Knauss School of Business MBA Receives STEM Designation

One year after the Knauss School of Business at the University of San Diego announced a revamped MBA curriculum emphasizing social impact and emerging business trends, it has received official STEM designation for three of its MBA concentrations: business analytics, finance and supply chain management.

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math, and a STEM-designated MBA program is one recognized as having a high level of analytical content and rigor.

“The STEM designation for our MBA speaks to the quality of our curriculum, our responsiveness to emerging trends, as well as the experience and skills that our graduates offer to employers,” said Wenli Xiao, department chair of interdisciplinary programs and associate professor of operations and supply chain management. “We’re excited that it will especially benefit our international students who love to study in beautiful San Diego. These students add incredible perspective and value to the classroom learning experience.”

With this announcement, the Knauss School of Business now offers three STEM-designated graduate programs — the Full-Time MBA, the Master of Science in Business Analytics and the Master of Science in Finance.

Why STEM Designation Matters

As companies increasingly rely on data to inform just about every aspect of business, a STEM MBA program ensures that students are equipped with in-demand skills, such as managing data, utilizing analytical models and generating insights to make better business decisions. 

For international students, a STEM designation is especially valuable. In general, after graduating from a master’s program, international students are eligible to complete Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows them to work up to 12 months at a company in the U.S. to gain work experience before returning to their home country. Those who graduate from a STEM-designated program, such as the Knauss MBA, can extend their OPT to 36 months. 

A STEM-designated MBA may also signal to employers, especially those in a STEM industry such as life sciences, biotech and fintech, that candidates have the skills needed to thrive at their company.

While students enrolled in any of USD’s MBA formats can choose to earn a concentration in business analytics, finance or supply chain management, among others, only those in the full-time MBA program are currently eligible for the STEM designation. 

Enrollment in the Knauss MBA has increased by more than 130 percent in five years and is at an all-time high, supported by a new, 120,000-square-foot building — the Knauss Center for Business Education — which opened in 2022. And with this new STEM designation, applications are expected to increase. Students interested in exploring the Knauss MBA can learn more on our website and are encouraged to apply early. 

Learn more about the Knauss School of Business MBA and view frequently asked questions about the STEM-designated MBA.

— USD News Center