Concentrations

Customize your Penn State Smeal MBA experience in a variety of ways to suit your aspirations. The courses you decide to take during Modules V-VIII in the second year allow you to explore one of three paths.

1. Enjoy complete flexibility and choose a variety of elective courses from across Smeal and Penn State.

2. Work with MBA advisers to create a college-recognized concentration in an area such as bio-business, energy, or real estate. At a University such as Penn State, the options are vast.

3. Choose to pursue one of the college’s pre-designed concentrations in:

• Finance: focus on financial analysis and management of assets with an emphasis on capital markets.
  
• Marketing: focus on the creation or expansion of products in business-to-business or consumer marketing.
  
• Supply Chain Management: focus on organizational goals such as system flexibility, asset utilization, profitability, etc.
  
• Strategic Leadership: focus on the role of management within an organization.
  
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: focus on building your own company or consulting opportunities.
  

Along with your chosen elective courses, the second year at Smeal also features several other unique experiences.

Kickoff Event: Business Simulation

Run a large firm of your own in competition with your classmates as part of this intense exercise that begins the second year. Develop a strategy, allocate resources, and interpret results of each operating year during this hands-on experience.

Immersion: Negotiation, Theory, and Skill

Being adept at negotiation often means the difference between success and failure. Learn how to become a better negotiator by immersing yourself in concepts such as the “Zone of Possible Agreement” and “Best Alternative to a Negotiated Contract.” Practice your newfound skills in live exercises in groups ranging from two to twenty people, where you will receive immediate feedback about what you did right and what you can improve.

Immersion: Service Experience

Smeal MBAs are known for their willingness to give back to the community. During this one-week experience, second-year students lend their time and expertise to a worthy cause such as Habitat for Humanity or another philanthropic organization.