Andy Meyer
Larry Johnson
Margaret Venable
Dalton State now has 20 bachelor degrees available for students after the Board of Regents approved adding a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Applied Economics on Tuesday.
The degree will prepare students for careers in finance, insurance, real estate, government, law, and business, according to Dr. Andy Meyer, interim vice president for Academic Affairs. Having this degree will also prepare students to fill a need in the Northwest Georgia community.
“The Georgia Department of Labor projects total job growth of 16.3 percent for the state between the years of 2012 and 2022,” Dr. Meyer said. “Finance and insurance jobs are expected to expand by 13 percent, while real estate job opportunities are predicted to increase by 33 percent. Each projection underlines a clear need for additional educational opportunities in this field for residents of Northwest Georgia and the rest of the state. So I think this degree is going to be great for our students. There is a regional need for people with this expertise. I am proud of our School of Business for initiating this degree.”
The degree joins five other bachelor degrees in the School of Business. They include Accounting, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Technology Management.
“This is a badly needed program in this region,” said Dr. Larry Johnson, dean of the School of Business. “It has been for a long time. Students have wanted this degree, and the business community is in need of graduates with this degree. We’re glad the Board of Regents is willing to support us. Our finance degree is designed to meet the needs of the workforce here.”
Students can begin working toward the new degree this fall.
Courses required for the degree include Corporate Finance, Investments, Real Estate Finance, and Risk Management. Other business courses already in place in the School of Business, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, required by the degree include Money and Banking, Managerial Economics, and Environmental Management.
After majoring in finance and applied economics, students will be prepared for a career in many different areas, including corporate finance, financial services, portfolio management and more.
“It encompasses a variety of areas in business,” Dr. Johnson said. “That’s why it’s such a popular major at many institutions.”
This new degree comes just a few months after the BOR approving a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree. For the first time, Dalton State now offers more bachelor degrees than associate degrees.
“This newest program enhances our very strong academic program offerings,” said Dr. Margaret Venable, interim president of Dalton State. “While we still offer the needed two-year degree programs and certificates, the majority of our students are now seeking baccalaureate degrees. I am pleased to serve the needs of our students and business community.”
For more information on the new degree contact the School of Business at (706) 272-4507.