Beginning in the spring of 2003, Ball State will be offering graduate-level business certificates through a cooperative effort between the College of Business Graduate Programs and the School of Extended Education.
The "Business Essentials for Professionals" certification program is directly aimed towards those individuals with at least an undergraduate degree who need business knowledge in order to get further in their careers.
Frank Sabatine, dean of the School of Extended Education, brought the idea for the program to the School of Business.
"Many colleges and universities now offer certificate programs," Sabatine said. "It's the trend, and a lot of schools are having success."
The program consists of four graduate level courses worth three credit hours each. The cost is $480 per course, or $1920 for the entire certificate program.
Inga Hill, assistant to the dean of graduate programs for the College of Business, said the classes will be taught by full-time Ball State business professors.
"They are good Ball State courses provided by some of our best faculty. We're going to make sure (students) get an array of knowledge," Hill said.
Hill explained that the certificate will be a stand-alone degree.
"(It offers people) a broader business knowledge if they want to achieve different career levels," Hill said.
The certification will not only provide students with professional knowledge in business, but it will also serve as a prerequisite to the master's degree program for those who are interested in graduate work at Ball State.
"For an MBA (Master of Business Administration), six areas of business have to have been covered," Hill said. "This will get four of the six out of the way. It can be a jump-start."
Sabatine said he hopes the program will attract people to the school's MBA program.
The business certificate will be offered in three different methods.
Students may participate by interactive television at one of the approximately 150 sites across Indiana to which the class will be broadcast. There will be also be a phone line setup so students may call in and participate in class discussions.
Classes will also be offered in Indianapolis at the Holiday Inn North East - where students and teachers will be face to face - and on Ball State's campus.
Hill hopes to someday use two-way video to reach even more students who are interested.
"(We could teach) people who have to transfer to (someplace like) New Jersey. But the technology isn't there yet," Hill said.
Hill said "Business Essentials for Professionals" is receiving great response thus far.
"We're actually overwhelmed!" she said. "It's mostly engineers...from Kokomo. They're really enthusiastic. Phones have been ringing off the hook so (the class) is going to be on a first come, first serve basis."
There will be an information session in Indianapolis on Nov. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the College of Architecture and Planning in the Indianapolis Center to allow people to fill out applications and learn more about the program. An additional information session will be held on Nov. 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn North East in Indianapolis.
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