The latest evolution among business school degrees is the STEM-designated MBA or MS program. It’s your traditional business school program with a twist. Schools need to prove half the course material is based on at least one of these STEM fields to earn this coveted status—that is, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
The University of San Francisco School of Management (USF SOM) recognizes the demand for future-focused business leaders. The digital economy needs leaders with a concrete understanding of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced quantitative skills, on top of a strong understanding of the more traditional pillars of business.
An increasing number of business schools throughout the US and further afield are reworking traditional programs to attain STEM-designation, and it can be difficult for future candidates to know how to choose what works best for them.
Here are three things you’ll gain from STEM MBA programs:
1. More bang for your buck
USF SOM has the STEM-designation on two of their five dual degree programs––meaning you’re not just getting that all-important STEM element to your MBA, you graduate with a MS, too.
The school’s STEM degree programs are the MS in Financial Analysis MBA program (MSFA/MBA) and MS in Environmental Management MBA program (MSEM/MBA). They focus on current trends seen in both finance and the environmental management markets, offering a range of initiatives beyond the program content. Events are run with students’ future careers in mind.
For MSFA/MBA students, they can engage with the Evolution of Finance Industry Panel, which has previously included guest speakers such as the executive vice president of Charles Schwab, Jim McCool, and CEO of Kochis Global, Tim Kochis.
If students are considering a future career in the realm of technology, then events such as the Twitter Career Coffee Chat, with Twitter's HR business partner Valerie Higgins, is an example of the opportunities that can further bolster students' career prospects.