Coastal Carolina University

Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

March 2, 2005

 

Members Present:  Elsa Crites, Emory Helms, Jim Eason (for John Marcis), Dennis Rauch, Wink Prince, Brenda Sawyer, Deborah Vrooman (for Susan Libes), Joe Winslow, Eric Wright, Dennis Wiseman.  Guests:  Dave DeCenzo, Linda Henderson

 

The meeting was called to order at 11:30 AM in the Singleton Building Conference Room by Dennis Wiseman.  Dr. Wiseman greeted the guests in attendance and provided an overview of the agenda for the meeting.

 

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

 

The first item of business on the Council agenda was the proposal from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences for the approval of three new courses as identified below:  MSCI 576, MSCI 576L and CMWS 670.

 

Recommendation for New Courses

 

MSCI 576  Marine Plankton. (3) (Coreq: MSCI 576L) This course explores the structure and function of planktonic communities.  The role of phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteria are examined in detail.  Concepts such as mineral cycling, energy flow, predatory/prey relationships, tropic interactions as well as spatial and temporal dynamics are investigated in lecture, discussion, and an integrated laboratory setting.  A review paper on a selected topic will be assigned.  Offered every other year in spring.

 

MSCI 576L Marine Plankton Laboratory. (1) (Coreq: MSCI 576)  The laboratory will demonstrate the topics and principles presented in lecture.  The laboratory consists of a field or laboratory study dealing with planktonic processes in estuarine or marine environments and may require weekend commitments.  Graduate students will be responsible for selecting and moderating the discussion of series of research papers associated with the research topic of the semester.  Offered every other year in spring.

 

Rationale:   The upper level undergraduate course MSCI 476 has been taught for 10 years and is popular with students.  The course can be made more rigorous for graduate students and represents an area of study that is highly marketable and interdisciplinary with the other marine science subdisciplines. 

 

CMWS 670 Watershed Science and Management. (3) An interdisciplinary survey of watershed science, covering essentials of hydrology, geology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem structure and function, watershed modeling, and ecological economics. Current trends in watershed management are covered from the perspective of the USEPA’s Watershed Approach which relies on development and implementation of watershed management plans.  Other tools for watershed protection will be addressed, such as the Clean Water Act, stormwater best management practices, Better Site Design, habitat conservation, and public outreach strategies.

 

Rationale:  The course covers a large and growing field related to coastal marine and wetland studies and provides a background in the science of watersheds as well as current trends in management.  Employment opportunities in both arenas are significant.

 

Discussion:  Dr. Wiseman asked Dr. Vrooman if she would speak on behalf of the proposed courses and she offered a brief overview of the courses and their intended purpose.  After a short discussion that included clarifying the reference in the rationale for MSCI 576 that the courses as offered as MSCI 476 could be made more rigorous, and correcting a typographical error in the presentation of the description of CMWS 670, the courses were approved with no further discussion.

 

Spadoni College of Education

 

The second item of business on the Council agenda dealt with the proposal from the Spadoni College of Education to add a music area of concentration to the M.Ed. in Secondary Education.  Dr. Wiseman identified that such a change would require notification of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education but not the seeking of approval from the Commission.  The recommended change and its rationale are included below, followed by the pertinent information to be sent as notification to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

 

Recommendation for New Area of Concentration

in Music in the M.Ed. in Secondary Education

 

The purpose of the M.Ed. in Secondary Education is to offer certified teachers the opportunity for professional growth and development at the graduate level.  In completing program requirements, students at this point are expected to identify a concentration of study in one of the following areas:  English, mathematics, natural science, social studies and Spanish.  The Spadoni College recommends that music be added to the list of concentrations available to students.

 

Rationale:  Area teachers have requested that a concentration in music be made available to them within the M.Ed. in Secondary Education.  Additionally, with adoption of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree in music, a growing number of graduate courses have been added to the Coastal graduate curriculum to support this program. Many of the same courses in music can benefit both certified teachers and students who desire to become certified teachers.  The addition of music to the listing of available concentrations follows the same step taken two years ago in adding Spanish to the listing.

 

 

S.C. Commission of Higher Education

Notification of Change in Academic Program Status

 

After approval by Chief Instructional Officer

please send completed form by mail to:                                                           Or FAX to:

 

S.C. Commission on Higher Education                                                             (803) 737-2297

Division of Academic Affairs and Licensing                                                                                 

1333 Main Street, Suite 200

Columbia, S.C. 29201

 

1.             Institution and implementation date for change: Coastal Carolina University, fall

2005

 

2.             Degree awarded, major, and concentration, if applicable:   Masters of Education

Degree in Secondary Education — Music.

