CBE to launch new one-year MBA program

Lehigh’s College of Business and Economics is launching a new one-year Master’s in Business Administration program that aims to help students from diverse employment backgrounds transform themselves into future business leaders.

Named 1-MBA, the rigorous, full-time program is geared toward career changers—those with non-business undergraduate degrees and at least three years of work experience who want to pivot into a business-related field—as well as those who want to accelerate their business careers or shift their focus into another industry sector. 

The one-year duration of the program, compared to the traditional two-year MBA full-time model, will significantly reduce the opportunity costs of those who forego their current employment to attend. The shortened length, however, does not sacrifice quality and rigor.

“We are very excited to be launching the 1-MBA program,” said Georgette C. Phillips, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “The one-year duration, cross-disciplinary approach, focus on student experience and the other unique features of 1-MBA will resonate in the marketplace with both students and employers.”

Classes will start in January 2017, with students earning 50 credits through a full calendar year. In addition to a January start-date, the 1-MBA offers a coaching team comprised of a faculty member, Lehigh alumnus and career services staff member assigned to each student at the onset of the program, and an eight-week summer internship that is an integral component of the curriculum.

A two-week orientation session will include training in team-building, networking, communication skills and other areas. Students will then take courses in the core areas of accounting, economics, finance and management, followed by courses that consider stakeholders’ perspectives, such as suppliers and customers.  Students also will take courses that examine societal shifts, such as the country’s changing demographics, migrations toward urban centers and the power of data.

In the final session, students will be able to select courses based on their specific career interests.

“This program was built from the ground-up, with an eye towards success factors necessary in today’s global marketplace,” said Professor Nandu Nayar, chair of the 1-MBA Task Force. “The innovative and rigorous, integrated curriculum recognizes the challenges and solutions required to lead in today’s business environment.”

The application deadline for 1-MBA is Sept. 15, 2016 and generous financial aid (merit and need-based) is available.

Lehigh’s College of Business and Economics also offers an evening flexible MBA program that is nationally recognized. The flexible program was ranked 23rd nationally in 2015 by Bloomberg Businessweek.

For more information on the 1-MBA program, go to http://cbe.lehigh.edu/mba-one-year.