IU Center for the Business of Life Sciences: Your pathway for a strategic management master’s degree or MBA

Are you eager to take all you’ve learned in your Executive Certificate in the Business of Life Sciences (ECBLS) program to the next level? Through a partnership with the Kelley School of Business, ECBLS recipients can build careers in an expanding life sciences sector with online graduate degrees designed for working professionals.

Kelley’s MS in Strategic Management and Partner MBA are more than convenient business education programs—they're transformational. You’ll learn from Kelley faculty and develop executive business capabilities such as strategic thinking, operational management, and entrepreneurship. You can apply these invaluable lessons to your work the next day. You can also apply ECBLS course credits to your degree to save time and money.

Explore your graduate degree options

Structure
The Kelley online MS in Strategic Management program includes:

30 credit hours in total
Approximately 6 credit hours per quarter
A flexible completion time from 15 months to 3 years
Live-virtual sessions, typically once a week in the evenings per course

You'll learn from the same highly ranked faculty who teach in the residential programs.

Topics covered include:

Organizational development and change
Strategic thinking
Operational management
Competitive analysis
Entrepreneurship

Application deadlines: June 15 for fall, September 1 for winter, December 1 for spring, March 1 for summer

Explore upcoming term dates

Test scores:  No GMAT or GRE are required

Bachelor's degree: Can be in any field

Structure

The Kelley online MBA program will:

51 credit hours in total
Approximately 6 credit hours per quarter
A flexible completion time of two to five years
Live-virtual sessions, typically once a week in the evenings per course

You'll learn from the same highly ranked faculty who teach in the residential programs.

Topics covered include:

Business law and ethics
Economics
Marketing
Finance
Operations
Information technology
Project management

Application deadlines: June 15 for fall, September 1 for winter, December 1 for spring, March 1 for summer

Explore upcoming term dates

Test scores: No GMAT or GRE are required

Bachelor's degree: Can be in any field

Stackability

Our programs are designed for ultimate flexibility. With our stackable approach, you can earn both your MS in Strategic Management (MSSM) and MBA back to back. Credits earned in the MSSM lay the groundwork for advanced study and transfer seamlessly to the MBA. You can apply course credits from your ECBLS, too.

No wasted time. No duplicated coursework. No starting over.

Each degree adds a new, marketable credential to your resume while moving you closer to your ultimate goal. It’s a smart, flexible pathway that lets you advance your education—and your career—one strategic step at a time.

Application instructions

Students interested in the Kelley MSSM or MBA must have first completed the Executive Certificate in the Business of Life Sciences (ECBLS). Learn how to earn this prerequisite.

Part 1: Kelley application

Fill out the online application first.

Start your application

Part 2: Indiana University application

After you complete the Kelley application, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to apply through the Graduate CAS Application. During this stage, you will upload the following materials to complete your application:

Resume
Provide a copy of your resume, summarizing your professional experiences and accomplishments.
Personal statement
Tell us what you want to achieve in this program in 500 words or less.
Letter of recommendation
Ask someone familiar with your professional career to write a letter of recommendation for you. Provide the contact information of your recommender within the application. An email prompt will be sent to their email address, and they will be able to fill out a form and upload the letter. If you need alternative arrangements, please contact keeppartner@iu.edu.
Postsecondary transcripts
Provide copies of your transcripts from all of the postsecondary institutions you’ve attended. These copies can be sent to the program, or uploaded into the Part 2 Application. Please also upload a copy of your ECBLS certificate.

Resources for degree-seeking partner students

Find student resources and detailed information on specific courses.

Student resources Course details FAQ

Questions? Contact us.

Our admissions team is here to help you navigate the admissions process. Contact us to start the conversation at keeppartner@iu.edu.