June 2025 Dual MBA/Executive MS in Engineering and Applied Science Information Session

Key Concepts

Dual MBA/Executive MS in Engineering and Applied Science (MBA/XMS): A two-year program at Columbia University offering two degrees from the Business School and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Interdisciplinary Education: The program's core philosophy of blending business acumen with deep technical expertise.
Community and Engagement: Emphasis on active student involvement through clubs, speaker series, and networking opportunities.
Faculty Expertise: Access to both full-time researchers and adjunct faculty with real-world industry experience.
New York City Ecosystem: Leveraging the city's vast network of companies, startups, and industry leaders for mentorship and career opportunities.
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Pathways: Distinct tracks for students interested in starting their own ventures or working within established companies.
Career Resources: Comprehensive support from both the Business School's Career Management Center and Engineering's Graduate Career Placement team.
Application Process: A joint admissions process with specific requirements for academic history, standardized tests, work experience, essays, and interviews.
Funding Opportunities: Merit-based scholarships and need-based grants available, with specific application round considerations.

Program Overview: MBA/XMS in Engineering and Applied Science

This information session details the dual MBA and Executive MS in Engineering and Applied Science (MBA/XMS) program at Columbia University, a two-year program designed to equip business leaders with deep technical skills. The program is a collaboration between Columbia Business School (CBS) and the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS).

Rationale for the Program

The program was conceived by the deans of both schools, Costis Maglaris and Shifu Chen, recognizing a growing market demand for professionals who possess both strong business acumen and advanced technical expertise. The curriculum is structured to fully integrate students into both the MBA and MS programs, offering a true dual-degree experience.

Columbia Business School (CBS) Strengths

Community: CBS is characterized by an active and engaged student body involved in various activities like coffee chats, speaker series, and clubs.
Clubs and Engagement: Taewon Yoon, a rising second-year MBA/XMS student, highlighted his involvement with the Columbia AI Club, one of the fastest-growing clubs at CBS. He serves as a board member and will be co-president, organizing events, workshops, and hackathons to empower the AI community and equip students with the latest AI technologies. The club successfully hosted an AI Impact Competition that attracted venture capital firms and raised significant funds.

Columbia Engineering (SEAS) Strengths

Faculty: SEAS boasts a strong faculty comprising full-time researchers and adjunct professors who are active in New York City's business and technology sectors. This blend allows for a strong connection between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Industry Connections: With over 3,000 companies headquartered in New York City, SEAS students have unparalleled access to industry leaders for mentorship and networking.
Multidisciplinary Approach: The program leverages the entrepreneurial resources of SEAS and the business expertise of CBS to foster a multidisciplinary approach to solving contemporary business challenges. Deans Shifu Chang (SEAS) and Mel Gars (CBS) are instrumental in this collaborative effort.

Program Leadership and Faculty

Program Directors: Harry West (SEAS), known for his courses on human design and innovation, and Daniel Guetta (CBS), are dedicated faculty guiding the program. They facilitate access to research centers and entrepreneurship resources.
Teaching Faculty: The program features a mix of adjunct professors working in the field and full-time faculty. This provides students with insights from current industry professionals and academic researchers.
Student Experience with Faculty: Taewon Yoon shared his positive experiences, highlighting courses like "Artificial Intelligence" taught by Tony Deere (SEAS), which provided a strong grasp of foundational AI topics, and "Derivatives" taught by Professor Mark Zurak (CBS), a former managing director at Goldman Sachs who led their equity derivatives research group. This exemplifies learning beyond textbooks from executives who have managed multi-billion dollar businesses.

Program Structure and Curriculum

The MBA/XMS program is a two-year commitment.

