Haas School of Business Programs and Admissions

The Haas School of Business, also known as Haas or Berkeley Haas, is a University of California, Berkeley school. UC Berkeley is a public research university that was founded in 1868 in the state of California. Haas was founded just 30 years later, making it the second oldest business school in the United States. Haas School of Business has more than 40,000 alumni and is frequently ranked among the best schools in the nation. Degrees are offered at the undergraduate and graduate level. Nearly 60 percent of Haas students are enrolled in one of the three available MBA programs. Haas Undergraduate Programs Haas School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Business degree program. The programs curriculum consists of a 7-course breadth sequence, which requires students to take at least one class in each of the following categories: arts and literature, biological science, historical studies, international studies, philosophy and values, physical science, and social and behavioral sciences. Students are encouraged to spread these courses out over the four years that it takes to earn the degree. The Bachelor of Science in Business curriculum also includes core business courses in areas like business communication, accounting, finance, marketing, and organizational behavior. Students are also allowed to customize their education with business electives that focus on more nuanced topics like corporate finance, leadership, and brand management. Students who want a global view of business can participate in Haas study aboard or travel study programs. Getting In Haas Bachelor of Science in Business degree program is open to students enrolled in UC Berkeley as well as students who are transferring in from another undergraduate school. Admissions are very competitive, and there are prerequisites that must be met prior to applying. For example, applicants must complete a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units as well as several prerequisite courses prior to submitting an application. Preference is given to applicants who are California residents. Applicants who are transferring from a California community college may also have an edge. To apply to a Haas School of Business program, you should have some work experience. Students in the Full-Time MBA and EWMBA program typically have at least two years of work experience, with most students having five years or more. Students in the EMBA program usually have ten years of work experience or more. A  GPA  of at least 3.0 is standard for applicants, though it is not a firm requirement. At  minimum, applicants should be able to demonstrate academic aptitude and have some quantitative proficiency to be considered for the program. Haas MBA Programs Haas School of Business has three MBA programs: Full-Time MBA Program: The full-time MBA program is for students who do not plan to work while they earn their degree. This program takes two years to complete and requires full-day class attendance Monday through Thursday.Evening and Weekend (EWMBA) Program: The EWMBA program is a part-time MBA program that allows students to continue working while they earn their degree. Students in this program can attend school two evenings during the week or all day on Saturday. Either way, the program takes 2.5 years to 3 years to complete.MBA for Executives (EMBA) Program: The EMBA program is a part-time program for students who are either executives or have a lot of work experience. This program, which takes about 19 months to complete, meets Thursday through Saturday every three weeks. All three MBA programs at Haas are campus-based programs that are taught by the same faculty and result in the same MBA degree. Students in every program complete core business courses related to accounting, finance, marketing management, leadership, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and other business topics. Haas also provides global experiences for students in every MBA program and encourages tailored education through evolving electives. Other Graduate Programs at Haas School of Business Haas School of Business offers a one-year Master of Financial Engineering program that is designed to prepare students for careers as financial engineers. To earn a degree from this full-time program, students must complete 30 units of coursework  in addition to a 10-12 week internship. Admissions for this program are very competitive; fewer than 70 students are admitted each year. Applicants who have a background in a quantitative field, such as finance, statistics, mathematics, or computer science; high scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test; and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 have the best chance of acceptance. Haas also offers a PhD program that allows students to study one of six business areas: accounting, business and public policy, finance, marketing, management of organizations, and real estate. This program admits fewer than 20 students each year and usually requires four or five years of study to complete. Applicants do not need to come from a specific background or have a minimum GPA, but they should be able to demonstrate scholarly ability and have research interests and career goals that are aligned with the program.