UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Smeal College of Business is currently accepting applications for its new one-year early career Master’s in Business Administration program aimed at current undergraduate students and early career professionals seeking workplace advancement.

The innovative, customizable program will enroll its first cohort of students in fall 2023 with a nine-month format. Taking place at Penn State’s University Park campus, the one-year MBA offers master’s program stacking and flexibility to complement the interests and needs of each student.

The ideal candidate for the STEM-designated program is any individual who wants to boost their leadership and see immediate career impact, according to Christina Yantorno, Smeal’s director of admissions for resident professional graduate programs.

“Whether you’re coming straight from your undergraduate degree or have a few years of experience, the one-year early career MBA allows you to build your business foundations in nine months while providing you the flexibility to stay an extra year and specialize in a given area,” she said. 

From business sustainability strategy to marketing analytics, students can earn optional concentrations in 13 different focus areas. They will also have the unique ability to earn a dual degree by stacking the MBA with other one-year programs including accounting, accounting analytics, business analytics, finance and real estate, and coming in 2024, supply chain management.

“We believe that this stackable degree represents the future of higher education,” said Brian Cameron, associate dean for professional graduate programs and executive education. “This makes it possible for students, at all points of their careers, to add credentials as efficiently and affordably as possible to help them prepare for their next great opportunity.”

The program is comprised of 34 core credits divided into four seven-week modules and split between the fall and spring semesters. Students will begin in August and graduate in May upon completion of their assigned coursework.

The one-year program – which is the third MBA format in the college, including the online MBA and the executive MBA in Philadelphia – touts a core curriculum that emphasizes the valuable components of leadership, from strategic thinking and team performance to ethics and communications, to prepare students for their next great opportunity.
 

On par with other degrees offered at the AACSB-accredited institution, the Smeal one-year MBA is chock full of hands-on experiential learning, including global and leadership immersions and a negotiation intensive.

The Smeal College of Business is renowned for its world-class faculty who rank among the best in the world, as well as its commitment to student success and lifelong learning. MBA students will be able to access the college’s range of career services as well as leverage its extensive worldwide network of professionals well beyond graduation.

Domestic and international students, especially those pursuing fields in information technology, architecture, engineering and other STEM fields, as well as early career professionals are encouraged to apply for the program that focuses on sharpening business acumen and obtaining real-world experience.  

The accelerated program is currently enrolling its first cohort, which will begin in fall 2023. To apply or learn more, visit the Smeal one-year MBA website.