Walker College of Business

Sandra Vannoy, Dean
Jason Xiong, Associate Dean for Advanced Studies in Business
Martin Meznar, Associate Dean for Global and Civic Engagement
Tracy Reed, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Curriculum and Administration

http://business.appstate.edu

The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University has emerged as a high quality business school with an excellent reputation. Thousands of our graduates are in responsible positions in businesses in North Carolina, the Southeast, across the United States, and around the world.

Appalachian State University is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. The scope of this business accreditation includes the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Science in Accountancy, and the Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics in the Walker College of Business.

The faculty in the Walker College of Business is committed to offering high quality educational experiences and preparing our students for life-long learning and leadership responsibilities in a dynamic, global environment. To accomplish this, our focus is on instructional excellence.

The graduate degree programs in the Walker College of Business place a heavy emphasis on practical job preparation and career placement. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the career coaching and placement services provided specifically for graduate students by the Walker College of Business Career Services.

The Department of Psychology (College of Arts and Sciences) and the Department of Management (Walker College of Business) offer an interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management (MA in IOHRM) .

Dual Degree Enrollment

Qualified students may pursue two master’s degree programs simultaneously. Students interested in pursuing a dual degree must meet all admission, thesis, proficiency, candidacy, comprehensive, and product of learning requirements for both programs. The form to request admission to a second master’s program may be obtained from the Graduate School (graduate.appstate.edu/forms#change_program).

In addition to offering dual degree pairings within the college, the Walker College of Business Graduate Programs and the Department of Management have partnered with the departments in the College of Arts & Sciences, the Beaver College of Health Sciences, and the Reich College of Education to offer several dual degree programs. The complete list of dual degree program offerings is listed below:

Master of Business Administration Program

mba.appstate.edu

Neel Das, Graduate Program Director
mba@appstate.edu

Accredited by AACSB since 1976, the MBA program is open to applicants with degrees from any academic background. The program is a 36 hours program consisting of 24 core hours and 12 elective hours. The MBA program’s unique flexibility allows a wide variety of students to complete the program in a way that suits individual needs and goals:

Full-time on-campus program in one calendar year.
Part-time on-campus taking either daytime or evening courses that can be completed in two calendar years.
Online program that can be completed in two calendar years.

The Appalachian MBA program differentiates itself from other programs in terms of small class sizes, providing scholarships and assistantships for deserving and needy students and having a dedicated advisor who provides individualized assistance to each and every student.

There are four dual master’s degrees approved: MBA/MPA, MBA/MA-IOHRM, MBA/MA-Higher Ed and MBA/MS-ADA; in addition to these approved dual degree programs, additional customized dual degree options are also available.

The MBA program has consistently received recognitions and accolades from leading media publications like the Princeton Review, U.S. News, CEO Magazine and Fortune.

Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics Program

Jason Xiong, Program Director
msanalytics@appstate.edu

Appalachian State University offers a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics. This Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) designated degree provides students with the technical skills to work with data as well as the ability to do so within a business context. International students will enjoy 36 months (3 years) of Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The U.S. Bureau of Labor predicts a 22 percent increase in demand for jobs with data analytics skills from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Organizations increasingly rely upon both structured and unstructured large-scale data for operational and strategic decision-making. This program develops business professionals who understand and can apply data analytics concepts, techniques, and tools to promote effective organizational decision-making and problem-solving.

Graduates of the program will have an integrated knowledge of business and analytics concepts, approaches and tools. Students will utilize established research centers and relationships with companies to capitalize upon opportunities to work with the business community, allowing them to learn firsthand how to apply knowledge gained through the curriculum in a real-world setting.

Students can earn a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics in one year at Appalachian through the full-time, accelerated program on campus and can start the program in May, August or January. Applicants from all professional backgrounds and undergraduate majors are welcome.