 

3.             Site of delivery:  Coastal Carolina University

 

4.             Mode of delivery (distance, traditional, both) and percentage of coursework

offered by each mode:  Traditional 100%.

 

5.             CIP Code (confirmed by CHE):  131205;   Site Code (assigned by CHE): 51001

 

6.             Nature of change and summary of the rationale for and objectives of the program (Please include the number of credit hours the change entails.)

 

Teachers in the University’s service area have requested the opportunity to obtain a M.Ed. in Secondary Education with a concentration in Music. This concentration is not currently available.  Now that the Department of Performing Arts is offering graduate study to support the M A T program, we feel that Coastal Carolina University also can effectively support the M Ed in this area with some of the same content level courses.   The objective of the program is to prepare master teachers for local secondary schools and provide more in-depth content preparation for these teachers.  The M.Ed. in Secondary Education is a 36 credit hour program.  As with the other concentrations offered in the program, i.e., English, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Studies and Spanish, the concentration in Music will consist of 9 credit hours of study in the discipline.

 

7.             Curricular display of courses in the major (prefix, number, and title), information on general education and electives requirements; number of credits required for graduation.

 

Master of Education in Secondary Education - Music

 

  I.            Basic Studies                                                                                        18 hours

 

                 II.           Specialized Studies                                                                                             

                                - SCED 726 Advanced Princip1es and Practices of                        03 hours

                                Teaching in High School                                                                                   

                                - Additional approved specialized studies                                      06 hours

                               

                III.           Content Studies                                                                                   09 hours

 

                                Possible courses to select from:

 

                                MUED 520 – Orchestration and Arranging

                                MUED 560 – World Music:  Cross-Cultural Communication

                                                in Contemporary Education

MUED 561 – Brass Methods

                                MUED 562 – Woodwind Methods

                                MUED 661 – Percussion Methods

                                MUED 662 – String Methods

 

Discussion:  A brief discussion followed the presentation of the agenda item from the Spadoni College of Education.  The consensus of the Council members was that the addition of the music option to the M.Ed. in Secondary Education would be a positive change to the degree program and was approved with limited comment.

 

Following approval of the change to the M.Ed. in Secondary Education with the addition of the music concentration, Dr. Wiseman directed the Council members to the copy of the Program Planning Summary for the Master of Education in Educational Leadership in their agenda packet.  Dr. Wiseman informed the members that the Program Planning Summary had been sent to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education as notification that Coastal was in the development stage of preparing a proposal for the degree program.   The Program Planning Summary will remain active at the Commission for a maximum of three years.  If a full proposal for the degree is not submitted within the three year period, the Planning Summary will cease to be considered active and applicable to a forthcoming proposal and will need to be resubmitted.  The Program Planning Summary submitted to the Commission is as follows:

 

Program Planning Summary

Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership

Spadoni College of Education

Coastal Carolina University

 

Program designation:

The program is a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Educational Leadership encompassing 39 graduate credit hours. 

Proposed date of implementation:    Fall 2006

 

Justification of need for the new program:

The justification of need for the program can be approached from at least two directions.  One direction is the identified shortage of principals.  The other is the changing nature of the principalship and, therefore, the changing nature of the qualifications needed of individuals to be effective in principal positions.  The South Carolina Department of Education has identified that South Carolina has shortages of both principals and superintendents, but not yet at the level of teacher shortages.  While the possibility of creating alternate routes for administrators has been discussed, the state has not as yet developed any such routes. 

A report from The South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) identified that, from a 2001 to 2004 supply and demand survey, administrative hires were at a high in 2001 (478), dropping to 346 and 335 in 2002 and 2003 respectively, and rising to 439 in 2004.  Administrative vacancies or unfilled positions reported during this same period have been on an increase from 16 in 2001 to 30 in 2004.  This is with ten districts not reporting data to the Center.  The Department of Education identified that in 2004 the average number of years that a principal or career center director held that position was 5.4.  The number of principals and career center directors who held the position for no more than a year was 203 out of a total of 1,110, resulting in a principal turnover rate of over 18 percent.  In 2004-2005, individuals with certification as an elementary and/or high school principal numbered 1,662.  Out of this figure 80% were Caucasian, 16% African American, with the remaining percentage being represented by other races.  These figures are representative of the national scene as well.  In South Carolina, they are not representative of the PreK-12 student body.

