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STEM MBA Programs

STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Thus, the curriculum of a STEM program requires knowledge of disciplines in the technical domain, or, if your chosen discipline is congruent to any of the four mentioned technical realms, you can opt for a STEM degree.

Ideally, MS programs in particular disciplines used to be STEM-designated. However, many USA based B-schools also offer STEM curriculum to its MBA students with a background in STEM. A STEM MBA program, thus, not only builds your business management skills but also provides the best meeting point for your technical skills as well as business and leadership skills. In other words, if you hold an MS degree or are planning to opt for an MS, you are only looking to upscale your existing skill-set in the particular discipline. However, if you desire to simultaneously nurture your business skills and your knowledge of the technical domain, you must opt for the STEM-designated MBA programs. STEM designation is accorded to select MBA programs by the US Department of Homeland Security.

US Schools Offering the STEM MBA

The following US B-schools, listed according to ranks, offer STEM MBA programs:

Harvard Business School
The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business
University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School of Business
Standford Graduate School of Business
Columbia Business School
University of California, Berkeley – Haas School of Business
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ross)
University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth Charlton College of Business
Duke University – Fuqua School of Business
New York University – Stern School of Business
University of Virginia – Darden School of Business
Cornell University – SC Johnson College of Business (Cornell Tech)
UCLA – Anderson School of Management
Carnegie Mellon University – Tepper School of Business
University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business
University of North California – Chapel Hill – Kenan-Flagler School of Business
University of South California – Marshall School of Business
Washington University in St Louis – Olin Business School
The Ohio State University – Fisher College of Business
University of California – Davis
Indiana University – Kelley School of Business
Rice University – Jones Graduate School of Business
Scheller School of Business – Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgetown University – McDonough School of Business
Vanderbilt University – Owen Graduate School of Management
University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Business
University of Georgia – Terry College of Business
Southern Methodist University – Cox School of Business
Boston University – Questrom School of Business
University of Rochester – Simon Business School
University of Pittsburgh – Joseph M. Katz Graduate Business School
George Washington University
Rutgers Business School
Iowa State University – Ivy College of Business
Raymond A. Mason School of Business – William and Mary
Babson College
Fordham University – Gabelli School of Business
University of Connecticut
Miami Herbert Business School – University of Miami
Weatherhead School of Management
Syracuse University – Whitman School of Management
University of Delaware – Lerner College of Business and Economics
Pace University – Lubin School of Business
University of North Texas – Ryan College of Business
University of Maryland – Smith School of Business
Binghamton University – School of Management
University of San Diego – Knauss School of Business

What is a STEM MBA?

The STEM-designated MBA helps you use your technical prowess within the business domain. US schools have radically updated their curriculum to allow their MBA applicants the advantage of opting for STEM MBA programs following the recent executive order that restricted employment for the H-1B visa holders. As the scopes of post-grad employment in the US slackened, students started opting for programs that offered them better career opportunities. Consequently, the US schools had to ensure that the students applying for their programs received the best skill-building opportunity with them. Undoubtedly, in a world that is fast becoming dependent on technology for all its functions, a STEM MBA would be the best skill-building education any individual can opt for: as a professional seeking to lead critical business decisions in the long-run, being acquainted with the nuances of business analytics, information technology, economics, strategy and management, decision theory, and financial engineering would definitely prove beneficial.

According to a study, there will be a shortage of 1.1 Million professionals in the STEM segment if grad schools do not encourage STEM disciplines with their courses. Thus, US-based schools must train their students in STEM disciplines to ascertain that capable and competent individuals continue to impact the realm of technology and business. Many US schools have readily improved their curriculum to include STEM programs, for instance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan received STEM designation for 2 of its Masters courses – Business Analytics and Finance and Simon Rochester upgraded all of its MBA specialization offerings to become STEM-designated programs.

If you want to know your best MBA fit, apply with an expert MBA Admissions Consultant.

The Advantages of a STEM MBA

The market is volatile and the competition to read, analyze, and strategize such industry trends are always on the high. In such a scenario, a STEM-designated MBA will give you the edge over others by allowing you to reach the perfect amalgamation of your business and technical skills. The advantages of opting for a STEM-designated MBA are discussed below:

Employment Scope

Reportedly, the US employment market is experiencing a dearth of skilled STEM professionals. Further, with the implementation of the stricter US immigration control rules, the US schools are suffering from a lack of international applicants to their specific programs. Thus, STEM-designated MBA allows a scope to the deserving professionals to learn from the best faculty, partake of the best curriculum, avail of the best learning opportunities, and ultimately lead the realm of technology industry or apply technical particulars to analyze, strategize, and take crucial business decisions.

Career prospects for STEM MBAs

  • Data-driven Technology: With the market gradually shifting to data-driven technology, the need for efficient business leaders, educated in the nitty-gritty of data science are also on an increase.
  • Internet of Things (IoT): Smart technology is the rule of life and living nowadays. With Artificial Intelligence being developed and deployed to help the common man live a happy, easy life, the software industry is on the lookout for professionals who are trained in programming and command the insights of a successful business leader.
  • Cyber Security: If the world moves towards being data-dependent, the industry cannot do without top-notch cyber security systems. Naturally, STEM MBA empowered professionals become the best choice to lead this segment of the industry.
  • Energy Resource: As the energy resources are fast depleting, we are in need of sustainable solutions that reverse the process of depletion of natural resources and invent alternative sources of energy. Knowledge of the sciences as well as the ability to assess market impacts of industry will be beneficial in this regard.

F1 Visa Extensions for STEM MBAs

International students can avail of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program in the USA and stay and work, post-graduation, without the H-1B visa, for a period of 12 months. However, a STEM-designated MBA provides them the opportunity to extend their stay without the H1-B visa to 36 months. That is, a STEM-designated MBA will extend your scopes to avail of OPT for additional 2 years, a time you can use to build upon your experience and establish relations in the industry.

