The MBAi Program at Kellogg
The MBAi is a combined program established in 2020 by Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and McCormick School of Engineering. Their goal is to be at the crossroads of business and technology management. This MBAi program is designed for students who have previous undergraduate STEM expertise and/or job experience in the technology industry. It will be a fast-paced five-quarter program. The program will include the full Kellogg MBA core curriculum as well as specialized classes in machine learning, artificial intelligence, data handling, robotics, and computational reasoning for business.
Unlike Northwestern’s dual degree triple M program where you’ll graduate with two degrees - one from Kellogg and one from McCormick - when you finish the MBAi program, you will have one degree awarded by both Kellogg and McCormick. The program begins in the the fall season, and students take courses for five straight quarters before graduating in December.
Does the MBAi program have an Internship?
The MBAi program does have an internship and the internship will be completed during the summer quarter. It follows the same schedule as a conventional internship in the regular two-year program for triple M students. You find a summer internship that interests you and have the assistance of Kellogg's career management center team. All resources, including assistance in obtaining an internship, will be accessible to all MBAi students.
How does the MBAi differer from the MBA with a focus on tech?
There are three aspects that distinguish this program and its alumni: the curriculum, the degree you will receive, and the employment or professional possibilities that Kellogg thinks you will match. The MBAi is the only top MBA program that provides classroom work and training that integrates AI, data, and data analytics throughout the curriculum. Every part of your path through this degree will have that as a common core, rather than just choosing a few electives at the intersection of technology and business strategy, for example.
MBAi graduates will also be prepared to take on leadership roles at the intersection of science, technology, and business within organizations, such as technology product management, product digital marketing, and consulting roles. These roles are looking at how to advance what's happening right now in data analytics and AI, and trying to apply those concepts into business organizations, solving real-time problems, and leveraging technology.
However, if you are engaged in technology and want a more traditional MBA education, the two-year program is for you. Kellogg has a tech management route, and you can take classes with electives that you choose. You'll be laying the groundwork for your MBA while also working on a conventional summer internship.
Why did Kellogg create the MBAi?
Kellogg created the MBAi with such an emphasis on the effect of artificial intelligence, data analysis, and machine learning because they think AI and analytics hold tremendous potential for where business and organizations are evolving in the future. Many organizations are grappling with the task of determining how to produce and scale effective business outcomes.
Kellogg thinks that in order to reach a much greater degree of success, businesses must be able to adapt and course correct. They require novel decision-making procedures. Culture changes and new organizational frameworks may be required. Making these adjustments will necessitate executives who are knowledgeable in both business and technology.
Kellogg thinks that the MBAi program will cultivate future leaders capable of driving effective business results through the use of AI, technology, and creativity. Kellogg also thinks that this will be a rapidly expanding field that should be focused on improving.
The Future of MBAs and Artificial Intelligence