Student Benefits

A competitive edge for graduates
The Experiential Learning and Innovation (ELI) program is scholarship-granting program that provides unique learning experiences that differentiate OU-SBA degree candidates from other competitors in the global marketplace. Through the program, select graduate students integrate real-world experience into their academic curriculum. The program is competitive and is dependent on project sponsorship. The distinguishing characteristic of this program is the opportunity to combine entrepreneurial and innovative thinking and team work in real and virtual collaboration environments.  Based on admission to the program, the ELI program allows graduate students to: 

• Receive a full academic based scholarship  ( 9-12 credits per semester required)
• Apply project management principles to complete projects that are developed in conjunction with their course work and graduation requirements ( Students must enroll in one or more of these courses to participate: MIS 650, MNGT 535, EMBA-MBA 537, MBA 580 )
• Work as a cohort and share learning and support others as needed 
• Work with students from different countries and learn to be sensitive to cultural and national differences in the work place
• Participate in global interaction events using virtual collaboration rooms and participate in global internship programs, and
• Exhibit leadership by participating in SBA events like conferences/symposia/ workshops, curriculum development discussions, etc. 
• Complete a corporate mentored project  (approx 20 hours per week per semester) while guided by faculty advisors