Your First Year as an MBA Student at Excelsior University
Choosing to start the Excelsior University Master of Business Administration program is an exciting step toward advancing your education, expanding your professional opportunities, and preparing for future leadership roles. Whether you’re looking to move into management, strengthen your business expertise, change careers, or increase your earning potential, an MBA can provide the knowledge and credentials to help you achieve your goals.
For many students, however, excitement comes with a few questions: What will the workload be like? How much time will I need to dedicate each week? Can I balance business school with work and family responsibilities? These questions are especially common among students who have been away from the classroom for several years.
The good news is that Excelsior’s online MBA program is designed with working professionals in mind, offering the flexibility to fit graduate education into a busy schedule. Although many students complete the program in about two years, motivated students who carefully plan their course schedules may be able to finish in as little as one year. So, what can you expect during your first year? Here’s a closer look at the MBA student experience at Excelsior.
Your First Year in an MBA Program at Excelsior vs. Other Business Schools
One of the appealing aspects of the Excelsior University MBA program is its flexibility. Because the program is delivered primarily online and designed for working professionals, no two students follow exactly the same path. Some students take a single course at a time to balance their studies with work, family, and other commitments. Others choose a more accelerated pace, taking two courses each term and potentially completing the program in as little as one year.
Excelsior also operates on a trimester-based academic calendar, with six terms offered throughout the year. This structure differs from the traditional two-semester model used by many colleges and universities and allows students to begin and progress through the program more frequently. As a result, what your “first year” looks like will depend on your starting term, course load, and individual goals.
Despite these differences, MBA students in most programs share a similar journey during their first year. They begin by building a foundation in key business disciplines, developing graduate-level communication skills, and learning how to apply business concepts to real-world organizational challenges. Along the way, students collaborate with classmates, engage with faculty who bring industry experience to the classroom, and gain new perspectives that can be immediately applied in their workplaces.
At Excelsior University, the first few terms of the MBA program are a time of core coursework, selecting a concentration, and then weaving in specialized courses so students can tailor their degrees to their goals.
First-Year MBA Courses
Most MBA students spend their first year building expertise across the major functional areas of business while developing the leadership skills needed to guide organizations through change and uncertainty. The curriculum is intentionally designed to help students understand how successful organizations operate from multiple perspectives rather than through a single business discipline.
Excelsior students typically begin with Resilient Leadership and Organizational Behavior, where they examine leadership styles, team dynamics, organizational culture, and strategies for leading effectively in complex environments. From there, coursework expands into other areas with courses like Operations and Project Management, Corporate Finance and Accounting, and Ethical Risk Management and Compliance, helping students understand how organizations manage resources, make financial decisions, and navigate risk.
As students progress through Excelsior’s MBA program, they explore the growing role of technology and innovation through Information Technology and learn how organizations create value for customers through Strategic Brand Marketing. Throughout the program, students are challenged to apply concepts to real-world business situations, analyze case studies, participate in mock experiences, evaluate organizational challenges, and develop practical solutions.
Concentrations and Specialization in Excelsior’s MBA Program
All MBA students complete the same core curriculum in Excelsior’s program, but they also have the opportunity to tailor their degree through a concentration. Concentration courses are intentionally integrated into the program so that students begin developing specialized expertise while continuing to build their business foundation.
Excelsior students can choose from a variety of concentrations, including Leadership, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Finance and Accounting, Data Analytics, Health Care Management, Strategic Sustainability, Cannabis Control, Distributed Workforce Management, Nutrition, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Public Health Equity, and Organizational Leadership. A student may also create a more personalized pathway that more closely aligns with their career goals.
This structure creates a shared MBA experience while allowing students to pursue their individual career goals. For example, a student concentrating in Data Analytics may explore how organizations use data to inform strategic decisions, whereas a student in Human Resource Management may focus on talent development and employment practices. Both students continue studying the same core business concepts, but each develops expertise in a field that aligns with their respective professional interests.
By the end of the first year, many MBA students have completed a combination of core and concentration coursework, giving them both a broad understanding of business management and a deeper appreciation for the challenges and opportunities within their chosen area of specialization.
How to Choose an MBA Concentration at Excelsior
For some Excelsior MBA students, choosing a concentration is straightforward. They may already work in a specific field and want to deepen their expertise. An allied health professional, for example, may choose Healthcare Management, whereas someone working in HR may pursue Human Resource Management to strengthen their skills.
Other students use their concentration to prepare for where they want to go rather than where they are today. Someone interested in moving into a leadership position may select Leadership or Organizational Leadership. A professional looking to transition into a more analytical role might choose Data Analytics. And someone interested in strengthening their understanding of financial decision-making could pursue Finance and Accounting.
Many Excelsior students also choose a concentration to complement their existing experience with a new skill set. For example, an experienced manager may add expertise with Human Resource Management, Data Analytics, or Marketing to broaden their perspective and increase their value to employers.
If you find yourself drawn to multiple concentrations, start by considering your long-term career goals. Ask yourself where you would like to be in three to five years and which concentration will provide the knowledge and skills most relevant to that future role.
5 Tips for First-Year MBA Students
The students who thrive in their first year are the ones who build strong habits, stay organized, and remain committed to their goals. Here are five more tips for your first year in an MBA program.
1. Make time before you need time.
Nothing new can fit into your schedule unless you intentionally make room for it. Decide when you’ll complete your coursework—before work, during lunch breaks, in the evening—and make it part of your daily routine.
2. Plan the entire term in advance.
Use the course syllabus and assignment schedule to build a calendar at the beginning of each term. Add major due dates, project milestones, and dedicated study time so you can stay ahead rather than simply reacting to deadlines.
3. Build your professional network.
Your business school classmates are current and future leaders across a wide range of industries. Connect with them and your faculty on LinkedIn, engage in discussions, and build relationships that may benefit you long after graduation.
4. Apply your learning immediately.
Look for opportunities to connect course concepts to your current role. Many students find that the Master of Business Administration becomes more valuable when they can immediately apply what they are learning at work.
5. Ask questions and use available resources.
Successful MBA students don’t try to figure everything out on their own. Reach out to faculty, advisors, and support services whenever you need guidance or clarification.
Chart Your Path to the C-Suite at Excelsior
Whether your goal is to move into management, advance into executive leadership, change careers, or develop specialized expertise, an MBA can help you take the next step with confidence. Excelsior University’s IACBE-accredited MBA program is designed for working professionals who need a graduate education that fits their lives without sacrificing academic quality.
With flexible online coursework, opportunities to engage with faculty and classmates, and multiple start dates throughout the year, students can begin their MBA journey when the time is right for them. The program’s flexible pacing allows students to adjust their course load to match their professional and personal commitments, whether they prefer a steady pace or an accelerated path to graduation.
Excelsior also recognizes the value of prior learning and graduate-level coursework, providing transfer credit opportunities for eligible students. Combined with six academic terms each year, this flexibility allows many students to begin making progress toward their degree sooner than they might expect.
Your first year as an MBA student doesn’t have to begin in the fall semester. In fact, your first term could be just weeks away. Ready to take the next step? Learn more about Excelsior University’s MBA program and discover how an advanced business degree can help you achieve your professional goals.
