Integrated Business and Engineering
A Business Degree for Students Who Want to Build, Analyze, Innovate, and Lead in a Tech-Driven World.
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Graduates of the IBE program are uniquely positioned for careers in management consulting, product development, operations, analytics and technical leadership across industries such as technology, energy and sustainability. Ìý
Additional questions? Email LeedsIBE@colorado.edu.
The Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) program is a four-year undergraduate degree offered by Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s Leeds School of Business in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Applied Science.ÌýÌý
IBE is designed for students who want to understand how businesses make decisions, compete, and grow in a technology-driven world. Through an integrated curriculum, students learn how technical knowledge informs strategy, operations, and innovation - and how engineering ideas become real products, ventures, and organizational solutions.Ìý
Who Is IBE Designed For?
IBE is designed for students who are excited by both business and engineering and want a rigorous, structured program that integrates technical and strategic thinking, preparing them forÌýcareers as dynamic business leaders.
This program may be a great fit if you:
EnjoyÌýsolving complex problemsÌýand bringing together logic, creativity, and strategy. You enjoy problem solving, analysis, and innovation.Ìý
Want toÌýstart your own tech-based businessÌýand need both technical skills and businessÌýknow-howÌý
See yourself as aÌýfuture business leader in the tech industryÌýand want to understand both how technology works and how companiesÌýoperateÌý
Are curious about howÌýengineering ideas become real products, companies, and solutions and want to lead from the business side rather than work as an engineer.Ìý
What Will I Study?
The IBE degree is a 120-credit program designed to be completed in four years, with coursework integrated across the Leeds School of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Students build foundational skills in both disciplines early in the program, then deepen their technical and business expertise through advanced coursework, applied projects and capstone experiences.Ìý
The table below illustrates how the 120 credits are distributed across business, engineering, and general education within the IBE curriculum.Ìý
| Curriculum Component | CreditsÌý | DescriptionÌý |
Business Foundational Courses | 30 | Core coursework including business math, communications, accounting, finance, marketing, management, law, ethics, operations, and strategy |
Business Area of Emphasis | 18 | Advanced business coursework in either Entrepreneurship or Sustainability |
Engineering Coursework | 34 | Engineering fundamentals including math for engineers, calculus, physics, computational thinking, engineering projects and innovation, technical electives, and the engineering capstone |
General Education | 35 | University general education requirements, including economics, natural sciences, etc. |
ElectivesÌý | 3Ìý | Additional elective courseworkÌý |
For more detailed information on specific course numbers and descriptions, email leedsIBE@colorado.edu
Careers & Outcomes
IBE prepares students for careers where business, engineering, and innovation intersect. Graduates develop the ability to move fluidly between technical understanding and strategic decision-making.
Employers will value IBE graduates for their ability to:
communicate effectively with both technical and business teams
lead in fast-changing, ambiguous environments
connect engineering insight with market, organizational, and societal needsÌý
Through its integrated curriculum and emphasis on experiential learning, the IBE degree prepares students for long-term leadership and innovation across a wide range of industries, including technology, sustainability, energy, aerospace, consulting, and advanced manufacturing.
Student Experience, Community, and Support
IBE is intentionally designed as a small, cohort-based program, allowing students to build strong connections with peers and faculty from the very beginning. As an IBE student, you will move through key parts of the curriculum with the same group of students, creating a close-knit community that supports collaboration, learning, and belonging.
During your first year, you will live in Cheyenne Arapahoe Hall as part of the Leeds Residential Academic Program (RAP), giving you built-in academic and social support as you transition to college life.
Throughout all four years, you will receive dedicated program support, academic advising and career coaching through Leeds, helping you navigate coursework, explore career paths, and prepare for internships and post-graduate opportunities.Ìý
Please Note: Due to the structured nature of the curriculum, semester-long study abroad may be difficult without extending time to graduation. Students interested in global experiences are encouraged to speak with your academic advisor to determine feasibility, and explore summer options such as global seminars, global internships, and other short-term study abroad programs.
Admissions Information
Interested in joining the inaugural IBE cohort in Fall 2026? Admitted students to Leeds or another Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder school/college/major for the Fall 2026 term may submit a Major Change Request through their .
If the Major Change Request is approved, the student’s academic program will be updated to Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE). If the request is not approved, the student will retain admission to their original program.
Beginning with the Fall 2027 admissions cycle, first-year students will apply directly to IBE through the Common Application. Transfer students will apply through Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s transfer application. Admissions criteria align with Leeds standards, with additional emphasis on math and analytical readiness.Ìý
Why Choose IBE?
- Interdisciplinary Expertise: Gain a business degree while mastering engineering fundamentals.
- Hands-On Learning: Apply business theory and engineering concepts through project-based courses and real-world challenges.
- Specialized Tracks: Customize your education with one of two focus areas:
- Entrepreneurship Track: Ideal for students interested in launching or managing new ventures, emphasizing innovation and leadership in high-growth environments.
- Sustainability Track: Focused on integrating sustainable practices into business and engineering to address global challenges.
Integrated Business & Engineering
The new IBE undergraduate degree program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles at the intersection of business strategy and technological innovation.
Blending engineering’s analytical power with business’ strategic insight, this program will produce graduates equipped to lead, innovate and thrive in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
As Leeds continues to rise in national and global rankings, the school remains focused on its long-term strategic initiatives, preparing students to innovate and thrive in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Ìý
We know that the students of Leeds today will be the future changemakers, CEOs and business leaders of tomorrow. Business + Engineering Women in Tech (BEWiT) is a selective, two-year program that brings together top undergraduate business and engineering students interested in the intersection of business and technology—providing collaborative opportunities to develop highly sought-after interdisciplinary skills.