STEM MBA Eligibility Requirements

It is not necessary that all MBA applicants will belong to a science and technical background. Further, applicants opting for specific MBA concentrations such as HR or for General Management may not be interested in pursuing a curriculum with a mix of science and business fundamentals. Thus, the STEM MBA is perfectly suited for candidates with an academic background in the disciplines of science and technology.

B-Schools with STEM MBA programs

Provided below is an exhaustive list of the prominent B-schools offering STEM MBA programs, along with a detailed description of the curriculum and program requirements for each program:

According to Poets and Quants, the following B-schools offer STEM-designated MBA programs:

Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School offers two STEM-designated MS/MBA programs in Biotechnology. However, while one was launched in 2018, the second one started in 2020.

  1. Harvard launched the STEM-designated MS/MBA in Biotechnology: Life Science Joint degree in August 2020. Administered jointly by the Harvard Business School (HBS) and the Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), this will be a two-year full-time MS/MBA program. If you decide to pursue this program, you will be conferred with both MBA (from HBS) and MS (from GSAS) degrees, through the Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (HSCRB). Thus, this exhaustive program will help you simultaneously understand the approaches of science and the relation between medicine and entrepreneurship in the healthcare system. You will transform to a leader capable of uniting the different aspects of science and business to transform the face of the healthcare industry. If you have academic experience in science or medicine or have made significant contribution to the world of biotechnology and research and are looking for a significant thrust in career or a platform to meaningfully contribute to the healthcare industry, the Harvard MS/MBA program in Biotechnology is the perfect program for you. What makes applying for the program all the more interesting is its extremely narrow cohort size of only 10. Thus, you will receive training from the best minds and realize your creative and business potential with the best intellectually invigorated group.
  2. Harvard’s STEM-designated MS/MBA in Biotechnology: Life Sciences program is a joint program administered by Harvard Business School and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. The purpose of this joint training program is to enable the students assist businesses and non-profits that perform potential medical research. Thus, equipped with the understanding of both the world of medicine and research and business, the students graduating with the Harvard MS/MBA degree will be able to analyze and suggest on the cost implications, ROI, legal, social, medical ramifications of conducting research in the field of medicine as well as ideate strategies to capitalize upon lucrative opportunities for business expansion in the field of life-science. A well-structured curriculum combining the provision of hands-on lab experience, training in the fundamentals of business management including finance, economics, strategy, market, operations, and ethical decision-making, and scope for internships and on-job training provides the best all-round professional development that is crucial to making significant advances in the industry of life sciences.

The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business

Chicago Booth has updated its curriculum to extend the STEM MBA benefit to all of its graduates, since June, 2019. Thus, Booth MBAs will now have the opportunity to avail of the OPT benefits and thereby apply for further 24 months of professional training. In effect, this update in curriculum and the extended OPT scope will allow the Booth MBA graduates the opportunity to stay and work in the thriving business center and build a stronger professional expertise.

University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School of Business

The curriculum of Wharton MBA mandates that you take on at least 1 Major. Interestingly, Wharton provides STEM-designation for its 6 Majors. These include the following:

  1. STEM-designated Business Analytics Major – If you are planning on making or strengthening your a career in the operations, marketing, accounting, and finance sectors, opt for Business Analytics as a Major. While data science has come to play an integral role in business decisions, the STEM designation ensures that you own an edge in this competitive sector.
  2. STEM-designated Business Economics and Public Policy Major – This is an interesting Major to opt for if you are seeking multi-disciplinary knowledge and a career in international organizations and governments in sectors such as international corporations and commercial affairs or in domestic government roles in functions such as urban economic policy, public finance, consulting, private business affairs. Thus, you can complete the 3 of the 4 required credit units in other Pennsylvania University schools or take on a dual Major with Finance, Real Estate, Healthcare, Marketing, and Management.
  3. STEM-designated Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability Major – The global energy sector is a prominent factor influencing key business decisions across several levels. Naturally, a multi-disciplinary option coalescing the tenets of Business, Leadership, Environment, Energy, and Sustainability and Technology will accord you the 360-degree knowledge in combing technology and managerial fundamentals to impact the energy sector and ascertain sustainable practices. This is the best Major to select if your post-MBA career goals include consulting, clean-tech, energy companies, non-profit sector, government policies, energy banking, and the like.
  4. STEM-designated Operations, Information and Decision Major – This is another cross-functional Major that you can opt for. The course gives you three distinct tracks, namely, Operations Management, Information Systems, and Decisions Processes to select specific courses from and build a curriculum suited to your learning needs. The STEM-designated Major, thus, teaches you the basics of using data science and information technology to take informed business decisions, assess and manage risks, manage operations and supply chain, and conduct smart negotiations.
  5. STEM-designated Quantitative Finance Major – Students with a strong affiliation for quantitative methods in assessing financial factors that impact business decisions and, consequently, a career interest in financial engineering, risk management and applied research, quantitative asset management and trading can apply for the STEM-designated Major in Quantitative Finance. The interesting aspect of this program is that you will be trained not only in the essentials of financial economics, global financial markets, stochastic modeling, and forecasting methods, but also in the cross-functional courses such as data science, accounting, operations, statistics, and information and decisions. Thus, you will have the option to combine the learning across the disciplines that play a crucial role in impacting industry trends on the global level.
  6. STEM-designated Statistics Major – Applied Probability Levels in Marketing, Actuarial Science, Data Analytics and Statistical Computing, Predictive Analytics for Business, Modern Regression for the Social, Behavioral, and Biological Sciences are some of the modules that you can study with Statistics as your chosen Major for Wharton MBA.

Standford Graduate School of Business

With a keen focus on analytics and data-informed decision-making, Stanford now offers STEM-designated business degrees. The two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA), the one-year Master of Science in Management (MSx), and the Ph.D. program bear the designation. The STEM-designated programs extend the OPT authorization by 2 additional years. The step has been taken to assist the students in keeping up with the dynamic international employment scenario.

