The full-time MBA programs, or day MBA programs, are generally two year programs, during which students take no less than nine (depending on the business school) core courses, as well as a number of complement courses (electives), which will be necessary for their future career. The core courses cover the most fundamental areas of management and organizations, accounting, finance, management and strategy, and some other vital business spheres.
During the first year, the full time MBA students should complete all the required core courses and take no less than three additional required core courses. The students apply what they have learned during the first year in the integrative exercises, connected with narrow business themes. The themes can include Analysis of Capabilities and Resources, Monitoring the Marketplace and External Environment, Formulating Strategy, Implementing Strategy and Assessing Firm Performance. Thus, the integrative exercises are the experience of putting the students' knowledge into effect and a possibility to learn how to solve complex business problems. The methods, used in the full time MBA programs, are a case-study method, work in small groups (teams) and cooperation. Therefore, the students begin to realize and apply the major factors of any business success. The full-time MBA programs pay much attention to the development of skills, especially needed by the top employers, including human skills and the skills of strong team play. During the summer period, it is necessary to complete the internship.
As far as the elective courses are concerned, the business schools constantly renew them and annually a bigger offer is given.
The most popular electives are Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Complex Deals, Equity Valuation, Financial Statement Analysis, Tax Strategy Finance, Macroeconomics, Financial Management Decisions and Applications, Fundamental Principles of Corporate Finance, Investment Banking, Real Estate Process Innovation and Sustainable Enterprise, IT and Business Innovation, Sustainable Enterprise, Strategy in the New Economy, Business Demographics,
Global Context of Business Management, Corporate Strategy, International Business, Leading Organizational Change Negotiations, Power, Politics and Leadership Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Data, Tools and Analysis and many more.
However, there is much critic today, concerning the full-time MBA programs. The reason is that many alternatives have appeared recently and many experts consider these alternatives more beneficial than the full time programs. The majority of other programs are those, which the candidate combines his regular work responsibilities, thus, having an opportunity to apply his knowledge directly to his work. The full time MBA programs are blamed today for the isolation from real business, when as much the students learn, so much they forget, since they do not have a regular practice. Nevertheless, the highly competitive full time MBA programs are still the primary candidates' choice and the accusation seems rather groundless, when there are special conditions organized on campus to provide the students with real business practice.