Flexible MBA | Evening and weekend MBA | Berkeley Haas (2023)

Learn more about Flex

What is Flex?

• The Flex cohort is one of five cohorts in the Berkeley Haas Evening and Weekend MBA program.
• The Flex cohort will have all of their core courses in an online format consisting of roughly half synchronous (live classes) and half asynchronous (recorded content, discussion forums, etc.) content - with the exception of orientation, the leadership communications weekend immersion, and the final course Mid Program Academic Review – all will be in person.
  
  • We start:This is the required evening and weekend MBA orientation, held Friday through Sunday over a weekend in late July on the Haas campus. Students from all cohorts are expected to attend this entire orientation in person to begin the evening and weekend MBA program. Hotel rooms are provided free of charge to all five cohorts.
  • leadership communication: This core course is taught as a weekend immersion for the Flex cohort during the second half of your second semester, Friday through Sunday. The course takes place in person at Haas. Hotel rooms are provided free of charge to Flex students.
  • Academic review of the middle program: This is a compulsory weekend immersion focusing on the core course “Communication in Different Environments” for the entire evening and weekend course. It is taught externally, usually at a Napa Valley resort, Friday through Sunday during the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend in January of your fourth semester. Hotel rooms are provided free of charge to all five cohorts.
• Electives can be taken either online or in person. For face-to-face classes, we offer electives on a weekday or on a Saturday. For online electives, schedules vary based on faculty availability.

What is the difference between selecting an evening or weekend cohort and selecting the flex cohort?

• The Flex cohort has online core classes. Core classes are taken in the first three semesters of the traditional 6-semester, three-year program.
• Flex cohort core courses include synchronous and asynchronous material weekly. Synchronized classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Students have approximately four additional hours of asynchronous content per week.
• The other cohorts are taught in person on the UC Berkeley Haas campus and meet either two evenings a week or all Saturday.

Is the ending the same?

Yes. The Flex cohort is part of our Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program, which gives you the same life-changing Berkeley MBA degree as all our other top-level MBA programs.

What are the flex classroom courses or signature events?

• WE Launch (required): This is the required evening and weekend MBA orientation, held Friday through Sunday over a weekend in late July and includes all cohorts. Hotel rooms are provided for all students.
• Executive Communication (required): This core course is taught as a weekend immersion for the flex cohort from Friday to Sunday on a weekend in the second half of your second semester. The course takes place in person at Haas. Hotel rooms are provided for Flex students.
• RE-Start (optional): This is a Friday-Sunday weekend immersion on a weekend in October of your third semester on campus in Haas. Portions are open to all evening and weekend MBA students, but there will be an additional program for Flex cohort students. The weekend is designed as an opportunity for the Flex cohort to meet face-to-face with their fellow Flex students and other evening and weekend MBA students. Hotel rooms are provided for all Flex students.
• Mid-Program Academic Review (required): This is a weekend immersion focused on the core course Communication in Diverse Environments for the entire evening and weekend MBA course. It is taught externally, usually at a Napa Valley resort, Friday through Sunday during the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend in January of your fourth semester. Hotel rooms are made available to all students free of charge.
• lead WE (optional): Optional weekend celebration and MBA experience wrap-up held in May of the class's senior year. This immersive experience is open to all evening and weekend MBA students.

Will I get the same impact as the traditional Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program?

The Flex program is designed to replicate the in-person MBA experience without having to commute to the Berkeley campus. Core classes are taught by the same pool of Haas tenure track faculty. In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in Haas' after-school activities and career development resources virtually and on campus.

Do I have to stay in the flex cohort plan the whole time? Can I take courses on campus?

You can take personal electives once you have completed the required core courses online.

Can I accelerate my studies and complete the program in less than 3 years?

• Absolutely. Please contact your academic advisor well in advance to schedule an accelerated program.
• Students who graduate in less than six semesters often take summer electives in addition to the more than 6 or 7 elective units per semester on average.

What percentage of online courses will be synchronous (live classroom sessions) versus asynchronous (recorded content, discussion forums, etc.)?

Core classes are expected to consist of approximately half synchronous content and half asynchronous content. Electives may deviate from this distribution depending on the subject area.

What computer equipment do I need to participate?

• You need a device that supports video conferencing.
• Faculty expects all students to be on camera during class, so you should also have access to a stable broadband internet connection.
• Special headphones also help with the online experience.

How are team projects processed?

• The Evening & Weekend MBA Program Office organizes study teams within each cohort for core classes. Group projects are carried out with your study team.
• These assigned study teams will continue throughout your first year of core courses.
• The members of your assigned study team will all be part of your flex cohort.
• After the first year of core courses, students from all cohorts organize themselves into their own study teams as needed in the remaining core courses and electives.

How often do I have to be on campus?

• You must attend these courses and events in person:
  • We start: This is the required evening and weekend MBA orientation, held Friday through Sunday over a weekend in late July on the Haas campus.Students from all cohorts are expected to attend this entire orientation in person to begin the evening and weekend MBA program. Hotel rooms are provided free of charge to all five cohorts.
  • leadership communication: This core course will be taught as a mandatory weekend immersion for the Flex cohort during the second half of your second semester, Friday through Sunday. The course takes place in person at Haas. Hotel rooms are provided for Flex students.
  • Academic review of the middle program: This is a compulsory immersion weekend focusing on the core course, Business Communications in Diverse Environments, for the whole class. It is taught externally, usually at a Napa Valley resort, Friday through Sunday during the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend in January of your fourth semester. Hotel rooms are provided for all five cohorts.

