Penn State University Harrisburg’s School of Business Administration is the leading business educator in the Capital region. All of the business programs are AACSB accredited and taught solely by faculty. The part-time MBA is ranked among the Best Graduate Programs by U.S. News and World Report for 2020.
The smaller class sizes give a more discussion-based format, giving students the chance to learn from their peers. Classes are also enriched through partnerships with the Wall Street Journal, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dreamspark, and Skyfactor Benchmarks. By graduation, it is not uncommon for students to receive multiple job offers. In fact, one student received 12 offers by Thanksgiving break!
Education
Students can begin with an Associate’s degree in Business Administration or jump straight into a four-year degree. Bachelor’s degrees are offered in Accounting, Finance, Information Sciences and Technology, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, Project and Supply Chain Management, and Security and Risk Analysis. Minors are available in Business Administration, Human Resources Management, IST/Accounting, IST/Finance, and International Business Administration.
Graduate students can earn a Master’s of Business Administration or Master’s of Science in Information Science. The MBA program allows students to pursue a track in Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, or Supply Chain Management. Students have the ability to enroll part-time or full-time. They have multiple scheduling options, with classes offered during the day or in the evening, and an accelerated program with classes only one day per week.
The majority of classes for the MSIS program are held in the evenings to accommodate working professionals. The curriculum for this program focuses more on computer-based activities and communication skills rather than technical software. An optional Data Analytics track is available to MSIS students. Graduate certificates are also available in Accounting and Operations and Supply Chain Management.
Student Life
Being located in the Capital region affords students the opportunity to complete internships with Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and many other corporations and government agencies.
MBA students receive up to $2,000 to cover the expenses of international study trips to China, England, Germany, and Greece. There are also 34 additional SOBA scholarships to help students fund their education.
Students who are interested in starting a business can find the hands-on support they need through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Innovation Den is a free workspace for students. Every spring, students and the community are invited to compete in a 48-hour Startup Challenge for the opportunity to win seed funding, mentoring and classes from Ben Franklin Technology Partners, coworking space from The Candy Factory, and membership to Make717.
A few of the student organizations include the Accounting Club, Entrepreneurship and Management Club, and the Finance Club.
Online Programs
The MBA program is also offered in a hybrid format and fully online. Students will be taught the exact same curriculum as the on-ground program, with the same track options. The online Master’s of Professional Accounting is designed to prepare students to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam.