BUSINESS
MBA Plus
More than a few people who earned an undergrad degree in such fields as liberal arts, computer science and engineering have found themselves happily working in business-based, bottom-line companies where their advancement opportunities are limited for lack of a business degree. Wsu’s Barton School of Business has revamped its MBA degree program for the fall 2002 semester with just those people in mind.
“We continue to serve the needs of students who took undergraduate business degrees, but we’ve redesigned the curriculum to address the needs of those who graduated with degrees in nonbusiness fields,” explains Dotty Harpool, associate director of the Barton School’s MBA program. Previously, nonbusiness-degree majors enrolling in the MBA program were required to complete introductory-level courses that business majors had already completed in the undergraduate program; in most cases, that involved 56-60 credit hours, as opposed to the standard 48.
To make the MBA more appealing to such people, the Barton School combined some background courses required of nonbusiness-degree graduates, which in turn decreased the number of credit hours required to 48. “We assume that students entering the program are capable of moving along at a rapid pace,” Harpool says. “Since they’ve had some experience in work settings, they’re able to apply what they’re learning to real-life situations and thus grasp the concepts more easily and quickly.” And it is hoped that the benefits of the newer, faster MBA will be more appealing to full-time careerists than merely earning a second undergraduate degree.
“However,” comments Jim Wolff, associate dean for graduate studies and research in the Barton School. “ ‘More quickly’ doesn’t mean ‘lower quality.’ The redesigned MBA is fully AASCB-accredited and targeted to attract the best and brightest students.” Even better, the MBA will allow students to focus the elective components of their plans of study on a specific discipline or field within business through concentrations relevant to their careers. Wolff explains, “Currently approved are concentrations in marketing, finance, international business and health care administration. We’re also developing concentrations in operations management and in the management of information systems.” Such flexible options would allow, say, an English major working in an advertising agency’s creative department to earn the MBA with a concentration in marketing to move into the company’s business operations.
“We’re confident that the revamped MBA will serve not only undergraduate business-degree students who want to keep current, perform at a higher level or advance their careers, but also those with other degrees who realize that they need a business component for added value in their fields,” Harpool says.
— Kat Schneider ’72
EDUCATION
Beyond Baby Talk
Ever wonder why “No!” is often the first word kids speak? Kenn Apel, WSU professor of communicative disorders and co-author of the book, Beyond Baby Talk, explains, “It’s often the first word because it’s very powerful. It can be used to say something they want, to stop something and to say something’s not here. And it’s easy to articulate.” The book, which is available on Amazon.com, answers many of the questions parents have about their children’s language development through age 5. Apel stresses that parents should address communication concerns sooner rather than later because oral language lays the groundwork for later written language, such as reading, writing and spelling.
ENGINEERING
Pioneering Engineer
Ruth David ’75, who is slated to return to campus next year to participate in the WSU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series, has been appointed to the National Academy of Engineering. Election to the nae is one of the highest professional distinctions that can be accorded an engineer. David, the president and CEO of ANSER in Arlington, Va., is credited with pioneering the use of digital information technologies for testing, simulations, information processing and telecommunications for high-capacity, high-reliability applications.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Shots in the Arm
Shane Prill, who owns SJ Prill Financial & Investment Planning, Wichita, and Peter Cohen, dean of the College of Health Professions, met at mid-court in Levitt Arena prior to the WSU men’s basketball game Feb. 20. Prill presented Cohen a check for $1,870. Prill pledged $10 to the college for every three-point basket made this season by the Shocker team and has also pledged $20 for every home run during Shocker baseball games.
LIBERAL ARTS
Distinguished Trailer Girl
Author and poet Terese Svoboda worked with some 18 students as this year’s Distinguished Writer/Poet-in-Residence for WSU’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing. Svoboda is the author of eight books of poetry and fiction, and her most recent collection of short stories is titled Trailer Girl and Other Stories. Svoboda joins the pantheon of notables Wichita State’s MFA program has attracted over the years, such as Russell Banks, Stephen Dunn, Ron Hansen, Antonya Nelson and Richard Yates.
