The College Curriculum Council approved the creation of the new multidisciplinary business-related concentration yesterday. The Program in Commerce, Organizations and Entrepreneurship will be available when current sophomores choose their concentrations this spring.
COE will have three tracks within the A.B. concentration: business economics, organization studies, and entrepreneurship and technology management. These tracks will eventually replace the currently available concentrations in business economics, public and private sector organizations, and engineering and economics, respectively.
The tracks are unified by a set of eight foundation courses that will be required of all concentrators. The eight courses include two in each of the following areas: mathematical skills, economics and market theory, organizational theory, and entrepreneurship and technology management.
Current concentrators in the three programs that COE replaces will be able to continue with their concentrations but will not be able to file for a double concentration with one of the new tracks.
The timeline for discontinuing the current concentrations has not been set. Dean of the College Paul Armstrong said that question will be re-examined after the COE program has been put in place.
The CCC passed the proposal with a vote of 13 to 1 after a discussion with the heads of the economics, engineering and sociology departments and a representative from the provost's office.
Members of the CCC voiced concerns during the discussion that included the large number of course requirements for the concentration. The lowest is the organizational studies track, which has 14, while the entrepreneurship and technology management track has 17.
David Lindstrom, associate professor and chair of the sociology department, defended the number of requirements, arguing that it will reduce the number of students who feel they need to pursue double concentrations.
Clyde Briant, professor and dean of engineering, argued that the entrepreneurship and technology management track requires a heavy course load to "make it legitimate." He said the 17 courses were essential in order to give students a solid grounding in engineering.
Another issue brought up was the number of courses that can overlap for double concentrations. The committee made the decision that students will not be able to double concentrate in COE and one of the concentrations that it replaces.
While the program will begin in the fall of 2005, Andrew Foster, professor and chair of economics, said hiring additional faculty is critical over the next three years. Foster said the CCC's approval of the program will provide the endorsement needed to attract new faculty to Brown.
A COE program director, executive committee and curriculum committee will be appointed to oversee curricular issues.
In his introductory remarks, Assistant Provost Brian Casey stressed that the program will continue to be refined as more resources become available and also to ensure that it meets the needs of business-oriented students.
