2000 - 2010 Faulkner University
5345 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109 334.272.5820 or 800.879.9816 Privacy / Legal
Web site Powered by ActiveCampusTM Software by LiquidMatrix
News
Home > News Archive> News Story
Business is Booming
Harris College of Business one-year-degree-completion programs look back at 20 years of success -- by Laura Cauthen
Back in the '80s Harris College of Business Dean Dave Khadanga saw an educational niche that Faulkner could fill. "We knew of so many adults who could not fulfill their dreams and aspirations for a lack of a completed degree," says Khadanga. So with a passion for executive business training, Khadanga pioneered the one-year degree-completion programs in Business Administration (BBA) and Management of Human Resources (MHR) at Faulkner. Now 20 years later, the business of business is booming for the University. Enrollment in both programs is rock solid, and graduates of the programs are reaping the rewards of two well-crafted programs.
Both the BBA and MHR programs are executive education programs designed specifically for working adults who have some previous college credits. "The goal of the BBA and MHR programs is to continue preparing individuals to be successful with continued upward mobility opportunities in their business and management career fields," explains Khadanga. Since the executive students are working professionals, classes are offered at extension sites around the state to meet the needs of the non-traditional students.
Completing a degree in one year may seem a lofty endeavor, but Khadanga has configured the formula. "Our focus is on the most pressing issues facing business and industry," he states. By combining similar and repetitive coursework and highlighting the critical aspects of business, the BBA and MHR programs manage to compress essential coursework into a stipulated timeframe. "We provide a distinct skill set of reasoning, analytical thinking and abstract thinking with a tremendous focus on managerial decision making," explains Khadanga.
Another valuable learning tool is the directed study seminars that students are required to attend. Degree candidates convene on the main campus several times during the year to interact and collaborate with one another. This interaction, according to Khadanga, leads to the development of problem solving skills and broadens students' learning horizons as they view others' perspectives. The seminars also provide students with the added benefit of networking.
The success of the programs is evident. The BBA program has grown from 40 students to 300 students, and the MHR program boasts 150. Even more stunning are the graduate employment statistics. An astounding 95 percent of BBA graduates are working in the field of business with over 50 percent of those working in a specialist, mid-level managerial or executive position. "For a school of our size," beams Khadanga, "those figures are phenomenal. A general expectation is 65 percent field employment." Results for the MHR program are impressive as well with 65 percent of its graduates employed as specialists, mid-level managers and executives.
Stressing the executive orientation of the programs, Khadanga says the secret to the success of the degree-completion programs is simple: "We don't try to be everything to everyone... while we do not have an emphasis in finance, marketing or accounting, we hit the highlights of what is critical in the field of business --all in one year."
Both the BBA and MHR programs are executive education programs designed specifically for working adults who have some previous college credits. "The goal of the BBA and MHR programs is to continue preparing individuals to be successful with continued upward mobility opportunities in their business and management career fields," explains Khadanga. Since the executive students are working professionals, classes are offered at extension sites around the state to meet the needs of the non-traditional students.
Completing a degree in one year may seem a lofty endeavor, but Khadanga has configured the formula. "Our focus is on the most pressing issues facing business and industry," he states. By combining similar and repetitive coursework and highlighting the critical aspects of business, the BBA and MHR programs manage to compress essential coursework into a stipulated timeframe. "We provide a distinct skill set of reasoning, analytical thinking and abstract thinking with a tremendous focus on managerial decision making," explains Khadanga.
Another valuable learning tool is the directed study seminars that students are required to attend. Degree candidates convene on the main campus several times during the year to interact and collaborate with one another. This interaction, according to Khadanga, leads to the development of problem solving skills and broadens students' learning horizons as they view others' perspectives. The seminars also provide students with the added benefit of networking.
The success of the programs is evident. The BBA program has grown from 40 students to 300 students, and the MHR program boasts 150. Even more stunning are the graduate employment statistics. An astounding 95 percent of BBA graduates are working in the field of business with over 50 percent of those working in a specialist, mid-level managerial or executive position. "For a school of our size," beams Khadanga, "those figures are phenomenal. A general expectation is 65 percent field employment." Results for the MHR program are impressive as well with 65 percent of its graduates employed as specialists, mid-level managers and executives.
Stressing the executive orientation of the programs, Khadanga says the secret to the success of the degree-completion programs is simple: "We don't try to be everything to everyone... while we do not have an emphasis in finance, marketing or accounting, we hit the highlights of what is critical in the field of business --all in one year."