A policy brief from the Center for Reinventing Public Education noted, however, that a quantitative analysis conducted by the Center suggests that school principal shortages are not the norm.  This is based on a study of public school districts from ten regions throughout the country.  The real problem identified by the Center is that principals are unevenly distributed among schools and districts.  Districts typically with the fewest applicants are those with high poverty, high challenge, higher concentrations of poor and minority students, low per-pupil expenditures, and low principal salaries.  It also was identified that the perception of a principal shortage persists not only because of an inequitable distribution of applicants, but also because superintendents are not finding the type of principals that they desire.

For differing reasons, school systems across the country are being faced with varying and, at times, significant school leader shortages.  Beyond the question of supply and demand, as previously noted, is the question of candidate quality.  A majority of superintendents rank prior leadership experience as the most important experience needed by a principal pointing to teaching experience and background in curriculum as being less important. 

A recent publication by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) titled Good Principals Are the Key to Successful Schools: Six Strategies to Prepare More Good Principals noted that, in the 16 SREB states, school district leaders frequently report that the supply of principals is diminishing rapidly.  Nevertheless, the major problem faced is not a lack of certified principals but, rather, a lack of qualified principals.  While every state may have many individuals with certificates as school administrators, no state has enough individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to lead schools to excellence.  The report recommended six strategies that can be used to ensure an ample supply of highly qualified principals:  1) Single out high-performers, 2) Recalibrate preparation programs, 3) Emphasize real-world training, 4) Link principal licensure to performance, 5) Move accomplished teachers into school leadership positions, and, 6) Use state academics to cultivate leadership teams in middle-tier schools.  Although some of these strategies are targeted to state-level initiatives, some are or can be very much university-based.  In developing its own program, CCU will, in working closely with local school districts, concentrate on Strategy 1, Strategy 3 and Strategy 5, and be guided by the recommendations of Strategy 2.

Anticipated program demand and productivity:

Interactions with and recommendations from the administrations of the two school districts in closest proximity to CCU have identified strong support for the program reinforcing that there is current demand justification.  Likewise, these same observations have been shared by the Executive Director of the Pee Dee Education Center located in Florence, SC.  The Center works closely with 19 districts in eight counties of that region of the state.  Finally, the continued student participation in the USC Columbia program for principal preparation offered at CCU primarily through distance learning reinforces the interest in the area for the program.

Assessment of extent to which the proposed program duplicates existing programs in the state: 

There is no doubt that other institutions of higher education in South Carolina offer programs in educational leadership.  Public institutions identified as having such programs are The Citadel, Clemson University, The University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina State University and Winthrop University.  Private institutions are Charleston Southern University, Converse College and Furman University.  Programs range from 36 to 42 credit hours required for program completion.  As South Carolina has established a formal affiliation with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), all education programs at public institutions in the state are expected to be nationally accredited by successfully addressing standards established by NCATE and the appropriate affiliated specialized professional association.  For programs in educational leadership this is the Educational Leadership Consortium Council (ELCC).  The ELCC provides program standards to NCATE for the preparation of school leaders and is comprised of three NCATE constituent member associations:  Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

In terms of geographic proximity to CCU, no program is near the CCU region of the state, with the two closest communities being Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC.  Individuals desiring to participate in a program at an institution in Charleston, SC, face a driving distance of 97 miles.  For those who desire to participate in a program in Columbia, SC, the driving distance is 135 miles.  It is important to note that CCU has benefited greatly from its relationship with USC over the years in many ways, one of which is the distance learning delivery of the USC Columbia M.Ed. in Educational Administration through the CCU campus.  And, while it is possible for individuals to participate in a program via such distance learning delivery, it is felt that a locally-based program will be able to respond to local needs in a more immediate way as well as be developed and delivered in a more collaborative manner with area school districts.  As previously noted, this relates to the recommendations from SREB, i.e., work with districts in program design, candidate selection, and delivery.

Relationship of the proposed program to existing programs at the proposing institution:

 

CCU offers masters level programs in the Spadoni College of Education and the College of Natural and Applied Science.  Programs offered in the Spadoni College of Education include the Master of Education in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Secondary Education (with concentrations in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and Spanish), the Master of Science in Instructional Technology, and the Master of Arts in Teaching in art, English, foreign language, mathematics, music, science and social studies.  As the proposed program will be administered by the Spadoni College of Education, the Spadoni College’s history of offering study at the graduate level and in working with area school districts are seen as positive factors in support of the program. 

