Dr. Silvanus Udoka
Office of the Dean
Wright-Young Hall, Room 326
Telephone: (404) 880-8448

Overview

The genesis of Business Administration at Clark Atlanta University reaches back through several decades. It was recognized early by school personnel and students that effective instruction in the business areas would be a vital cornerstone for progress of those the institution sought to serve. In 1899, Atlanta University professor W.E.B. DuBois authored the “Negro in Business” which provided an important intellectual contribution to the economic policy discussions of that era. In 1931, the first Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Business Administration was offered at the former Clark College, and in 1946 a separate School of Business was established at the former Atlanta University. These two historically black institutions were pioneers in offering business undergraduate and graduate degrees. In those years, about one-fourth of all Masters of Business Administration (MBAs) awarded to black students in the country came from Atlanta University. Meanwhile, the undergraduate program at Clark College continued to grow and soon became the largest department on campus.

Both programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and in 1974 the Atlanta University MBA Program was accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB – International). The Atlanta University accreditation was renewed in 1985. In July 1989, the two programs consolidated. In 1995 the undergraduate program received initial accreditation and the graduate program was reaffirmed. The School of Business has been continuously accredited by AACSB – International since 1974.

The mission of the School of Business is to prepare a diverse student population to become managers, entrepreneurs, educators and leaders by providing a quality educational experience grounded in sound and ethical principles that enable graduates to succeed in a complex, dynamic, global environment.

The vision of the School of Business is to be a premier business school for high achieving, critical thinking, entrepreneurial-minded individuals who are prepared to provide innovative solutions to global business challenges.

Student Learning Outcomes for the School of Business 

Graduates of the Master’s Degree Programs will be prepared for the following:

Ethics

Goal: Graduate business students will possess and use ethical values when making business decisions.     

Objective: Students are able to be able to identify ethical dilemmas associated with professional decisions, propose alternative decisions that are consistent with the values of the business practice, and develop policies to promote ethical behavior.

Business Knowledge

Goal: Graduate business students will understand and utilize basic information technology concepts while using appropriate information technology to solve business problems.

Objectives: Students are able to understand the role of information technology within and across the organization and are able to gather and use industry-standard resources to make decisions. 

Students are able to understand and utilize software tools across various devices to derive data-driven decisions. 

Global Perspective     

Goal:  Graduate business majors will understand the global marketplace and how it relates to everyday business decisions.         

Objective: Students are able to understand the importance of the roles and impacts of today’s global economy, the different methods/strategies used to enter foreign markets, and the risks and rewards associated with international business.

Communication          

Goal: Graduate business students will communicate effectively in written and oral circumstances and be effective communicators in facilitating organizational decision-making processes.   

Objectives: Students will produce an effective document/presentation appropriate for the professional setting.

 Students are able to demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills in diverse professional settings. 

Programs of Study

The School of Business offers the following graduate degree programs:

• Master of Arts in Accounting (30 Credits)
• Full-time MBA (45 Credits)
• Working Professional MBA (36 Credits)
• Master of Arts in Economics (33 Credits)

Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships for the first year of study are open to students with outstanding admission credentials. The number of university funded scholarships available is limited. In addition, a limited number of corporate scholarships with varying award amounts are available. Deadline for award of these merit-based scholarships is April 1st.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer in a maximum of six (6) credits of graduate courses. Students seeking transfer credit must have earned minimum final grades of "B'' in the course(s) in question. Each proposed course must be equivalent to a graduate course offered by the School of Business and must have been earned at an institution accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or as determined by the Department Chair and Dean of the School of Business. Requests for consideration for transfer credit must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Dean and accompanied by official academic transcripts (received directly from the Registrar’s Office of the awarding institution).

Career Services

The Office of Career and Professional Development offers students opportunities to explore and prepare for a wide variety of business activities. This office advises students on resume preparation, development of interviewing skills, and a wide variety of personal and professional development issues. The placement process schedules corporate receptions, information sessions, and on-campus interviews for students. Annually several major firms recruit on campus through career fairs where students are able to experience a spectrum of business opportunities and to present their strengths and make informed choices regarding careers.