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April 20, 2006 Dual degree combines business, engineeringASU is responding to demand from the high-tech industry by offering an online graduate dual-degree program in business and engineering. The program, tailored to working professionals, will begin this summer. It will give students the opportunity to earn a master's degree in business administration from the W. P. Carey School of Business in addition to a master's of science degree in engineering - with a focus on electrical engineering - from the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. "It's designed so students can earn the degrees in less time, and at a lower cost, than pursuing both separately," says Gerry Keim, associate dean of the W. P. Carey MBA program. "We expect to attract applicants not only from the high-tech community in the Phoenix area, but from across the nation. The online delivery will make the program accessible to qualified students in any location and any time zone." The program will help fill a growing need of major high-tech companies, says Jeffrey Goss, assistant dean and executive director of the of the Fulton School Center for Professional Development, which develops and manages online education programs. "This is an industry-driven program," Goss says. "Our corporate partners helped us define it. Their engineers need advanced technical education, but they also need to be very strong in project management, financial management and marketing. The dual-degree program offers them the best of both worlds." Companies such as Intel, Raytheon, Boeing and General Dynamics have been involved in helping select curricula for the program. Industry demand also guided the decision to choose communications technology as an emphasis for the electrical engineering degree studies, according to Joseph Palais, director of graduate studies for the department of electrical engineering and academic director for the department's online and professional programs. The growing arena of semiconductors and wireless technologies is expanding the need for advanced expertise in the specialty. But engineers also are discovering that success in their careers will require knowledge of business management. "A lot of people are going into the work force with bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering," Palais says, "and later seeing the need not only to upgrade their technical skills, but to have a business education." Applications are being accepted for the program, which is set to begin classes July 16. The program requires require 56 credit hours of study - eight courses each for the business and engineering schools. For more information, visit fulton.asu.edu/eee/students/graduate/dual/php or http://wpcarey.asu.edu/mba/online/mse.cfm. Erin Concors, Erin.Concors@asu.edu |