Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) Honors

The IBE Honors Program offers selected students an intellectually challenging, academically rigorous four-year program that encourages students to reach their full intellectual and personal potential. Initiated in 2014, the Ohio State University IBE program has developed a positive reputation for developing hard-working, well-rounded, and talented graduates via its selective admission process, small class size, and challenging curriculum. The program offers two area of focus (IBE and IBE-Software Innovation) and is limited to a select group of 72 total business and engineering honors students. 

Application to the IBE program is open to prospective students previously admitted into the Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business or College of Engineering Honors programs. From this group of talented individuals, we select a class of up to 72 (36 per focus area) students that promises—as a whole—to create the greatest impact in the largest number of communities and industries. Our two-stage admission process allows us to focus on selectively admitting talented individuals.

Our small class size helps us to build a cohort experience. Our curriculum provides a mix of rigorous academic tools and experiential learning opportunities. Throughout the IBE seminars, we highlight the differences in the types of problems addressed by business and engineering disciplines in an effort to focus attention on the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving. Our seminar classes emphasize facilitated discussion to polish students' writing, oral presentation, and teamwork skills. The IBE business seminars are taught by full-time, Ph.D.-educated faculty who have been elected to global leadership positions.

The achievements of IBE students are notable. Many of our students hold leadership positions in clubs and societies while on campus. Several past IBE students have been recognized for their on-campus achievements with election to the University's homecoming court. Our students have extensive internship and full-time employment opportunities and boast enviable placement rates and starting salaries.

Recent Employment Statistics

The IBE Honors program teaches critical thinking from an interdisciplinary perspective. The average starting salary and percentage of our students that receive offers of full-time employment within three months of graduation exceeds those of Ohio State business and engineering majors.