The business world never stands still. New ideas, technologies, and innovations continually change our economy, our work, and our visions of the future. To keep up with the rapid pace of change, business education must evolve, too.
As a business school within a technological university, the School of Business and Economics possesses unique resources and opportunities to provide an education that will have a profound impact on the business world and the global economy. Our focus on innovation, advancing new technologies, entrepreneurship, and business development gives our School and our students a distinctive edge in meeting the challenges posed by the modern business environment.
This year, the School of Business and Economics is launching an aggressive plan for change. With this plan, the School will be able to grow at a pace equal to the continually changing world of business, and our students will gain the tools they need to emerge as leaders, now and in the future.
Our plan for change includes the adoption of new mission, vision, and value statements; the development of innovative programs; and other exciting changes. Here’s a brief look at the plan and some of the ways in which the School of Business and Economics will continue to grow during this academic year and beyond.
Undergraduate programs
New Curriculum
The School of Business and Economics offers a new undergraduate business curriculum that is distinctive and innovative, one that will prepare students to become leaders in business innovation, development, and entrepreneurship. The undergraduate curriculum will be an avenue where business, engineering, and science education merge.
Beginning in fall 2010, our new undergraduate curriculum will require students in all our majors to successfully complete a Business Development Experience during their senior year, which will allow our students to acquire the necessary skills for starting new businesses and expanding current businesses. is addition to the curriculum will permit the School to take advantage of innovations in engineering and science that are taking place on campus. Students will
- Develop, write, and present a business plan for a new product or technology developed by a College of Engineering Senior Design Team; or
- Develop, write, and present a business development and a management plan for a campus Enterprise; or
- Successfully manage an investment portfolio through the Applied Portfolio Management Program (APMP).
New Business Majors
In fall 2009, the School of Business and Economics created six new degree programs from our previous Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations. These new degree programs represent a major step in the recognition and promotion of our undergraduate programs. We now offer a BS in Accounting, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations and Systems Management.
MBA programs
The School of Business and Economics, which began offering a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2006, is expanding its MBA program with a new curriculum, a new delivery format, and a new name: the Tech MBA. A new distance-learning program, the Tech MBA Online, will be introduced this fall.
The Tech MBA
The Tech MBA is focused on Innovation and Technology Management. is on-campus program will continue to be delivered in a one-year accelerated format, with the majority of students coming directly from engineering and science undergraduate programs across the University. Among the distinctive features of the Tech MBA is the addition of a series of professional development and communication workshops that enhance our students’ skills and increase their chances for success in business.
The Tech MBA Online
The Tech MBA Online is a two-year, distance-learning program with the same Innovation and Technology Management focus as the on-campus Tech MBA. Offering the program in an online format allows students around the country and across the globe to earn the Tech MBA. The program includes two on-campus residencies and one international residency. Tech MBA Online students come together face-to-face in these residencies in a learning environment that complements their online courses. The residencies allow students to interact with faculty, business leaders, and peers and offer a chance to put newly acquired knowledge into practice. To read more about the Tech MBA Online, turn to page 17.
New Lines of Communication
To achieve our goals, the School of Business and Economics must maintain strong lines of communication with our current and prospective students, our faculty, our alumni, the University as a whole, and the business community.
Our new website features comprehensive information about our School and its programs, along with frequent updates about School news and events.
Impact, our new magazine that you are enjoying now, will be distributed regularly in print and electronic formats and will offer an in-depth look at the School of Business and Economics.
We’d love to hear your feedback as we continue to improve the School of Business and Economics. Please get in touch with us at business@mtu.edu.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
