MBA/master's in business with a scientific focus? (PhD, degrees, costs)

[HurricaneDC]

I was talking to my dad the other day and he mentioned reading something in a newspaper (might have been the Times) about how many science-focused businesses have been wanting people who have both a good business education and a decent enough scientific background to be able to understand what's going on.

I think he mentioned that MIT, amongst others, was developing a program that's basically a 'science MBA.'

Anyone know anything about that?

[lilyflower7]

Yes, there's two different things I've personally seen.

The first is the Professional Science Masters or MBS (Master of Business and Science) degree. A lot of schools are adding these programs that are about 20 or so credits of grad business courses and then another 20+ of a scientific concentration. Rutgers just launched this in the past few years Master of Business and Science (MBS) | Professional Science Master's Program Interestingly, the program is less credits overall than an MBA, but more than a typical MS.

I've also seen a lot of specific concentrations in MBA programs for tech/science fields. In the NJ/PA/NY area - Rutgers, Farleigh Dickinson, Drexel (to name a few) offer pharmaceutical related concentrations in their MBA programs. I've also seen technology concentrations at various business schools.

Additionally, there's the dual degree option - where typically the student does an MBA and either an MS in science or another science degree like a PharmD and these seem to be growing rapidly in terms of student population.

Speaking as a former scientist, it's really tough to move up without a PhD in bench based work and a BS/MS alone doesn't technically qualify you for non-lab positions.

[GoHokiesGo]

There are several schools now that offer hybrid programs that are a collaboration between the business and engineering colleges. Most of the programs are a combination of an engineering management degree and an MBA.

Example programs:
MIT SDM - Masters in Engineering and Management: Master's Degree | MIT SDM

Stanford Management Science and Engineering: Department of Management Science and Engineering

Northwestern MMM dual degree program (one program, two masters, same time as one degree): MMM Program: Kellogg School MBA and Northwestern Engineering dual-degree program that integrates management, operations and design


Several of the bigger programs have these degrees, and they can be pretty powerful combinations. The downside is that they aren't as widely recognized in industry out on your own, so you'll need to rely on career services or work on having something lined up on your own. For example, the SDM program at MIT gets recruited pretty heavily on campus, and the payscale is appropriate for how much the program costs; however, outside of the program realm not many people know what the SDM degree is or represents, so it doesn't quite carry the same weight as just an MBA from MIT Sloan on it's own.