 

Relationship of the proposed program to other institutions via inter-institutional cooperation:

 

CCU is interested in developing a cooperative relationship with any other institution in the state that would like to collaborate in the preparation of school leaders.  This cooperation can be in the form of resource sharing in terms of instructional resources, personnel resources, or coursework.  It can be through face-to-face cooperation or through electronic cooperation.

 

Total new costs:

Given that the program does not focus specifically on teacher preparation or professional development, where the institution has had its graduate focus to date, it is recognized that new costs in the areas of additional faculty and library resources will be incurred.  It also is anticipated that, based on the institution’s desire to work closely with area school districts in the delivery of the program, there will be additional administrative costs as well.  In a preliminary review, the institution has identified costs anticipated in the areas of faculty, library and administration at $170,000 to $180,000. 

 

E. Craig Wall College of Business Administration

 

The third item on the Council agenda was the proposal from the E. Craig Wall College of Business Administration to offer the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.  Dean DeCenzo spoke to the rationale behind the degree and its purpose, including reference to the withdrawal of the Winthrop MBA from the Coastal Carolina campus and requests from businesses in the area as well as the College’s international partners to offer the degree program.  Dr. Linda Henderson spoke to the process followed to gather input from stakeholders, including current students, graduates and area business professionals, along with the review of MBA programs at other institutions.  Dr. Henderson introduced the curriculum of the degree program and its needed courses and explained the need to establish the accounting specialization within the degree at the outset.  The Program Planning Summary for the Master of Business Administration sent to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, the catalog presentation of the degree and the proposed new courses to support it are as follows:

 

Program Planning Summary

Master of Business Administration

E. Craig Wall College of Business Administration

Coastal Carolina University

 

Program designation:

               

The program is a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree requiring 36 credit hours.

 

Proposed date of implementation:   Fall 2006

 

Justification of need for the program:

 

The faculty of the Wall College of Business Administration has long felt the need to offer a quality MBA program to students and employees of businesses in the Grand Strand region of South Carolina.  Prior to achieving national accreditation by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) in 1998 and in response to this need, Coastal Carolina University (CCU) entered into two cooperative programs offering the MBA:  the Professional MBA (PMBA) program of the University of South Carolina Columbia (USC) and the MBA of Winthrop University. 

Both of these programs were configured as distance-learning programs offering evening classes at CCU.  The USC program is broadcast over a one-way satellite hook-up with a call-back feature to allow students at CCU to call in questions.  In recent years the program has allowed students to use video-streaming technology over the Internet although one or two students still attend classes at CCU’s Myrtle Beach outreach center.   As a professional MBA, the program requires several years of work experience and 48 hours of course work.  The Winthrop University program offers classes over telephone lines in a dedicated classroom on the CCU campus.  The technology allows for two-way interaction using two large monitors and voice-activated microphones.  The Winthrop University program requires 39 hours of course work but does not specify work experience.  The original program offered a concentration in accounting, but that option was eliminated several years ago due to low enrollments.  Although the USC PMBA typically has had low enrollments, the Winthrop University program has reported a five-year enrollment average (Fall 2000-Fall 2004) of 26 students.  Recent figures show a 50% increase in enrollments, from 24 students in Fall 2003 to 36 students in Fall 2004. 

The need for a CCU MBA program comes in response to two recent events.  The first of these events is the express demand for a CCU MBA program on the part of business leaders in the Grand Strand area and members of the Wall College Board of Visitors, who have pledged to support the new program by working cooperatively with CCU to make the program available to their employees.  The second event is the announcement by Winthrop University that it has stopped accepting new students in its distance-learning MBA housed at CCU and that it will terminate the collaborative Winthrop University-CCU MBA program by Fall 2006.

A third factor in the decision to offer the MBA at CCU is the ongoing need to prepare students for certification as CPAs.  South Carolina, like most states, requires students to have 150 hours of post-secondary education before they can be licensed as CPAs.  Currently, the majority of CCU accounting majors in the CPA track complete additional hours as undergraduates, often as double majors in accounting and finance, in order to meet the 150-hour requirement.  The faculty believes that these students will be better served by a program that allows them to earn these additional hours at the master’s level, especially since many public accounting firms expect newly-hired staff accountants to hold the master’s degree.  Successful completion of the accounting concentration within the proposed MBA will make it possible for CCU’s accounting majors to prepare for their careers as CPAs in a well-integrated program leading to both CPA licensure and the MBA.

