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Graduate Degrees in Business Administration and Economics

Candidates for admission to graduate study in the College of Business and Economics must provide the results obtained in the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) for the degree in accounting and information analysis. The GMAT or the Graduate Record Examination general test (GRE) must be submitted for degrees in business administration, economics and analytical finance. International students applying to any graduate programs in the College of Business and Economics are required to take the TOEFL for admission to the program.

Master of Business Administration

The Lehigh MBA program is accredited by AACSB International; the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The Lehigh MBA program provides a rich, integrated learning experience for students. Business issues are viewed and taught from the perspective of the firm as a whole rather than along departmental lines. Lehigh’s MBA curriculum is a fully integrated model which simulates the business environment in the classroom. MBA students acquire skills in leadership, managerial communication, and resource allocation coupled with a comprehensive understanding of complex domestic and global business issues.

Due to the compact and integrated core, students have increased flexibility to tailor the program to their individual needs. Students may select a concentration in corporate entrepreneurship, finance, international business, marketing, project management, or supply chain management or pursue a broader experience by selecting courses from a variety of disciplines. Students may only have one concentration.

The MBA program is available through on campus study or through distance education. Students may elect to follow one mode exclusively or mix and match modes. MBA concentrations in supply chain management and project management are currently available through distance study.

MBA Mission Statement. The MBA program will further the development of organizational leaders and managers. This is accomplished by honing students’ knowledge, skills and abilities through a comprehensive and integrated core curriculum and customized concentrations designed to meet individual needs. The MBA program will also foster life-long learning through continuing professional education programs.

Innovative Structure. The MBA Program requires 36 credit hours. Full-time students can fulfill that requirement in 12 to 16 months. Part-time students average three years to complete the degree.

Prerequisites. Students should have completed undergraduate courses in computer literacy, and principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics. The prerequisites of financial accounting and statistics may be completed after acceptance into the MBA program

The statistics prerequisite may be fulfilled by having taken a class within the past 5 years and receiving a “B” or better, by taking a proficiency exam administered through the College, or by enrolling in ECO 401 Basic Statistics for Business and Industry or equivalent. The Accounting prerequisite may be waived by enrolling in GBUS 401, Financial Accounting for Managers and Investors at Lehigh or by taking a proficiency exam administered by the College.

If a student has no previous background in financial accounting or statistics, he/she is encouraged to take a course in the subject area. If a student has previously taken coursework but has not achieved a grade of “B” or the course has exceeded the time limit, self-directed learning and a proficiency exam may be appropriate.

The prerequisites of financial accounting and statistics must be completed before enrolling in MBA 402 Managing Financial and Physical Resources and/or MBA 403 Managing Information.

Core Courses

Electives. Students will take 15 credit hours of elective course work. Students are permitted to design an area of study in consultation with their adviser to best suit their career goals or they may choose to complete an area of concentration. Concentrations in international business and supply chain management require nine credit hours of approved electives. Concentrations in corporate entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and project management require twelve credit hours of approved electives. Students may also complete a maximum of six credit hours of electives outside of the College of Business and Economics (but within Lehigh University). All elective courses must be at the 400 level.

Waiver Policy. There are no waivers for courses in the MBA Program.

GMAT or GRE Scores. All applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) administered by Pearson Vue or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Only GRE scores from the revised version taken after August 1, 2011 will be accepted.

Work Experience. Students are required to have a minimum of 2 years of full-time, professional work experience.

International Students/TOEFL. International students must have 16 years of formal education, including four years at the university level, to be considered for admission to Lehigh’s graduate programs. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For information, write or call the TOEFL Registration Office, P.O. Box 6154, Princeton, N.J., 08541-6154 or at www.toefl.org.

Flexible Class Scheduling. Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday evenings, with seminars offered on Fridays and Saturdays. Part-time students may complete the entire program during evening classes. Many students accelerate completion of the program by taking courses during the two six-week summer sessions.

Further information about the MBA Program may be obtained by contacting the Graduate Programs Office of the College of Business and Economics, Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics, 621 Taylor Street, Bethlehem PA 18015

phone: (610) 758-3418

email: mba.admissions@lehigh.edu

www.lehigh.edu/mba

Certificate Programs (non-degree)

Certificate in Corporate Entrepreneurship

Businesses often nurture the entrepreneurial spirit by forming new venture groups within their organizations. The members of these groups require a special blend of education to develop the skills of discovery, innovation and leadership that starting a new enterprise requires. This certificate program prepares students to successfully evaluate business opportunities within a corporate environment.

