LeBow College of Business Programs: A Comprehensive Overview

The LeBow College of Business at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers a wide array of programs designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to excel in today's dynamic business world. Rooted in a history dating back to the Drexel Institute's founding in 1891, LeBow has evolved into a leading business school known for its rigorous academic programs and commitment to experiential learning.

Historical Development and Recognition

The LeBow College of Business traces its origins to the founding of the Drexel Institute in 1891 and the establishment of the Business Department in 1896. Business programs at Drexel underwent a series of transformations throughout the 20th century, which saw the department recast itself as the Drexel Secretarial School in 1914 and the Drexel School of Business Administration in 1922. The college's name was formally changed to the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business in 1999, following a generous $10 million donation from Drexel University alumnus Bennett S. LeBow. This donation represented the largest individual contribution to the university in its history, a fact that was recognized by the renaming of the College of Business and Administration in LeBow's honor. A second donation by LeBow, totaling $45 million, became the university's new record-setting donation from an individual donor in 2010. The donation was used for the construction of Gerri C. LeBow Hall. In May 2022, a $10 million pledge was gifted to the university from alumnus Ronald W. and Kathleen Disney.

Gerri C. LeBow Hall, home to the LeBow College of Business, was dedicated on October 3, 2013. The 12-story, 177,500-square-foot building was designed by Philadelphia's Voith & Mactavish Architects, LLP, and New York's Robert A. M. Stern Architects, LLP.

The LeBow College of Business is accredited by AACSB International, a distinction held by only the top 20% of business schools worldwide. This accreditation signifies LeBow's commitment to quality and continuous improvement in its programs and operations.

Leadership and Faculty

Currently, Vibhas Madan, PhD, R. John Chapel Jr. serves as the Dean of the LeBow College of Business. The faculty at LeBow are experts in diverse areas spanning leadership, teamwork, business analytics, international trade, marketing, and more. As part of a global R1 research university, LeBow's students and faculty design game-changing solutions for business and beyond. Diverse perspectives lead to comprehensive solutions that neither academia nor industry could accomplish alone. LeBow faculty are leading researchers in the field -- experts in diverse areas spanning leadership, teamwork, business analytics, marketing, international trade and more. As part of a global R1 research university, their cutting-edge research flows to the classroom and the boardroom, providing of-the-moment insights and game-changing solutions to the complex challenges confronting business and society.

Undergraduate Programs

Drexel's Lebow College of Business -- fully accredited by AACSB-International -- offers three distinct undergraduate majors: bachelor of science in economics, bachelor of science in business administration, and bachelor of science in commerce and engineering (C&E). Drexel's Economics degreee is designated to give the student knowledge of the workings of the market system and major economic institutions, economic policy, and development. The Business Administration degree provides a solid business education for students interested in a full range of business career options. Students of Lebow College of Business are offered an education that is interdisciplinary and focused on issues that include technology, global commerce, and professional ethics.

Graduate Programs

LeBow College of Business offers a variety of graduate programs, including full-time, part-time, and online MBA programs, specialized master's degrees, market-driven certificates, and Executive MBA and DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) programs. Drexel LeBow’s Accelerated Full-Time MBA provides streamlined, holistic and customizable plans of study for those looking to start or change their careers. Drexel LeBow’s Part-Time Hybrid MBA features the same academic rigor as the Accelerated Full-Time MBA but is designed to meet the needs of working professionals looking to change or advance their careers. Drexel LeBow’s Part-Time Online MBA features the same academic rigor as the Accelerated Full-Time MBA but is designed to meet the needs of those looking to change or advance their careers. Flexible Timeframe: Complete the Part-Time Online MBA in as little as 24 months. Market-Driven Curriculum: Take courses that consistently evolve to meet the latest market needs in today’s ever-changing business environment.

Experiential Learning and Co-op Program

A practical, hands-on approach is embedded into all programs at LeBow, integrating experiential learning across all components of the student experience. Research-driven consulting projects, industry speakers, international residencies, competitions and other engagements allow students to learn from Drexel's 1800+ corporate partners, from local start-ups to Fortune 100 global corporations. Drexel business students also have a distinct advantage at the undergraduate level - experience doing business. Through Drexel Co-op, students alternate periods of classroom study with periods of professional employment. At the undergraduate level, students can incorporate co-op learning into their schedule, resulting in up to 18 months of real-world job experience on their resume before they even graduate. At the graduate level, internships are also available to those taking advantage of a full- or part-time program. What makes the LeBow co-op program unique is the duration - six months as opposed to standard internships, which generally last two to three months. “I was able to do three, six-month internships with the Boston Red Sox, Johnson & Johnson, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.,” another 2018 alumni said. LeBow students don’t just study the course material, but also apply it to real-life situations. “In addition to the Cooperative education experiences I had an MIS class that used real-life applications,” said an alum. “We worked with a class in a technical college in India to develop an app for a client in New Jersey. “I was able to partake in a six-month-long co-op/internship. This was a unique aspect of Drexel in which very few, if any, have to offer. “I participated in co-ops, which gave me 18 months of work experience prior to graduating, that was very helpful.

Customizable Options

Whether you're focused on an undergraduate, graduate or executive-level program, Drexel LeBow offer options to not only allow you to focus on your career interests and goals, but also find the program that fits into your lifestyle. Program options range from full-time, part-time and online, as well as residencies that bring students together on campus for a short period of time, reducing time away from work and personal lives.

STEM-Designated Programs

LeBow's STEM-designated programs provide interdisciplinary technical and quantitative skills, as well as the business acumen needed to help solve complex business issues and navigate the evolving landscape of business. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Drexel LeBow offers several STEM-designated degree programs and MBA concentrations in fields ranging from business analytics and economics to accounting, business information technology.

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LeBow Centers of Excellence

LeBow College of Business is home to two distinct academic schools that prepare students to lead, innovate and solve complex challenges in business and society. The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship has joined the LeBow College of Business as part of Drexel’s Academic Transformation.

The Dragon Network

Becoming a Drexel Dragon means you become part of a powerful global network of more than 40,000 LeBow alumni - and more than 180,000 Drexel University alumni - worldwide, representing an impressive reach of leaders, innovators and disruptors shaping the future of business today. Members of the LeBow network make a difference in the lives of our students, alumni and other constituents by giving back to LeBow through mentoring opportunities, guest speaking engagements, hiring students through the co-op program or sponsoring events and programs.

Notable Alumni

Alumni of the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business include Raj Gupta, former President and CEO of Rohm and Haas, and Kenneth C. Wilbur C.

Learn by DUing

Among the many exciting business programs LeBow College offers is Learn by DUing. In partnership with United Way agencies, seniors apply their business expertise to help nonprofit organizations reach goals that would not be possible without the competence and dedicated efforts of LeBow students. Learn by DUing embodies the Drexel philosophy of experiential learnign to prepare students for successful careers and lifelong learning and to make contributions to their places of empoloyment and communities.

Curriculum Structure

LeBow College curricula are structured to profvide an excellent educational experience supplemented by the real-world experience of co-op. Studetns receive a solid foundation in all areas of business through a freshman business sequence of courses folowed by courses that provide an understanding of all the core functional areas of any business.

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