This Big-City B-School Has Overhauled Its MBA 3 Times In 9 Years — Here’s Why It’s Not Stopping

At many elite business schools, the MBA curriculum has barely changed in a decade despite tectonic shifts in technology, the labor market, and employer expectations. That’s not the case at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, where a culture of continuous reinvention is reshaping how the school prepares students for the workplace of today — and tomorrow.

The latest overhaul of LeBow’s full-time MBA, effective Fall 2025, is the school’s third significant redesign in under a decade. For a B-school to so frequently undergo a curricular makeover is, “unfortunately, unusual,” says Stacy Kline, assistant dean for teaching and learning. “But I think we should be agile and flexible in today’s world.” 

And she adds: “We’re not done yet.”

AI & ROI AT THE CORE

This year’s changes reflect two urgent pressures: the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence and growing scrutiny of graduate program ROI.

To meet both challenges head-on, LeBow has added a new concentration in Applied AI and Business, joining five existing STEM-designated tracks — in finance, marketing analytics, accounting analytics, and others — that have become increasingly important to both international and domestic students.

“When we were looking at STEM designation, yes, OPT was a factor,” Kline says, referencing the extended work authorization STEM degrees offer international students. “But I was actually very vocal that we needed STEM programs for both international and domestic students. There were — and still are — a lot of grants and workforce initiatives that target STEM education.”

That broader vision is paying off. Interest in LeBow’s AI courses and expos has surged among domestic students, especially part-timers in the MBA program. And the school is continuing to invest: new standalone courses in AI and data mining are in development, while others — from business law to change management — are being updated to embed emerging technologies like AI and data privacy directly into the curriculum.

“There’s Drexel speed — and there’s Stacy speed,” Kline jokes. “I always want us to move faster. I’ve been pushing this for two years, and we’re just getting started.”

A LEANER, MORE STREAMLINED MBA

Beyond the headline-grabbing additions, LeBow has made significant structural changes to its MBA. Credit requirements have dropped slightly, from 49 to 48. Two-credit courses have been phased out in favor of a standard three-credit format, simplifying scheduling and reducing the number of courses from 19 to 16 — while preserving both the business core and room for customization.

“We had a lot of one-and-a-half and two-credit courses,” Kline says. “While it sounds great, it was causing scheduling difficulties. The new format makes it easier for students to plan — and easier for us to deliver.”

One sacrifice: fewer free electives. “I was sad to see that,” Kline admits. “But we made room for more essential components, like our new required course in Career Management and Professional Development.”

That course, shaped by feedback from both employers and students, reflects LeBow’s deeper commitment to preparing students not just academically, but professionally. “We’re hearing loud and clear that employers want professional presence, communication skills, leadership,” Kline says. “And we’re building that into the MBA.”

TEACHING THAT EVOLVES WITH THE MARKET

Curricular redesign is only part of the story. Kline has also led an initiative to rethink how MBA courses are taught. She recently brought faculty together for a series of workshops focused on aligning learning goals across courses, eliminating redundancies, and integrating more “authentic,” experiential assessments.

That means more consulting-style projects, simulations, and applied learning — consistent with Drexel’s broader identity as an experiential university. “There are always going to be courses you just have to get through,” she says. “But more and more, we’re trying to build in real-world experience.”

Faculty have embraced the process. “They actually said they really enjoyed being able to hear from their peers,” Kline notes. “I’m now working on a SharePoint so they can see each other’s case studies, syllabi, and assignments. We want to avoid stagnation. We want to be constantly learning — just like our students.”

LOOKING AHEAD: SEMESTERS, AI & INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING 

The MBA changes come amid even larger transformation efforts. In 2027, Drexel will shift from quarters to semesters — prompting a university-wide overhaul of every program, undergraduate and graduate. For Kline, who’s managing that two-year transition, the scope is massive: consolidating courses, mapping out a redesigned student journey, and aligning contact hours and learning goals.

But she’s also focused on what’s next.

She wants LeBow to go further in interdisciplinary education, creating more joint initiatives across Drexel’s colleges. She’s also pushing for an undergraduate minor in AI and emerging tech, after just missing last year’s submission deadline. And she’s closely watching government moves to tie higher education funding and classification to graduate outcomes.

“There’s a new Carnegie classification focused on student access and earnings,” Kline explains. “It tracks Pell Grant access and average earnings eight years after enrollment. That’s a sea change. Business schools will be okay — our students get jobs. But for higher ed more broadly, this is going to be an industry disruptor.”

And that, she says, is exactly why business schools like LeBow must stay nimble.

“If you’re not evolving, you’re falling behind,” Kline says. “The world is changing — and we have to change with it.”

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