Academics

Admission open for Smeal master's in management and organizational leadership

Penn State Smeal's Master's in Management and Organizational Leadership Program is modeled after the first year of the internationally ranked Penn State Smeal MBA Program. It features the same faculty, core MBA course content, and a tight-knit environment with an emphasis on teamwork, collaboration, and communication. Credit: Jennifer Neal / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Graduating seniors from technically oriented, non-business disciplines still have time to apply for fall 2018 admission to the master's in management and organizational leadership program (MOL) from the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

The deadline for application is April 1. Those students who are interested are encouraged to act quickly. Applications to the one-year program have increased by more than 40 percent relative to last year at the same time and more than half of the seats have been filled. The average GPA among accepted students to the program has risen, as well.

“The Smeal brand is resonating with STEM students,” said Michael Waldhier, director of admissions for the Smeal MBA and MOL Programs. “We’ve found it is popular with students who were unable to pursue a business minor as undergraduates and others who know they want to accentuate their undergraduate studies with a range of business concepts.”

The MOL is modeled after the first year of Smeal's internationally ranked MBA program. It features the same faculty, core MBA course content, and a tight-knit environment with an emphasis on teamwork, collaboration and communication.

Waldhier said that while the program is designed for students to transition from undergraduate studies after graduation, a growing number of sophomore and junior STEM students are inquiring about the program.

“Some of these students have embarked on internships that required a presentation as a capstone project. While the students were successful in gathering technical aspects, some of them received feedback that their collaborative and communicative skills could be more polished. The MOL program is designed to greatly enhance those skills,” he said.

“Once students have mastered those skills, they know they can change their career path to leadership and client-facing roles. They won’t be limited to strictly technical careers. That gives them real potential for growth within their company and their field.”

More information about the program and an overview of the application process can be found online. Specific questions can be directed to mol@smeal.psu.edu or 814-863-0474.

Last Updated February 27, 2018

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