A fourth factor in the development of the CCU MBA is the network of relationships that CCU has established with international business schools.  Articulation agreements currently enable students from these partner schools and CCU to complete dual business degrees at each institution.  Faculty from the partner schools have indicated that their students would find a MBA degree from CCU to be of interest.

These considerations have triggered the current effort to design and implement an MBA program that will not only serve local students but also attract students from outside the immediate region.  The program focuses on major areas of business competencies that have been identified by local constituencies and in the professional literature.  These competencies/knowledge sets include:

  • Managing the service environment.  The MBA will prepare students to operate effectively in a service economy such as, but not limited to, the Grand Strand’s hospitality industry. 
  • Managing the accounting/finance function.  The MBA will provide the technical knowledge necessary to manage the financial side of business.
  • Decision-making tool kit.  The MBA will provide grounding in research methodologies, database management and e-commerce, business software, and communication and presentation technologies.
  • Social competencies.  The MBA will provide the opportunity to develop social competencies such as leadership, teamwork, motivation, interpersonal skills, and an understanding of issues in the ethical conduct of business.

 

Important features of the CCU MBA include striking a balance between service management

and finance/accounting content, flexible delivery of instruction encompassing modular course construction based on program objectives and targeted skills, and a traditional classroom environment significantly enhanced by innovative learning technology.  The program will incorporate international and ethical studies across the program in an applied, student-active format.

Anticipated demand and productivity:

 

Strong support for the MBA in the regional business community and demand among CCU graduates are expected to provide initial enrollments.  Students are expected to come from businesses and firms in the region, from CCU’s own student body, and from the Winthrop University MBA program.  Among these business entities are Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc., AVX Corporation, City of Myrtle Beach, accounting firms, and members of the Chamber of Commerce.  As CCU enrollments continue to grow, it is anticipated that undergraduate students in accounting, the Professional Golf Management program, and the information systems option of the computer science major will welcome the opportunity to continue their education in the CCU MBA.  It is also anticipated that students completing dual degree Bachelor of Science programs at CCU and the international partner universities will be interested in pursuing the CCU MBA.

Enrollment figures reflected in the Winthrop University MBA program show growing interest in the program at CCU.  Total enrollment figures for a five-year period are as follows:  Fall 2000 - 23; Fall 2001 – 20; Fall 2002 – 28; Fall  2003 – 24; Fall 2004 – 36.  CCU anticipates drawing students from the same sources as Winthrop University, with additional sources described above.

 

 

 

 

Assessment of extent to which the proposed program duplicates existing programs in the state:

 

According to the CHE listing and respective university homepages, public institutions now offering the MBA degree are as follows:  The Citadel, Clemson University, Francis Marion University, University of South Carolina Columbia, and Winthrop University.  Among private senior institutions in the state, Bob Jones University, Charleston Southern University, Claflin University, and Southern Wesleyan University offer the MBA.  Webster University also offers the MBA at its Myrtle Beach site under a CHE licence to operate in South Carolina.

Of these universities, only three (excluding Webster University) are located in the eastern part of the state.  Driving distances from the Myrtle Beach area to these universities are 100 miles to The Citadel, 62 miles to Francis Marion University, and 110 to Charleston Southern University.  These distances make it very difficult for students in the Myrtle Beach area to attend classes at these institutions.

 

Relationship of the proposed program to existing programs at the proposing institution:

 

The proposed CCU MBA will strengthen the institution’s business and accounting programs by offering students a convenient way to continue their studies.  The Wall College of Business Administration has the highest enrollment of any of the four colleges at CCU.  The CCU MBA program will enhance the institution’s ability to attract faculty and students, augment the applied research focus of the faculty and undergraduate program, and expand CCU’s ability to serve its students and the region.

 

Total new costs:  

 

The CCU MBA program will require two new faculty hires in 2005-2006 (these positions have already been approved) and two new faculty hires in 2006-2007.  As enrollments warrant, further faculty may be needed along with an MBA director and dedicated administrative support staff.

