The 4+1 Fast Track Master's Program in Business Administration (M.B.A.) is available to students in any major, but it might be particularly beneficial for business students to enhance their undergraduate degree.
Before taking classes in Behrend’s M.B.A. program, you will need to demonstrate competence in several business-related disciplines. You can meet the academic requirements for admission to the M.B.A. program at Behrend in one of two ways:
- Pathway 1: Take this path if you’ve achieved a grade of B or better in certain undergraduate courses.
- Pathway 2: Take this path if you haven’t completed the required undergraduate courses. You’ll be asked to take online modules to fulfill the academic requirements.
Prior to enrolling in Behrend's M.B.A. program, I had established myself academically and professionally. The program, however, expanded my understanding of leadership beyond conventional wisdom. ... Unlike undergraduate studies, the MBA experience is self-directed, offering freedom and choice in one's educational journey. The program promises a rich educational experience, bolstered by access to a distinguished faculty akin to a team of executive mentors dedicated to your success and personal growth.
Pathway 1—Undergraduate Courses
You’ll follow this pathway if you’ve earned a grade of B or better in the Penn State undergraduate courses listed below, or their equivalent in similarly accredited institutions, within the past seven years.
If you’re a current Penn State undergraduate student, you might be required to take all or most of these courses for your bachelor's degree, depending on your major—meaning if you earn a B or better in these undergraduate courses, you can fulfill requirements for Pathway 1.
- Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies majors: All Undergraduate Required Courses listed below are required for this undergraduate degree.
- Interdisciplinary Science and Business majors: All Undergraduate Required Courses listed below are required for this undergraduate degree.
- Business majors: All Undergraduate Required Courses listed below are required for business undergraduate degrees.
Undergraduate Required Courses
Students must have successfully completed the following Penn State undergraduate courses, or their equivalent, with a grade of B or better:
- Accounting: ACCTG 211
- Business Statistics: SCM 200 or STAT 200
- Economics: ECON 102 or ECON 104
- Finance: FIN 301
- Management: MGMT 301
- Marketing: MKTG 301
- Operations: SCM 301
For details on Penn State courses, see the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Pathway 2—Online Modules:
You’ll follow this pathway if you haven’t completed the Undergraduate Required Courses, listed above, with a grade of B or better. You can take online modules, offered by external partners, to fulfill the academic admission requirements to the M.B.A. program. You’ll take only the modules you need.
If you’re an undergraduate student in a science, humanities, or engineering major, you can plan ahead and take the modules while completing your bachelor’s degree for seamless entry into the M.B.A. program.
Modules are self-paced and can be started anytime. Students may need all modules or only a few, depending on demonstrated competency from their transcripts. Each module finishes with a pass/fail exam, which can be repeated. Students must attain a “pass” rating. Students must complete and pass all required modules one week before they begin their first classes.
Students should contact Eric Robbins, M.B.A. administrative program chair, for guidance on which modules need to be taken.
For more information about the 4+1 Fast Track M.B.A. program, contact Graduate Admissions at [email protected] or 814-898-7255.