Columbia Business School

In recognition of the rapid shift of business towards being data-driven, the Columbia Business School has acquired STEM-designation for both its MBA and EMBA programs. Thus, the STEM-designated Columbia MBA curriculum will teach you to apply the precepts of data, analytics, and technology to innovate, lead, and manage ideas and further your firm towards sustainable profit and growth.

University of California, Berkeley – Haas School of Business

The STEM-designated Berkeley Haas MBA is referred to as Management Science, instead of Business Administration and Management, General. Irrespective of the Haas MBA program you are applying to, which includes the Full-time MBA Program, the Executive MBA Program, and the Evening and Weekend MBA Program, you will be awarded the STEM MBA certification. As a Haas MBA graduate, you will be trained in the basics of leadership, management, data management and decision processes, design thinking, operations, marketing, and finance and economics and thereby own a cutting-edge in the industry.

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ross)

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in recognition of the importance of Data Science and Business Analytics in running business decisions, has included a STEM track in its MBA curriculum. The program mandates that besides completing the MBA core course credit requirements, students must also complete the 18 credit hours of the Ross STEM Track to avail of the OPT benefits. While the update was only released in January 2020 and the curriculum remains to be updated, the school has specified the electives of the Track as follows:

  1. Big Data Management: Tools and Techniques
  2. Marketing Engineering and Analytics
  3. FinTech: Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, and other technology innovations.

University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth Charlton College of Business

University of Massachusetts provides STEM-designated MBA with specialization in Business Analytics. While you can always opt for the MS in Business Analytics program, an MBA in Business Analytics will simultaneously train you in the discipline’s nuances and the business leadership skills and ethics. Thus, you will have a concrete career option to look forward to once you complete your graduate program.

Duke University – Fuqua School of Business

Duke Fuqua offers a STEM-designated Second Major in Management Science and Technology Management (MSTeM). Technically, this is not a concentration but a second major if you are looking to further sharpen your leadership and management skills in the realms of healthcare, consulting, technology, manufacturing, finance, and entrepreneurship.

New York University – Stern School of Business

The NYU Stern School of Business offers 2 STEM MBAs: 2-year’s Full-time MBA and 1-year focused Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA. While the NYU had acquired STEM designation for its 1-year focused Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA program in May 2019, it updated its Full-time MBA program to be STEM-designated on January 2020. Thus, the students graduating in May 2020 and later will receive the NYU Stern STEM MBA advantage. This update in the school’s curriculum comes in recognition of the need to equip its students with an understanding of the managerial and technological precepts and data0-riven tools that now govern the business sector.

University of Virginia – Darden School of Business

Darden has recently introduced its STEM-designated MBA with specialization in Management Science. Along with the focus on core disciplines, this specialization will build your quantitative and analytical skills. However, to be eligible for this specialization, you must complete 12 credit hours in the disciplines that explore your quantitative skills such as accounting, finance, marketing, economics, technology, operations, quantitative analysis, and strategy. You might consider this specialization if you are considering your post-MBA career in the realm of technology.

Cornell University – SC Johnson College of Business (Cornell Tech)

The STEM-designated Cornell Tech MBA is the apt program for you if you are looking to master the managerial and leadership tenets of this digital economy. As the program is specifically designed on according experiential learning, it offers not only STEM-designated core courses but also the scope to collaborate with cross-functional teams in Studio. It may suffice to say that the STEM Cornell Tech MBA essentially allows you the much desired 360-degree learning in business, management, technology, and leadership, the knowledge that is integral to making your mark in this highly volatile and data-driven business world.

UCLA – Anderson School of Management

UCLA Anderson School of Management has recently announced that it has received STEM certification for its Full-time, Fully-employed, and Executive MBA programs, making it among a small number of business schools to receive the designation across its MBA programs, regardless of the specializations. The step has been taken considering the necessary skills required for individuals to fit the technological advances that impact the contemporary businesses. The MBA curriculum of the school now focuses on the application of statistical modeling, data warehousing, data mining, programming, forecasting, and operations research techniques to analyse the problems of business organization and performance.

Carnegie Mellon University – Tepper School of Business

With its ever-growing emphasis on analytics and data-driven decision making, the MBA program at the Tepper School of Business has become a STEM-designated program. This change, which is among the number of changes that the school has made over the past few years to bolster students’ foundational experience in management science, reaffirms the growing interdisciplinary character of the Tepper MBA that not only brings together foundational business disciplines but also knowledge of technology, science, and engineering from the rest of Carnegie Mellon University.

University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business

The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business recently announced that 14 of its 22 concentrations offered in the full-time MBA program are now STEM certified. The idea behind this endeavor is to introduce and strengthen quantitative adequacy across the MBA program. The STEM certification primarily applies to the concentrations that focus specifically on quantitative topics. Following are the concentrations that will have STEM designation:

Management Science & Quantitative Methods degree code:

  • Information Management
  • Supply Chain & Operations Management
  • Business Analytics
  • Brand & Product Management
  • High Tech Marketing
  • Marketing Analytics & Consulting

Financial Mathematics degree code:

  • General Finance
  • Corporate Accounting
  • Investment Management
  • Corporate Finance
  • Energy Finance
  • Clean Tech
  • Private Equity
  • Real Estate Finance

The step has been taken to prepare the students to meet the demands of contemporary businesses by helping them develop advanced quantitative competence.

University of North California-Chapel Hill – Kenan-Flagler School of Business

The Kenan-Flagler MBA students can access the STEM-designated Business Analytics and Management Science Concentration. This is an interesting opportunity for the MBA graduates as with the industry adapting to technological advancements, strategic governance of business requires the leaders to be educated in the quantitative as well as technological aspects. Fintech, Prescriptive Analytics, Quantitative Methods, Customer Relationship Management, Operations and Revenue Analytics, Healthcare Analytics, Introduction to python for Business Analytics are some of the modules offered by this innovative Concentration option. That is to say, a compound knowledge of factors such as global economy, finance, strategy and management, leadership, business ethics and planning, negotiations, and data management and visualization, statistical modeling will create the perfect platform for the Kenan-Flagler MBA graduate to launch or further his/her career across industries. Moreover, as part of the experiential learning opportunity, as offered by this Concentration option, you can take on Marketing projects for firms such as ESPN, Nascar, GE, among others, as well as participate in a number of national and international consulting case competitions.

