mediasite for videos and Blackboard Collaborate for live online interactions. All platforms will run on any modern computer.
HOW ARE ASSIGNMENTS TURNED IN?
Assignments will be submitted both in-person and online via a digital dropbox.
IS THE FACULTY THE SAME?
Yes. The hybrid section has the same world-class faculty as the other FEMBA sections as well as the school’s other acclaimed MBA programs.
HOW MUCH GROUP-WORK CAN I EXPECT?
FEMBA Flex courses engage in the same amount of group-work as traditional FEMBA sections. The hybrid section groups typically spend more time meeting online than other sections.
WHAT ARE THE ELECTIVE OPTIONS?
There will be a limited number of hybrid electives offered each quarter. After completing core courses, hybrid students may continue to take hybrid electives or select from any of the other available electives in the traditional on-campus formats. Not all elective courses will be available in the hybrid format, so schedules may vary in the second and third year of the program.
CAN I TAKE INTERNATIONAL-STUDY TRAVEL ELECTIVES?
Yes. The Global Immersions and Exchange Program is expanding rapidly and hybrid students are free to apply to any of the destinations.
CAN I MEET WITH MY PROFESSOR IN PERSON, ON THE PHONE OR ONLINE?
Yes. All of these options are available, depending on your professor’s schedule.
IF I AM IN AN ON-CAMPUS SECTION AND I MISS A LECTURE, CAN I MAKE IT UP BY ACCESSING THE FLEX COURSES ONLINE?
No. The presentation and pace of instruction in the hybrid section is different enough to prevent crossover between sections.
CAN I COME TO CAMPUS ON MY "NON-HYBRID" WEEKENDS, FOR CLUBS, SPEAKERS, EVENTS AND SOCIAL EVENTS?
Absolutely! We encourage hybrid students to come to campus for workshops, social functions and any other events as often as their schedules allow. Many events are streamed and/or posted online for those who cannot attend.
HOW WILL I GET MY BOOKS?
Textbooks are available for purchase on campus and online for mail delivery.
ARE ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED FOR SATURDAY NIGHTS?
No. Currently, all hybrid students are responsible for arranging their own lodging.
CAN I USE ON-CAMPUS RECRUITING SERVICES?
Hybrid students have access to the same FEMBA Career Services staff, resources and events enjoyed by all FEMBA students. Please note that most on-campus recruiting events happen during the week in the afternoon making it difficult for FEMBA students to participate even more so for hybrid students who are not from the immediate Los Angeles area.
CAN I STILL JOIN CLUBS?
Yes. There are no limits to the number of clubs, teams and committees that you can join as a student in the hybrid section.
HOW WILL I NETWORK WITH MY FELLOW FEMBAS? WILL IT BE WEEKEND-ONLY?
You will have many opportunities to interact with your classmates both online and during weekend activities. You may participate in all FEMBA networking events, but be aware that they may not necessarily fall on weekends that coincide with your scheduled classes. Hybrid students and grads have full access to the UCLA Anderson MBA alumni network and contact database.