If your undergraduate degree has given you a thirst for more education and greater exposure to the world of business, take heart. The Stillman School of Business offers a dual-degree program that may be exactly what you seek. Moreover, Stillman offers, not just one, but two, of these dual programs. The first one (for business majors) is available to those who desire undergraduate and graduate business degrees from a top-ranked business program. The second one (for non-business majors) accommodates someone who desires a bachelor's degree in liberal arts or the sciences and a Master of Business Administration.

Business Majors

Stillman is proud of its accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for nearly 30 years. This recognition, coupled with the School's focus on faculty engagement and experiential learning are just a few of the reasons why The Princeton Review counts Stillman among its list of "Best Business Schools." Notably, U.S. News & World Report includes the School in its list of "top business school for part-time M.B.A.s., with a 2017 ranking of #57 in the country.

Business majors in the dual-degree program spend the first three years taking undergraduate business courses, and then accelerate to a mixture of undergraduate and graduate business courses in the fourth year. In order to begin graduate coursework in the fifth year, a student must have attained a minimum 3.4 GPA. A significant benefit of the dual-degree program is that students can earn the M.B.A. degree by completing only 30 graduate credits, a significant reduction in coursework relative to Stillman's standard 40-credit degree.

One of the unique features of the Stillman M.B.A. program is that students can tailor their courses of study in a variety of areas, including Accounting, Finance, Information Technology Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Sport Management, or Supply Chain Management.

"Students who embark on this program typically learn how to organize and lead in a highly competitive environment," explained Dr. Joyce Strawser, Dean of the Stillman School of Business. "More importantly, their exposure to ethical considerations throughout the program helps to shape them as principled leaders, both professionally and personally." She added, "Our students are finding these traits to be invaluable in today's career market."

James Farney (B.S.B.A. '16) transferred into Seton Hall, in Fall 2014, from Brookdale Community College, at the start of his junior year. "As a transfer student," he said, "being able to enter into a five-year dual-degree program efficiently streamlined the process of my educational career. It's a functional program that truly works."

To date, Farney's impending M.B.A. in Finance (May '17) has provided him with several career opportunities and discussions. "Having an advanced degree option that is as seamless as Stillman's dual-degree program has enhanced my conversations with potential employers," claimed Farney. "Furthermore," he stated, "it will definitely play a pivotal role in the acceleration of my professional career,"

Non-business Majors

The joint program offered to non-business majors is the result of collaboration between the College of Arts and Sciences and the Stillman School of Business. After the first three years taking arts and sciences courses, 75 completed credit hours, and a minimum 3.4 GPA, students may apply to the M.B.A. program.

Erin Lott (B.S. '16), majored in math during her undergraduate years, while minoring in business administration. "As an outsider looking in [to the business school community], I wanted to be a part of it, so I became interested in pursuing my M.B.A. at Stillman," she explained. "Of course, my business minor helped to make a seamless transition into the graduate business courses, but I think it would have been just as easy without it." Lott credits the Stillman faculty and staff with helping to create a successful environment. "They make sure you're on the right path."

Lott plans to graduate with her M.B.A. in May 2017, with a concentration in Finance. "What I enjoyed most about my coursework was putting the concepts into practice." Recently, she completed her Capstone consulting project for client, Teach For America New Jersey (TFA), in which she, along with four other Stillman students, James Farney ('17), Kristen Rothe ('18), Weiyu Tang ('17), and Saswato Roy ('17), spent time meeting with TFA and consulting with them throughout the semester. As the final product of their hands-on analysis, the Stillman students produced and presented a bound document, suggesting strategies and recommendations to TFA's Executive Director and Managing Director.

"The curriculum came full circle," said Lott about the experience. "We were able to apply the concepts we learned in other courses throughout our graduate curriculum to provide the best solutions for our client."

Application of Learning Experiences

Associate Professor Daniel Ladik, Department of Marketing and Director of the M.B.A. Program, acknowledges the importance of Stillman's Capstone course. "Deep, immersive learning experiences, such as the Capstone consulting class, differentiate Stillman's curriculum from other M.B.A. programs," he said. "Regardless if a student comes to Stillman from a business or a non-business undergraduate program," Ladik emphasized, "we make sure our students apply the knowledge from their coursework."

Both Farney and Lott have enjoyed many aspects of the Stillman experience. Although they came from different backgrounds and undergraduate majors, they both believe the culmination of their respective paths will generate significant career opportunities. "Most of all," said Farney, "I will miss the sense of community that resonates within the Stillman School. The constant support and encouragement has truly proven to be a hidden gem!"