Additional library resources will be required to support new graduate courses developed for the program and the expected increase in faculty and student research.   Other resources such as CRSP tapes (in addition to the S&P Compustat system already in place), small grants to support research projects, and voice recognition software may also be needed.  In addition, video and audio conferencing technologies will be needed to facilitate collaboration with students in partner schools abroad along with graduate assistantships to ensure that talented students are attracted to the program.

 

Catalog presentation of MBA program:        

 

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate program provides study of major areas of business competencies and knowledge encompassing the disciplines of accounting, finance, economics, management and marketing.  The program balances its applied service sector focus with a strong grounding in finance and accounting.   Students are actively involved in coursework through extensive use of cases, simulations, research in discipline-specific databases, projects, and appropriate learning technologies. 

The MBA program includes a concentration in accounting that prepares accounting students for careers in public accounting, income taxation, and corporate accounting.  Successful completion of all requirements for the accounting concentration will satisfy the education requirements for CPA candidacy.

 

Admission to the Program

                Applications for admission to graduate study are to be directed to the Office of Admissions at the University.

 

Admission Requirements

                Regular admission to the Master of Business Administration is met by satisfactorily meeting the following criteria:

 

1.        Completion of an application form and payment of the application fee.

2.        Submission of an official undergraduate transcript from each post-secondary school or college previously attended, including any graduate study previously undertaken.

3.        Evidence of having received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in this country or its equivalent at a foreign institution based on a four-year degree.

4.        Completion of the Graduate Management Admissions Test [GMAT] within the last five years with a score of at least 500.  International students whose native language is not English must also submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language [TOEFL] of at least 575.

5.        Submission of two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the academic ability, level of responsibility, and work ethic of the candidate.

6.        Completion of prerequisites with an average grade of B or better during the last five years.  Prerequisites required for admission are:

 

Financial and Managerial Accounting                             6 hours

Macro and Micro Economics                                             6 hours

Finance                                                                                  3 hours

Statistics                                                                                3 hours

Marketing                                                                              3 hours

Management                                                                         3 hours

 

Significant work experience providing evidence of professional competence may be considered. Candidates for admission to the MBA program who demonstrate competence in prerequisite areas should consult the MBA director.

               

Admission decisions are made when all evidence of the candidate’s ability to succeed in graduate studies has been submitted.  The decision is based on the following formula:

 

(GPA  X  200) + GMAT score = 1050 or more.

 

Provisional Admission

Applicants may receive provisional admission to the MBA if they do not meet the stated admission requirements.  The decision to offer provisional admittance to the program is made by the MBA director.  Students who are provisionally admitted are limited to 12 hours of course work.  Upon satisfactory completion of this coursework with a B or better in each course, provisional status may be lifted.

 

Degree Requirements

                The Master of Business Administration requires:

  1. Successful completion of an approved program of study with a minimum of 36 graduate hours;
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) on all course work;
  3. Completion of all requirements for the degree during a six-year period;
  4. A record of professional performance and integrity during all phases of the program of study.

 

Required Courses (36 Credits)

The MBA degree program at Coastal Carolina University requires 36 graduate credit hours for completion.

 

Core Courses (12 Credits)

 

CBAD 630                             Financial and Managerial Accounting (3)

CBAD 631                             Fraud Examination (3)

ECON 720                              Economic Strategy (3)

CBAD 700                             Corporate Responsibility (3)

 

Required Courses (15 Credits)

 

CBAD 725/CSCI 725            Database Management and E-commerce (3)

CBAD 750                             Service Marketing Management (3)

CBAD 760                             Financial Management (3)

CBAD 774                             Human Behavior in Business (3)

CBAD 778                             Strategic and International Issues in Management (3)

 

Selective (3 Credits)

 

Choose one:

CBAD 665                             Financial Statement Analysis (3)

CBAD 772                             Service Operations Management (3)

CBAD 773                             Project Management (3)

 

Research Component (6 Credits)

 

CBAD 691                             Applied Research Methods (3)

CBAD 798                             Research Project (3)

 

Accounting Concentration

                Students wishing to pursue the accounting concentration within the MBA program must present evidence of successful completion of the baccalaureate degree with a major in accounting in addition to satisfying the admission requirements listed above.  The undergraduate program must include at least 120 credit hours and include study of financial accounting, managerial or cost accounting, business law, accounting information systems, and taxation.

