COB curricular improvements benefit students

The countdown was on for Paul Vassallo.

But thanks to a series of curricular improvements recently implemented by the College of Business (COB), Vassallo will receive a more concentrated education and fast track his graduation date.

“The number of classes going from seven to five is huge because I was expecting to take classes through next summer,” said Vassallo, a contractor with Ford Motor Co. who now plans to graduate in May 2014.

Curricular improvements were implemented, in part, to help COB graduate students customize a degree that better suits their interests. M.B.A. students also can benefit from new and revised courses in corporate social responsibility and applied integrated management, which help students approach business problems in a holistic way, thinking beyond narrow boundaries.

“It’s essential for today’s business leaders to integrate skills and knowledge from many different areas to solve the complex problems of our global economy,” said COB Dean Raju Balakrishnan. “The revised M.B.A. curriculum allows students to tailor their degree around particular interests, while allowing them to graduate earlier so they can utilize their skills in the real world.”

The M.B.A. program, which previously required up to 63 credits, has been revised to just 48 credits. Course waivers for equivalent work can reduce the new program to as few as 36 credits. Although the focus of the revision was on curricular improvement, another important benefit is that the program now becomes even more cost effective for students.

And while some elements of the M.B.A. program will change, the quality education students receive will not. The program, which is consistently ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report, offers expert faculty, expansive opportunities for networking and the flexibility of evening and online courses.

But M.B.A. students aren’t the only ones who will benefit from the curricular improvements.

Students who plan to pursue an M.S. degree in business analytics or supply chain management at UM-Dearborn now are required to complete only 30 credits to earn the degree.

“The College of Business understands that students seek a great education that can prepare them for their dream job,” Balakrishnan said. “That said, students want to quickly hit the ground running, so by revising these M.S. degree curricula, the College of Business provides students with a concentrated education that is more focused on the core skills required for supply chain or business analytics, and allows them to earn their degree sooner than before.”

More information on COB’s graduate programs.