The University Of The Sciences Launches Cannabis-focused MBA Program

The University of the Sciences graduate students will be able to receive a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a specialization in the cannabis industry starting this fall.

While there are other universities in the country that offer courses on marijuana, this program will be the first-of-its-kind to focus on the commerce of cannabis, hemp, and dispensary operations.

“We’ve seen rapid growth in an industry that needs business leaders,” said Andrew Peterson, executive director of the University of the Sciences Substance Use Disorders Institute. “Our MBA is concentrated on the pharmaceutical and health care industries, where medical cannabis fits very nicely.”

Four online courses will be available as a part of their Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Business Curriculum, including:

• Introduction to the Medical Cannabis Industry

• Finance and Regulation of the Cannabis Industry

• Cannabis Marketing and Sales

• A team project that may involve writing a business plan or launching a product and require student visits to the University of the Sciences West Philadelphia campus.

The university plans to collaborate with Franklin Biosciences, a large Denver-based grower that also owns Beyond/Hello dispensaries in Pennsylvania. This partnership will develop a cannabis education program for health professionals, including pharmacists, physicians, and students.

A few years ago, Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ expanded their programing and opened a new $63.2 million business school to attract the next generation of problem-solvers. As our region’s universities and colleges grow, they will continue to drive the economic activity throughout Greater Philadelphia.