The College of Business core curriculum as it relates to first job skill and knowledge need

The purpose. The major purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions of certain 1988 and 1990 Bachelor of Arts business administration graduates of the College of Business at Michigan State University concerning the business core curriculum in relation to meeting educational course objectives and first job skill and knowledge needs. The secondary purpose of the study was to compare and contrast the perceptions of the 1988 and 1990 Bachelor of Arts business administration graduates regarding the business core curriculum as it relates to first job skill and knowledge needs.;The procedure. The sample populations of two hundred thirty 1988 graduates and two hundred seventy-six 1990 graduates were mailed a questionnaire. Eighty-five (37%) of the 1988 graduates and ninety-three (34%) of the 1990 graduates returned usable instruments.;The data were analyzed using descriptive as well as statistical methods. The t-test of significance and the chi square test of homogeneity were used to examine the differences between the two populations.;Findings. It was found that the College of Business at Michigan State University had done very well in preparing Bachelor of Arts business administration graduates of the classes of 1988 and 1990 for the contemporary business community. The responding graduates had very positive perceptions regarding how well the core course objectives were met and how the College's core curriculum prepared them for their first job skill and knowledge needs.;It was also found that there were more similarities than differences between the 1988 and 1990 Bachelor of Arts business administration graduates in their perceptions regarding the core curriculum.