Watson/STEM MBA 4+1 program

Our Watson/STEM MBA 4+1 option is designed exclusively for current undergraduate students in ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. The program allows Watson College undergraduate majors to complete their first year of MBA coursework during their senior year.

The 4+1 option allows you to earn an undergraduate degree and an MBA from ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ University in only five years.

The graduate program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. A part-time program schedule will extend the length of the program.

Program Highlights

Are you an ISE major looking to dive into business analytics? A Systems Science student with an interest in Management Information Systems? Are you looking to apply your technical skillset to the dynamic world of business? There are several benefits associated with applying your Watson education towards a career path in management.

  • Apply as a junior and begin taking graduate courses during your senior year.
  • Earn an MBA from a nationally-ranked institution.
  • Increase your marketability and earning potential.
  • Move through the program with a cohort of highly-motivated students.
  • Customize your curriculum or declare a concentration in Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Management Information Systems and Leadership. Learn more about our elective course offerings here.
  • Save time and money – pay for only one year of graduate tuition.
  • Over 80 percent of recent ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ MBA students received a job offer within three months of graduation

Curriculum

Our STEM MBA curriculum is designed to prepare you with the essential tools needed to be effective leaders in today's rapidly changing corporate, non-profit and public sectors.

You will strengthen your own analytical and decision-making skills while also collaborating in task-oriented teams. Your studies will be individualized as you can choose from a wide range of elective courses—including cross-disciplinary options and customized independent studies—and, with guidance from faculty, design interdisciplinary projects aligned with your career goals. This approach deepens the connection between your passions and your professional path. 

Below is a sample course map for students who entered in Fall 2023 or later. Degree requirements and curriculum plans may vary by year entering the program. Please refer to your DegreeWorks or contact the SOM Graduate Advising Office for the most up-to-date degree requirements.

Years 1-3: Undergraduate Watson College Requirements

You can begin preparing for the Watson/MBA 4+1 program as early as your first year of undergraduate studies. All Watson College students must complete 126 degree applicable credits in order to fulfill their undergraduate degree requirements

To be eligible for the Watson/MBA 4+1 program, all students must complete a minimum of 94 degree applicable credits by the end of their third year of undergraduate studies, which includes:

  • Undergraduate major requirements
  • Watson College requirements
  • General Education requirements
  • Admission to this program allows you to take the first year of MBA coursework in your senior year with those credit hours counting towards fulfilling your Watson upper-level electives.

Visit the Watson Advising website, or speak with your academic advisor to learn more about program eligibility, along with your program's curriculum requirements.

Year 4: Transition Year

Fall Semester Spring Semester
MGMT 501: Accounting (fall only) MGMT 502: Economics (spring only)*
MGMT 505: Finance (fall only) MGMT 507: Operations Management* (or fall or spring of year 5)*

During your senior year, MGMT 501, 502 and 505 will be applied toward fulfilling the technical and/or professional electives necessary to graduate from your undergraduate engineering program. 

*Students have the option of taking MGMT 502 in SOM or as micro economics through another program at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ or other college/university.

** Mechanical Engineering students must take statistics prior to MGMT 507. ISE students are waived from MGMT 507 (Operations Management).

Year 5: Graduate Studies

Fall Semester Spring Semester
MGMT 504: Programming for Business Analytics MGMT 506: Marketing
MGMT 508: Organizational Behavior (fall only) MGMT 540: Strategic Management (spring only)
Elective* Elective* 
Elective* Elective (optional)

* At least three graduate electives must be technical electives.

Concentrations: A minimum of four courses (sixteen credit hours) is required to complete a concentration. Concentrations are optional. Learn more about our elective course offerings here.

Admissions

The Watson/STEM MBA 4+1 program requires a two-step admissions process: 1) conditional admission to the program in spring of your junior year, and 2) formal admission to the Graduate School during your senior year of undergraduate studies.

At the end of your senior you, your graduate from Watson College with your bachelor's degree and proceed into the second year of the MBA program as an official graduate student.

Conditional Admission to the 4+1 Program

You must apply for conditional admission during the spring of your junior year. The deadline is March 1st.

Begin you conditional admission application through my.binghamton portal, clicking on the 4+1 Intent Application.

  • This program option is available exclusively to students who are currently u
  • While we accept GMAT and GRE scores, they are not required for admission to our MBA program.
  • Students admitted into this program typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher.
  • Applicants must provide: 1) two letters of recommendations, 2) a personal statement, 3) a current resume, and 4) unofficial transcripts. Final transcripts will be requested upon admission to the program.

If offered conditional admission, you will be able to register for MBA courses during your senior year (also referred to the "transitional year"). These MBA courses will fulfill your upper-level Watson elective requirements.

Formal Admission to the Graduate School
During the spring of your senior year (88+ undergraduate credits), you will need to formally apply to the Graduate School. Check with your advisor/department to find out if there are any special deadlines or requirements necessary for accelerated degree program applicants.

Begin your application in my.binghamton.edu: go to the "Academic Services" tab and then "4+1 Program Application."

  • Formal admission into the program is dependent on maintaining a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 of higher throughout your undergraduate coursework and a minimum of a 3.25 GPA throughout your MBA coursework during your senior year, with no grades less than a C. Generally students admitted to the program have a B or higher in all MBA coursework.
  • Prerequisite coursework in Excel, or a Microsoft Excel certification is required. Please see below for additional information about the Microsoft Excel certification.
  • $75 application fee.

International Applicants

To find out about the admissions requirements specific to international students, please visit our International Graduate Students page.

Program Cost

For information about the cost associate with the program, please visit the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ University Student Accounts website.

Questions?

Contact somgrad@binghamton.edu or call (607) 777-4696 with general questions. You can also contact:

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