Accelerated MBA Geared for Professionals on the Move IT IS A DILEMMA OFTEN FACED by ambitious employees pursuing a position in upper management. They are willing to work toward obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree to improve their chances of being selected for a top-level job, but their busy work schedule prohibits them from making it to class regularly on a weekday evening. Southern is creating a program that clears a pathway for hardworking professionals to obtain their degree in a timely manner and to take classes at convenient times. An accelerated MBA program will be offered by the university for the first time starting in August. “The MBA program itself is not new and the course work will be as rigorous as the traditional program. But it’s a new approach – an approach that meets the needs of more students,” says Samuel Andoh, director of the SCSU MBA program. The program will include 17 courses for a total of 51 credits, which can be completed in 18 months. The courses will be taught during nine, eight-week sessions and students will generally take two courses during each session with a one-week break between each session. The final component of the program will be a special project. Most of the courses will be a hybrid – split evenly between on-campus classroom work and an online component. The on-campus
portion would be conducted on Saturdays. “Going to class at 5 p.m. during the week can be very difficult and people generally aren’t going to want to quit their job to get a degree,” Andoh says. “But the combination of Saturday classes and online instruction is going to give individuals greater access to obtaining an MBA.” Andoh says the accelerated courses will be taught by the same faculty members who teach in the traditional MBA program.
To be admitted into the accelerated program, students must have earned a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. They also must submit a resume, as well as two letters of reference attesting to their leadership potential, ability to work independently and as part of a team. Those who do not meet the GPA requirement must submit GMAT test results for evaluation. “One of the nice aspects of this program is that it’s designed for people with
all kinds of backgrounds,” he says. “That only enhances the experience of all of our students.” Andoh says he anticipates that the first group of students to be numbered at 25. A second cohort is scheduled to begin amid the spring semester. The traditional MBA program includes about 150 students. Anyone with questions about the accelerated MBA program may call (203) 392-5616 or (203) 392-5860.
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An accelerated MBA program is set to begin in August for an initial group of up to 25 students.
New Certificate Leads to In-Demand CPA INDIVIDUALS
INTERESTED IN MAKING A
to accounting will be able to take a major step toward that goal with a new program being offered at Southern. The certificate in accounting program, scheduled to begin at the start of the fall 2014 semester, is designed for college graduates who have a degree in a discipline other than accounting. Students will take eight required courses in undergraduate accounting for a total of 27 credits. Admission to the program requires a minimum GPA of 2.3 at the undergraduate level, along with a bachelor’s degree. “The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a highly regarded, dynamic and lucrative profession,” says Janet Phillips, chairwoman of the Accounting Department. “There is tremendous demand for CPAs both because
CAREER CHANGE
employment opportunities for accountants and auditors are anticipated to grow rapidly, and because of the expected exodus of soon-to-be-retired CPAs. The new certificate program is an excellent avenue to aid in the pursuit of joining the accounting profession as a second career.” A 2012 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13.1-percent growth between 2012 and 2022 for accountants and auditors. The national median annual salary for an accountant in May 2012 was $63,550. Phillips says the program is geared toward two populations of students already holding undergraduate degrees; those with a non-accounting, business degree (such as marketing, management or finance), and those with a degree in a non-business field.
“Students who have an undergraduate accounting degree and are looking to advance their education would be better served by the MBA program with a concentration in accounting,” she says. Phillips notes that becoming a licensed CPA is a multi-step process. First, individuals must meet the minimum education requirements to take the exam. The certificate in accounting will enable them to do so provided that they also have 22 credits in general business courses outside of accounting. Second, students must pass the CPA exam. Third, students must gain two years of experience working full time for a CPA, as well as having accumulated at least 36 credits in accounting; 30 credits in general business courses and a total of 150 overall
credits. Individuals also must pass a self-study ethics course in Connecticut. The exam for CPAs in Connecticut includes four sections – auditing and attestation; financial accounting and reporting; regulation, and business environment and concepts. “The new SCSU certificate of accounting program is a practical, accessible and affordable means to begin meeting qualifications to become a Connecticut CPA,” Phillips says. “The certificate is evidence of the SCSU School of Business’s commitment to meeting the needs of the state workforce and emerging economy.” For further information about the program, call the Accounting Department at (203) 392-5691.
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SouthernBrief ly
After a national search, SCSU’s director of international education position has been filled withAfter the appointment of Erin E. Heidkamp. a national search, SCSU’s director of Heidkamp has served as interim director of filled international education position has been international education since January 2012 with the appointment of Erin E. Heidkamp. Heidkamp has served as interim in director of internaand as an associate coordinator the Office tional education since Januaryfrom 2012April and as an associate of International Programs 2010 to coordinator in the Office her of International Programs from January 2012. During time as interim director, April 2010 to January 2012. During her time as interim Heidkamp has coordinated the merger of three director, Heidkamp has coordinated the merger of three branches of international education at Southern: branches of international education at Southern: study study abroad and reciprocal exchange programs abroad and reciprocal exchange programs (formerly the (formerly the Office of International Programs); Office of International Programs); J-1 visa and risk manJ-1 visa and risk management (formerly housedand agement (formerly housed in Sponsored Programs in Sponsored Programs and Research) and Research) and matriculated international student services matriculated international student services (formerly International Student Services). During her tenure, studentInternational study abroad participation has increased by (formerly Student Services). During 25 percent, spring break participation and summer study her tenure, faculty-led student study abroad abroad programs increasedfaculty-led by 40 percent and the has increased byhave 25 percent, spring number of reciprocal exchange partner universities has break and summer study abroad programs increased by 40 percent. Heidkamp earned her Ph.D. have increased by 40 percent and the number and M.A. at the University of Connecticut and her B.A. of reciprocal exchange partner universities has at Sonoma State University. increased by 40 percent. Heidkamp earned her
SCSU student-athletes excelled in the classroom during the fall 2013 semester. As a group, the Owls’ 392 student-athletes combined to record a semester grade point average of 3.04, the best mark in school history. Eleven of the Owls’ 19 programs achieved a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester. The women’s cross country team posted a 3.6 team GPA to lead all programs, while the men’s swimming and diving team’s 3.03 GPA was tops among men’s squads in the fall. Iindividually, 46 percent of Southern’s student-athletes achieved a semester grade point average of at least a 3.0. A total of 25 percent of student-athletes registered a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher, with five student-athletes scoring a perfect 4.0 GPA during the semester. The Center for Communication Disorders — Southern’s speech, language and hearing clinic — is offering free comprehensive speech-language evaluations and audiological (hearing) evaluations to SCSU
faculty, staff and students and their immediate families. The center works with a wide array of children and adults with a variety of speech, language and hearing needs. Evaluations take about two hours in length and are done at the center in Davis Hall. Contact the center at (203) 392-5955 for more information or to schedule an appointment. The 2013 SCSU Campus Security and Fire Safety Report – in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act -- is available both online and in hard copy. The report contains important university crime statistics, suggestions on how members of the campus community can stay safe and information about university resources related to safety and security. A printed copy of the report is available at the university Police Department, located at 10 Wintergreen Ave. Additional copies may be found at the information desk in the Adanti Student Center. To request a copy via snail mail, call the univerity Police Department at (203) 392-5375. The report is online at www. SouthernCT.edu/universitypolice/campuscrimereport/
SouthernLife • MARCH 2014
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