• Optional events:
  • RE-Start: This is a Friday-Sunday weekend immersion on a weekend in October of your third semester on campus in Haas. Portions are open to all evening and weekend MBA students, but there will be an additional program for Flex cohort students. The weekend is designed as an opportunity for the Flex cohort to meet face-to-face with their Flex classmates and other evening and weekend students. Hotel rooms are provided for all Flex students.
  • we lead: Optional weekend celebration and MBA experience wrap-up held in May of the class's senior year. This immersive experience is open to all evening and weekend MBA students.

Are exams online or on campus?

• Flex classes may have online exams.
• Personal electives may have either online or in-person exams at the discretion of the teacher.

What if I can't attend one of the mandatory Signature Event weekends? can i do it online

• In-person attendance for the entire WE Launch weekend is mandatory to begin your Haas MBA and cannot be waived.
• If you are unable to attend one of the other compulsory courses, you must contact your study advisor immediately to find out about your options.

Do I have to register at certain times?

Yes. As part of the Flex cohort, you will have weekly sessions in each of your core classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 6pm PST.

If I'm in the Flex cohort, can I take personal electives after completing my core courses?

And.

If I'm in one of the evening or weekend cohorts, can I take online electives after my core courses are completed?

Yes, but Flex cohort students will receive the first offer for the online electives.

Does the Flex option use the same application?

Yes. It is the same application as our Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program as it is part of the same program - just a new cohort option that offers remote access.

Do I have to do the GMAT/GRE/EA?

Yes. The same standards apply as the Flex cohort is part of the Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program.

How many places are available in the Flex cohort? Who gets priority?

Like all evening and weekend cohorts, approximately 70 students are enrolled in the Flex cohort. Students are admitted regardless of cohort preference and assigned to cohorts based on space availability. Although we reserve some spots for applicants in each round, we cannot guarantee that many spots will be available in later rounds. If you have a preference or need for a specific cohort, we encourage you to apply in earlier rounds to increase your chances of being first-choice.

Is my admission contingent/influenced by my cohort preference?

No. The admission decision is made independently of your cohort preference. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to honor your cohort preference when renewing your admission offer. Therefore, if you have a strong preference or need for a particular cohort, we encourage you to apply in earlier rounds to increase your chances of being the first choice.

Can I only apply for the Flex cohort?

No. You are applying to the Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program and must meet the same competitive standards regardless of which cohort you join (Flex, Evenings or Weekends). If you are only able to participate in the Flex cohort, please indicate this in the cohort preference section of your application. If you are only able to attend the Flex cohort, we encourage you to apply in earlier rounds as there may be significantly fewer places available later in the application cycle.

When are the application deadlines?

Theapplication deadlinesare not specific to Flex. They are the same for all cohorts in the Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program.

Does it matter in which round I apply?

Although we reserve some spots for applicants in each round, space may be limited in later rounds. If you strongly prefer or need the Flex cohort, we recommend applying in earlier rounds to increase your chances of getting your first pick.

How is this different from an online MBA?

• Almost all "online" MBAs are taught asynchronously, using recorded lectures and other online asynchronous teaching tools (simulations, discussion forums, etc.).
• The Flex cohort can expect extensive synchronous engagement with Haas faculty in the regularly scheduled distance learning sessions.

How are the tasks handed in?

Our learning management platform bCourses (based on the Canvas application) has straightforward upload processes for required achievements, in addition to online discussion forums that can be used to increase asynchronous engagement.

Will the flex cohort have access to the same faculty?

• Yes. All Flex courses are taught by the same faculty that teach our face-to-face courses.

Can I meet my professors in person, by phone or online?

You can arrange office hours with your professors in a mutually acceptable format.

Can I expect group work?

Because Berkeley Haas faculty emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, you will be part of a study team of approximately five students. Each team is selected to bring diverse professional backgrounds to ensure you learn from and with people with diverse perspectives and skills.

Can I come to campus on non-mandatory weekends for clubs, speakers, events, and social gatherings?

• Yes. You are welcome on campus whenever you want.
• You have the same access as other MBA students to all Haas and UC Berkeley campus events.

How do I receive my books?

• Students are responsible for obtaining their own textbooks, which are listed in the syllabuses.
• We offer free access to other materials (articles, case studies, simulations, etc.) assigned by the faculty.

Will accommodation be provided for the mandatory signing events?

• Yes. We provide accommodation and meals at no additional cost.
• We also offer transportation from the hotel to the campus at the beginning and end of each day.

Do Flex cohort members pay different fees than other cohorts in the Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program?

No. Thefeesare the same as for all cohorts of our Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program.

Are there out-of-state tuition fees?

No. There is no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition fees.

Are Flex cohort students eligible for financial aid and scholarships?

Yes. Check out the available onesgrantsfor evening and weekend MBA students.

Can I use recruitment services on campus?

Can I join clubs?

How do I network with my evening and weekend MBA peers?

• The required in-person events are designed to provide important bonding and networking opportunities for all students enrolled in the Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program.
• Electives are a great way to meet fellow students. The dual electives with the full-time MBA program and the executive MBA program are also great networking opportunities.
• In addition, the Evening and Weekend MBA Association leadership works on evening and weekend social and networking events for all MBA students.
• Career Management Group events and workshops, alumni relations events, Haas student clubs and organizations, and regular Haas hosted events such as theDean's Speaker seriesare also great opportunities to network with Berkeley Haas students in all MBA programs.