University of Baltimore/Towson University MBA to Launch New Approach to Business Education This Fall

Newswise — A newly conceived UB/Towson MBA curriculum—created with significant input from business leaders at prominent area companies—will be introduced as of the fall 2014 semester, beginning Aug. 27. The new curriculum was developed as questions about the value of a traditional MBA degree intensify and as changes in the business environment require new skill sets and approaches to business education. The revamped program highlights flexibility and customization, enabling students to create a path to degree specifically suited to their professional interests and career goals. Already, area business leaders who participated in the redesign process are calling it a visionary move—one that will ensure the viability of the UB/Towson MBA for years to come. The newly redeveloped degree, a partnership between the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business and Towson University's College of Business and Economics, is the product of nearly two years of collaborative work to redesign the existing program. The institutions established partnerships with the Baltimore business community and with their alumni, current and prospective students, and faculty. The UB/Towson MBA, available both online and at both campuses, encourages students to build their own program tailored to fit their busy lives and their career goals. Enrollees engage in an entrepreneurial and/or corporate focus, with 10 available specializations.

"It takes a team of strong and self-aware institutions like the University of Baltimore and Towson University to seek constructive feedback to redesign a program as important as the MBA," said Jerome Collier, senior vice president and managing director at M&T Bank who holds a master's degree from UB and a bachelor's from Towson; he also serves as a member of the advisory group that helped shape the revised degree. "The business community's close involvement positions this program as unique among central Maryland business schools. The schools are empowering themselves and their students by inviting in a wide array of stakeholders to own this redesign. The result is a program that is invaluable for those in our community who want to customize their education to meet their present and future needs as business leaders."

The new MBA will be offered in seven-week sessions in addition to the traditional 15-week format and is available on both universities' campuses and online. Today, students—especially working professionals—want faster, "bite-sized" courses delivered in a multiple-front format. Research shows that this approach actually enhances student learning, especially online.

"Having an MBA says a lot about who you are as a professional," said Frank Navratil, interim dean of the Merrick School of Business. "Our graduates will be tackling 21st-century business problems and will do so with both traditional and entrepreneurial know-how. There is something to be said when a prominent degree program like the MBA has a distinctive shift in the way it is taught and delivered. We weren’t afraid to move mountains for the betterment of students and the business community."

Shohreh Kaynama, dean of the College of Business and Economics at Towson University, said, "The combination of the AACSB International accreditation, new curriculum, and two dedicated and outstanding institutions with excellent faculty positions us to provide the region with an exceptional MBA. Our program will influence how business is conducted, and our students will have the skill sets they need to compete and lead on an international level."

The new MBA curriculum is organized by themes: "Managing Innovation and Strategy," "Leading and Managing People," "Interfacing with External Stakeholders," "Managing the Value Chain," "Managing Performance and Risk" and "Leveraging Technology and Business Intelligence." Also, the new program will continue to meet AACSB International accreditation standards; worldwide, less than 5 percent of all business schools can claim this mark of excellence.

Learn more about the redesigned UB/Towson MBA.

About UB University

The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.

About Towson University

Founded in 1866, Towson University is recognized among the nation’s best regional public universities, offering more than 100 bachelors', masters and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and applied professional fields. With close to 23,000 students, Towson University is among the largest public universities in Maryland. Towson combines research-based learning with practical application and its many interdisciplinary partnerships with public and private organizations throughout Maryland provide opportunities for research, internships and jobs. An NCAA Division I school in athletics, Towson University is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association as well as the Colonial Academic Alliance.