Requirements

The certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework with six credit hours of directed electives plus an additional six credits.

Directed Electives

Elective Courses:

Admission Requirements

Students admitted to the certificate program in entrepreneurship will enter as non-degree students. Applicants are required to have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and to have earned a 4 year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Two years of full time professional work experience is also required.

Certificate in Supply Chain Management

Increasingly sophisticated information technology applications and the shift toward global economic activity have shaped a competitive environment that rewards creating value for customers while reducing cost and cycle time. Through in depth study of the organizations’ value chain -logistics, operations, marketing, sales and service- the certificate in supply chain management demonstrates how these activities are linked both internally and externally.

Required Courses

Admission Requirements

Students admitted to the certificate program will enter as non-degree students. Applicants are required to have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and to have earned a 4 year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Certificate in Project Management

This 12 credit hour certificate will prepare students to take the Project Management Professional certification exam offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) - the field’s leading global professional association. Lehigh University is a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) by the Project Management Institute. The certificate is completed within 12 months through both on-line and on-campus modules that are taken sequentially.

Directed Electives (12 credits):

Admission Requirements

Students admitted to the certificate program will enter as non-degree students. Applicants are required to have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, two years of professional work experience, and a 4 year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Graduate students at Lehigh University may apply for the program without meeting additional requirements.

Further information about certificate programs may be obtained by contacting the Graduate Programs Office of the College of Business and Economics, Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics, 621 Taylor Street, Bethlehem PA 18015

phone: (610) 758-5575

email: business@lehigh.edu

www.lehigh.edu/certificates

Master of Science in Accounting and Information Analysis

The Lehigh Master of Science in Accounting and Information Analysis (MSAIA) degree program offers an outstanding opportunity to prepare for a career in today’s demanding field of accounting. Accounting professionals are engaged in a variety of services, including assurance (auditing), business valuation, information resources, and consulting. The program focuses on using information and technology to improve business processes and forge business solutions. Accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Lehigh’s M.S. in Accounting and Information Analysis program satisfies the 150-hour CPA educational requirement adopted by almost all states. The program serves as an excellent foundation for professional careers as CPAs, CMAs and related fields. It provides the broad business education employers value so highly.

The Master of Science in Accounting and Information Analysis curriculum is designed to be flexible so that students may choose to concentrate their electives in a specific field, such as finance, or use them for breadth.

Students are encouraged to obtain an internship during the summer prior to beginning the program. The internship will complement the chosen concentration and provide an excellent practical framework to enrich the academic coursework experience.

Non-Accounting Majors. The M.S. in Accounting and Information Analysis program seeks applicants from a variety of academic backgrounds. Those with undergraduate business degrees in fields other than accounting often lack twelve credits of background requirements in intermediate accounting, accounting information systems and auditing. To the extent possible, applicants should take those courses during their undergraduate programs. We make every effort to offer those courses during Lehigh’s Summer Session to accommodate students needing those background courses. Please contact the Program Director for information about the background courses to be offered in specific Summer Sessions.

Applicants who do not have an undergraduate business degree will likely require two years to complete the program. The first year is devoted to background courses and the second to the graduate program itself.

Mission Statement. Lehigh University’s Master of Science in Accounting and Information Analysis provides a broad business education and the specialized coursework for a professional career in accounting. Graduates aspire to leadership positions at top-tier organizations in fields that include public accounting, corporate accounting, financial services, consulting, and information systems. Through this program, Lehigh continues a long tradition of providing accounting majors with the necessary educational requisites for licensure as certified public accountants within the United States and its territories. The program seeks only the best and the brightest applicants: motivated, dedicated to their studies, not afraid of challenges, possessing confidence, self-discipline, and the ability to articulate their ideas orally and in writing. The program continually pursues the excellence necessary to meet the standards of only the highest-quality educational institutions.

Core Program. The MSAIA core consists of eighteen credits in the courses shown below and thirty credits overall. Designed specifically for this program, and dedicated to it, these innovative courses seek to develop a set of skills and experiences not available in undergraduate programs that will enhance MSAIA students’ ability to perform throughout their chosen careers. Core courses are offered once each academic year.

