A Comparison of Two Business Schools
Dr Pamela Mathews
Working Paper No. 09/06
June 2006
About the Authors
Dr Pamela Mathews, Lecturer, School of Commerce, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia
Charles Sturt University – Faculty of Business Working Paper Series
Managing Editor: Associate Professor Jayne Bisman, School of Accounting, Bathurst
Editors: Dr P. Mathews, School of Commerce, Wagga Wagga
Associate Professor M. O'Mullane, School of Business, Albury
Dr R. Tierney, School of Marketing and Management, Bathurst
The Faculty of Business Working Paper Series is intended to provide staff and students with a means of communicating new and evolving ideas in order to encourage academic debate. Working papers, as the title suggests, should not necessarily be taken as completed works or final expressions of opinion. All working papers are subject to review prior to publication by one or more editors or referees familiar with the discipline area. Normally, working papers may be freely quoted and/or reproduced provided proper reference to the author and source is given. When a working paper is published on a restricted basis, notice of such restriction will appear on this page.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Prologue
- Introduction
- The institution
- The School of Business Administration
- The Departments of the SOBA
- Teaching activities
- Research activities
- Academic profile and career paths for academic staff
- Degree structures – Undergraduate
- Degree structures – Graduate
- Main differences evident to a visitor
- Concluding comments
- Bibliography
Abstract
Within Australia the structure of both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees follows a fairly standard and widely accepted format, based mainly on Scottish university programmes, as do many other aspects of academic life. However, this is not a universal world–wide pattern. This paper seeks to outline some of the observed differences between the business education for undergraduate students attending Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the University of Montana (UM) in 2003.
Prologue
The motivation for the writing of this paper stems from a number of experiences encountered while on study leave in the United States during the first half of 2004. During this time I was based within the Marketing and Management Department of the School of Business Administration at the University of Montana. The intention is to present and discuss several aspects of academic life that are different, or in contrast, to those experienced in Australia. Specifically this paper examines the differences business education for undergraduate students attending Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the University of Montana (UM). Before outlining the Faculty structure and approach to business education at UM it is necessary to explain some terminological differences and establish the nomenclature that will be used throughout this paper. Whilst the usual features of academic administration exist at UM the following terminology is used (the equivalent nomenclature of the University of Montana appears in brackets following CSU academic units): Faculty of Business [School of Business Administration]; School of Commerce, Business, etc [Marketing and Management Department]; Academic Staff [Faculty]; Administrative/General Staff [Staff]; and CSU Handbook [University of Montana Catalog]. This paper will be written using CSU terminology and readers may convert to the stated American nomenclature as outlined above if desired. It is also important to note that the title and role of the Dean are the same in both cases, with the exception of the greater external representation (within local business and government) and fund–raising roles of Deans within the United States; which does not exist in Australia at this time. Accreditation of the US model operates at both local and national levels. For example, the University of Montana business programmes are accredited by AACSB –International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), as well as regional accreditation.