Dean Kelly Woodford
Our College is proud to offer unique instructional experiences in business, legal studies, and the culinary arts. At our core is a strong faculty with a deep commitment to our University, to our community, and more importantly, to student success. In my twelve years at The W, I have found that these dedicated men and women comprise what I believe to be the region’s finest teaching faculty. Although we perform and value research for the role it plays in the furtherance of our respective disciplines, it is in the classroom where our faculty truly shines.
Our faculty blends their century’s worth of industry experience into real-world classroom applications that prepare our graduates for the professional world that awaits them. As proof, our faculty members hold key professional certifications such as CPA and Registered Dietician. Further, 69% of our course sections are taught by faculty members who hold earned doctorates or the terminal degrees in their field and none are taught by graduate or teaching assistants. Our faculty continues to embrace technology as many of our courses and programs are offered through online delivery.
Our Department of Business offers three degrees with multiple concentrations that allow students to tailor their education to their career goals. Our Bachelor of Business Administration degrees are accredited by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) ensuring these offerings are meeting the most stringent national standards. Our Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration degree is one of the few opportunities in the country for students to apply up to 43 hours of career / technical education toward earning a baccalaureate degree. Our Master of Business Administration degree provides high quality business instruction to working professionals by allowing students to pursue a Master’s degree fully online.
Our Culinary Arts Institute offers one of the nation’s few baccalaureate degree programs in culinary arts. The Institute is a premier national program that focuses on small quantity, “from scratch” food and allows students to work in teaching and demonstration kitchens furnished with state-of-the-art equipment. Our graduates bring this real world application to bear by working in some of the finest kitchens and restaurants across the state and nation. Linkie Marais even put our exceptional quality on display for the entire world by competing on the 2012 season of Food Network Star. David Crews was named 2013 King of American Seafood and competed Food Networks “Cutthroat Kitchen”.
Our Department of Legal Studies offers the Bachelor of Science (or Arts) in Legal Studies which prepares graduates to assist attorneys, perform as efficient members of legal teams, and work in a variety of agencies and offices. This degree has been approved by the American Bar Association – one of only two programs in the state to hold this distinction and the only ABA-approved program in the state offering online courses. Our Legal Studies students study under attorneys, complete required internships, and have access to a large number of research resources and electronic legal databases.
Finally, the educational opportunities presented in our professional programs rest atop a strong 125 year-old tradition in the liberal arts. Well-roundedness, breadth of experience, and the ability to think critically are at the heart of the University’s guiding principles and greatly valued by today’s employers. It is the unique balance between professional and liberal education that sets our graduates apart. It is also a quality recognized across the nation. In 2015, U.S. News & World Report named The W the #18 Top Public Southern Regional Universities and #47 among Best Regional Universities in the South. The Online College Database named our institution the #2 Best Return on Investment in Mississippi. Our business program has been named the #8 Best Value Small Colleges for a Business Administration Degree by BestValueSchools.com and #4 Most Affordable Competitive Small College for Business Administration by CollegeValuesOnline.com.
Thanks for visiting us today and we hope our Web site has provided you a glimpse into the programs and people that make MUW’s College of Business and Professional Studies such a special place to continue your education. If you would like to learn more about the difference an MUW education can make in your life and career, please give me a call at 662-329-7153 or send an e-mail at kcwoodford@muw.edu. As always, I look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Woodford, J.D.
Dean, College of Business and Professional Studies and Professor of Legal Studies
Mississippi University for Women