The combined B.S.in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) and MBA program is a partnership between Purdue's College of Engineering and the Krannert School of Management.The program allows highly competitive, qualified BSEE students to complete their B.S. and MBA degrees in five years. Each year, a significant number of engineering graduates pursue an MBA degree at U.S. business schools. The MBA is seen as a complement to the engineer's technical education, giving him/her an understanding of the business context within which many technical decisions are made. Many employers have a strong preference for hiring MBAs with engineering backgrounds, particularly in the manufacturing and technology sectors (in which Krannert and the College of Engineering enjoy many longstanding relationships with leading employers).