ERIC Number: ED388068
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1995-Apr
Pages: 23
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Foreign Language in MBA Programs: A Report on a Survey of MBA Program Directors.
Koch, Denise W.
A 1994 national survey of directors of 69 master's in business administration (MBA) programs gathered information on business language course offerings. Results indicate that while the issue of business foreign languages was of interest to administrators, their inclusion in the MBA curriculum was not widely supported. At present, about 80 percent of responding programs do not offer foreign language classes within the MBA program, and only 10 percent are contemplating adding them. However, there does appear to be an effort to provide students with the opportunity to develop language skills while in the program, by allowing students to take courses offered in the modern language department or contracting with outside agencies. Overall, directors' attitudes toward offering language courses were neutral, and their perception was that few faculty felt language courses were important to the MBA. Institutions offering a degree in international business were more likely than others to support language courses. Issues mentioned by respondents included how business language would fit into an already established program and how students could include them in an already intensive degree program. A copy of the survey and response data are apended. Contains 10 references. (MSE)
Descriptors: Administrator Attitudes, Business Administration Education, Business Communication, Cultural Awareness, Curriculum Design, Higher Education, Intercultural Communication, International Studies, Language Role, Languages for Special Purposes, Masters Programs, National Surveys, Second Language Instruction, Second Languages
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Eastern Michigan University Conference on Languages and Communication for World Business and the Professions (13th, Ypsilanti, MI, April 6-8, 1995). For related documents, see FL 023 315-328.