Tabor College will offer a new masters in business administration degree program with a concentration in accounting on the Hillsboro campus starting in July of 2015.

The completion of the new MBA program will allow students to take the certified public accountant exam. The 10-month program consists of 33 semester hours.

Six hours will be part online and part on campus. These courses would begin in late July and end in August before the beginning of the fall semester.

A student would take 12 hours of coursework during the fall, an interterm trip (included in the cost of tuition) and take 12 hours in the spring (three courses and a three hour practicum). The estimated total cost of the program is $15,500, which includes the interterm trip and a tablet or laptop computer with software needed for the program. Federal financial aid can be available.

Norm Hope, professor of business administration, said there is a need for this type of program.

“This program sets us apart by offering a faith-based MBA, which prepares the next generation of accounting professionals for a dynamic and changing business environment,” Hope said.

“Requiring domestic and international field experience provides students an opportunity to learn beyond the traditional classroom. The program prepares students for a career in public accounting or industry by providing real-world and classroom experience.”

Most of the students matriculating to the integrated accounting MBA would come from Tabor’s undergraduates. They would enroll at Tabor College as freshman, complete the undergraduate program in accounting, and then complete the graduate course work for the accounting masters.

Tabor will not require the graduate management admission test for admission. However, students transferring into the program for the fifth year must complete undergraduate degree requirements in accounting before being able to graduate with the integrated MBA in accounting degree.

The program will place students in businesses in the community, as well as with local community economic development organizations.

The business department faculty will outline a plan for working with companies in Hillsboro and with community economic development leaders on projects designed to attract business to Hillsboro and enhance the performance of existing businesses.

The business department has worked with community leaders on several of these types of programs during the past few years. Having more broad-based internship opportunities will round out the technical education of the accounting curriculum.

“This is a win-win for Tabor and for our community,” Hope said. “Students who pursue this program will have the opportunity to do internships in the Hillsboro community and then have the potential to stay here after graduation to work.”