Earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is a popular step for individuals looking to advance in their business careers. But for many incoming MBA students—whether they have just earned their undergraduate degree or are experienced professionals looking to build their skills—getting ready to take on graduate-level business studies can seem intimidating.
Fortunately, Bryant University helps students acclimate with a preliminary MBA orientation boot camp.
“We’re going to teach you a whole bunch of concepts and frameworks,” says Michael Roberto, AB, MBA, DBA, and trustee professor of management at Bryant, about the school’s boot camp. “But we’re also going to teach you how to think about a difficult business problem, marshal data, analyze evidence, and develop a coherent argument. That’s the most important thing to remember.”
For those considering earning an MBA, here’s what to expect from Bryant University’s MBA boot camp and how it helps students get the most out of the school’s One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs.
What Does an MBA Orientation Boot Camp Entail?
An MBA orientation boot camp is a short, information-intensive class that introduces entering students to what it’s like to be an MBA student. Typically, MBA boot camps and orientations last just a couple of days. In that time, students attend lectures and take part in hands-on projects that help them build the skills they need to succeed in today’s business classroom.
During an MBA boot camp, students learn about:
- Data analysis tools and other technologies they will be using
- Business research skills and resources
- Communicating and working with peers and instructors
- Case analysis
- Leadership philosophies and strategies
At Bryant University, students enrolled in the on-campus One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs participate in a two-day boot camp called MBA 515: Management Concepts and Skills.
Typically, this one-credit-hour class is led by one of Bryant’s experienced instructors, and takes place on two consecutive days from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day. The exact time, date, and instructor may vary between semesters—the fall 2025 orientation session was led by lecturer Robert Massoud, MBA, and took place on a Friday and Saturday in late August.
Students enrolled in Bryant’s Online MBA program have their own orientation called GRO 550: Online Strategies for Success. In this one-credit-hour class, students meet Bryant’s online support team, learn strategies for succeeding in an online learning environment, and come up with their own success plans. Bryant also offers the IDEA program, a three-day boot camp that introduces all on-campus undergraduate freshmen to concepts in innovation and design thinking.
How Does the Orientation Boot Camp Prepare Students for the MBA Program?
To help students acclimate to the program, Bryant’s MBA orientation features hands-on case analysis and team-building exercises. At the end of the orientation, students also complete a group project and present it to the class. This not only gets students comfortable with the curriculum but also introduces them to their new support network: their fellow students.
“It helps reassure you and makes you more excited when you know that it’s not just you, that you’re part of a team," alum Crawford Stricker, MBA class of 2025, says of Bryant’s MBA orientation.
And, according to Veronica Wallace, Bryant undergraduate class of 2023 and MBA class of 2024, “The final presentation might have been the most valuable part of the boot camp for me. To have the chance to present and see what the MBA program is really like—and to figure out how to handle tough challenges together with my group—is incredibly beneficial.”
What Does the MBA Curriculum Include?
After students complete their MBA orientation at Bryant, they dive right into a curriculum built around skills they can use in any sector and in any of a wide range of positions. Along the way, they complete hands-on projects that help them master these new skills so they can apply them immediately in their current roles.
To help students gain such skills, the curricula for Bryant’s on-campus MBA programs include classes on topics such as:
- Leading effective organizations
- Managing information resources
- Managing financial resources
- Value formation through operations
- Mastering strategic analysis
Outside of those core topics, students in the on-campus One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs can specialize and take electives in an area such as business analytics, fintech, global supply chain, or international business.
Bryant’s Online MBA students complete similar coursework in topics such as management principles, strategic marketing, finance and accounting fundamentals, and global business. These students can specialize in leadership, innovative healthcare leadership, or general management.
To add a real-world edge to the curriculum, on-campus students complete a practicum with one of Bryant’s partner organizations in the private or nonprofit sector, or they can opt to participate in Bryant’s Global Immersion Experience, which allows students to travel and connect with executives in another country.
Prepare to Advance in Your Career in a Supportive Community Built Around Your Goals
By offering an intensive, skills-oriented boot camp, Bryant University empowers each of its Master of Business Administration students to take their career in a new, exciting direction. Before they begin the boot camp, however, they get to choose how they will earn their degree.
Students who want to be immersed in a supportive and hands-on learning environment can choose from the full-time One-Year MBA program or the part-time Two-Year MBA program, both of which offer small class sizes and a cohort-based approach.
Those who need a little more flexibility can enroll in the Online MBA program, which allows students to complete their coursework when and where they want. And with the six- to nine-month Mini-MBA Graduate Certificate program, even the busiest professionals can have the opportunity to grow their leadership skills.
Whichever option they choose, Bryant University’s MBA students get the full support of the school’s experienced faculty, its supportive staff, and their new peers. To find out more, request information from Bryant University today.