One-Year MBA Program | Clarkson University

Shape Your Future as a Leader

In today's global economy, an MBA opens the doors to opportunities in almost any industry. It signals to employers that you are a strategic thinker, a decision-maker and a change agent. With a degree this versatile and interdisciplinary, you will acquire the kind of business acumen to create real impact. If you are ready to advance your career, the residential, accelerated MBA program at Clarkson University can help you get to the next phase.

Why Earn an MBA Degree From Clarkson?

The Master of Business Administration at Clarkson University prepares you for leadership roles in the fast-paced world of business. You will sharpen your strategic thinking, develop leadership skills and generate innovative solutions.

The curriculum has been designed to be rigorous and efficient. You can earn the degree in as few as nine months at our Potsdam Campus. Receive a solid foundation in essential business competencies with our core courses, and use electives to focus your studies on your unique goals.

Our curriculum is about equipping you with the tools to make decisions in ambiguous and complex situations. You are learning to influence and make decisions by combining knowledge with leadership prowess.

The program's global outlook also offers you the chance to gain real-world experience abroad.

The David D. Reh School of Business is considered one of the best in the nation by U.S News & World Report, Fortune magazine and others. You will graduate with a degree that is well-respected by employers and with experiences that will make you stand out in the job market. We offer what few business schools do: high-quality, competitive opportunities within a tight-knit community.

What You'll Learn

Some of the skills you'll develop in the residential MBA include:

Analytical abilities and decision-making
Business and management principles
Effective strategy and operations
Effective written and verbal communication
Ethics and social responsibility
Finance, accounting and economics
Leadership and teamwork

Curriculum and Requirements

The Master of Business Administration consists of 16 courses, for a total of 38 credit hours. You can complete the program in as little as nine months, but we also offer one-year, 18-month and two-year options. Classes are offered at our Potsdam Campus.

Core Modules

All students must complete the following required courses:

AC603 Management Accounting
OM606 Supply Chain Management
EC604 Applied Economics
OS608 Organizational Behavior & Performance Management
FN607 Financial Management
OS610 Strategic Planning
IS605 Information Systems
MK609 Marketing Management
OM602 Decision Analysis and Supply Chain Modeling
SB609 Corporate Ethical Decision Making

A Strategic Planning module (2 credits) is offered as a 12-week course during the spring semester or as an accelerated winter semester online course. The other modules are taught for seven weeks each during the fall semester.

Concentrations

You can choose to use your electives to earn an advanced certificate in an area of interest or pursue a local concentration. The options include:

Data Analytics (Local Concentration)
Environmental Management (Advanced Certificate)
Innovation and New Venture Management (Advanced Certificate)
Supply Chain Management (Advanced Certificate)

Experiential Course

To round out your studies, there is an experiential learning requirement. This is an opportunity to apply your expertise to a real-world global scenario while traveling abroad with your classmates — a valuable résumé booster.

Experiential learning is a strong part of Clarkson's culture so each student participating in the Residential MBA program is required to take a 3-credit-hour experiential course. Currently, the experiential requirement can be satisfied by participating in the Global Business Program or by taking the SB696 Global Business Strategies course.

The Global Business Program offers several options that are designed to give you knowledge and new perspectives regarding international business, helping you develop critical skills necessary to compete and succeed in the global market. The most popular Global Business Program option is the course that includes a 2- to 3-week trip to an international destination, often led by the faculty from that area. This course offers a unique opportunity to explore business outside the traditional classroom boundaries and to provide a unique experience to your resume. This course also helps students explore the global management issues facing business leaders and organizations in different parts of the world.

