Arkansas Walton

History

The Walton College was founded in the year 1926. It was headed by Charles C. Fichtner. It comprised of four professors and offered 36 courses in business administration, economics and sociology. In 1927, the first four degrees were awarded to the students. The Master of Science in Business Administration (MSBA) program came into effect in 1930. The Walton College was awarded the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business) accreditation in 1931. Academic programs underwent drastic changes in the subsequent years and MSBA degree got re-designated as Master of Business Administration (MBA).

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Sam M. Walton College of Business is to advance and disseminate business knowledge using a diverse, inclusive, and global perspective and to encourage innovation in our primary strategic endeavors: Retail, Data Analytics, and Entrepreneurship.

Core Strengths of the School

The 16month Walton MBA program provides rigorous academic training to its students, so that they develop a strong foundation in business. Apart from building the knowledge base of the students in business, the students are given a choice to select career tracks that would give them industry specific experience in the field of their interest. The program offers four unique career tracks that correspond to the career paths in the retail and consumer packaged industries. The Walton College partners with several organizations from a varied set of industries that eventually lead to numerous summer internship opportunities for the students.

Uniqueness in MBA Pedagogy

The study abroad trips are an opportunity for the students to develop a holistic view about the international business issues. As a part of the tour, students get an opportunity to network with top business executives and visit the corporate and manufacturing headquarters of organizations housed in other countries. Walton students have attended business seminars in Brazil, China and India, where they have delved into economic, business and political issues of these countries.

The MBA Professional Development program at Walton gives the students the option to customize their program by choosing courses that align with their goals and aspirations. The corporate partners of Walton and alumni come as guest speakers and provide a different perspective to the students that help them in career advancement. Students can polish their technical skills by participating in the workshops catering to specific skills. There had been workshops conducted in the past, where students had acquired advanced skills in the areas like Microsoft Excel, Access and PowerPoint, which are used in all the industries across the globe today.

The Walton MBA has networked with Mitchell Communications Group to train students on presentation skills and public speaking. The training has helped students to work on their body language and voice modulation. The training has provided insights into the importance of eye contacts, gestures and pauses while giving a presentation. Students have learned the nuances of developing a structured presentation and presenting the information to the audience in a clear, concise and apt manner.

CONCENTRATIONS OFFERED

LOCATION ADVANTAGES

The University of Arkansas is a public institution located in the city of Fayetteville. Fayetteville has become a powerhouse for Fortune 500 Companies with over 300 companies having satellite offices in the city. The Ozark National Forest and Buffalo National River add to the scenic beauty of the city. A trip to Dallas, Memphis or St. Louis is the most common weekend outing for the students.

CAREER SUPPORT

The Career Center staff at Walton helps students in coming up with professional resumes that would fetch them assistantship and internship opportunities. The staff trains students to crack the job interviews and negotiate with the potential employers on salary and benefits. The staff also provides resume help and trains the students on efficient job hunt techniques. There are Career fairs organized by the Center, where the students get information about the potential employers and they can take well-informed decision when they have multiple offers in hand. The Leadership Walton Program is an initiative by the Centre to fill the void between academic pursuits and workforce preparation. The program believes in striving for excellence and encouraging the innovative spirit in students. The program blends academic and professional learning with leadership experience and career growth opportunities.