University of Southern California – Marshall School of Business

USC Marshall has introduced a STEM-designated MBA with specialization in Management Science. Along with the focus on core disciplines, this specialization will build your quantitative and analytical skills. However, to be eligible for this specialization, you must complete 63 credits in the core disciplines, including 18 credits in management science electives and general business electives that explore your quantitative skills such as accounting, finance, marketing, economics, technology, operations, quantitative analysis, and strategy. You will be eligible for this program only after completion of your USC Marshall MBA program. Further, you must also earn a cumulative USC Marshall MBA GPA of 3.0.

Washington University in St Louis – Olin Business School

To enhance the proficiency of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to help them sync the application of those disciplines in a business context, Washington University in St Louis – Olin Business School has recently introduced a STEM option for full-time MBA. The curriculum now identifies about 79 core and elective courses that would satisfy the requirements of a STEM-designated degree. At least half of a student’s required 67 credits or more would have to come from the set of 79 courses in order to earn the STEM MBA. Courses such as Quantitative Risk Management, Economics of the Organization, and Pricing Strategies constitute the list. The pivotal focus rests on encouraging a data-driven approach to develop strategies by providing a quantitative background while refining the leadership skills of the students.

The Ohio State University – Fisher College of Business

Fisher College of Business has recently announced the option of pursuing a STEM-designated specialization for Full-Time MBA students. The STEM MBA requires the students to take the same 33 credit hours of required core coursework and 27 credit hours of electives. The 60 hours of total coursework for STEM MBA students must include at least 30 credit hours of STEM content. The students must also select 12 or more credit hours of coursework from a set list of approved electives that emphasize STEM content.

The core coursework contributes 18 hours of STEM content toward the specialization. Following core courses count toward STEM in the Full-Time MBA program:

  • Accounting for Decision Making
  • Finance
  • Operations Management
  • Organizations, Markets, and Management
  • Data Analysis for Managers
  • Business Lab Challenge

With this initiative, Fisher aims to enhance the analytical abilities of the students, encouraging and equipping them to implement statistical techniques to develop innovative and precise solutions.

University of California – Davis

Using data to strategically drive business decisions may be regarded as the top-most desired skill by the employers. In recognition of the same, UC Davis offers the STEM-designated MBA. This is particularly beneficial for the students looking to make a career in the Silicon Valley as the composite knowledge of both technological tools and business particulars, as enabled by core course and elective modules such as Data Analysis for Managers, Financial Theory and Policy, Articulation and Critical Thinking, forecasting and Managerial Research Methods, Financial Reporting, Decision Making and Management Science, and Management Information Systems, ascertain that they own the necessary quantitative knack, analytical fervor, and leadership proficiency to impact industry trends.

Indiana University – Kelley School of Business

The Kelley Full-time MBA program has acquired the STEM-designation for five of their Major options. These include the following:

  1. STEM-designated Business Analytics Major – Opt for this specialization, if you have a flair for mathematical concepts, modeling, and information systems. Kelley MBA’s STEM-designated Major in Business Analytics needs you to complete a total 15 credit hours and offers you three distinct elective tracks, namely Supply Chain Management, Finance, and Marketing. Thus, you can use your experience in either of the sectors, your technological and analytical abilities, together with the theoretical insights as will be accorded by the program to impact business planning and decisions.
  2. STEM-designated Finance Major – Kelley MBA students own the advantage of Kelley’s partnership with the Chartered Financial Analyst program and, hence, can etch a career as CFA Charterholder, besides taking on Corporate Finance role or working with the real estate, investment banking, and management sectors. Thus, beyond simply training you in the nuances of financial application and concepts, the Major helps you complete an advanced degree and own your desired career goal.
  3. STEM-designated Marketing Major – Kelley MBA graduates with Major in Marketing have secured lucrative opportunities with employers such as Target and Ford, among others. While this Major option needs you to complete a total of 15 credit hours, the electives option offer you the opportunity to be a part of the Bloomington Brand’s Brand Management Team. Thus, with courses such as CRM and Digital Analytics, New Product Management, Digital Marketing, among others, you also earn practical exposure to industry challenges.
  4. STEM-designated Strategic Analysis of Accounting Major – This is an interesting Major to opt for if you have a flair for numbers. Kelley MBA’s STEM-designated Major in Strategic Analysis of Accounting teaches you to analyze financial reports and effectively read numbers to impact investment, operations, and financial decisions. Without a doubt, sound financial decisions provide a strong foundation for businesses. You need to complete 15 credit hours for this course, including a minimum of 10.5 credit hours for the compulsory courses and 3 credit hours for the general electives, besides 6 credit hours for the Minor subjects. However, to enroll in this course, you must obtain the permission of the Department of Accounting.
  5. STEM-designated Supply Chain and Operations Major – If you are targeting the role of an Operations Manager or Logistics and Procurement Manager at a manufacturing unit, opt for Kelley’s STEM-designated Major in Supply Chain and Operations along with five electives and at least four minor courses; you must gather 15 credit hours to successfully complete this Major. The STEM-designation ensures that beyond the usual training in Supply Chain processes, you are also acquainted with the technological percepts of the same. Therefore, as this world gradually adapts to technological advances in the business sector, you will own an edge in the industry, being equipped with technical as well as business nuances.

Thus, the MBA curriculum at Kelley, overall, depends on the faculties of Cloud computing, machine-based learning, and advanced technologies to build leaders equipped in the stratagems of decision-making in business and capable of leveraging data and technology to impact business decisions.