Electives Include*:

AC623 Financial Statement Analysis
EC660 Environmental Economics
EC651 Industrial Organization in Supply Chain
FN680 Strategic Financial Management
MK689 New Product Marketing
MK696 Marketing Methods
OM676 Developing and Managing Technology
OM680 Strategic Project Management
OM685 Quality Management and Process Improvement
OM671 Supply Chain Environmental Management
OS657 Leading Organizational Change
OS666 Negotiations and Relationship Management
SB693 Seminar in International Business
SB696 Advanced Topics in Supply Chain Management

*This list is one that represents electives that have been offered over the past several years and is provided for example purposes only. Some courses listed may not be offered each year.

Looking for an MBA you can earn around your career and other obligations? Review the complete curriculum for the Online MBA.

Global Business Program

In the Global Business Program, students set off on a two-to-three-week trip to an international destination, led by one of our stellar faculty members. During their travels, they meet with local organizations and business leaders to discuss current challenges, developments and innovations in their field. In the spring 2023 semester, students will travel to Thailand, Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands.

Learn more about the primary MBA trip: East Meets West trip.

Admission to the MBA Program

A complete application includes the following:

Online Application Form
Résumé or C.V.
Statement of purpose.
Two letters of recommendation
Official transcripts
GRE Test Scores: the GRE requirement will be waived for spring and fall 2024 applicants.
For international applicants, an English proficiency test is required:
Minimum test score requirements: TOEFL (80) and TOEFL Essentials (8.5), IELTS (6.5), PTE (56) or Duolingo English Test (115).

Automatic admission: If you satisfy one of the below criteria, you are eligible for automatic admission into our graduate business programs:

An undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher from a regionally accredited college.
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher AND a GMAT score of 500 or higher.
A master's degree or above from a regionally accredited college.

These criteria are for admissions purposes only. Full scholarship considerations should include a complete application. This applies only to regionally accredited institutions in the United States. All other applicants will follow the prescribed requirements.

Learn more about admission requirements for graduate students.

Scholarships

You are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship when applying for a graduate degree program at the Reh School of Business. You do not need to fill out a separate scholarship application. Scholarships are given based on academic achievement (GPA), standardized tests (GMAT or equivalent), work experience and other notable accomplishments.

We also offer the Early Decision Award for Residential Business Programs. Commit by March 1 for fall enrollment and November 1 for spring. Receive an additional award when you commit to the residential program. This award is added to any existing merit scholarship. Contact the MBA program for additional information on this award.

Global Specialty Track

Find limitless possibilities in your career with international experience. The Global Specialty Track Residential MBA gives you the opportunity to complete up to six courses abroad during the spring semester. In this 1-1/2-year program, you complete all of your electives overseas and then come back the following fall to complete your on-campus degree requirements.

Our partner AACSB-accredited schools are:

The Clarkson Reh MBA was the right choice for me because it provided the hands-on experience I had been searching for in a master's program. As graduate students, we were given the opportunity to develop our own startup businesses while making executive decisions. In one year, this program has provided me with the tools to expand my capabilities and seek out new opportunities. With a smaller classroom size, I’ve made lifelong friendships and excellent connections that have aided me throughout my career search.
Carolyn Spittler '22 Master of Business Administration

Career Possibilities

Holding an MBA increases your employability and earnings. Of Reh School alumni surveyed, 87 percent said their degree increased their earnings power, and 84 percent said their degree led to faster career advancement, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s "2021 Alumni Perspectives Survey Report."

Clarkson University students are well-respected by employers, as well. Our Residential MBA Class of 2023 had a 100 percent placement rate with starting salaries as high as $130K.

Possible job titles include:

Accounting professional
Financial analyst
Management development professional
Operations manager
Project manager
Supply chain professional

Employers

Our MBA students have secured positions in many organizations, including:

Amazon
Deloitte
General Dynamics
Target
The Raymond Corporation
TransDigm
Veritas Prime
Walt Disney Corporation

One-Year Residential MBA Partners (4+1)

Clarkson's accelerated, cohort-based MBA prepares you for success in just nine months so you can start your career sooner. Our partnerships with other undergraduate schools help you get a degree in less time and at a reduced cost. Learn more about our partners by using the button below.

MBA Partners