                Required courses for the accounting concentration include 36 credit hours as follows:

 

                General MBA Requirements (18 Credits)

 

                ECON  720                             Economic Strategy (3)

                CBAD 760                             Financial Management (3)

                CBAD 700                             Corporate Responsibility (3)

                CBAD 778                             Strategic and International Issues in Management (3)

                CBAD 691                             Applied Research Methods (3)

                CBAD 798                             Research Project (3)

 

                MBA Selective (3 Credits)

 

                Choose one:

                CBAD 725/CSCI 725            Database Management and E-commerce (3)

                CBAD 750                             Service Marketing Management (3)

                CBAD 772                             Service Management (3)

                CBAD 773                             Project Management (3)

                CBAD 774                             Human Behavior in Business (3)

 

                Accounting Requirements (12 Credits)

 

                CBAD 533                             Governmental and Not-for-profit Accounting (3)

                CBAD 535                             Advanced Accounting (3)

                CBAD 537                             Auditing (3)

                CBAD 639                             Special Topics in Taxation (3)

 

                Accounting Selective (3 Credits)

 

                Choose one:

                CBAD 632                             Advanced Managerial Accounting (3)

                CBAD 636                             Advanced Accounting Information Systems (3)

                CBAD 665                             Financial Statement Analysis (3)

 

 

New Courses in Support of the Master of Business Administration (MBA)

 

CBAD 630  Financial and Managerial Accounting.  (3)  Study of managerial and financial accounting, with emphasis on the preparation and use of budgets, business plans, the accounting cycle, and financial statement analysis in the service sector.  Online research into important accounting topics and presentation of findings is required.

 

CBAD 631 Fraud Examination. (3)  Study of the principles and methodology of fraud detection and deterrence.  The course includes such topics as asset misappropriation schemes (e.g., skimming, cash larceny, check tampering, etc), corruption, fraudulent financial reporting, internal control, and deterrence.

 

CBAD 632 Advanced Managerial Accounting.  (3) The process of using accounting information for long-and short-term decision making is addressed.  The course presents advanced concepts helpful for understanding internal accounting as a tool to generate information for strategic managerial planning and control.  It surveys fundamental managerial accounting, develops an operational understanding of elementary cost systems, capital and operating budgeting concepts, incremental analysis, transfer pricing, performance evaluation, and quantitative techniques for assisting managers in the planning and control functions.

 

CBAD 636 Advanced Accounting Information Systems. (3) Study of database design theory and p5rinciples unique to accounting information systems.  Students create and design accounting information systems using sound database design theory and mid-level accounting software.

 

CBAD 639 Advanced Topics in Taxation. (3) Tax planning in the business environment.  Students prepare cases and research briefs using an online tax service and other sources.  Topics include planning for business organization and sale or liquidation, distributions, mergers and acquisitions, employee compensation and retirement plans, and the gift and estate tax.  Alternatives to the income tax are considered.

 

CBAD 665 Financial Statement Analysis. (3) An advanced case course which includes an in-depth study into the analysis of the profitability and viability of a commercial enterprise.  Primary focus is given to the analysis of a firm’s accounting practices and financial statements from the framework of overall business analysis.  The case method is utilized.

 

CBAD 691 Applied Research Methods. (3) Building on students’ knowledge of statistics and elementary data analysis, the course focuses on definition of the research problem, sampling and data collection, entry and storage of data, application of appropriate analysis techniques to test assumptions and hypotheses, and reporting and interpretation of results.

 

CBAD 700  Corporate Responsibility. (3) An interdisciplinary examination of the role of the corporation in the United States and the world over the long term.  The relationship between the corporation and its constituencies is considered in the context of ethics, economics, and politics.  Case studies and formal debates required.

 

CBAD 725/CSCI 725  Database Management and E-commerce. (3) Structure and function of E-commerce database systems; design options and implementation of database management systems in E-commerce; hands-on laboratory practice and term project includes use of a widely used database software application to deliver E-commerce applications on the Internet; case readings including implications of database technologies to E-commerce.

 

CBAD 750  Service Marketing Management. (3) Analysis of marketing problems of business firms and other types of organizations through readings and case studies. Attention focuses on the influence of the marketplace and the marketing environment on marketing decision making; the determination of the organization's products, prices, channels, and communication strategies; and the organization's system for planning and controlling its marketing effort.  Special attention is focused on the marketing of services

 

CBAD 760  Financial Management. (3) An advanced case course focusing on financial theory and techniques for the analysis and solution of financial problems dealing with valuation theory and investment, financing, and dividend decisions of the firm.

