College of Business Redefines MBA

College of Business Redefines MBA

The Gatton MBA is process-based with three modules at the core of the program: New Product Development, Supply Chain Management, and Mergers and Acquisitions. Designed to meet corporate and social needs, the new MBA offers clinical experiences that focus on managerial ethics, teamwork, corporate governance, and personal and professional development.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2005) -- ”This is not your father’s MBA” is one way to describe the bold and innovative Master of Business Administration program being launched at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics.

The 11-month immersive MBA program was designed by what D. Sudharshan, dean of the college, describes as “a real-world savvy faculty, with significant input from the corporate world.” Most traditional MBA programs require 18 to 24 months.

The accelerated program does not mean students will be getting less '”bang for the buck.” Quite the contrary, students in the Gatton College’s redesigned MBA will receive 880 hours of instruction, the same as in many two-year programs. According to Mary Lee Kerr, director of the Gatton MBA programs, “students will constantly move from the classroom to the lab and the field where they will refine and test concepts and methods, and apply cross-disciplinary thinking. In this program, you'll not find the traditional ‘silos’ built around accounting, finance or marketing courses.”

The recruitment and admissions process is under way for the first cohort of 75 students in the redefined MBA program, which begins classes this July. Admission to the program is largely determined by a student’s potential to succeed, as judged by past educational attainment, work and leadership experience, and GMAT (graduate exam) scores. It is not necessary for a student to have been a business major at the undergraduate level.

The action-centered Gatton MBA program also will provide professional certification opportunities in two areas, new product development and Six Sigma, a quality assurance methodology highly sought after in today’s competitive global business climate.

“The immersive learning philosophy of our new MBA program redefines any previous calendar ever created,” said Sudharshan. “Cross-disciplinary, action-based learning is a full-time job requiring teams of highly motivated students to immerse themselves in a continuous learning environment that demands the same commitment needed to succeed in the business world.”

The 11-month program concludes with a showcase week. “New UK MBA grads will have a portfolio of projects to show to potential employers,” said Kerr. “Teams of students will work to solve problems for actual corporate clients. Our objective is to have the student truly prepared to compete. This is a great way for an up and coming professional to really jump start his or her career.”

To learn more about the new Gatton MBA program, visit the Web site, or call (859) 257-1306. The application deadline for the July 2005 entering class is April 1, 2005.