Thunderbird School of Global Management

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School Says - General Information
Thunderbird offers degree programs for full-time students and working professionals alike, as well as a comprehensive suite of executive education certificate programs. All courses are taught from a global perspective by world-class faculty who are recognized around the globe for their innovative teaching methods, global best business practices, and groundbreaking research. Thunderbird is often referred to as a mini-United Nations, due to the extraordinary level of cultural and ethnic diversity among its student body and its faculty Ââ€" many of whom lived, worked and now teach about their countries of origin. Dedicated to creating global citizens committed to using the power of business to create sustainable wealth worldwide, Thunderbird was the first business school to implement an Oath of Honor which is signed by graduating students pledging to conduct business in an ethical, civil and sustainable manner.

Thunderbird's world-renowned degree programs include our MBA in Global Management, Evening MBA in Global Management, Executive MBAs, Distance Learning Global MBAs, a Master of Arts in Global Affairs, Master of Science in Global Management and multiple dual-degree and post-MBA programs. Where will the world's leading international business school lead you? Find out at www.thunderbird.edu.

School Says - Student Body
More than 50 student organizations and clubs are active on the Thunderbird campus Ââ€" from business-related clubs to hobby clubs, regional clubs and activity clubs. Regional Nights, hosted by clubs representing various areas of the world, are popular among the Thunderbird community, featuring food, drink, attire and entertainment of a particular region.

School Says - Academics
Full-Time Students:
MBA in Global Management
- Start dates in either August or January
- Trimester format offering either traditional or accelerated schedule
- Focus areas and electives deepen your global education
- Core business courses in accounting, finance, management and marketing Ââ€" all from a global perspective
- Two years of professional work experience & GMAT score required to apply

Master of Arts OR Master of Science
- Start dates in August
- Earn your degree and be prepared to enter the workforce in just 16 months
- Specialized classes designed to prepare you for a career in global business (Master of Science) or international affairs (Master of Arts)
- Core business courses in accounting, finance, management and marketing Ââ€" all from a global perspective

Working Professional Students:
- Executive MBA - weekends in Phoenix
- Take classes all day Friday and Saturday, on alternate weekends for 17 months.
- Benefit from five week-long sessions in residence Ââ€" two in Glendale, Arizona and three overseas Ââ€" including joint sessions with EMBA students in Geneva

Needed to Apply:
- Eight years of minimum fullÂâ€"time work experience since receiving undergraduate degree
- At least three years in a managerial position
- Currently hold a middle or senior management position
- GMAT not needed to apply
- Executive MBA Europe - modules in Geneva
- A convenient series of 10 one-week modules delivered over 16 months
- Benefit from five week-long sessions in residence Ââ€" two in Glendale, Arizona and three overseas Ââ€" including joint sessions with EMBA students in Glendale
- An international cohort, three international field seminars beyond Geneva, and a global perspective in all business disciplines
- Co-curricular professional activities, guest lectures, site visits and networking will expose you to Geneva's influential international community, with over 100 multinational headquarters, the United Nations, private banks and dozens of International Organizations and NGOs. - Evening MBA - in Phoenix
- Take classes twice a week in the evenings - alongside our diverse full-time student body.
- Earn ThunderbirdÂ's #1 ranked MBA in Global Management, studying with the same faculty, same curriculum as the full-time program
- Start dates in August
- Two years of professional work experience & GMAT score required to apply
- Distance Learning Global MBA - Web-based and on-location training
- 75% of the coursework is delivered online
- 25% is delivered via four one-week, on-site field study seminars in the United States and various locations abroad
- Primary program format is 19 months with accelerate and extended tracts available
- Distance Learning Dual Degree with Indiana University's Kelley Direct
- In 28 months, earn an Indiana University Kelley Direct MBA and a Thunderbird Master of Global Management
- 80% online study including Web based interactions and information sharing
- 20% face-to-face interaction with your classmates and faculty during three on-site learning experiences on each campus and abroad
- Classes begin in August each year

Executive Education Courses for Working Professionals (Non-Degree)
Conducted in a short-program format, Thunderbird's classroom-based and online executive education courses offer you an excellent opportunity to get a first-hand taste of Thunderbird's world-renowned global business curriculum and outstanding faculty.

