BYU Marriott

History

The Brigham Young Academy was established on Oct. 16, 1875. After facing a series of setbacks and financial crisis, the Academy moved to its new campus on University Avenue in 1891. In 1903, the academy acquired its official name Brigham Young University. BYU bought 17 acres of land from Provo called Temple Hill in 1904, but construction for the first building Karl G. Maeser Memorial started only in 1909. Franklin S. Harris was appointed the University’s first president in 1921. Dallin H. Oaks proposed plans for a new School of Management when he became the President. The MBA program was added in the year 1961.

MISSION STATEMENT

Attract, develop and place men and women of faith, character, and professional ability who will become outstanding leaders capable of dealing with change in a competitive global environment.

Core Strengths of the School

The BYU MBA program aims at providing a comprehensive management education to the students in an attempt to transform them into innovative business leaders who are able to meet the challenges of the global business environment. The School ensures that the participants are well-equipped to take on leadership and managerial positions in a dynamic and ever-changing global business world. During the first year of the MBA program, students are given strong background knowledge of the business strategies, concepts and practices through the core classes taught by the brightest minds around the world. Students are also trained on managerial skills so that they develop critical and analytical thinking approach when faced with crucial business challenges. A full-time internship program between the first and second year enables the students to get hands-on experience of the theoretical concepts they learnt in the classroom during the first year. In the second year, the students choose elective courses that are in alignment with their long-term goals. Instructors evaluate the learning outcomes of each student for each course to make an assessment of the knowledge and skills the student has acquired, and whether there is room for any improvement. They identify the areas of strengths and weaknesses of the students and come up with a revised plan so that the students can accomplish the expected learning outcomes. The intimate class setting inculcates a collaborative and team-oriented approach among students while solving business problems. Working together in teams, students develop a sense of cooperation among themselves and learn to support each other in achieving the group goals as well as personal goals.

Uniqueness in MBA Pedagogy

The BYU MBA program provides ample of opportunities for the students to implement their theoretical learning to a real-life practical situation. Students collaborate in teams over consulting projects for eminent clients like Microsoft, Intel, etc., where they work under the guidance of a renowned faculty member who has expertise in the area to be addressed. Students have worked on numerous field projects across a broad spectrum of topics from almost all disciplines in business, namely, marketing research, strategy, finance, supply chain, global business, etc. While working on many such projects, students have travelled abroad to countries like Brazil, Chile, China and Mexico, where they have immersed themselves into the business practices and strategies of these countries and developed an understanding of the business needs of another country. Before the beginning of summer internships, students indulge themselves in social venture consulting projects, where they implement their skills in social enterprises, thus aiding them in serving their clients better. Students have worked with social enterprises serving in the micro-business, health, education and employment streams belonging to countries such as Ghana, Mexico and Paraguay. Students travelled to these countries and developed their understanding on economic self reliance through this experience. BYU organizes annual Social Venture Competition SVC, where the students design, develop and implement business plans addressing the social needs of the society in areas such as employment, education, health, agriculture and poverty. Students are also encouraged to participate in national and international business case competitions, where they can put their skills to test and acquire hands-on experience. The Miller New Venture Challenge NVC gives an opportunity to the students to present their entrepreneurial ideas regarding their startup ventures. NVC is the country’s top student startup competition that awards cash prizes and helps the winning teams launch their dream ventures successfully.

The Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology unleashes the creativity and innovative potential of its students and creates a supportive and encouraging environment for them to take their entrepreneurial dreams forward. The Center conducts workshops, conferences, lectures and competitions that boost the entrepreneurial spirit of the students and the timely guidance from the mentors, who are experts in their fields, help them build the foundation of their dream enterprise.

CONCENTRATIONS OFFERED

LOCATION ADVANTAGES

The Marriott School of Management is located at Provo, Utah, which is the largest city and county seat of Utah County. Business thrives in Provo and the city is home to numerous companies working in the field of IT, Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences. The Convey Center for Arts is a performing arts center that features plays, ballets, art showcases and musical performances throughout the year. The Provo Recreation Center houses several aquatic recreational activities. The Provo Utah temple located at the base of Rock Canyon pulls a huge crowd due to its proximity to BYU and the Missionary Training Center. Students can indulge in outdoor activities hiking, rock climbing, biking and disc golf during their leisure time.

CAREER SUPPORT

The School’s Career Center is committed towards crafting the career path of the students. Each first-year student is paired with a second-year student called the Sherpa. The Sherpas help the first year students explore the various career paths available in-front of them and aid them in deciding the career path that best aligns with their long-term goals. The BYU Career Center provides one-on-one assistance to each student through their career coaches and placement officers. The Center helps students in forming crucial bonds with the alumni of the School who bridge the gap between the graduate school and needs of the employer. The placement officers link the students with the core companies that hire BYU graduates, thus increasing their employment opportunities.