Rice University – Jones Graduate School of Business

In pursuit of efficiently preparing the students for a data driven business environment, Rice School of Business now has STEM designation for all MBA programs. Once the core requirements such as data analysis, finance, managerial economics, marketing, financial accounting, strategy formulation and implementation, ethics, organizational behavior, and communications are completed during the first year, the students have the opportunity to choose from over 100 electives in the second year of the program. The curriculum focuses on quantitative and data-analytic methodologies across the disciplines through concentrations such as accounting, energy, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, real estate, and strategy and environment.

Scheller School of Business – Georgia Institute of Technology

The Scheller MBA will be recognized as a STEM degree, effective 31st May, 2022. All the International students graduating with an MBA degree after the mentioned date are going to be eligible to apply for a two-year OPT extension. The requirements for applying for the degree remain the same for the MBA program.

Georgetown University – McDonough School of Business

Keeping in line with the evolving business ecosystem, McDonough has introduced STEM-Designated Management Science Major for the Full-time and Flex MBA programs. The MBA program constitutes multiple core and elective courses that meet the 50% threshold required for a STEM field of study designation. The major will require students to complete all the core courses and additional 12 elective credits that include statistics, data analytics, operations and supply chain optimization, finance, forecasting, modeling, and digital marketing. Completing the necessary elective coursework would allow students from classes of 2020 and 2021 to pursue the management science major. Next year onwards, the incoming MBA students will be eligible to pursue the major at the end of the first-year fall term.

Vanderbilt University – Owen Graduate School of Management

The Finance concentration of the Vanderbilt MBA program has been accredited the STEM-designation, effective Fall, 2019. Opting for a Vanderbilt with concentration in Finance, now, implies that you have access to the best learning resources at hand – from partaking of a rigorous MBA curriculum to receiving training from the highly distinguished Vanderbilt Finance faculty. Regardless of whether you want to shift your career to the domain of Finance or scale the leadership ladder in the realm of Finance, the STEM-designated Vanderbilt MBA in Finance will allow you the opportunity to earn well-roudned education in the discipline. Thus, beyond the core business management disciplines, learn the basics of Investments and Corporate Valuation, along with completing 8 credit hours in any 4 electives of your choice from the exhaustive list that includes such topics as Derivative Markets, Financial Data Analysis, Derivative Securities Valuation, Applied Investment Management, International Financial Markets and Instruments, etc.

University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Business

Wisconsin –Madison offers STEM-designated Full-TIME MBA concentrations in 2 fields:

1.  STEM-designated Full-time MBA with specialization in Operations and Technology Management (OTM). This program is typically for those candidates who possess a background in technology, operations, engineering, and science and are looking for opportunities to scale the leadership ladder. The curriculum is so designed that you will be studying the basic core courses in finance, operations management, marketing etc., and partaking of applied learning opportunities such as on-campus talks by industry leaders and company visits, while customizing the discipline with a favorable track in either of the following:

  • Healthcare Management
  • Entrepreneurial Management
  • Business Analytics
  • Technology Product Management
  • Production Systems Management

As reported by the school’s website, the prominent recruiters for this STEM-designated MBA course, in 2018, were Amazon.com, Inc., Dell, Inc., Dow AgroServices, Cerner Corporation, Deloitte Consulting LLP, DISH Networks, LLC, ECG Management Consultants, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hillshire Brands, Intuit, Kurt Salmon, Lands’ End, Nordic Consulting Partners, Oracle, Rexnord Industries, LLC, UW Health, and Whirlpool. Further, 91% of the 2018 Wisconsin-Madison Full-time MBA with OTM candidates was placed with prominent employers within 90 days of graduation. The average base salary for the 2018 batch, moreover, was USD 101, 444.

2.  STEM-designated Full-time MBA with specialization in Supply Chain Management (SCM). Ranked 10 among the North American MBA SCM programs, by Gartner, this program is delivered through the Grainger Center of Supply Chain Management. The curriculum is so designed that you will be studying the basic core courses in finance, operations management, marketing etc., and partaking of applied learning opportunities such as on-campus talks by industry leaders and company visits, while customizing the discipline with a favorable track in either of the following:

  • General Business
  • Marketing
  • Operations and Technology Management
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Management and Human Resources
  • Risk Management and Insurance

As reported by the school’s website, the prominent recruiters for this STEM-designated MBA course, in 2018, were Amazon, Allstate, Bank of America, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Centene Corporation, Cisco, Diageo, Discover Financial Services, Emerson, Excellis Health Solutions, General Electric Credit Union, IBM, Illinois Tool Works, Intel Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Kohler Co., and Microsoft. Further, 90% of the 2018 Wisconsin-Madison Full-time MBA with SCM candidates was placed with prominent employers within 90 days of graduation. The average base salary for the 2018 batch, moreover, was USD 103, 357.

University of Georgia – Terry College of Business

University of Georgia offers a 1-year STEM-designated Terry MBA to all Georgia undergrad students with a STEM major. Thus, if you are a Georgia undergrad student majoring in any of the STEM disciplines and are eager to make an impact in the business realm of your interest, this is the best program you can opt for. Learn the business fundamentals through 8 MBA core courses and a Business Intelligence course, practice your understanding of the business basics through experiential learning scopes and Capstone projects, and customize your curriculum to your industry and function preference through opting for desire elective course. If you are a Georgia STEM undergrad student, you can start applying for the program in the final year of your undergrad program.

Southern Methodist University – Cox School of Business

Intending to lend a competitive edge to the students, SMU Cox has introduced a STEM-designated MBA program. This encompasses the school’s Full-Time and Working Professional MBA programs, including the Professional MBA (part-time), the Executive MBA, and the Online MBA and MBA Direct. The Cox School’s MBA with Supply Chain Management and the MBA with Business Analytics concentrations both already carry the STEM designation. The STEM-designated MBA focuses primarily on efficiently training students in the fields of data analytics, business modeling, information systems for management, and managerial economics, in order to align with the business community’s increased emphasis on data and analytics.

