Dual MBA/Executive MS: Engineering & Applied Science

Design. Innovate. Lead.

This new dual degree program, focused on the creative application of technology, is ideal for entrepreneurs, engineers, or product managers looking to move their organizations forward by leveraging new technologies or designing and implementing innovative products and solutions.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Students receive an MBA from Columbia Business School (CBS) and an Executive MS in Engineering and Applied Science from Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) in less than two years.

An integrated CBS/SEAS academic experience. Coursework will be taken both as a cohort and individually as students choose their own concentrations with this dynamic curriculum.

Students begin in the fall semester at SEAS by taking 9 credits of Engineering core, alongside 3 credits of advanced Statistics and Business Analytics from the Business core, and a required elective, Foundations of Entrepreneurship. During spring semester, they take the majority of their core business courses at CBS.
After the first year, students choose from an extensive array of electives at both schools. They also:
- Fulfill an engineering concentration in Medical Device Design, AI and Machine Learning, Supply Chain, Retail and Service Systems, Robotics and Smart Machines, Climate, Energy, and Sustainability, or Software Systems, Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
- Complete an engineering capstone project which integrates the overall learning experience and prepares graduates to take on significant leadership roles in their area of interest
- Fulfill a business concentration in entrepreneurship or enterprise
  - Students who choose the entrepreneurship concentration will be given a summer stipend to assist them while they pursue their venture idea. Students who pursue the enterprise concentration will obtain an internship with support from both the Engineering and Business School's Career Offices.

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"Today every company is also a technology company. Engineering innovations are driving change and disruption across all industries and functional roles. Engineering innovations are providing solutions to vexing problems, such as mobility, energy and storage, improving past business processes or upending them with altogether novel approaches. Our dual degree provides strong simultaneous expertise in engineering and business offering the ideal background for a career of impact."

Dean Costis Maglaras

Dean of Columbia Business School

"Today’s business professionals need to navigate an increasingly complex landscape of rapid technology breakthroughs. Combining a solid engineering foundation with essential business skills and a creative problem-solving approach is what will prepare a new generation of leaders to truly understand the needs of their industry and deliver innovative solutions."

Dean Shih-Fu Chang

Dean of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Career Support

Taught by leading experts from two of the world's top-ranked schools in business and engineering, our dual degree MBAxMS program is perfect for students who aspire to leadership roles, such as VP of engineering, COO/CTO/CIO, product manager, or entrepreneur. The Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center will support students looking to work on their own venture.

Students will have access to a full suite of career resources available through the career centers at Columbia Engineering and Columbia Business School. Career centers at both schools will provide robust career education and advising resources covering all essential tactics to conduct an effective job search including training workshops, one-on-one career coaching and advising on self-assessment, professional pitch development, resume writing, networking, interviewing preparation, and job offer management. Additionally, students may take part in a range of professional development activities and engage with employers looking to tap the program’s talent pool, and engage with and leverage the schools alumni networks to advance their career goals.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

GENERAL QUESTIONS

When can I apply to the program?

See the MBAxMS Admissions page for more information.

When I complete the program, what degree will I have?

You will receive a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School and an Executive Master of Science in Engineering and Applied Science from Columbia Engineering.

What is the difference between an Executive MS in Engineering and Applied Science and a traditional MS degree in a specific field like Chemical Engineering or Computer Science?

The Executive MS program is designed to provide students with a broad set of skills related to the development of technical products and services and with in-depth coursework in a specific concentration of interest that may span multiple fields of engineering and applied science. A traditional MS program focuses on a single field (e.g. Electrical Engineering).

Is this program STEM designated?

Yes. Both the MBA and the Exec MS in Engineering and Applied Science are classified as STEM degrees. As this is a STEM degree program, Foreign national students with F-1 visas are eligible for post-degree work authorization, with up to three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Will graduates of the dual degree MBAxMS be considered alumni of both schools?

Yes. Graduates will be members of both alumni populations.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND CURRICULUM

How long is the program?

The dual degree program is designed to be completed in 20 months. Students enter in the fall, study during fall and spring semesters, use the summer term for entrepreneurship or internship, and study in the fall and spring semesters of the following year, whereupon they graduate.

Is the dual degree program more credits than the traditional MBA program?

Dual degree programs like this one require more credits to complete than a traditional MBA program. In the MBAxMS, students must complete 67.5 total credits, relative to 60 in the standalone MBA program. However, the program is designed so that students complete the two degrees in the same time period as in the traditional fall-entry MBA program.

Will classes be held in-person only or will there be online components?

Both Columbia Business School and Columbia Engineering are teaching fully in-person degree programs. Students should expect to take all classes in-person on our Morningside and Manhattanville campuses.

What courses are offered in the second year after core classes are completed?

There are specific courses that fulfill both the engineering and business concentration requirements that must be taken in year two. A wider variety of electives in the MBA program can be found in the CBS course catalog. There are seven possible MS concentrations that can be completed to fulfill degree requirements (see here). It is possible that other concentrations could be added in the future, but these are the options currently available and should be anticipated for our initial student cohort.

Are there electives that can be taken outside of the two schools in other parts of Columbia University?

Students may cross-register for electives in other parts of the University if time permits, but these courses will not provide credit towards fulfillment of the dual degree program.

Can applicants with a prior graduate degree, and engineering background or industry experience get credited for some courses?

All core courses in the dual degree program are required and students must fulfill concentration requirements and take the required number of elective credits. However, students with advanced academic/professional backgrounds may be eligible to take more advanced coursework.

For the MS concentration, do you need a previous degree in that area? E.g can you still concentrate in climate, energy, and sustainability if your background is in software?

Although it can be beneficial to have a background or understanding in the area of concentration, it is not mandatory. You can pivot to a new area with the approval from a faculty member in the area of concentration. A goal of the MBAxMS program is to support professionals changing their career trajectory.

How would the technical skills gained in the executive MS program compare to the technical skills gained in an MS in a specific engineering field? Is one more or less comprehensive?

The Executive MS program is designed to provide students with a broad set of skills related to the development of technical products and services and with in-depth coursework in a specific concentration of interest that may span multiple fields of engineering and applied science. The dual program gives you access to courses within both schools, meanwhile the stand alone MS Programs are more focused and specific and only give you access within the Engineering school.

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Launch Experience

Design. Innovate. Lead.

This new dual degree program, focused on the creative application of technology, is ideal for entrepreneurs, engineers, or product managers looking to move their organizations forward by leveraging new technologies or designing and implementing innovative products and solutions.

Curriculum