Duke University's Fuqua School of Business will offer a new master's program that is intended to provide basic entry-level business skills to recent college graduates with no prior career experience. The first class of students in the Master of Management Studies in Foundations of Business program will enter Fuqua in late August.

The MMS: Foundations of Business consists of 12 business courses (a total of 36 credit units) taught over four six-week terms. Courses delivered over the four terms will focus on the fundamentals of finance, accounting, marketing, strategy, operations, decision analysis and management. All courses will be taught by Fuqua faculty.

"In contrast to Fuqua's MBA programs, the MMS curriculum is a nine-month program aimed at students at the bachelor's, master's or doctoral levels with little or no professional business experience," said Fuqua Dean Blair Sheppard. "Course work will cover material designed to help graduates land entry-level positions in finance, marketing, consulting or general management.

"In today's rapidly changing and globally expanding world of commerce, there is great demand for graduates who are liberally or scientifically trained and also possess a solid understanding of business fundamentals."

The MMS program requires no previous career experience or business studies, though the curriculum requires basic knowledge of calculus, statistics and computer skills. "Boot camp" courses in statistics and computer skills will be available.

"When you consider the enormous changes our economy is undergoing -- changes that will have a lasting effect on the global job market -- Fuqua's new MMS program seems perfectly suited to serve industry needs," said Bob McDonald, chief operating officer of Procter & Gamble. "The program will enable companies to recruit high-caliber junior talent who are able to add immediate, tangible value to the organization."

The MMS: Foundations of Business degree is the second major addition to Fuqua's course offerings in the past year. In September 2008, Fuqua announced a global expansion plan that includes MBA studies delivered in Durham, London, New Delhi, Dubai, Shanghai and St. Petersburg, Russia.