Boston University – Questrom School of Business

The Questrom School of Business offers several programs to be taken up with the MBA, that is, if you are going for a Questrom MBA, you can also opt for the Questrom Dual Degree programs. These include MBA + MS in Digital Technology (MBA + MSDT)/Product Design and Manufacture, MBA + MA in International Relations/Economics, MBA + JD, Health Sector MBA + MD/MPH. Of these, however, only the MBA + MSDT joint degree program will lend you a STEM experience as the MSDT part of the program is STEM-designated.

The Full-time Questrom MBA + MSDT (STEM) thus, will not only provide you with the skill-set to remain relevant in this ever-evolving business paradigm but also set you with the necessary technical understanding that will prove invaluable in devising fruitful strategies, especially when the business sector continues to merge with the technological precepts, as the Digital Leader of tomorrow. The Questrom MBA + MSDT curriculum is a fine blend of management and IT coursework, including leadership development training, experiential learning, electives, and internships. Precisely, to complete this program, you will need to earn a minimum of 84 credits, that is, 55 credits from the MBA program and 29 credit hours from the MSDT program. This can be further simplified as 34 and 20 required credits from the MBA and MSDT programs respectively and 21 and 9 elective credits from the MBA and MSDT programs respectively. This is a particularly recommended program, especially for students with experiences as or seeking to pivot to such profiles as that of product development, technology product management, product marketing, strategy consultant, digital strategy consultant, transformation consultant, business analytics leaders among others

University of Rochester – Simon Business School

Simon Rochester is the first and only B-school to offer a full STEM-designated MBA curriculum, that is, regardless of the discipline you chose to specialize in, you will be granted a STEM MBA certificate. The STEM-designated Rochester MBA specializations are:

  1. Asset Management (Finance)
  2. Banking (Finance)
  3. Corporate Finance
  4. Venture Capital and Private Equity
  5. Brand Management
  6. Product Management
  7. Operations
  8. Strategy
  9. Pricing
  10. Technology

Initially, Simon offered STEM courses for only 4 of its MS courses. The management, upon observing the immense benefits these STEM-designated courses accorded their students, decided to bring in a major overhaul in their MBA courses. Since, earning the STEM-designation for all its MBA specializations, Simon Rochester has not only witnessed a rise in the number of applicants (both domestic and international) but also helped its MBA candidates bag their desired job role with impressive salary hikes: 93% of the MBA class of 2018 earned full-time employment within 90 days of graduation and major employment was witnessed in the realm of Finance, almost 38% of students were recruited at an average salary of USD 110,900. The firms that the Rochester 2018 MBA students found employment with include Amazon, Barclays, Citigroup, Deloitte, FedEx, Ford Motor Co., Intel, Merck and Co., Microsoft, PWC, Hershey, and Zappos.

University of Pittsburgh – Joseph M. Katz Graduate Business School

The Katz STEM-designated Full-time MBA with Business Analytics program is a new inclusion to the Katz MBA program. Students must complete at least 63 credit hours worth of course work and fulfill the stipulated graduation requirements for both the MS in Business Analytics program and the Joseph M. Katz Grad B-school program. The Katz MBA with Business Analytics will empower you to read and analyze information to take smart strategies in the largely data-driven world of business. You will have the scope to immerse in intensive training in the nuances of Statistical Analysis, Decision Technology in Manufacturing and Operations Management, Financial Accounting, Marketing Management, Data Mining, Database Management, etc.

George Washington University

To enhance the scope of imparting and gaining business management knowledge through technology, George Washington University School of Business has recently introduced an option of STEM-designated MBA for the Full-time MBA and Accelerated MBA programs. While all students have core enhanced STEM structure, the institution now also offers STEM-oriented electives. Adding to the individual STEM options, the students also have the opportunity to apply for a dual or joint STEM-designated program. The primary aim of this program is to allow students to share credits between two programs and earn two degrees simultaneously.To enhance the scope of imparting and gaining business management knowledge through technology, George Washington University School of Business has recently introduced an option of STEM-designated MBA for the Full-time MBA and Accelerated MBA programs. While all students have core enhanced STEM structure, the institution now also offers STEM-oriented electives. Adding to the individual STEM options, the students also have the opportunity to apply for a dual or joint STEM-designated program. The primary aim of this program is to allow students to share credits between two programs and earn two degrees simultaneous

Rutgers Business School

Keeping view of the rapidly expanding digital influence on businesses and the global economy, the Rutgers Business School has recently incorporated an optional STEM designation that provides a platform for students to imbibe the conventional MBA lessons along with nuanced analytical and logical skills. The optional course is available for the Full-time MBA, Part-time MBA, and EMBA programs and while the traditional concentrations of the MBA curriculum remain the same, students will be required to integrate at least 50 percent of their credits from the curriculum that falls under STEM. The move reflects the growing importance for future business professionals to understand how to use data analytics and innovation while undertaking decision-making.

Iowa State University – Ivy College of Business

The 2-year full-time Ivy College MBA program mandates completion of 30 credit hours of core courses (or 10 core courses) and 18 credit hours of electives (or 6 elective courses). While you must attend class at the Gerdin Business Building to complete your core course credits, you can take the electives in Ames Des Moine, or even online. Further, to help the students reap the maximum benefit of this skill-building training, Ivy College MBA also allows the provision of customizing the MBA with a choice of specializations (9 credit hours); you can opt for:

  • Accounting
  • Business Analytics
  • Finance
  • Information Systems
  • Marketing
  • Supply Chain Management

Interestingly, Ivy College allows you the option to opt for more than 1 specialization, in which case, you can only take one approved elective (of 3 credit hours) for both specializations and at least one elective that does not belong to either of the specialization disciplines.

The Ivy College of Business offers STEM-designated MBA programs in 3 fields:

1. Ivy College STEM-designated Full-time MBA in Business Analytics

Opt for the MBA in Business Analytics if you desire to make a career in the realm of data-driven decision-making. While you must complete the required course in Business Analytics Foundation, you can opt for any two of the following elective courses:

  • Business Data
  • Advanced Business Software Development
  • Data Management for Decision Makers
  • Topics in Management of Information Systems (if topic approved)
  • Advanced Business Analytics
  • Analytics in the Insurance Sector
  • Social Media Analytics
  • Marketing Analytics

Thus, hone your business management skills, ethical decision-making competency, and leadership acumen, while building your capacity to read and analyze data to drive strategic decision-making functions of the firm.