Electives. The MSAIA curriculum provides for twelve elective credits that students may use to specialize in an area of interest or to augment one’s general business education. Frequently-taken electives include graduate-level courses in taxation and business decisions, financial statement analysis, corporate financial management, investments, strategic supply management, managerial economics, and strategic marketing management.

Waiver Policy. There are no waivers for courses in the M.S. in Accounting and Information Analysis Program.

GMAT Scores. All applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) administered by Pearson Education, Inc. GMAT scores have been averaging 630. A score of at least 580 and 50^th percentile in the quantitative sections will improve the prospects for admission. Undergraduate students should take the exam in the senior year. To make an appointment to take the GMAT exam call 1-800-717-GMAT (4628) or by registering online at www.mba.com. The GMAT is waived for Lehigh accounting majors with an overall GPA of 3.0 and an accounting GPA of 3.0. All offers of admission are conditional until the calculation of the final GPA.

Presidential Scholars. Presidential Scholars must meet normal admission standards.

International Students/TOEFL®. International students must have 16 years of formal education, including four years at the university level, to be considered for admission to Lehigh’s graduate programs. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®). For information, contact www.ets.org/toefl. The MSAIA program features considerable student/faculty interaction in class. Very good English language skills are therefore highly important to success in the program. An internet-based TOEFL (IBT) of 105 will improve the prospects for admission. Admitted applicants typically are required to complete the English as a Second Language American Business English (ABE) program before beginning their graduate program.

Further information about the MSAIA program may be obtained by contacting the Graduate Programs Office of the College of Business and Economics, Lehigh University, 621 Taylor Street, Bethlehem PA 18015; phone: (610) 758-3418 email: business@lehigh.edu. For academic questions, please email Dr. Heibatollah Sami, Director, M.S. in Accounting and Information Analysis Program (hes205@lehigh.edu). www.lehigh.edu/msaccounting

Master of Science in Economics

The Master of Science program in Economics Program is available for students wishing to pursue graduate study in the areas of economics or economics and business. The program offers considerable flexibility with respect to the selection of courses as well as the ability to concentrate in a particular area of study. Students may pursue the degree on either a full-time or part-time basis. Recent graduates of the M.S. program have accepted employment in industry, while other students have pursued the master's degree as a stepping stone to the Ph.D. degree.

A minimum of 30 semester hours of course work is required. As part of the 30 hours, the following courses must be taken:

The remaining 15 credit hours are taken as electives. Students may also elect to write an M.S. thesis. The thesis is worth six hours of credit toward the degree and is particularly encouraged for those who may be considering the Ph.D. program.

Further information about the M.S. in Economics Program may be obtained by contacting the Graduate Programs Office of the College of Business and Economics or Dr. Robert Thornton, Director M.S. in Economics Program, Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics, 621 Taylor Street, Bethlehem PA 18015

phone: (610) 758-3418

email: business@lehigh.edu

www4.lehigh.edu/business/academics/graduate/mseconomics/default.aspx

Doctor of Philosophy

The Ph.D. degree in business and economics is designed to provide advanced knowledge and the capacity to carry on independent research in various areas of business and economics. Holders of the Ph.D. are normally employed in academic positions in departments of economics or in schools of business administration, or in policy analysis and research positions in banks, business, government, and research organizations. Employment opportunities are excellent for graduates with this degree.

The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 48 semester hours of study (including dissertation) beyond the master’s degree or 72 hours of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. Each student is expected to choose one major and two minor fields of specialized study. Students must take core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and mathematical economics. Students must also take written, qualifying examinations in microeconomic theory and econometrics as well as an examination in their major field of study. As a condition for advancement to candidacy, a student must write an original third-year paper suitable for submission to a scholarly journal. The major fields of specialization normally available include, but are not necessarily limited to, health economics, labor economics, applied econometrics, and industrial organization.

Under the guidance of a dissertation chairperson and committee, the candidate undertakes research culminating in a dissertation. The Ph.D. is awarded upon the successful completion of the doctoral dissertation and its oral defense.

Further information about the Ph.D. in Business and Economics Program may be obtained by contacting the Graduate Programs Office of the College of Business and Economics or Dr. Chad Meyerhoefer, Director Ph.D. in Business and Economics Program, Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics, 621 Taylor Street, Bethlehem PA 18015

phone: (610) 758-3445

email: business@lehigh.edu

www4.lehigh.edu/business/academics/graduate/phdeconomics/default.aspx

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