Hi all,

I have 13 years' IT experience in secondary ed (plus a few years in industry), as well as several years as a college adjunct instructor. I'm looking at an MBA to expand the range of classes and potential schools I could teach at. I know my options are limited without a doctorate -- but you have to begin somewhere. I'm enrolled now in the UMass Lowell distance MBA program (I've only taken 2 classes), but I would love to take a year to have the actual "graduate student" experience, real classes, and the ability to meet new people.

I'm also interested in working on my Spanish proficiency. I took a lot of Spanish, and a study abroad, in my undergrad. I'm trying to decide whether an MBA like this would be a good way to work on my Spanish, while at the same time gaining the MBA credential.

One concern with regard to teaching is the lack of AACSB accreditation .... anyone have any idea how this would affect the marketability back home (USA), or if AMBA and the fact that it's a full-time, international program would offset this?

Thanks!

Hi Eric,

UC3M is a great school, but I don't think it will be a good investment if you want to work in the US. AMBA isn't well known, and it won't be seen better any any unaccredited state university MBA. You will be much better off getting an accredited US MBA, like the UNC MBA taught in Monterrey (http://www.itesm.edu/wps/wcm/connect/EBS/EGADE+Business+School/Academic+Programs/Monterrey/MBA_GlobalBusinessStrategy?cache=none) or going to a school which is well ranked.

I think you may need to de-couple your wish to study full-time with the desire to improve your Spanish. In an English MBA language programme you will spend a lot of time in an overheated break-out room speaking English. There are post-MBA programmes which allow you to study full-time, so that's always an option. But to improve your Spanish, immerse yourself in a Spanish speaking activity, not a demanding English-language programme.

Hi Duncan,
Thanks for your advice, especially with regard to de-coupling the MBA from my goal of improving my Spanish. That struck a chord with me, and I think you're right on. I can either stick with Umass or apply to another AACSB-accredited program, but I have some other ideas for language immersion that I can pursue separately. No sense in trying to pack everything into one year.
Best, Eric