Davenport University is introducing two innovative business degree programs this fall, offering students more affordable and flexible ways to earn a college degree in less time without sacrificing academic quality.
The new programs reflect Davenport’s continued commitment to improving access to higher education by reducing the time and cost of earning a degree while maintaining the university’s career-focused approach and student-centered mission.
“Innovation is not about change for the sake of change,” said Laura Kyriakopoulos, department head at the Donald W. Maine College of Business. “It’s about breaking down barriers, recognizing prior learning and experiences, and creating pathways that help students achieve their educational and career goals more efficiently without sacrificing quality.”
The university’s new 90-credit Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Applied Marketing and one-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees are designed to help people complete degrees more efficiently while preparing them for career opportunities and advancement.
Kyriakopoulos said the new degree in applied marketing expands the university’s ability to serve adult learners, working professionals, career changers and those with prior education, technical training or professional experience.
“I think it shows that Davenport is listening,” Kyriakopoulos said. “We pay attention to how students learn, how industries are evolving, and what students and employers demand. Instead of making assumptions, we are willing to rethink traditional models and develop programs that are better suited to today’s workforce and today’s students.”
Unlike a traditional 120-credit bachelor’s degree, the BAS requires 90 credits and includes stackable credentials that recognize students’ progress throughout the program. The BAS is intentionally designed as an optimized degree program that builds on students’ previous education, technical training or professional experience while increasing the concentration of marketing courses throughout the degree. Students earn a certificate in applied marketing after completing the first series of courses, an associate degree in applied marketing after completing the second, and a bachelor’s degree after completing the 90-credit program.
“These milestones recognize students’ achievements along the way and provide tangible credentials that students can add to their resume, discuss with employers and use as they pursue promotions or new career opportunities while continuing their education,” Kyriakopoulos added.
The curriculum emphasizes applied marketing skills, professional communication and career development from the beginning of the program. Students also receive the personal support Davenport is known for, including dedicated faculty, academic advising, tutoring and career services.
Davenport’s new one-year MBA addresses many of the same challenges for graduate students by offering an accelerated degree program with a predictable flat fee of $15,000. There are no additional fees or textbook costs.
The program is aimed at ambitious professionals and young university graduates and enables students to complete an MBA in one year while balancing work, family and other responsibilities through flexible learning options.
“The introduction of this one-year MBA degree program demonstrates that Davenport University has empathy for today’s professionals and the bold desire to challenge the status quo,” said Misty Davis, associate dean of the College of Business and College of Technology. “It solidifies Davenport’s reputation as an institution that not only talks about student success, but also actively innovates to provide more affordable opportunities for students to achieve that success.”
Students receive academic support tailored to the realities of busy professionals, with multiple course delivery formats that allow them to integrate graduate education into their personal and professional lives.
“The ideal student is an ambitious, disciplined professional or a determined college graduate who wants to maximize their return on investment (ROI),” Davis said. “They are career-focused individuals who can handle an accelerated schedule and seek a rapid transition into leadership, management or executive positions.”
Davis said Davenport’s program addresses the biggest challenges facing aspiring graduate students.
“There is incredible enthusiasm for this program because it eliminates the two biggest barriers to graduate education: time and cost,” she said. “Students have the opportunity to acquire leadership qualifications at the highest level inexpensively and quickly.”
Maintaining academic quality was a top priority when developing the program.
“Speed doesn’t mean cutting corners; it means we’ve optimized the structure,” Davis said. “Davenport maintains its high academic standards by utilizing the exact same professional-focused curriculum and professionals that define its traditional, highly regarded MBA experience. The quality remains uncompromised, giving students the exact same rigor in half the time.”
Classes for both degree programs begin in the fall. Students can learn more about the new programs and apply online at davenport.edu.
https://post.davenport.edu/academics/davenport-university-launches-business-degrees-that-save-students-time-and-money/
