by Karina Brady, Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University has a reputation for preparing its students for the workforce. In the most recent National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, 97.5 percent of Cedarville’s recent graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of commencement.
Cedarville University is now building on this success by providing undergraduates with accelerated pathways to completing both their bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. in four or five years.
In these new accelerated pathways, students will be able to complete their undergraduate degree while simultaneously completing M.B.A. prerequisites and two master’s level courses. Then, they can complete their M.B.A. online within 12 months.
These plans not only save students time and money, but they also increase graduates’ employment options in the marketplace and provide the opportunity for higher earning potential immediately.
For now, students working toward a bachelor’s degree in communication or psychology are eligible for this dual combination. The university expects to add accelerated pathways to the M.B.A. from its English, music, science, math and intercultural studies programs in the near future.
“These programs allow students interested in a liberal arts education to add a recognized, career-focused professional degree,” said Dr. Janice Supplee, vice president for marketing and communications and dean of graduate studies. “These graduates will combine the excellent communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that employers are seeking with professional preparation that is applicable in multiple settings and industries.”
As an example, Supplee cited music business, industrial psychology, human resources, event management, and business communication as career fields that would directly benefit from combining an appropriate undergraduate degree with an M.B.A.
Although the academic process is accelerated, the B.A. and M.B.A. programs themselves remain unchanged.
“The academic rigor and quality are maintained in these new pathways,” said Supplee. “One of our goals is to make graduate education more accessible to students, which we believe the B.A./M,B.A. degree will do.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.