BBA Renaissance

BizEds most recent issue (November/December 2006) has a few worthwhile articles on the recent renaissance in Bachelors of Business Administration programs. In fact, in recent years, far more BBAs have been awarded than MBAs. Todays BBA programs are increasingly incorporating experiential and global components as well as advanced career placement services and attempts to integrate business functions. Does that sound like the MBA to you? It should. These revamped programs are also focusing more and more on leadership, strategic management, and entrepreneurship. To my pleasant surprise this article highlighted the positive impact of this years BBA rankings published by Businessweek. The deans interviewed for this article, frankly admitted that the feedback from recruiters and students provided in the BW rankings has motivated them to improve their programs. As Dean Dan Smith of Indians Kelley School of Business said.As much as we grouse about them, the fact is that MBA rankings have profoundly improved the quality of business education at the graduate level. I think youre going to see the equality of undergraduate education ramp up dramatically over the next decade.