2. Ivy College STEM-designated Full-time MBA in Finance

Opt for the MBA in Finance if you desire to make a career in the realm of corporate financial management. To complete this program, you must choose 3 courses from the following options:

  • Advanced Corporate Finance
  • Case Studies in Financial Decision-making
  • Investments
  • Advanced Fixed Income Analysis and Portfolio Management
  • Financial Analysis and Valuation
  • Financial Derivatives
  • Venture Capital, Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Financial Econometrics
  • Real Estate Finance

Thus, hone your business management skills, ethical decision-making competency, and leadership acumen, while building your capacity to drive financial planning and investment strategies for the firm.

3. Ivy College STEM-designated Full-time MBA in Information System

Opt for the MBA in Information System if you desire to make a career in the realm of communications and technology and data management systems. To complete this program, you must choose 3 courses from the following options:

  • Advanced Business Software Development
  • Data Management for Decision Makers
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Telecommunications Management
  • Project Management
  • Business Process Management
  • Topics in Management of Information Systems
  • Organizational and Social Implications of HCI

Thus, hone your business management skills, ethical decision-making competency, and leadership acumen, while building your technical expertise in leading business-oriented programming and business process management to contribute to the overall efficiency of the firm.

Raymond A. Mason School of Business – William and Mary

Mason School of Business has updated its dual-degree program, MBA/MSBA, to be STEM-designated. With the business world adapting to the technological advances that have come to play a critical role in influencing business decisions, the demand for specifically skilled professionals, who command a nuanced understanding of the business fundamentals, can lead from the front, and can deploy technical tools for furthering business processes, is at an all-time high. Naturally, several B-schools have now promptly taken to updating their MBA program to be STEM-designated. William and Mary STEM-designated dual-degree MBA/MSBA program, therefore, helps you to attain a fusion of business acumen, leadership skills, managerial brilliance, and technical proficiency, skills that are integral to the process of solving the nuanced complications of this highly volatile business world of today.

To enroll in this MBA/MSBA program, you will have to apply for the Full-Time Residential MBA program and MSBA program separately. However, if you have already taken admission to either of the programs, you can apply for the other one after having completed the first semester of the initial program. That is to say, if you are already a Full-Time MBA student at Mason School of Business, you will need to complete the first semester of the MBA program to be considered eligible for applying to the MSBA program and vice-versa. The MBA program will offer you specialization options in Business Analytics, Consulting, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, while the MSBA program will empower you with training in Machine Learning, Stochastic Modeling, and Artificial Intelligence tools. This is an interesting program to opt for if you are proficient in and/or take interest in Big Data and Analytics.

Babson College

To provide an enhanced quantitative focus to the MBA degree, Babson College has introduced STEM-designated MBA concentrations. Out of the 7 unique concentrations offered by the school, Quantitative Finance and Business Analytics and Machine Learning are STEM-designated. Students enrolled in a STEM-designated program shall be eligible for 36 months of OPT, compared to 12 months OPT for the students in non-STEM degree programs. Combined with entrepreneurial expertise, developed throughout the MBA, the initiative aims to position the students as strong business leaders by inculcating compatible skills in them, enabling them to flourish in the contemporary global business ecosystem.

Fordham University – Gabelli School of Business

The Gabelli School of Business has introduced STEM MBA concentrations for the full-time and part-time MBA programs. The following concentrations are STEM-designated:

  1. FinTech Concentration
  2. Information Systems Concentration
  3. Accounting Concentration with STEM Track

The motivation behind this initiative is to ensure that the students are adequately trained to cope with the global curriculum that encourages and extensively focuses on data comprehension, quantitative analysis, and the application of logic as it pertains to problem-solving.

University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut offers STEM-designated Full-time MBA concentrations in 3 fields:

  • STEM-designated Full-Time MBA with specialization in Business Analytics
    This concentration will train you in the basics of Predictive Modeling, Statistics in Business Analytics, and Business Process Modeling and Data Management besides offering you choice of electives in the likes of Visual Analytics, Big Data Analytics with Hadoop, Data Mining with R, Adaptive Business Intelligence, Analytical Consulting for Financial Services, Business Decision Modeling, Data Mining and Business Intelligence. Thus, with an MBA and concentration in Business Analytics, you will be empowered to collate data and analyze data to solve business problems and create business opportunities, thereby significantly impacting the realm of industry.
  • STEM-designated Full-Time MBA with specialization in Digital Marketing Strategy
    This concentration will train you in the basics of Digital Marketing and Marketing and Digital Analytics besides offering you choice of electives in the likes of Strategic Brand Management, Integrated Marketing Communications in the Digital Age, Marketing Research and Intelligence, New Product and Service Innovation Management, Pricing and Revenue Management, and Big Data and Strategic Marketing. Thus, with an MBA and concentration in Digital Marketing Strategy, you will be empowered to collate data and analyze data to determine customer behavior and accordingly strategize to create competent and effective marketing solutions to grow your firm’s visibility.
  • STEM-designated Full-Time MBA with specialization in Financial Analysis and Investments
    This concentration will train you in the basics of Investment and Security Analysis, Fixed Income Instruments and Markets, and Options and Futures besides offering you choice of electives in the likes of Corporate Finance and Global Financial Management and a seminar course in Private Equity and Venture Capital. Besides, you can also opt for specialty courses in Portfolio Management, Real Estate, and Healthcare Finance and Insurance. Financial decisions are a crucial determining point of successful business. Thus, with an MBA and concentration in Financial Analysis and Investments, you will be at the helm of directing financial decisions of the market.

