Goshen College’s teaching faculty approved 4+1, a new MBA program, on Oct. 21, which will permit undergraduate students to enroll in MBA courses during their junior year.

The current program was created for full-time mid-career professionals who could only take one course. Still, Michelle Horning, chair of the business department, explained that the department is noticing different trends.

“Over the last ten years, we’ve noticed the average age of our MBA students has gone down and younger professionals, earlier in their careers, were expressing interest in the program,” said Horning.

She explained that 4+1s often indicate that undergraduate students can commence taking graduate courses and finish in one year while they work on their undergraduate degrees.

GC will integrate the new pathway in the 2023-2024 school year. They hope this opportunity will allow undergraduate students to take MBA courses and use their financial aid to pay for them.

“Students may complete half of their MBA course while an undergraduate,” Horning said. “This reduces the cost and time required to complete an MBA degree.”

Undergraduates from any major can take MBA classes upon earning 80 credit hours and achieving a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Horning encourages students to take courses offered even if they are unsure about finishing the pathway. 

She also spoke about the creation of this program, noting that it was relatively easy because of the business department’s experience with MBAs.

“The idea of creating a pathway to the … degree for undergraduate students has been evolving during the last year,” Horning added.

The business department spent considerable time researching ways to ensure this program succeeds.

“Much time was spent reading about similar programs at other schools, listening carefully to [GC] students and graduates, learning about rules and standards that we must follow, and selling the program to decision-makers on campus,” she said.

Horning’s goal is to boost interest and enrollment while offering undergraduate students a chance for a more accessible education.

“Education is expensive and this 4+1 pathway to the MBA degree reduces the cost to students,” she said. “An MBA degree is valuable for students from any major.”

Horning is hosting information sessions Friday, Nov. 11 in Newcomer 13 that will cover the same information. The first meeting is from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m and the second takes place 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.