Do a Harvard MBA online and save throusands

July 7, 2024

The Harvard Business School (HBS) MBA program is one of the most prestigious and rigorous business education programs in the world. Its curriculum is designed to develop leaders who make a difference in the world. While an exact replication of the Harvard MBA isn't available online, there are numerous online programs and courses that offer similar content and training. This blog will explore the core elements of the Harvard MBA curriculum and how you can pursue equivalent education through online platforms.

The great benefit of exploring online alternatives. They are typically significantly less expensive, more accessible and can be done in your own time plus taylored to your career needs.

While the Harvard curiculum requires a lot of case studies it is still structured around a few key pieces of knowledge that you can acquire.

The Harvard MBA program is structured around a two-year full-time course of study. The curriculum is divided into two main parts: the Required Curriculum (RC) in the first year and the Elective Curriculum (EC) in the second year.

First Year: Required Curriculum (RC)

The first year focuses on building a strong foundation in essential business disciplines. The RC consists of the following courses:

1. Finance: Introduction to principles of finance, including valuation, capital budgeting, and financial markets.
2. Financial Reporting and Control (FRC): Understanding how to use financial reports to communicate and manage a firm's economic health.
3. Leadership and Organizational Behavior (LEAD): Developing leadership skills and understanding organizational dynamics.
4. Marketing: Exploring fundamental marketing concepts and strategies.
5. Technology and Operations Management (TOM): Managing technology and operations within organizations.
6. 6. **Business, Government, and the International Economy (BGIE)**: Understanding the economic, political, and social environment in which businesses operate.
7. Strategy: Formulating and implementing strategies for competitive advantage.
8. The Entrepreneurial Manager (TEM): Developing skills for entrepreneurial management and new venture creation.
9. Finance: Advanced finance topics, including corporate finance, risk management, and mergers and acquisitions.
10. Leadership and Corporate Accountability (LCA): Ethical decision-making and corporate governance.

Second Year: Elective Curriculum (EC)

In the second year, students choose from a wide range of elective courses to tailor their education to their career goals and interests. Electives span various disciplines, including finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, and global business. Some popular electives include:

1. Advanced Corporate Finance
2. Building Sustainable Cities and Infrastructure
3. Digital Marketing Strategy
4. Entrepreneurial Finance
5. Global Capital Markets
6. Leading with Data and Analytics
7. Negotiation
8. Venture Capital and Private Equity

Pursuing a Harvard MBA Equivalent Online

While you cannot obtain an HBS MBA online, you can pursue a comparable education through various online platforms and institutions that offer high-quality business courses. Here are some steps and resources to help you achieve this:

Core Business Disciplines: To cover the foundational courses of the RC, you can take the following online courses:

1. Finance:
   1. Coursera: Introduction to Corporate Finance" by the University of Pennsylvania
   2. edX: Corporate Finance by Columbia University
2. Financial Reporting and Control:
   1. Coursera: Financial Accounting: Foundations by the University of Illinois.
   2. edX: Financial Accounting by Harvard University
3. Leadership and Organizational Behavior:
   1. Coursera: Foundations of Everyday Leadership by the University of Illinois.
   2. edX: Leadership Principles by Harvard University.
4. Marketing:
   1. Coursera: Marketing in a Digital World by the University of Illinois.
   2. edX: Marketing Essentials by Imperial College London.
5. Technology and Operations Management:
   1. Coursera: Operations Management by the University of Illinois.
   2. edX: Supply Chain Fundamentals by MIT.
6. Business, Government, and the International Economy:
   1. Coursera: Global Business by the University of Illinois.
   2. edX: Microeconomics by MIT.
7. Strategy:
   1. Coursera: Business Strategy by the University of Virginia.
   2. edX: Strategic Management by Wharton.
8. The Entrepreneurial Manager:
   1. Coursera: Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business by the University of Maryland.
   2. edX: Entrepreneurship 101: Who is your customer? by MIT.
9. Leadership and Corporate Accountability:
   1. Coursera: Business Ethics by the University of Illinois.
   2. edX: Corporate Governance by the University of London.

Elective Courses

For the second-year elective curriculum, here are some recommendations for online courses:

1. Advanced Corporate Finance:
   1. Coursera: Advanced Valuation and Strategy - M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital by Erasmus University Rotterdam.
   2. edX: Advanced Corporate Finance by Columbia University.
2. Digital Marketing Strategy:
   1. Coursera: Digital Marketing Specialization by the University of Illinois.
   2. edX: Digital Marketing by Wharton.
3. Entrepreneurial Finance:
   1. Coursera: Entrepreneurial Finance: Strategy and Innovation by Duke University.
   2. edX: Entrepreneurship and Fintech by the University of Michigan.
4. Global Capital Markets:
   1. Coursera: Financial Markets by Yale University.
   2. edX: International Finance by MIT.
5. Leading with Data and Analytics:
   1. Coursera: Data-Driven Decision Making by PwC.
   2. edX: Analytics: Essential Tools and Methods by Georgia Tech.
6. Negotiation:
   1. Coursera: Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills by the University of Michigan.
   2. edX: Negotiation Skills by the University of Queensland.
7. Venture Capital and Private Equity:
   1. Coursera: Private Equity and Venture Capital by Bocconi University.
   2. edX: Private Equity by Wharton.

Conclusion

While the Harvard MBA is a unique and highly esteemed program, there are many ways to gain similar knowledge and skills through online learning. By carefully selecting courses from reputable online platforms, you can build a comprehensive business education that mirrors the curriculum of Harvard's MBA program. This approach provides flexibility, accessibility, and the opportunity to learn from some of the best institutions worldwide. Embrace the wealth of online resources available and take the next step in your educational and professional journey.

By leveraging the vast array of online learning platforms and resources, you can create a personalized, high-quality business education plan that rivals the traditional Harvard MBA experience.