By Susan Winlow | Daily Republic | September 23, 2009
Krishan Rana, chair of the business and management department at Touro University, talks to Monir Tofangsazan, a public health graduate student at the school, while promoting Touro University's new bachelor of science in business and management Monday at Solano Community College's annual College and University Day. Photo by Brad Zweerink
FAIRFIELD - Answering a call to changing economic times, Touro University will offer an undergraduate business transfer program beginning in January 2010.
Currently the private university, which is located on Mare Island, offers education and medical-based graduate programs such as pharmacology. It's now expanding into the undergraduate realm by offering programs to juniors and seniors interested in obtaining a bachelor of science degree.
'This is a real good opportunity for people in Solano, Napa and adjoining counties to make use of this facility here so they can complete their baccalaureate,' said Krishan Rana, chairman of the new business and management department.
Once the program begins, it will be the only undergraduate business school located in Napa or Solano counties, Rana said, adding the next closest programs are at UC Berkeley or UC Davis.
The university won't offer basic core education. Lower division classes need to be completed at another facility and then transfer to Touro for the last two years. Students entering the program are required to have at least six units of English composition, six units of social/behavioral science, three units of college-level algebra and three units of U.S. history. At least 42 units must be completed at Touro and students need a minimum of 120 units to graduate.
Three business concentrations are being offered, all chosen with the emerging needs of the business world in mind, Rana said.
-- Global business and strategy management: Courses such a global supply chain, logistics management and international business will be offered.
'Most businesses are globalized these days,' Rana said. 'Basically products and services worth $2 trillion cross borders every single day.'
-- Health care management: Shortages in health care administrators capable of overseeing the health care system are prevalent. Rana said with baby boomers getting older, health care requirements will 'exponentially go up.' Courses in this concentration will range from economics to marketing to facilities management.
-- Security and risk management: Like airports, organizations need risk assessment and electronic security to protect their businesses. This concentration is wide-reaching in that it can aid in physical security as well as evaluating risks involved in investments. Classes include, among others, information systems, operations management, and computer and network security.
See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.
