7-18-08

Media Release

Online Business and Entrepreneurship Courses Provide Enrichment for Professionals, Students Alike

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University Extended Campus (Ecampus) and the OSU College of Business have launched a new online minor in Business and Entrepreneurship that offers a comprehensive series of courses to provide flexible learning options for both undergraduates and working professionals.

The online minor in Business and Entrepreneurship will now allow students interested in building a base knowledge of business to reach their goal without having to travel to Corvallis for on-campus classes.

The minor curriculum is a valuable supplement to any of Ecampus’ online undergraduate degrees in General Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Liberal Studies and Natural Resources, as well as other degree majors, according to instructor Amy Bourne.

“Students are highly interested in business coursework,” Bourne said. “We hope providing our courses online can assist students in other disciplines with the basic understanding of business. This could enhance their careers, guiding them not only to be good at their jobs , but the best in their chosen field.”

Bourne said working professionals will benefit from the accessibility of the new online courses to enhance their skills as they approach business ventures.

“Anyone taking on a management role in his or her current job will find these courses are useful for their career growth, including engineers, farmers and small business owners,” Bourne said.

Some topics explored in the Ecampus online Business and Entrepreneurship curriculum include money and investment, entrepreneurship, managing organizations, financial management, marketing and marketing research, project management and family business management.

The College of Business appreciates the importance of sharing the knowledge of their experienced faculty, staff and extensive resources with the state of Oregon and beyond.

“We believe there is a business side to every professional endeavor,” Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge said. “Individuals from a variety of backgrounds will benefit from understanding the composition of business and entrepreneurship. Providing courses online is one way the college fulfills its land grant mission. We hope to extend a better understanding of business principles, concepts and tools.”

For more information about the online Business and Entrepreneurship minor, visit http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/undergraduate/minors/business/

For details about individual online business courses, visit the OSU Ecampus Schedule of Classes at http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/soc/.

For undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as other courses offered from a distance and online, contact OSU Extended Campus at 800-667-1465 or visit http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/.

About the OSU College of Business: The college prepares profession-ready graduates with expertise in entrepreneurship and sustainable business practices. It is home to the Austin Family Business Program – a national leader in working with family businesses – as well as the nation’s largest residential entrepreneurship initiative, the Austin Entrepreneurship Program.

About OSU Extended Campus: Ecampus extends OSU to students around the state, nation, and the world, and each year delivers over 300 accredited OSU courses via the Web, video/DVD, and other technologies. Students can complete their degree, add a minor or take courses for graduate credit or professional development.