UMD Smith Launches Accelerated One-Year Full-Time MBA Program

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business will launch an accelerated one‑year, Full‑Time MBA program beginning in summer 2027, alongside Smith's existing two‑year MBA, as a faster, high‑ROI pathway for early‑career professionals seeking career acceleration, AI fluency and real‑world leadership experience.

The redesign modernizes the traditional MBA format to meet shifting employer expectations and rising demand for flexible, time‑efficient graduate education.

The new format positions Maryland's MBA within a national movement toward accelerated MBAs offered alongside traditional two‑year programs. Unlike many peer offerings—which rely on credit waivers, prior graduate coursework, or narrow specialization tracks—Maryland's one‑year MBA is purpose‑built, says Rosellina Ferraro, PhD, Associate Dean of MBA Programs. "It is a full MBA redesigned for the AI era, not a compressed version of the two‑year model. The program does not require an undergraduate business degree, specialty master's background, or transferable credits, increasing accessibility for early‑career professionals with diverse academic and industry backgrounds."

Anchored in a "leadership for a rewired world" theme, the curriculum prepares graduates to thrive amid intelligent technologies, climate and financial disruptions, and global supply‑chain realignment. AI tools are fully integrated across coursework, with students developing universal fluency in modern systems and large language models, learning how emerging technologies reshape functional business areas, and producing tech‑supported work products throughout the program.

"The world our graduates are entering has been fundamentally reshaped by intelligent technologies, geopolitical realignment, and persistent economic and climate disruptions," says Smith School Dean Prabhudev Konana. "This one‑year MBA is built for that reality. We designed a program that accelerates career growth while giving students the AI fluency, analytical discipline, and executional experience required to lead in complex, high‑stakes environments. It reflects our commitment to preparing leaders who can navigate uncertainty, create value responsibly, and strengthen the communities and organizations they serve."

The one‑year MBA includes Execution Labs, the program's action‑based learning spine. The labs facilitate experiential learning with corporate partners, emphasizing technology‑enabled problem‑solving, value creation, risk and resilience management, decision quality and judgment, entrepreneurial action, and strategic judgment in a global, tech‑transformed context.

Students engage in Execution Lab courses throughout the entire program, producing professional‑grade deliverables that demonstrate executional credibility and real-world implementability. Across the labs, students also develop advanced communication skills, learning to sell products, ideas, and initiatives through concise, evidence‑based messaging to diverse stakeholders.

"Our redesigned MBA gives students multiple pathways to succeed—whether they want a fast, focused one‑year experience or the broader exploration offered by the two‑year format," Ferraro says. "What unites both options is a curriculum built around modern leadership: AI‑enabled problem solving, evidence‑based decision making, and the ability to execute under real‑world constraints. Students leave Maryland with the confidence and capability to lead in environments defined by technology, uncertainty, and constant change."

Prospective students can schedule a Full-Time MBA Virtual Consultation and go to UMD's Graduate Application Portal. For more information, contact the MBA and Business Master's Admissions Office at 301-405-2559 or [email protected].

About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master's, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

Contact: Greg Muraski, [email protected]

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SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business