<p>I visited Penn State this past week and met with professors for both business and engineering, explaining my long term goals(eventualy get my MBA when it is beneficial and looking more towards a leadership position long term, however i am willing to do whatever it takes to get to that position). The reason i am considering engineering is from what i have read the advanced mathematics you learn in that field are very beneficial later on, plus you should learn almost anything you need to learn(atleast from school) when you get your MBA in regards to business. Anyways, while i was there they told me of a new program they offer, its title is "Interdisciplinary Business With Engineering Studies Major(IBE)". I was looking over the curriculum and it only goes up to calc 2, however it has some other basic engineering courses. My question is, would a course like this be a good choice considering my goals? or would i be better of going a straight engineering major.</p>
<p>The real question is what type of job can you get with an IBE major. I doubt you will be more marketable than an engineering major (perhaps less). This certainly wouldn’t serve as a replacement for an MBA. So, without really knowing more about IBE, I would recommend sticking with engineering.</p>
<p>exactly, what i was thinking, figured id should post to see if others felt the same way, thanks</p>
<p>If you want the engineering major that is most “business like” go with Industrial Engineering. You should get the math you need as well the logical mindset that is given to most engineers, but will by ignore a lot of the more technical studies for the various disciplines in return for operations management type courses.</p>
<p>Hi Mike,</p>
<p>I can personally tell you that you are 100% correct. It is extremely benficial to get a joint degree in business and engineering. However, be cautious that the PSU major is only a year old. </p>
<p>I am in Drexel’s Business and Engineering Program, an undergrad degree that’s been around since 1923!!! I will tell you that being in this program got me a high paying job in a big 4 accounting firm due to our alumni and co-op connections. The people in this specific major are also very very smart, and its a very hard major, with almost a built in math minor. (calc i, calc ii, calc iii, calc iv, linear algebra, statistical inference i and ii are required classes) as well as calc based physics, your choice of engineering electives, your choice of a business concentration (eg: accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, etc) and a heavy emphasis of operations management and operations research.</p>
<p>I wrote a post a little bit ago about this specifically: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/drexel-university/680451-drexels-business-engineering-major-unique-prestigious.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/drexel-university/680451-drexels-business-engineering-major-unique-prestigious.html</a> (post any question under that thread you have about it if you need to)</p>
<p>I highly urge you to look at Drexel and this program in particular. I also know that Lehigh has a IBE program but its run a little different than Drexel, and Penn has another similar program called M&T.</p>
<p>Drexel’s B&E is a great program. As mentioned above, it is a very old program and very well-established in the College of Business. It leans a little more toward business but you have the opportunity to focus on a certain discipline of engineering or take a sampling of mid-level engineering courses. Also, the major is very well respected amongst business employers when considering candidates for management, operations, accounting and finance. If you want to really focus on engineering, however, it might make more sense to major in engineering with a business minor or get your MBA, which is also very popular at Drexel given the strength of both the business and engineering colleges.</p>