BISMARCK, ND - The University of Mary is launching a new graduate degree program this fall to prepare professionals to deal with the management challenges associated with the rapidly growing energy industry. Designed with input from experts in the field, the MBA - Energy Management program was created to provide education and skills targeting management needs specific to this thriving, constantly changing industry.

Offered in an accelerated, flexible online format and incorporating the university's proven approach to integrating students' on-the-job experiences with current academic theory, this exciting program provides the opportunity to earn a meaningful degree in as few as 24 months.

"The MBA-Energy Management program focuses on developing management and leadership skills in the context of the challenges presented by the burgeoning energy sector," says Program Director Tim Moore. "Building on U-Mary's core MBA program, the curriculum allows students to expand their individual expertise, enabling them to advance into management or to adapt their existing management background to meet the specific challenges of the energy field."

In addition to incorporating career and prior learning experiences, the new program is specifically designed to fit adult learners' busy lives. U-Mary's accelerated MBA-Energy Management is available completely online, with the added feature of an interactive video network (IVN). This advanced video technology makes it possible for students to interact with each other and with facilitators, and for experts to share their knowledge, regardless of where they are.

Courses are delivered by faculty with advanced degrees in their teaching field, who are also recognized as business and community leaders and bring a "real world" perspective to classroom discussions.

Moore, an experienced U-Mary adjunct faculty member with extensive knowledge of the energy industry and professional ties with many leaders in the energy community, was instrumental in the development of the program's curriculum. He and Gary Tharaldson School of Business Dean Dr. Shanda Traiser had numerous conversations with individuals involved in various aspects of the industry to identify learning outcomes for the energy management concentration that would ensure the value of the program to the students and employers. "Feedback concerning the MBA-Energy Management program indicates strong support in the community," notes Traiser.

"The university expects to see increasing enrollment in the program, as the energy industry continues to expand in the region."

The University of Mary MBA-Energy Management program is geared toward individuals seeking to enter the energy field or to advance within an organization, with a strong body of administrative knowledge and skills in a less technical role. Students completing the program will be able to:

· Examine and interpret energy issues and realities for the energy sector in the 21st century
· Compare and contrast the environmental, regulatory, legal and political environments for various types of companies within the energy sector
· Discriminate differences in energy finance practices from standard business practices
· Evaluate economic factors, energy markets and trading practices utilized within the energy sector
· Assess risk factors for various energy organizations

In keeping with its longstanding emphasis on accessibility, the University of Mary is striving to make its energy management program affordable for individuals and employers who recognize the benefit of advanced education for their employees. U-Mary is partnering with various organizations to develop scholarship opportunities in which a student from a partnering organization will receive a scholarship to be applied to their tuition throughout their course of study.

The University of Mary has been a leader in adult education since its founding over 50 years ago. Carrying forward its commitment to meeting the needs of the community, the university has made great efforts to reach out to the expanding energy sector with this program to prepare leaders to meet the challenges facing the region now and in the future.