Full-Time MBA Pre-MBA Knowledge

Lehigh University’s Full-Time MBA values a diverse student population, welcoming students with both business and non-business undergraduate backgrounds. To support student success across this diverse cohort, incoming students may be required to complete foundational training in key business skills and knowledge areas before beginning the program.

On this page:

Self-Paced, Online Trainings

We establish a level paying field prior to your arrival with online, self-paced academic leveling courses that provide an overview of core foundational knowledge associated with this MBA program. 

Who must participate in the trainings?

The trainings are designed for non-business majors, allowing students to become familiar with introductory business skills. Additionally, the trainings are helpful to students who have taken undergraduate courses in business, but need a refresher to the content. The flexibility of the trainings allow for students, who have been admitted to the program in later rounds, to have an opportunity to complete the trainings prior to their arrival.

For the full-time MBA Program, academic leveling courses are strongly recommended to be completed by students meeting the following criteria:

  • Students who have not successfully completed an undergraduate course in Accounting
  • Students who have not successfully completed an undergraduate course in Finance
  • Students who have not successfully completed an undergraduate course(s) in Quantitative Areas (examples include: Calculus, Algebra)

Lehigh University encourages admitted students to register for an academic leveling course if they have not taken a college-level course in these areas in the past five years. 

A comprehensive list of the recommended core foundational skills required of full-time MBA students can be made available for deposited students by contacting the MBA Academic Advisor, Marissa Winter.

Completion Timline & Costs

The self-paced trainings are designed for students to complete in the spring semester/early summer, prior to starting the program. 

Each of the modules takes approximately 12-20 hours to complete. There are three modules in total: statistics, accounting, and finance. Because full-time MBA students will differ in what undergraduate courses each has taken, the total time commitment should not exceed 60 hours of preparation time.

Students may purchase each of the modules needed at a cost of $99 per module, or can opt to purchase the Business Fundamentals Bundle for all three modules for a total price of $199. Students will be required to pay for each course or the bundle via a provided website with payment required on either a credit or debit card. The trainings have been used in dozens of countries, so there should not be an issue enrolling in the training outside of the United States.

Notification to Take MBA Leveling Trainings 

Once an applicant has been admitted, the Graduate Program Office will communicate if any MBA leveling trainings will be recommended for the individual, along with registration information with the letter of admission. The student should provide the certificate of completion for leveling training to the Program Director prior the start of the cohort. 

Accessing Pre-MBA Leveling Training 

The GMAC Business Fundamentals leveling training is provided by Kaplan.

All pre-MBA leveling training can be accessed and purchased through GMAC's Kaptest.

Contact

Please contact Maggie Brocklebank, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, with any questions at mrb526@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-5823.