Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Build your future in business 

RIT Saunders College of Business

Earn Your HWS Degree and an RIT Saunders MBA in as Few as Five Years

Through a partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business, qualified Hobart and William Smith students can accelerate their progress toward a Master of Business Administration degree after earning their bachelor’s degree from HWS.

The pathway allows students to pair the breadth of an HWS liberal arts education with a STEM-designated MBA focused on technology, strategy, entrepreneurship and data analytics. Students who complete selected undergraduate coursework with strong grades may be eligible to waive certain MBA foundation courses, making it possible to complete the Saunders MBA in as few as two or three academic semesters.

at the intersection of Business and Technology

RIT’s Saunders College of Business prepares students for leadership roles across business, industry, nonprofits and government. The MBA curriculum emphasizes technology, data analytics, innovation, management and strategy, giving students a flexible graduate business foundation that can be applied across fields.

Students benefit from RIT’s strengths in technology, entrepreneurship and applied learning, with access to resources such as the Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Venture Creations business incubator, MAGIC Center and RIT’s global alumni network.

Applying

How the Program works

1. Plan early with HWS and RIT advisors. Students interested in the pathway should work with faculty advisors at HWS and Saunders College of Business to plan coursework that may qualify for MBA foundation course waivers.
2. Complete eligible HWS coursework. Selected HWS courses in business management, economics and related fields may qualify students to waive certain Saunders MBA foundation courses.
3. Earn strong grades. Only courses completed with a grade of B or better qualify toward waiver credit.
4. Apply to the Saunders MBA program. Students must submit an application for admission to the MBA program and meet RIT’s admission requirements.
5. Complete the MBA in as few as two or three academic semesters. With approved course waivers, students may be able to accelerate their progress through the Saunders MBA program after completing their HWS bachelor’s degree.

Program Benefits

Earn a bachelor’s degree from HWS and an MBA from RIT Saunders College of Business.

• Build on a liberal arts foundation with graduate business study focused on technology, data analytics, strategy and leadership.
• Waive up to six MBA foundation courses through approved HWS coursework.
• Complete the MBA in as few as two or three academic semesters.
• Receive advising and support from both HWS and RIT Saunders College of Business.
• Prepare for careers in business analytics, management, consulting, finance, operations, entrepreneurship, technology and related fields.

• Course Waivers

  Students may be eligible to waive up to six MBA foundation courses based on approved HWS coursework completed within five years of entering the MBA program. To qualify, students must earn a grade of B or better in the approved undergraduate courses.

  Potential waiver areas include financial analysis, economics and decision modeling, operations and supply chain management and leading teams in organizations.

Advising and Support

Students in the pathway receive collaborative advising from faculty members at Hobart and William Smith and RIT Saunders College of Business. Students should consult early with the HWS Business Management and Entrepreneurship department to understand course planning, eligibility, application requirements and MBA waiver options.

For more details on accelerated degree program pathways, please consult Stine Family Endowed Chair and Professor of Business Management and Entrepreneurship Tom Drennen, drennen@hws.edu.