Miami Herbert Business School – University of Miami

With a significant focus on global education and current employment demands, the STEM MBA at Miami Herbert Business School intends to integrate the knowledge of management, economics, and marketing with finance, business law, and technology. The 21 month full-time program is ideal for candidates who wish to hone their business expertise through management studies and have an undergraduate degree in any field along with three or more years of work experience.

Weatherhead School of Management

To keep up with the rapid technology-driven evolution of businesses across the globe, Weatherhead has recently introduced Full-time STEM MBA. With 60 credit hours completed over 21 months, the program aims at enhancing management education through courses that focus on technologies emerging in business such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and FinTech. In the first year of the program, the students will complete the core requirements of the full-time STEM MBA program and in the second year, the primary focus would be on selecting STEM specific courses that meet the overall career objectives of the students. Statistics and Decision Making, and Business Analytics are the two core courses offered in the MBA that count towards STEM. Students are also encouraged to complete an internship to utilize the program optimally.

Syracuse University – Whitman School of Management

To prepare and hone the students for the fast-paced changes in the business environment, Whitman School has announced that the MBA program will be classified as STEM-designated for the students who complete concentrations in accounting, business analytics, finance, marketing, and supply chain management. The class of 2022 will be the first to graduate with this new STEM certification. Completing the STEM-designated MBA will allow the international students on an F-1 visa to extend their time in OPT (Optional Practical Training) from 12 to 36 months in the U.S, further increasing avenues for them to gain valuable professional experience relevant to their field of study.

University of Delaware – Lerner College of Business and Economics

The Delaware University offers a STEM-designated Full-time MBA/MS Dual-degree program in Business Analytics. Learn of the business fundamentals and hone your analytical skills by learning to integrate data to inform business decisions through the STEM-designated Delaware MBA/MS Dual-degree program in Business Analytics. Apart from equipping you with the opportunity to simultaneously develop your business acumen and your analytics skills, the Delaware MBA/MS Dual-degree program also provides you with ample opportunity to network with prominent industry representatives, being strategically located close to the business, tech, and finance hubs of Washington D.C., Wilmington, and New York City. The program demands proven eligibility of your adeptness in using Microsoft Excel tools such as VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, Sparklines, and Macros. An MBA/MS in Business Analytics from Delaware will help you deliver in such roles as Director of Business Intelligence, Digital Marketing Analyst, Business Analytics Specialist, Financial Analyst, Quantitative Analytics Consultant, etc. JP Morgan and Chase, Deloitte, Bank of America, PWC etc., are some of the top recruiters of the Delaware MBA Business Analytics students.

Pace University – Lubin School of Business

The Lubin MBA in Information Management is a STEM-designated program that allows you to build your expertise in the domains of IT, analytics, business telecommunications, etc., while training you in the basics of business management. The program is administered through both Lubin School of Business and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, which is reputed as the first comprehensive computing training school in NYC. An exhaustive curriculum including such topics as Managing Business Operations, Financial Strategy and Business Decisions, Globalization, The New Economy and Ethics, Managing Innovation in professional core course, Database Management Systems, Information Systems Principle, etc. as required specialization courses, specialization elective choice, breadth electives, and capstones will provide the most in-depth training in handling information systems industry and taking smart business decisions. With the STEM-designated MBA in Information Systems, you can build your career as a Chief Information Officer, IT Project Manager, Management Information Systems Director, Information Systems Consultant, Chief Technology Officer, Systems Designer, Information Technology Director. Further, Lubin MBA with Information Management program students have been hired by such prominent employers as Alliance Bernstein LP, FBI, IBM, etc., at a mean salary of USD 114, 200.

University of North Texas – Ryan College of Business

University of North Texas is also introducing its new STEM-designated MBA in Business Analytics. While you can always opt for the MS in Business Analytics program, an MBA in Business Analytics will simultaneously train you in the discipline’s nuances and the business leadership skills and ethics. Thus, you will have a concrete career option to look forward to once you complete your graduate program. Administered through the Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences, this program promises abundant career opportunities in the roles of Business Analyst, Computer Scientist, Data Mining Specialist, Program Director, Statistical Manager, etc.

University of Maryland – Smith School of Business

All of the four MBA programs – Full-time MBA, Flex-MBA, Online MBA, Executive MBA – at the Smith School of Business are STEM-designated. The Full-time MBA and Flex-MBA students who are interested in technology innovation can also opt for the Smith Graduate Certificate in Technology Management as an elective track in the second year of studies. The coursework for all the MBA programs is enriched with issues surrounding integration of Artificial Intelligence and there is a focus on courses such as Data Driven Decision Models and Data Analytics.

Binghamton University – School of Management

The School of Management at Binghamton University has designed STEM MBA options for students of all backgrounds.

  1. Four Semester STEM MBA: This is available to students of all undergrad majors.
  2. One year STEM MBA option (for non business majors): This is available to students of all majors with prerequisite coursework in statistics and economics.
  3. One year STEM MBA option (for business majors): This is available to students who have earned an undergrad in business or accounting from an AACSB-accredited school within the last five years.
  4. SOM/STEM MBA 4+1 program: This is available to all present Binghamton University business administration undergraduates in the School of Management.
  5. Harpur/STEM MBA 4+1 program: This is available for all present Binghamton University undergraduates in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences.
  6. Watson/STEM MBA 4+1 program: This is available for all present Binghamton University undergraduates in Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science.

University of San Diego – Knauss School of Business

The Knauss School of Business has received STEM designation for three of its full-time MBA concentrations – Business Analytics, Finance, and Supply Chain. While those enrolled in any of the University of San Diego’s MBA programs can opt to pursue a concentration in business analytics or finance, among others, only those enrolled for the full-time MBA are eligible to receive the STEM designation.

Thus, if you want an MBA to boost your career growth and progress and you have a background in STEM disciplines, a STEM-designated MBA is the right choice for you. While the intensive curriculum will help you develop the best of your skills and competency, the extended 3 years’ employment opportunity will help you build networks into the industry. Make proper use of this extended time to build relationships in the industry and secure for yourself the best career opportunity.

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