Year 1: Foundational Core Curriculum

Fall Semester: Students are primarily residents at SEAS, completing their core engineering curriculum. Access to CBS resources, including clubs and events, is available.
Spring Semester: Students matriculate into CBS, undertaking the core MBA curriculum. J-term is part of this semester.
Integration and Learning Teams: The cluster system at CBS provides a supportive, home-base environment with diverse backgrounds, fostering connections beyond the MBA/XMS cohort. Taewon Yoon noted that while he was able to exempt some core business courses due to his finance background (CFA charter holder), the cluster system still offered valuable interaction and support.
Course Exemptions: Students can exempt certain CBS core courses in the spring semester by passing exemption exams, provided they have relevant prior experience. Exemptions are not available for the SEAS fall curriculum.

Summer Internship

Following the first year, students can pursue a full-time summer internship. Two pathways are available:

Enterprise Route: A traditional internship at a startup or established enterprise company.
Summer Entrepreneurship Immersive: Participation in the Eugene M. Lange Entrepreneurship Center's program to develop a personal venture.

Taewon Yoon is currently interning at Amazon on their devices team, working as a product manager leveraging AI to optimize customer experiences. He noted the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to apply learnings from both CBS and SEAS.

Year 2: Deep Dive and Specialization

Electives: Students complete additional requirements for both their MBA and MS degrees by taking electives.
Capstone Project: A mandatory component where students dedicate time to developing leadership skills, problem-solving, and fulfilling program concentrations. This can be an individual venture or a group project.
Engineering Concentrations: Students can choose from seven engineering concentrations, each requiring nine credits. These allow for specialization in areas like medical device design, AI/machine learning, or robotics. Students can discuss course selections with their advisors to tailor their academic path.
Business Concentrations: Students select a business concentration in either Entrepreneurship or Enterprise. These are independent of the summer internship pathway.

Unmatched Opportunities in New York City

Campus Access: Students have access to both the Morningside campus (SEAS) and the new Manhattanville campus (CBS).
Industry Hub: New York City's status as a hub for over 3,000 companies and a vibrant startup scene provides extensive opportunities for career exploration.
Guest Speakers: The program offers access to high-caliber speakers, including CEOs, founders, and astronauts, providing invaluable insights and networking opportunities. Taewon Yoon cited attending talks by Jane Fraser (CEO of Citi) and Alex Karp (CEO of Palantir) as particularly impactful.

Resources and Support Systems

Students in the MBA/XMS program have access to the full range of career and professional development resources from both schools.

Columbia Engineering Graduate Career Placement

One-on-One Coaching: Personalized career guidance.
Employer Connections: Opportunities to connect with potential employers and industry partners.
Skill Development: Non-degree courses for technical and soft skills, including public speaking and coding.
Leadership Programs: The Professional Development and Leadership Fellows Program allows students to contribute to creating opportunities for their peers.

Columbia Business School Career Management Center (CMC)

Coaching and Fellows Program: Similar to SEAS, the CMC offers coaching and a fellows program to support career goals.
Executives in Residence: Access to experienced professionals for guidance.
Entrepreneurship Resources: The Startup Lab and Build Lab provide support for entrepreneurial ventures.
Alumni Programs: The Alumni Edge Program and Columbia Alumni Virtual Accelerator, along with Columbia Plus, offer ongoing resources even after graduation.

Entrepreneurship Support

Eugene M. Lange Entrepreneurship Center: Provides resources for students at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey, from ideation to developing a minimum viable product and pitching to venture capitalists.
Unicorns: Columbia has a strong track record of producing successful entrepreneurs, with over 10 unicorns emerging from CBS.

Enterprise Route Support

Employer Network: A broad community of employers actively recruit from both schools.
Alumni Network: An extensive alumni network of over 100,000 individuals across CBS and SEAS provides a valuable resource for networking and career advancement. Alumni are noted for their proactive engagement and willingness to support current students.

Application Process and Requirements

The application process is a joint effort between CBS and SEAS.

