College of Business launches Professional MBA with unique, convenient format

Janel Shoun | 

Lipscomb University has launched a Professional MBA degree for experienced business professionals boasting a convenient format unlike any currently offered in the region.

Beginning in January, Middle Tennessee professionals with at least three years experience can begin studies in Lipscomb’s 30-hour PMBA program, which offers:

  • Month-long course modules and the ability to begin the program in any of 10 months during the year;
  • A blend of convenient online instruction and two weekends of personalized classroom instruction for each of the nine courses;
  • A tenth course comprised of a consulting project intended to meet the specific needs of the student’s employer; and
  • A curriculum, as well as personalized instruction, designed to develop the specific skills each student needs to transform from a business manager into an effective business leader.

The program’s innovative format will allow students to earn their degree in as little as 11 months while still enjoying a high-quality learning environment, business college officials say.

No other university in Middle Tennessee currently offers an accelerated PMBA program with a combination of online and classroom instruction in every single class or with such a flexible timeline for entering the program, said Greg Carnes, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Business.

“To a professional living a fast-paced life with many competing demands, a two-year MBA program can often seem overwhelming,” Carnes said. “So we designed a program to meet those time demands, without giving up the valuable peer interaction and case studies for which quality MBA programs are known.”

Lipscomb has become well-known for its Specialized MBA program, now eight years old, which offers six concentrations, allowing students to focus their study on a specific career field. Lipscomb graduates appreciate the university’s principled approach to business education, and many successful alumni are helping to lead some of this region’s best companies, Carnes said.

The new PMBA format will allow Lipscomb to bring the same principled approach to a more experienced audience. While the modular courses and weekend classes provide convenience to working students, the leadership-focused curriculum – centered on real-world skills such as teamwork, initiative, problem-solving or adaptability – will attract professionals looking to break out of the pack in whatever career they are involved in.

Business colleges nationwide are becoming more and more creative in addressing the needs of working professionals, said Steven Parscale, director of accreditation at the Association of Collegiate Schools and Programs, which accredits Lipscomb’s College of Business. Universities first began to create part-time MBA programs in the 1980s, but now business schools are becoming even more customized in their creation of programs for busy, working professionals, he said.

Lipscomb’s PMBA offers one-month course modules, allowing potential students to take up their studies at the beginning of almost every month of the year.

Like many universities today, Lipscomb officials saw the Internet as a great way to bring convenience to its PMBA students, so approximately one-third of each course will be delivered online. However, they were not willing to give up all the advantages of live classroom instruction, which better facilitates teamwork and student interaction as they work together to study real-world business problems, Carnes said.

“We have learned from our current MBA program that some of the best learning occurs between the class participants, even at team meetings and other times outside of class,” said Steve Yoho, Lipscomb professor of business and lead developer of the new program.

So the PMBA will require students to attend classes two weekends per month, with the entire program requiring 18 weekends of classroom instruction out of the year. The students’ previous career experience will greatly enhance the value of classroom interaction.

Program developers believe this unique combination of convenience and a high-quality learning environment will be very attractive to managers looking to become strong leaders in their companies.

And companies will be attracted to the program’s focus on developing effective business leaders, said business college officials. To achieve that goal, every PMBA student will be required to conduct a business project to meet a specific need of their current employer, and faculty will provide one-on-one instruction to develop a personal performance improvement plan for each student.

“I think that leadership is a trait that can be taught, and I'm glad to see that leadership is one of the courses held within this program. Many companies can find good managers, but have trouble finding good leaders... and there is a difference,” said Nelson Andrews, President of Brookside Properties and an icon in the Nashville business community. “I also liked the principled part of this program right off. People need to be reminded or taught that we do live in a sharing world.”

“I think that this program will resonate with companies like mine and many others... in that the student can start the program any month and can finish their degree in 10 months, said Tony Giarratana, of Giarratana Development LLC.