“One’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”
–Oliver Wendell Holmes
The Mercer Business managed academic path to success (MAPS) is designed to guide business students through each of their four years in the BBA program. Each successive year builds on knowledge and experiences gained from the preceding year. In addition to completing the business core curriculum, students receive tailored, step-by-step guidance as their degree becomes more specific to their personal goals.
Freshman
During their first semester of freshman year, business students take MAP 101: The Freshman Business Experience. Students connect with their academic advisor, upper-class peer mentors and other freshmen. This course is designed to help business students adjust, excel, and understand how they fit into college; the course also introduces students to the business world in general. Students in their freshman year take foundational general education and business courses, aiding students in identifying future focuses of study.
Sophomore
Through the second semester of their sophomore year, business students continue to complete the business core curriculum. In the second semester of their sophomore year, students take MAP 301: Beginning the Journey. During this course, faculty help students explore how their values, personality and goals translate into a focus of study. Students begin to build a portfolio of their personal visions, skills and experiences that set them apart from other students. Sophomore-year students also are paired with an academic advisor who partners with students and helps them choose a field (fields) of study.
Students work with their advisors to develop a personalized major based off the following academic core programs:
Sophomore-year students also begin to explore various options for their experiential component of study.
Junior
In business students' junior year, they begin to focus on their particular field of study and develop depth of knowledge in their chosen area(s). Students also will explore their focus of study in real-world hands-on experiences through academic:
- Internships,
- Study Abroad, and/or
- Mercer On Mission.
These experiential learning opportunities allow students to further build their portfolio of skills.
Senior
In business students' senior year, faculty partner with students to solidify their knowledge, skill base and personalized focuses of study. Students take MAP 401: Making the Transition, a course that helps students plan for life post-graduation. Students fine-tune their resumes and portfolios of skills and experiences.