The Purdue North Central University Saturday MBA program has been updated and improved using input received from faculty, students and graduates during the past few years. As a result, the program will better suit the needs of students and will streamline operations. Students will experience the improved MBA program when fall semester classes begin in September.
"Members of our faculty have worked collaboratively to combine the most effective elements of the program with improvements suggested by the students," said Dr. Cynthia Roberts, director of the Program, and interim dean of the College of Business.
Roberts explained that the program includes an intensive introductory foundation for all students regardless of background, followed by a series of core courses common to many of the MBAs offered in the Purdue system. As a final point, the new design includes space for students to pursue a concentration in an area such as accounting, economics, marketing, human resources, and/or leadership.
The students are still accepted once per year and start the program as a cohort each September. And, as in the former program, courses are completed in ten-week modules, meeting on Saturdays throughout the year. The new program, however, is based on 42 credit hours for all students regardless of academic background and allows the students to complete the program in less than two years.
"MBA program graduates have expressed how valuable the cohort experience is in facilitating the development of friendships, study groups and professional networks that extend well past completion of coursework," said Roberts. "The program, although locally based in Porter County, extends the network to a global platform as students and faculty hail from throughout the world. The program has had representation from countries including Brazil, China, Croatia, Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Sierra Leone, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine."
Students also participate in a leadership group that serves to further develop the social network, support service projects in the area and provide feedback to program administration related to curriculum and operations.
Applications for the Fall 2013 cohort are being accepted. Interested students may obtain information and apply online at http://www.pnc.edu/mba.