HBCU Philander Smith College’s (PSC) Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is underway after the institution’s accreditor Higher Learning Commission (HLC), approved the college to become a graduate degree-granting institution.
HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) approved the program in November 2022.
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— Philander Smith (@PhilanderSmith) January 3, 2023
The Arkansas school has been planning for the program for six years, including it in its 10-Year-Long-Range Strategic Plan.
“On the heels of the 145th anniversary of Philander Smith College, we are elated about this milestone announcement,” Roderick L. Smothers, Sr., president of Philander Smith College, said. “When our 10-Year-Long-Range Strategic Plan was implemented six years ago, one of our key goals was establishing an MBA program. Thus, I am tremendously proud that our team – led by Dr. Cedric Stone, Division of Business Administration Chair – helped make possible the historic pivot in our status from college to university.”
The 36-credit hour program launches in May 2023 with an initial group of 25 student students.
“We are excited that PSC will hold the distinction as the only historically black college in Central Arkansas to offer an MBA degree,” President Smothers said. “For the busy working professional, ours is an accelerated program that will allow students to matriculate in as little as 12 months. Additionally, our project management track will be offered fully online,. Forstudents who desire an on-campus experience, we will have a more traditional accelerated format focused on general business management.”
The list of the program’s courses and concentration areas will be available soon. Those interested in joining PSC’s MBA program can apply online when applications open on Feb. 1, 2023.
PSC was founded in 1877 and is the only United Negro College Fund member institution in Arkansas.
The four-year liberal arts college offers four degrees: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration and the Bachelor of Social Work.”
