Recognizing the need for a more dynamic and accessible approach to business education, Gies College of Business is shattering the mold by offering stackable credentials that empower learners to build their skillset progressively, at their own pace.
Recognizing the need for a more dynamic and
accessible approach to business education, Gies College
of Business is shattering the mold by offering stackable
credentials that empower learners to build their skillset
progressively, at their own pace.
“Education is no longer a linear path,” said former Dean
Jeffrey Brown, one of the driving forces behind Gies
Business’ ecosystem of degrees, badges, and certificates.
“The one-size-fits-all business degree is outdated and
unsustainable.”
Brown made stackable credentials a
cornerstone of his nine years leading one of the top business schools in the country. Early in his tenure as
dean, he saw the need to innovate.
“The pace of technological change creates a need
for true lifelong learning,” said Brown. “Business schools
must adapt. Degrees will not go away, but those that
experiment with new models and offerings will thrive
in the future.”
Disruption at the doorstep
Like any established industry or profession, business
schools are subject to disruptive forces on a global scale.
Those who graduated from leading institutions
just a few years ago already face a harsh reality: The
breakneck pace of technology demands continuous
learning. Fields such as data analytics, AI, machine
learning, augmented reality, blockchain, and quantum
computing are rapidly transforming jobs, organizations,
and entire industries. The pandemic accelerated
the shift, forcing swift change in teaching methods,
recruiting, and employment practices.
To thrive in this evolving business environment,
learners around the globe are demanding a complete educational suite that delivers new skills as they need them, with a clear return on investment. They value accessible, flexible, high-quality offerings that don’t require leaving the workforce to attend on-campus programs.
“I have an engineering background and hold a
senior leadership role in my organization, but to be
most effective, I needed to address the gaps in my
knowledge of accounting and finance,” said George
Kuruvilla, a technology executive with more than two
decades of experience, who earned his MBA from Gies
Business in 2023. “The Gies MBA program is progressive,
changes with the times, and offers specializations that
are relevant. I was able to immediately apply what I
learned. It changed how I think and greatly benefited
my leadership skills.”
The Gies Business model: Flexible and personalized
The Gies Business model for continuous learning
recognizes that viewing education and work as separate,
sequential activities is no longer practical.
“We meet learners wherever they are,” said Brooke Elliott, dean at Gies. “We make it
easy and economical for them to jump in and out of
their educational journey throughout their careers.
By combining online education with a wide array of
credentials, they can upskill or reskill as needed, applying
what they’ve learned to the workplace immediately.”
Gies Business began building this foundation in
2016 when it launched a fully online MBA at a market-
shattering price of less than $22K. Three years later,
the College suspended its on-campus MBA programs
to refocus resources into the online offering. That move
proved prescient with the iMBA now reaching more than
100 countries and attracting 4,000 current learners,
who typically work full-time and avoid the massive debt
often associated with traditional MBAs.
The successful formula has served as the template
for Gies’ full suite of offerings. Today, the College offers
an online undergraduate business minor, 10 on-campus
and online master’s degrees and 14 certificates– with
more on the way.
Learners can start with a non-credit or for-credit
course, and then apply those learnings toward a
transcriptable graduate certificate. Or they can start
with a certificate and stack it into a degree. Offerings include stackable for-credit and non-credit courses in topics ranging from business strategy to managing organizations to central banks and monetary policy.
The Gies approach allows learners to test the
waters before fully jumping into a degree program. A reduced requirement for prerequisites allows these learners to take stand-alone classes in almost any order so they can
build a learning experience that best fits their personal
life and professional needs.
“No effort a student makes is wasted – from a single
course to a degree, every component complements the
others without duplication,” said Elliott.
Meeting market demand: The rise of the self-made degree?
Elliott and Brown believe universities clinging to
traditional models may contribute to the rise of third-
party credentials to meet this market demand. Brown
imagines a future where learners can create their own
“degree.”
“Imagine a self-made MBA on a resume, comprised
of recognized credentials from a half dozen top
institutions,” said Brown. “It is not difficult to foresee a
time when a third-party business emerges that certifies
someone has earned the equivalent of a degree.
“But if universities continue to have the mentality
of ‘if we did not teach it ourselves, the students cannot
possibly have learned it’ they will miss out on meeting
a clear, powerful market demand,” said Brown.
Challenges and investments
Making the transition to a more accessible
and affordable portfolio of learning experiences isn’t
without its challenges.
“In building these programs, we’ve had to navigate
how to deliver a high-quality learning experience for a
global audience ranging from 18 to 88 years old,” said
Elliott. “Our structure and resources are designed for
maximize flexibility and growth.”
Quality content & engagement
Gies prioritizes offering the same quality
teaching and support as it does for its traditional
on-campus degrees. For-credit and non-credit learning
opportunities are regularly created by full-time tenured
professors, industry experts, and even a former dean
of the College. Self-paced content is complemented
by high-engagement components such as weekly live
sessions with faculty, graded assignments, group work, discussion boards, and faculty office hours.
Investment in infrastructure & resources
Gies has strategically reinvested revenue generated
from its stackable offerings into resources and
infrastructure. The number of faculty has grown by more
than 40 percent in just six years, fueling both research
output and the College’s ability to develop innovative
programs. With the support of alumni, Gies is also
committed to giving teachers and students a superior
learning experience. The next phase is underway with
the construction of Steven S. Wymer Hall, a state-of-
the-art building that in 2025 will house new content
creation studios, classrooms, and collaborative spaces.
More than 60 people support Gies’ Teaching &
Learning efforts: This includes video producers, live
session directors, instructional designers, graphic artists,
and much more. Together, they deliver more than 100
online courses and 40-plus live sessions each week.
Institutional changes for accessibility
This shift has required more collaboration, time,
resources, and flexibility. Units worked together to make
institutional changes that align with Gies’ innovative
model. For example, Gies offers five annual intakes of
new learners compared to the traditional one or two
and operates on a pay-as-you-go model, which differs greatly from the standard tuition model.
To increase accessibility to its degrees, Gies has
de-emphasized GMAT testing because its acceptance
criteria create biases in the applicant pool and
perpetuate a lack of student diversity.
“Collectively, we are in a unique position to
challenge the traditions that increasingly stand in the
way of innovation,” said Brown. “Business school leaders
must embrace change and intentionally guide business
education toward programs built on academic rigor
and relevance.”
