June 20, 2011 9:00 AM
PIKEVILLE, KY
Bold ideas. Focused learning. Strategic leadership. The M.B.A. program at the University of Pikeville is business at its best.
The community is invited to an Open House on Thursday, June 30, at 6 p.m. to learn more about the university’s newest offering, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A). The event will be held in the Walters Room, located on level one of Wickham Hall.
Designed around a 21-month course of study, the program combines an online component with a traditional classroom setting, offering evening classes for the working professional. The advanced, specialized training incorporates lecture, group experiences, case studies and hands-on learning opportunities.
“Creating opportunities for students and meeting the needs of the region are central to our mission to become the leading university of Central Appalachia,” said President Paul E. Patton. “We are excited to offer our first master’s degree at the University of Pikeville. Building on the success of the undergraduate business program, students pursing this M.B.A. can expect a quality education and dedicated faculty who will provide the support and individual attention they need to be successful.”
The graduate-level course work includes classes in financial management, leadership, business policy and strategy, managerial communication and economics, accounting analysis for managerial decisions, management information systems, quantitative methods for business, marketing and the legal environment of business and government.
Classes will begin September 1. The program is pending final approval by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
“The M.B.A. program is designed primarily for business professionals from the region who have demanding work schedules and are on track for leadership positions within their organizations, but we will also accept students from fields, other than business, who are interested in obtaining an M.B.A.,” said Program Director David A. Smith, D.B.A.
An Associate Professor of Business, Smith earned both his Doctorate of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees at The University of Phoenix and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky. Smith’s extensive experience includes leadership and sales positions at Kraft Foods, Inc., Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
“The University of Pikeville is the only four-year institution in the region with the opportunity to offer residents a graduate degree and provide area employers with a highly trained workforce prepared to achieve objectives and increase profitability,” said Smith. “The M.B.A.’s rigorous curriculum offers exceptional preparation for the real business world, with a strong core foundation in general management, specialized knowledge, and skills for their career paths with immersion-based learning that increases value for employers.”
To RSVP for the Open House, or for more information on the M.B.A. program, contact Dr. David A. Smith at (606) 218-5042 or via e-mail at mba@pc.edu.
-PC-