KENNESAW, Ga. | May 9, 2019

Partnership with city makes it more convenient for working professionals to pursue degree

Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business is making it more convenient for students looking to pursue a Master of Business Administration by expanding its course offerings to Sandy Springs, beginning this fall.

Classes will be held in the City Springs complex, located in the city’s downtown area. This will be the third location where students can access MBA classes from the Coles College, along with the Kennesaw Campus and the Cobb Galleria.

“This partnership between Kennesaw State University, the city of Sandy Springs, and the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce creates more opportunities for KSU to provide career-enhancing education to Atlanta’s business population,” said Robin Cheramie, interim dean of the Coles College. “We are thrilled to be opening our doors to the business community in Sandy Springs.”

Kennesaw State and Sandy Springs leaders first announced the partnership in April 2018. The University has been working with the city of Sandy Springs and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to launch the program, which will meet the growing demand for part-time MBA offerings in metro Atlanta.

Dennis Marrow, associate director of recruiting for the Coles College MBA programs, said that Sandy Springs is the ideal choice for this expansion because of its high concentration of working professionals.

“There are so many people working in Sandy Springs that the population almost doubles every day from 9-5,” he said. “There is a strong need in that market for a nationally ranked, highly accredited MBA program that allows students to continue to work full-time while they earn their MBA.”

Kennesaw State’s MBA program is designed for working professionals. On average, students take two MBA courses each semester – one night per week for each course. Students can complete their MBA degree in as few as 17 months. The program that students will experience at the state-of-the-art City Springs facility is identical to those offered on campus and at the Cobb Galleria.

Tom Mahaffey, president of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, believes that Kennesaw State’s MBA programs will be a perfect fit for the city.

“Sandy Springs is a global business leader and the geographic heartbeat for the metro Atlanta marketplace,” Mahaffey said. “With the KSU program located in Sandy Springs, employees will have the convenience of leaving their workplace and being in their classrooms within minutes.”

The new MBA location is the second partnership between the Coles College of Business and the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber, the first being a Mini MBA program also taught at City Springs. The Mini MBA is a non-degree, certificate program that meets one night a month for nine months and covers nine topics: strategic thinking, marketing, human resources, finance, data analytics, business models, innovation, change management and strategy implementation.

“The leadership of Kennesaw State University and the city of Sandy Springs share a commonality,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Russell Paul. “We are dedicated to innovative and creative problem solving, engaging our citizenship, and using collaboration to further excellence in our communities.”

Kennesaw State’s Master of Business Administration has earned several accolades. Most recently, CEO Magazine ranked the Coles College MBA as the best in Georgia for the third straight year and No. 7 in the world for the second year in a row.

The Michael J. Coles College of Business is the third-largest business school in Georgia, with more than 6,800 students and 160 faculty members. The Coles College offers bachelor’s degrees in 10 majors and 13 minors, seven graduate degree programs, dual-degree options and executive education programs.

— Patrick Harbin

Photo submitted

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.