SBA Scholars Programs
2008-2010 Theme Scholars in Social and Public Policy

Application Deadline: 4/28

Description:

Upon completing the program you will be designated a Social and Public Policy Scholar and receive a certificate of recognition.  This designation on your resume, and supporting letter of recommendation, will help differentiate you in the job market.  Additionally, at the end of each academic year, you will be awarded $500 after the successful completion of the two SBC courses.  A minimum of a 2.0 is required in SBC 351, 352, 453 and 454.

This is a two-year cohort program for a student pursuing a degree in the School of Business Administration.

GUIDELINES AND CONDITIONS

Candidates must submit the following:

1. A written statement that addresses why the applicant is interested in becoming a Social and Public Policy Scholar.
2. Other supporting evidence of academic performance.
   • Applicants must be enrolled in the School of Business Administration.
   • Applicants must earn major standing by winter 2009.
   • Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
   • Applicants must not have already taken ECN 303, MGT 350 or MGT 435.
   • Applicants must not be graduating before winter 2010.
   • Applicants must be willing to schedule designated cohort courses, as indicated below.

 Schedule:

Contact Information: Coordinator - Undergraduate Advising - 248-370-3285; sbaug@oakland.edu

This two-year-program will expose you to the process of evaluating social and public policy issues that affect individuals and businesses in the U.S. and the world.  These issues may include, but are not limited to:  personal and business income tax proposals, consumption tax proposals, public funding of education, health care initiatives, social security initiatives, environmental proposals, energy policies, local community initiatives, and bilateral trade agreements such as NAFTA.  As a Social and Public Policy Scholar you will learn to explore an issue from a wide range of perspectives, rather than only looking at it through the glasses of your major.  This program is the inaugural offering in the School of Business' Theme Scholar program which is part of the School's strategy to become nationally known for Business Integration.

The two-year program requires each Social and Public Policy Scholar to take the one-credit Theme Scholar course each fall and the two-credit Theme Scholar course each winter.  These four classes will be taught from 3:00 to 4:47 on Tuesdays.  Each winter's class culminates in a written evaluation of a public policy initiative.  Throughout the two year program, outside speakers will expose students to understanding an issue from a variety of perspectives.  To help defer the cost of these courses, at the completion of each year's course work, students will receive a $500 Theme Scholar award at the annual awards banquet.

In addition, each Social and Public Policy Scholar will take ECN 303 in winter semester 2009, MGT 350 in fall semester 2009, and MGT 435 (except those majoring in economics) in winter semester 2010.  Generally, the cohort section for Social and Public Policy Scholars will be offered at 1:00 on Tuesday and Thursday. Finally, QMM 241 or QMM 250 must be completed by the end of winter semester 2009.  If you will have completed QMM 241 or QMM 250 by September, 2008, this requirement will have been met.  If by September 2008 you have only completed QMM 240, you will be required to register for the 1 PM Tuesday, Thursday section of QMM 241 during fall semester.  If you are just beginning the QMM sequence, you can take either QMM 250 in the fall or QMM 240 in the fall followed by QMM 241 in the winter.  We encourage those taking QMM 240 in the fall to register for the 10:00 AM Tuesday, Thursday section.  

For business majors, this program requires that you take a total of 6 additional credits over and above your required business courses.  Depending on your major, these 6 credits may qualify as free electives.  The four Theme Scholar courses (a total of 6 credits) will not count as an elective in any major since the focus is on learning to integrate the majors to evaluate a public or social policy.  Upon completing the program you will be designated a Social and Public Policy Scholar and receive a certificate of recognition.  This designation on your resume, and supporting letter of recommendation, will help differentiate you in the job market.

In addition, the skills you learn in the program can then be applied to any job in the business world.  For example, after learning how to evaluate a public policy proposal, you will be able to similarly evaluate a business proposal.  The critical thinking skills and techniques you learn can be applied in any situation.  

If you are interested in applying for this program, you need an OU GPA of 3.0, have not yet taken ECN 303, MGT 350, or MGT 435, will not graduate before winter 2010, and have already earned major standing or will be eligible for major standing by January 2009.

Application is by invitation only; if you have received an invitation, you may log into the Advising Portal and click on the "Scholars Application" in the left navigation menu to submit your application.