Master of Business Administration with Concentration in Supply Chain Management

at Arkansas State University USA

The Bachelors of Science in Information Systems and Business Analytics (ISBA) is designed to prepare students for careers as IT professionals.  Our graduates hold positions as network administrators, application programmers, website developers, database architects, operations schedulers, and technical support specialists, to name a few.  

Of particular interest to potential students who already have practical IT experience should be the alignment of many ISBA courses with industry certifications. Consequently, students can simultaneously complete their major requirements and prepare for industry certification exams.  This further makes it possible for students to receive course credit for certifications already earned.

The Department of ISBA, provides instruction and conducts research addressing information systems and the technology supporting those systems. We are involved also, through technology transfer, in assisting the University with its economic development mission for the Delta Region and beyond. In addition, as consultants, we serve other constituents within the University and around the local community.

Data science and data analytics applications exist in numerous industries and government agencies.  This diversity of opportunity is reflected in the interdisciplinary nature of the Data Science and Data Analytics (DSDA) Program which involves six colleges; Agriculture, Education and Behavioral Science, Engineering and Computer Science, Liberal Arts and Communication, Nursing and Health Professions, and Sciences and Mathematics.   The DSDA Program builds out from the general education curriculum to a program core of 37 hours and two specific tracks from which students can choose.  The program core is be required of all students in the program and covers content in Statistics, programming, visualization, data governance and ethics. The two tracks - Data Science and Data Analytics – provide further depth beyond the program core. Within each track, students will be required to complete courses within their particular area of interest or “domain”.  Domains could include social sciences, healthcare, geospatial technologies, engineering, computer science, or bioinformatics to name a few.

The outcomes of the BS program are:

• Identify societal and ethical impacts as well as the responsibility that come with access to data.
• Critically assess and remediate issues with data organization and data quality.
• Design and implement a solution to a problem in the realm of data science/data analytics through problem identification, problem solving, decision making, visualization, data analysis and reporting.

A Master's Degree in Political Science is an intensive program of specialized study designed to develop students' analytical skills and deepen their substantive knowledge of political science in preparation for such pursuits as law school, teaching, or doctoral studies. The students may specialize in any of the four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international politics or political theory.

The Mission of the MA program is to prepare students for future educational and career opportunities in both the public and private sectors. We accomplish this mission by equipping our students with substantive knowledge and methodological skills necessary to conduct research, instruct primary, secondary, and undergraduate students on civics, government, and politics, and/or pursue advanced graduate studies in professional programs (i.e., doctoral, law school, and other public and private related programs of study).

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at A-State is to educate generalist practitioners who will work to enhance intellectual growth, and to enrich lives through social justice and service specifically with rural populations. It employs a problem-solving process and relies on critical thinking.

Bachelors level social workers work with a variety of clients in many settings. The skills learned in the curriculum include interviewing skills, assessment skills, and intervention skills. The BSW qualifies the student to sit for the state exam at the Licensed Social Worker level. The state licensing law outlines the level of practice at this level. This is referred to as the Generalist Practice level.

Generalist practitioners work within an organizational structure in which they use appropriate supervision and assume a wide range of professional roles (DuBois & Miley, 1996). These roles include broker, enabler/counselor, mediator, educator, evaluator, case manager/coordinator and advocate/activist (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 1999). Empowerment oriented social workers focus on clients’ strengths and adaptive skills as well as clients’ competencies and potential. They work collaboratively with their clients.

Empowerment joins personal power and political power so as to increase an individual’s ability to control his or her destiny and “...to alter systems, redistribute resources, open up opportunity structures, and reorganize society” (Hartman, 1990; Lee, 1994 cited in DuBois & Miley, 1999, p. 28).

The B.S. degree in Sport Management is designed to prepare future professionals the needed knowledge, skills and experiences interested in careers in intercollegiate and professional athletics organizations, sport facility management (arenas/stadiums), campus and community recreation programs, sports information/public relations, sport marketing and management agencies, sport news media, and sport merchandise. This is a fast-paced, challenging, highly regarded, behind-the-scenes, managerial, professional field that requires students to have the academic background, management experience, communication abilities, and leadership qualities to be successful.

