PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University College of Business, the nation’s top ranked school for online MBA degrees by U.S. News & World Report, has created three new certificate programs to expand academic flexibility for students admitted to the program. Professionals seeking MBA degrees now have three new graduate certificates in marketing, finance or international business from which to choose.
“WSU’s new online MBA certificates offer more in-depth focus and flexibility than ever before,” said Cheryl Oliver, assistant dean for online and graduate programs in the College of Business. “We know our students balance academic ambition with professional careers, and WSU is committed to creating programs that will meet their needs and their schedules.”
WSU’s certificate programs can be taken by current MBA students, recent alumni, and students who have qualified for admission but are not able to commit to starting a full MBA program.
Each certificate consists of three elective courses that deliver nine total credit hours of focused instruction. The certificates complement core course work and, and when completed, will appear on the transcript, a designation important to business professionals needing to demonstrate mastery of a specific topic or preparing for a career change.
Full descriptions of the following certificates are available at omba.wsu.edu:
MBA Marketing certificate
The marketing certificate provides students with an in-depth look into the realm of marketing. Example electives include international marketing, consumer behavior and advertising.
MBA Finance certificate
The finance certificate allows students to explore the financial risks and rewards of companies and investors in a global business environment. Electives may include international finance, investment analysis and interest rates, and financial markets.
MBA International Business certificate
Through the international business certificate, students are immersed into the ethical, global, and societal implications of doing business in foreign markets. Example electives include international marketing, international finance, and international business management. This certificate includes a 10-day international field study.
“Business has become a global practice with reach far beyond our domestic borders. An international business certificate will help me work more effectively within the growing global economy,” said Devon Schweizer, an online MBA student with aspirations of working abroad. “The international concentration, along with my background in marketing and hospitality, will give me a good foundation to work in a variety of industries and pursue more competitive managerial positions in the future.”
Choose your career path
“By nature, online MBA students are competitive and want to move ahead of their peers and on with their careers,” said Oliver. “These elite students will be able to choose the concentration most appropriate for their career track. It’s a tool that will take them to the next level of business success.”
The College of Business has offered the MBA degree for more than 55 years. The suite of MBA educational offerings includes the online MBA, the online Executive MBA, the Pullman 1-Year MBA and the professional MBA at WSU Tri-Cities and WSU Vancouver.
There are five registration periods for the online MBA program throughout the 2013-2014 academic year: Oct. 14, Jan. 13, March 10, May 12 and June 30. Students interested in starting the program in October must apply by Sept. 13th at omba.wsu.edu.
About the College of Business
The WSU College of Business is accredited across all business disciplines at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Faculty across disciplines produce scholarly and applied research at the main campus in Pullman as well as at urban campuses in Vancouver and the Tri-Cities. International activities include academic centers in China and Switzerland as well as thriving partnerships with several schools around the globe. Innovative online programs supplement face-to-face offerings. For more information, visit http://business.wsu.edu.