School Says - Admissions
Varies by program. Please inquire with Thunderbird School of Global ManagementÂ's Admissions department at admissions@thunderbird.edu for more details.

Students Say - Academics
Offering the "#1 ranked global MBA" in the United States," with 44 percent of students hailing from abroad, the Thunderbird School of Graduate Management reflects the "melting pot of the global community." Due to the school's "excellent reputation, top ranking in international specialization, good mix of corporate social responsibility, [and] distance education options," Thunderbird offers "a truly global curriculum that prepares graduates to enter a global business environment." With students matriculating from over 50 countries, Thunderbird MBAs are "very willing to help each other and create a strong learning atmosphere; are truly passionate about global business; are well-traveled and informed about social issues; [and are] committed to sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and creating good around the world." As one MBA explains, "When students are asked ‘Where are you from?' the typical answer is, ‘It is complicated'" Much like their students, professors at Thunderbird are "passionate and thought-provoking; they breathe ambition into me and my cohorts by holding us to high standards." Academically, the program is "very challenging." The "global curriculum, access to quality professors with diverse backgrounds, exposure to foreign cultures, and a mandatory second language requirement," "stretches you and causes you to grow as a leader." In addition, students are "ethnically diverse" and bring "various work experiences from many countries" to the classroom. "While the professors are incredible," some feel "the administration is not studentfocused" and can be "somewhat unorganized and rigid." Says, another, "There have been several occasions where their decisions or inaction have left students high and dry." Students band together however to initiate change. As one MBA says, "this school's greatest asset, I think, is its student culture of camaraderie and solidarity."

Students Say - Admissions
To apply to Thunderbird, students must submit a completed application including three personal essays, GMAT scores and (for international students) TOEFL test scores, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and a resume. Because a large portion of Thunderbird course work is driven by case studies and practical, hands-on examples, students must have at least 2 years of professional work experience to be considered for the program.

Students Say - Campus Life
Students at Thunderbird "come from every walk of life, continent, culture, [and] functional background you can imagine." An "optimistic, active, intelligent" set, the student body is "very diverse, [and] well-traveled." Most "have lived outside the U.S. for most of their lives and most speak at least two languages." As one student says, "[E]ach person is unique. Everyone has a very different story." What they have in common is that they all "want to make a difference in the world." Thunderbird MBAs are "interested in positions in NGO's, government, entrepreneurship, as well as corporat[ions], [and] want to live and work in other countries." Despite their diversity, students are united by a desire for seeking adventure; "The best thing is everyone has a great sense of humor. We're all hard working and nobody makes excuses. We help each other out a lot and push everyone to succeed." School life "is fantastic. It's a small campus, but a welcome[ing] one." Club activities are "very active. We have Regional Night such as Asian Night, American Night, African Night, where we can experience diverse culture[s] with food and performances." In addition, there are "plenty of networking events and social/athletic activities. The campus has a pub located on campus that enables social interaction. Every time you meet with a new cohort from a different part of the world at the pub you get a feeling that you are transported to an alternate part of the globe." Others say "life [at Thunderbird] is largely dedicated to studies." "The workload keeps you in the library or locked in team meetings. Lunch is a social experience and [then it's] off to class with time for sports later and [attending] the big thing on campus." Some say hometown Glendale can be a bit of a "dull town. . .but that keeps us from being distracted from studies." Others reflect on it differently: "[B]ecause I want to work for good grades, school is busy. I also love learning." Students say the facilities and infrastructure could some updating; "the buildings are really old, and until some time ago there was no wi-fi. Students studying remotely say the school could make efforts to "improve remote access to TA and other on-campus programs for commuters."

Students Say - Careers
The Career Management Center actively initiates relationships with Thunderbird MBA students from Day One. Students meet with a career counselor before even beginning course work. However, students say "the Career Center has a tough challenge: Hundreds of students from over 50 countries all trying to find jobs in different industries. If you know exactly what you're looking for, they're fantastic. But they're stretched too thin to handle the workload." However, any strain on the Career Management Center is easily countered by "strong networking and alumni connections." In 2009, 61 percent of full-time MBA students seeking employment had secured positions within three months of graduation with a mean base salary of $76,309. Top employers included: Johnson & Johnson, Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, FDIC, American Express, and Cisco.

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