Traditionally, mechanical engineers have been involved in fields as diverse as aeronautics, biomechanics, environmental science, manufacturing, power generation, and robotics to name just a few. However, as national and global needs change, engineers are being asked to apply their problem solving skills to address medical, business, and policy issues that confront our society.

Mechanical Engineering at A-State
The Mechanical Engineering Programs at Arkansas State University are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.  

The A-State mechanical engineering program includes a strong general education component, traditional engineering science courses, exposure to manufacturing processes and automation, and multi-course sequences to provide proficiency in Thermal and Mechanical system design.

We provide our students with a broad and well-rounded educational foundation and stress the necessity to engage in lifelong educational efforts to cope with the ever-changing landscape of science and technology. In addition, students have the opportunity to conduct research and to take courses in other disciplines such as business, mathematics, agriculture, and biological or physical sciences based on their individual career goals.

Program Educational Objectives
The Program Educational Objectives for the Mechanical Engineering Program, which pertain to program graduates 3 to 5 years after completing the program, are:

• Graduates have successfully advanced in mechanical engineering practice as evidenced by their achievements and contributions to their employers and the greater engineering community.
• Graduates have pursued graduate degrees or completed professional development activities in continuing to advance their knowledge base in mechanical engineering or related professional fields.
• Graduates have made a broader contribution to the local and national economic development by providing a mechanical engineering perspective to the challenges and opportunities of society.

The Student Outcomes for each of the Arkansas State University undergraduate engineering programs are:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
• An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
• An ability to communicate effectively;
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
• A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning;
• A knowledge of contemporary issues;
• An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice; and
• An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.

The Department of Art at Arkansas State University will provide an educational environment that fosters the creation and understanding of art. Students in art develop insight, sensitivity, and perception toward all aspects of nature while building individual expressive responses. Aesthetic and functional values, creative ideas, and media skills are developed through instructional guidance and applied experience in the studio and classroom.

Learning Outside the Classroom
Some of the courses may involve field trips to Memphis Brooks Museum, The Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, or other regional art collections. Arkansas State University is an Accredited Institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Why the BFA?
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs are designed to prepare students for professional careers as a classroom art teacher, graphic designer, or studio artist. The BFA in Graphic Design is the initial professional degree, and it is the requisite degree for the student who plans to pursue a studio-oriented post-baccalaureate degree.

The Arkansas State University MBA Program is a professional degree program designed to prepare students of all educational and professional backgrounds for management positions in all types of organizations. As such, the program stresses the development of analytical, problem-solving and decision making competencies for the dynamic, complex global organizational and social environments.

Finance - Concentration
The MBA with a Concentration in Finance is designed to allow students to complement their studies in business administration with in-depth coverage of the core components of ?nance, including corporate ?nance, ?nancial markets and institutions, and investments. Students will complete the 27 hours within the MBA core and 9 additional hours of graduate level ?nance coursework.

Our innovative program offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business.  Graduates from our program are trained to work in the ever changing world economy and acquire enhanced marketability for a wide range of careers.  Our curriculum provides a common body of knowledge for students in Agricultural Economics and Business Administration while combining core courses from Agricultural and Applied Economics with business courses in Accounting, Marketing, Management, Finance, and Business Law to provide a strong foundation for careers in management of agricultural businesses.  In addition, our program includes application courses in business finance, marketing, commodity trading analysis, real estate appraisal, international trade, and natural resource economics.  Emphasis is placed on internship opportunities with public and private Agricultural Businesses where students gain experiential hands-on training in their chosen emphasis area.  Students in our undergraduate program may pursue graduate studies if they choose to do so.

Emphasis areas
Two emphasis areas are available:

• Agricultural Economics and Finance
• Agricultural Marketing and Management