Admissions Criteria

Academic History: A strong academic record is essential. While an undergraduate STEM degree is highly recommended, it is not a strict prerequisite. The program assesses academic history in areas like mathematics, computer science, and data science to ensure readiness for graduate-level coursework in both engineering and business.
Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE scores are required. There is no preference between the two exams.
Work Experience: A minimum of two years of full-time work experience is required. The average for admitted students is around five years. Entrepreneurial experience is considered.
Professional Goals: Applicants must clearly articulate their post-MBA/XMS goals, demonstrating alignment with the program's focus on creating or joining startups, advancing in tech firms, or pursuing roles like technology product manager. The application requires explaining why this specific dual-degree program is the right choice over standalone CBS or SEAS programs.
Personal Characteristics: Assessed through recommendation letters, essays (covering personal and professional promise), and an interview (by invitation only).

Application Deadlines

The application process follows a traditional business school round structure with three rounds:

Round 1: Interview invitations by early November; final decisions by mid-December.
Round 2: Interview invitations by mid-February.
Round 3: Interview invitations by mid-April.

Applications are reviewed on a round basis, not rolling. Incomplete applications are rolled over to the next round. The application is hosted on the Columbia Business School website.

Application Requirements Checklist

Online Application: Hosted by CBS.
Resume: Detailing education, work experience, and interests.
Essays: Two required essays.
Short Answers: Including post-MBA/XMS goals (50 characters) and intended concentrations.
Letters of Recommendation: Two required, ideally one professional and one academic. Two professional letters are acceptable if an academic reference is not feasible.
Transcripts: From all bachelor's degree programs and above.
GRE or GMAT: No preference between the two.
Interview: By invitation only.
Application Fee: Required.

Funding Your Education

Merit and Scholarship Funding: To be considered for merit funding, applicants must apply in Round 1 or Round 2. This consideration is automatic upon application in these rounds.
Need-Based Grants: An additional application step is required for need-based grants.
Loans: The financial aid office assists both domestic and international students in securing loans.

Q&A Session Highlights

Application Rounds: Applying in earlier rounds (1 and 2) is beneficial for merit funding consideration and demonstrates strong interest, though evaluation is equal across rounds.
Summer Internship Search: The school provides resources, but students are responsible for securing their internships. Taewon Yoon shared his timeline and the utilization of CBS career systems and networking.
Work Experience Definition: The two years of work experience are counted upon matriculation into the program. Entrepreneurial experience is considered valid.
Essay Tips: Applicants are encouraged to be authentic, clearly articulate their goals, and demonstrate thorough research into the program's unique offerings.
Interviews: An interview is a mandatory part of the admissions process for this program; no applicants are admitted without one.
Post-Grad Employment: The first graduating class primarily entered the tech industry, with roles in product management and technical positions at large companies and startups.
English Language Proficiency: No TOEFL or IELTS scores are required; proficiency is assessed during the interview.
Admissions Rates: The acceptance rate is competitive and similar to the full-time MBA program, though the applicant pool is smaller due to the program's specialized nature.
Unemployment at Application: Being unemployed at the time of application is not a disadvantage, provided the minimum work experience requirement is met and any gaps are explained.
Test Waivers: No test waivers are available for the GMAT or GRE. Application fee waivers are possible with specific eligibility criteria.
Student Visa Support: Columbia University is actively monitoring the situation regarding student visa interviews and processing times and is committed to supporting international students through its International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).
Financial Aid: Merit funding is considered in Rounds 1 and 2. Need-based grants require a separate application. The financial aid office provides comprehensive support for loans.

Student Perspective: Taewon Yoon

Taewon Yoon shared that his journey has been a "wonderful journey" filled with highly qualified cohort members. He emphasized that the program is demanding and immersive, going beyond typical MBA experiences. He highlighted the immense personal, professional, and academic growth he has experienced, particularly as an international student. He is excited to continue his journey, working on his capstone project and research with an engineering professor, and pursuing career opportunities in large tech organizations like Amazon.