College of Business Administration revises degree program

The College of Business Administration began an updated degree program
this fall that officials hope will improve the marketability of
business students.

Approved in February, the revised degree is an active-learning
approach through integrated courses, officials say.

“We surveyed businesses and alumni about the skills that our
students needed to be competitive in the workplace,” said Linda
Wicander, director of CBA student services.

Interim CBA Dean Daniel Vetter said the business college also made
the changes because the previous degree program hadn’t been revised in
a long time.

“Students will have a better understanding of the integration of the
different (business) disciplines,” Vetter said. “We had received
feedback from alumni and businesses, so we reacted to that.”

Freshman in the business field start with an eight-semester program.
The updated program contains business skills classes during freshman
year, cohort groups in three integrated courses junior year, a case
study and a senior project.

“Students, especially freshman students, develop their communication
skills earlier in the program along with teamwork skills,” Vetter said.
“Later on, these skills are reinforced and applied.”

Classes in the revised program started last year, and both freshmen
and sophomores are working under the revisions.

Chuck Adams, a Carney sophomore and a business management major,
said he believes the updated curriculum is a great idea for incoming
freshmen. He said he doesn’t think it would be a harder course-load
with the changes.

“It’s divided up so nicely that (students) know what to do,” Adams
said.

Traverse City sophomore Nicole Novak said she had not heard the
curriculum had been updated.

“I think (the degree) is fine the way it is,” Novak said. “If they
feel they need to revise the system, then they should.”

Novak said since she is a junior and far into her degree, she will
not switch to the new program.

Those interested in switching should contact Business Student
Services.

Although the option of switching is given, Vetter said he believes
upperclassmen will stay in the previous degree program.