Business Degree Program Offered in Fulton

10/29/2012 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

William Woods University is offering Fulton area residents the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Science in management (BSM) degree without quitting work.

The program will begin with an open house enrollment meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the Burton Business Building on the WWU campus. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the university prior to then, but walk-ins will be accepted. Call 1-800-995-3199 or contact WWU by email at evening@williamwoods.edu.
 
The BSM is designed for the working professional interested in completing the baccalaureate degree with an emphasis in management. The curriculum has been designed to reflect the appropriate mix of business theory with real world practice.
 
Admission into the program requires the completion of 25 semester credit hours.
 
Wes Mullins of Ellsinore, Mo., completed his BSM in Poplar Bluff.
 
“In my opinion, one of the greatest strengths of the program was the diversity of the instructors our cohort had. Most were working professionals themselves, which allowed them to share real world experiences with us,” he said.
 
He added, “When I made the decision to get my B.S. I weighed all the options that were available to me. Without a doubt, the WWU program was the best fit.  I don't think there is a better program for the working adult.  I would like to thank William Woods for offering such a program, it has helped me tremendously.” 
 
Employing a model of accelerated learning developed especially for the convenience of the working adult, these educational programs are structured so that a degree can be completed in as few as 18 months.
 
William Woods offers degree programs that utilize a cohort model, emphasizing learning through student-directed study groups of three to five students.
 
 “Cohort” describes a group of people who collaborate to reach a common goal. WWU’s program utilizes the diversity of the individual members to broaden the learning experience of the class as a whole as they work together.  The school recognizes that learning can and does take place outside of the classroom and that theoretical knowledge is only useful if applied to real-life on-the-job situations.
 
Mullins had high praise for the study group concept.
 
“This is a fine example of how much a team can accomplish, as compared to what I might have gotten done alone.  The support, competition and accountability that our study group provided made a huge difference in the learning process,” he said.
 
Classes meet once a week in the evening for four hours.  Study groups meet outside class to prepare projects and assignments before the upcoming week.           
 
“With the teamwork approach of using study groups and projects within the cohort model, students can draw on a greater pool of ideas, and they have the opportunity to learn quickly that the effectiveness of one person can be greatly enhanced by utilizing the other members of the group,” said David Forster, dean of business.
 
Because of the nature of programming—focusing effort on one course at a time—90 percent of all students finish their program successfully.  Each course runs eight weeks.
 
“William Woods University is a leader when it comes to designing quality programs for nontraditional adult students.  Everything we do is specifically designed to help adults succeed in reaching their goals as efficiently as possible,” said Forster.
 
More information on the university’s evening programs is available at www.williamwoods.edu/evening.