 

CBAD 772  Service Management. (3)  An understanding of the important marketing and operational characteristics of service businesses.  These include service process design, quality management and control, facility design, capacity management, human resource selection and training, technologies in services, and defining the exchange process in terms of marketing parameters of product, price, place, and promotion.

 

CBAD 773  Project Management. (3) The purpose of this course is to explore the project management environment in business and technology today.  Students will acquire new software skills and the methodology on how to successfully manage a project. The goal is to provide the student with a framework to understand the current issues and challenges of the project management environment today as it applies to industry, software development, or service management.

 

CBAD 774 Human Behavior in Business. (3) An overview of worker and consumer behavior in a discussion format.  Emphases are on (1) the dynamic interactions of people working in organizations (2) application of various managerial concepts, models, theories, and tools for identifying, diagnosing, and solving organizational problems, (3) social and psychological influences on buyer behavior, and (4) application of consumer behavior models to marketing decision-making processes.  Topics include theories of individual and group behavior, motivation, leadership, and ethical decision making.

 

CBAD 778  Strategic and International Issues in Management. (3) Seminar in strategic management designed to integrate business functions and examine issues that develop in the relationship between organizations and their changing environments, both global and domestic.  The course concentrates on modern analytical approaches and on applying successful strategic practices in a team-based, asynchronous, diverse learning environment. 

 

CBAD 798  Research Project. (3) An applied research project in the student’s discipline or area of special interest.  Requires presentation of research results orally and in writing.

 

ECON  720  Economic Strategy. (3)  Applications of economic theory, techniques, and tools of analysis to decision-making at the firm/organization level.  The course is designed to develop students' understanding of how to efficiently achieve the goals of the firm and their ability to recognize how economic forces affect the organization.

 

Discussion:  Following the presentations of Dean DeCenzo and Dr. Henderson, a lengthy discussion followed.  Council members shared observations about the need for the program and the quality of the work presented to them from the College of Business Administration.  After the discussion and question-answer period, the proposal for the MBA was approved.

 

Guidelines for Graduate Assistantships

 

The last item of business on the Council agenda dealt with the current policies and procedures related to graduate assistantships at the University.  Dr. Wiseman provided the Council members with a copy of the current policies and procedures related to graduate assistantships found on the university website at www.coastal.edu/graduate.

 

Dr. Libes had asked that the policies and procedures be reviewed by the Council in the following two areas.

 

  1. The current language in the policy expects that grant proposal budgets have a request for tuition remission dollars in which remission refers to the lowered tuition offered CCU graduate students on RAs and TAs.  The recommendation is that this should be optional, not expected. 
  2. The point needs to be clarified as to whether or not RAs are going to be considered fellowships.  IN a recent proposal Dr. Libes was expected to list this part of the proposal as a salaried position which required that IDCs and fringe were also included.  The preference is that these be run as fellowships and not salaried positions. 

 

Dr. Rauch raised a third area of discussion concerning graduate assistantships that pertained to the reference to outside funding sources as being either non-profit organizations or state or federal agencies.

 

Discussion:  Concerning the points raised by Dr. Libes, the Council members shared many observations about having an expectation that a faculty member seeking a grant from an outside agency be expected to seek tuition remission.  While observations were shared that this would be a way to assist the institution financially, it also was noted that, in some instances, such an expectation could limit the potential of the grant awarded to the faculty member.  After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that the language in this section of the policies should indicate that faculty members were encouraged to seek tuition remission but were not expected to do so.  Regarding the points raised by Dr. Rauch, after some discussion it was clear to the members that other sources of assistantship support could be available to the University from sources other than non-profit organizations and state and federal agencies.  After discussion of this point, the members amended the language in this section to change the reference to outside funding sources as follows:

 

Outside Funding

 

  1. In some instances graduate assistantships may be partially or fully funded by individuals or entities external to the institution and by federal or State agencies other than Coastal Carolina University.  Coastal Carolina University encourages the inclusion of funds for graduate assistantships and tuition remission in sponsored program budgets.  When applying for grants or contracts, providing such funding is available, faculty members are encouraged to include a tuition remission request as a part of the application…..

 

Given the lateness of the hour following the discussion and approval of the above points pertaining to graduate assistantships, and the desire to have Dr. Libes present when discussing the topic of graduate fellowships, the Council adjourned at 12:30 PM.