Drexel University puts technology to work in Techno-MBA program

Drexel University's Bennett S. LeBow College of Business is the first school in the country to offer a techno-MBA program delivered entirely online, according to the school's dean.

"To our knowledge, we're the first college to offer this degree completely online," said Dr. Pamela Lewis, dean of the LeBow College of Business. "We're managing e-commerce and [information technology] content with an e-commerce and IT medium...we're not just talking about it, we're engaged and using the technology."

The new degree program, MBA Online: Drexel's Technology Management Program, will officially begin on April 1 with a class of 25 students, Lewis said. "The concern with online education is always whether it will be the same quality as traditional means," she said. "This program will be 13 online courses, all taught by full-time Drexel University faculty and has the same qualifications as traditional MBA programs," including tests scores and work experience, she said.

Lewis said the response thus far from prospective students has been unbelievable because the degree offers the opportunity to establish "business acumen with IT skills," she said. "This will give them the fundamental business knowledge and be able to look at it from a technology perspective and how that's impacting business," Lewis said.

Drexel, located in Philadelphia, developed the program in a partnership with eCollege.com, which is providing the school with a $235,000 grant, the software shell servers and technology development support for the 13 online courses.