ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 15, 2011) - Excelsior College today announced the launch of a dual track business program that will allow students to simultaneously complete their Bachelor of Science degree while getting a head start on their MBA. The program is expected to lower costs and decrease the time it would normally take to separately complete both programs.

"There is mounting pressure on higher education institutions to lessen the financial burden while continuing to deliver a top-notch academic experience," said Dr. Jane LeClair, dean of the School of Business and Technology. "Excelsior made it a high priority to develop an innovative program that can accommodate both needs. The BS to MBA program streamlines the process for earning an advanced business degree and provides students with the same team of academic advisors through the entire track, to ensure all needs are addressed."

Under the combined program, students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Business and an MBA with 147 credits – up to 21 credits less than would be required for two separate degrees, depending on the concentration a student chooses. As part of the bachelor's portion of the program, students will take courses totaling 15 credits in certain foundation subjects essential to graduate study in business. They will also take two, three-credit bridge courses, Business Communications and Global Business Environment. Combined, these credits make up the 21 credit "savings" toward the MBA portion of the dual-degree program.

To complete the MBA, students must fulfill 27 graduate level credits, including all core requirements, as well as 9 credits in approved MBA electives or 9 credits in one of the available concentrations: cybersecurity, human performance technology, information security, leadership, or technology management