Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Offer Its First Graduate Degree Program

Philander Smith College, the historically Black higher educational institution in Little Rock, Arkansas, has received approval from its accrediting agency – the Higher Learning Commission – to become a graduate degree-granting institution.

Starting this summer, the college will offer an MBA program, the first graduate degree program in the institution’s 145-year history. The college hopes to enroll about 25 students in its initial cohort of MBA students. Students will be able to take courses in person or online. Concentrations will be offered in management and project management.

“When our 10-Year-Long-Range Strategic Plan was implemented six years ago, one of our key goals was to establish an MBA program,” said Roderick L. Smothers Sr., president of Philander Smith College. “Thus, I am tremendously proud that our team helped make possible the historic pivot in our status from college to university.”

President Smothers noted that “for the busy working professional, ours is an accelerated program that will allow students to matriculate in as little as 12 months. Additionally, our project management track will be offered fully online, and for students who desire an on-campus experience, we will have a more traditional accelerated format focused on general business management.”