The Southern University College of Business has made adjustments, not only structurally, but physically as well to contend with the demands of advancing technology.
The college is now offering an undergraduate degree in Electronic Business for the first time ever, effective the fall 2004 semester.
There is a 128-hour curriculum requirement for the E-Business degree. In preparation for a high-tech career, students are required to take six particular courses and two electives as part of the total hour requirement. These courses include Management of Business Databases, Development of Business Information Systems, Advanced Business Programming, Supply Chain Management, Electronic Commerce and Business-to-Business E-Commerce. Elective courses include Decision Support for Management, Business Data Communications, On-Line Payment Systems and Security and Internet Marketing.
Twenty-five students are currently enrolled in the program, with a graduation date within the next year.
“The College of Business is modernizing for access to technology,” said Dr. Donald Andrews, dean of the business college.
Southern University is the only public university in the state of Louisiana that offers the full E-Business program. Tulane University, a private university, also offers a degree in E-Business.
A growing enterprise, E-Business, has doubled yearly from $51 billion to $1.6 trillion in the last six years. As business atmospheres shift to data-based from paper-based, students that major in E-Business will have the opportunity to develop, implement and manage a communications of information technology, data and organization-wide systems.
Students will also develop skills to manage, analyze and develop applications dealing with electronic business as well as assist in incorporating information technology into an organization’s practices.
Career opportunities for E-Business majors include fields of academic institutions, banks and financial institutions, government, healthcare, insurance, retailing and small business utilities.
E-Business majors can start their careers as analysts, operations managers, site designers, solutions managers, technical consultants, Internet business strategists, Webmasters and Web merchandisers.
“This is a unique program,” said Dr. Vincent Mbarika, professor of E-Commerce and Databases. “Our goal is to instruct students on becoming internationally competitive as well as becoming entrepreneurs.”
Located on the second floor, a new state-of-the-art computer lab, equipped with new computers and projections, has been added to the College of Business.
“The new computer lab is for all students, but is primarily for our business students,” Andrews said. “Our classrooms have been reconstructed. New chairs, desks, projector and podiums have been added to the classrooms.”
The College of Business was established in 1937, and is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB-International). One of the largest senior colleges on the Baton Rouge campus, the college graduates an average of 150 students a year.
For more information on the E-Business program or the College of Business contact Dean Donald Andrews at (225) 771-5640.
