MBA courses & core curriculum
First semester
Work with your core teams and participate in leadership activities while tackling subjects like finance, marketing, and strategy—teamwork, leadership, and feedback are seamlessly integrated.
Residential MBA: 2 campuses, 1 community
Turn ambition into impact with a tailored curriculum, a unique set of Ithaca and NYC course options, and a community of faculty, staff, peers, and friends who have your back.
What makes the Johnson Two-Year MBA program different?
Its tight-knit community, one-of-a-kind curriculum, and dual-campus approach. You’ll be prepared to hit the ground running and stand out among your colleagues—first during your internship and then again as you begin your new career.
Johnson’s STEM-designated, full-time Two-Year MBA program features a one-of-a-kind curriculum, with fully integrated leadership development components, the opportunity to take advantage of programming offered in partnership with Cornell Tech in New York City, and a required summer internship. With Johnson’s unique Two-Year MBA immersion learning approach, you’ll be able to focus your studies on an industry of your choice in your first year—you’ll learn more, sooner. Whether you’re looking to enhance your existing career or switch to a new one, you’ll chart a path that will lead you to make the biggest impact.
The program’s STEM designation recognizes a path in management science with an emphasis on data analytics, technology, and other similar disciplines integral to contemporary business leadership.
International students on an F-1 visa pursuing the program are eligible for a STEM OPT extension, enabling them to work in their field for a total of up to 36 months in the U.S. This extra 24 months makes them more hirable, affords them extended professional training, provides work authorization for a required summer internship, and gives them additional chances in the annual lottery for limited U.S. H-1B skilled worker visas.
MBA immersions
Second semester
Dive in with one of seven immersion options, a defining characteristic of the Two-Year program. These courses and their accompanying projects and cases are based on a specific career path and industry. Learn from Johnson’s outstanding faculty and leading practitioners.
MBA internships
Summer
Complete an internship. All Two-Year MBA programs feature an internship component, so what makes Johnson’s different? Your immersion will prepare you far more than your colleagues. You’ll hit the ground running, perform well, and be more likely to receive full-time employment.
MBA electives, co-curricular activities, and NYC weekend courses
Third semester
Take what you’ve learned from your internship and use electives to fill in the gaps during your final year. You’ll have access to more than 120 electives across a wide range of concentrations at Johnson, plus electives across the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the rest of Cornell University, along with the option to take weekend courses at Cornell Tech. Round out your experience by participating in, and leading, one (or more) of Johnson’s 80+ professional, regional, and diversity clubs.
MBA Intensive Opportunities & Final Electives
Final semester
Many MBAs choose to spend half of their final semester in New York City to take intensives in fintech or digital marketing. You’ll also complete any remaining electives as you prepare for your full-time job. Make your final course selections in areas such as communication, entrepreneurship, family business, management, marketing, economics, brand management, consulting, finance, ethics, technology product management, and so much more.
Two-Year MBA Benefits
The Two-Year MBA program offers a robust curriculum and several co-curricular and extra-curricular benefits. From international treks, leadership expeditions, student leadership organizations, and lots of interaction with alumni who can offer guidance and advice — you’ll be in good company. Maximize your experience with immersion learning opportunities to elevate your career outcomes. Learn more about 2-year MBA career outcomes here.
A mid-size class means big-time community
While many MBA programs are known for their cut-throat, competitive environment, this is not the case at Johnson. Our students are dedicated and hardworking (it’s the Ivy League, after all), but they’re also supportive and willing to lend a hand to their peers.
Photo Credit: @judi_byers on Instagram
Johnson MBA Experience
Teamwork is an essential part of the Cornell MBA experience. But our community goes beyond that. Second years act as coaches to the first years. Faculty get to know the people in their classes. Diversity of culture, thought, and experience is of the utmost importance—Johnson was one of the first top business schools to have an Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Students set ground rules for interacting with each other and define expectations on the earliest days of preterm.
It’s clear: Here we know success as a group is just as valuable as your next big promotion.
Photo Credit: @judi_byers on Instagram
Two-Year MBA BusinessFeed
October 27, 2021
Chao Wang creates strategic, global partnerships for Android TV and Google TV
10 Under 10 honoree Chao Wang, MBA ’12, leads partnerships and strategy via global, cross-functional teams at Google and virtual “field trips” for school kids.
October 15, 2021
Dreams and aspirations of becoming a global sustainability advisor
Johnson’s Social Impact Internship Fund enabled Duncan Lee, MBA '22, to showcase his business and sustainability capability to AccountAbility.
August 12, 2021
Virtuelly helps companies, events organizers adapt to a virtual-first world
Virtuelly is a marketplace that curates virtual experiences for remote and distributed teams to do team building and other fun activities.
Ready to take the next step?
Admissions quick links:
- Admissions events: Both on campus and virtual
- Connect with students: Get to know our community and plan your visit
- MBA Tuition & Expenses: Take a look at tuition and estimated student costs
Important admissions dates for the Two-Year MBA program:
- October Round: 10/12/2021
- January Round: 1/5/2022
- April Round: 4/12/2022
Keep track of the MBA application deadlines to make sure you are prepared.
Two-Year MBA Class of 2023 Profile
Demographics
- Enrolled: 304
- Average age: 28
- Female: 39%
- Underrepresented minorities: 25%
(Black/African American, Native American, and Hispanic American) - U.S. minorities: 49%
(Asian American, Black/African American, Native American, and Hispanic American) - Countries represented: 30
- International students: 35%
- U.S. military veterans: 9%
Credentials
- GMAT Median: 710
- GMAT range (middle 80%): 650–750
- GPA Median: 3.34
- Average years of work experience: 5
- Average years of work experience (middle 80%): 3–8
Undergraduate Majors
- Business: 54%
- Engineering: 18%
- Sciences: 9%
- Social Sciences: 8%
- Humanities: 8%
- Other: 3%
Prior Industries
- Financial Services: 31%
- Consulting: 12%
- Government/Non-profit: 11%
- Technology: 10%
- Manufacturing: 6%
- Healthcare: 5%
- Other: 25%
(includes consumer products, real estate, education, and more)