Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Professional Development Program (PDP)?

• The PDP was established to teach professional competencies so that students are well prepared for the challenges present in an increasingly competitive business environment.  At the lower level, students will earn points by attending events designed to provide exposure to the world of business.  Once admitted to the upper level, students will participate in activities designed to provide experience in the world of business.

When did the PDP program begin?

• The PDP program began in August 2008.  Students who entered college during the Fall 2008 term and after are required to participate in the PDP in order to graduate.  This includes students who transfer into business from other institutions or divisions on the MU campus.

How can students earn points?

• Students can earn PDP points by attending designated PDP events.  Speaker events require attendance slips and the completion of 70% or better on a Blackboard quiz in order to receive points.  Please check the "Calendar of Events" in Blackboard for more information.

Can I attend a PDP workshop more than once and receive points for it each time?

• No, you can only attend an event one time and earn points for it. You are welcome to go to an event twice but can only earn points for it once.
  
• The only possible exception would be the Job Shadow Program and Corporate Site Visits (to different companies) where the experience is unique each time. If you have any question about your ability to earn points for an event, please contact the PDP office for clarification.
  

Where can students learn about events for PDP points?

• PDP Calendar link on the left of this page.
• Weekly email (sent on Monday mornings) - must be enrolled in Blackboard-PDP
• Blackboard site under "Calendar of Events"
• Trulaske College of Business Website: http://business.missouri.edu/2228/default.aspx
• Twitter - follow us "mubuspdp"  http://twitter.com/mubuspdp

How many points are required to be admitted to the Upper Level?

• Students must earn a minimum of 70 (and a maximum of 100) PDP points at the lower level for admission to the upper level.  Once admitted to the upper level, students must continue to earn PDP points to meet the graduation requirement.  The minimum total of PDP points that must be earned before graduation is 200.
• Additionally, as of Fall semester 2010, students are required to attend 3 specific workshops in the lower level (PDP 101, TCoB Professional Expectations, and either Resume 101 or Resume 201) in order to earn acceptance into the upper level. In other words, 30 out of the first 70-100 points will need to come from those 3 events.
  
• Same goes for the Upper level. As of Fall semester 2010, students are required to attend 4 specific workshops in the upper level (Networking 101, Personal and Financial Planning, Professional Communication and either Interviewing Skills 101 or Interviewing Skills 201) in order to complete the requirements for graduation. In other words, 40 out of the remaining 100-130 points will need to come from those 4 events.
  

Do students need to earn the full 70 points before applying to the upper level?

• No.  Students need a total of 70 PDP points by the end of the semester in which they apply to the upper level in order to be officially admitted.  In addition, students must satisfactorily complete all core academic requirements.

What happens if a student fails to meet the point requirement?

• Students will not be admitted to the upper level if they fail to meet the point requirement at the lower level.  Once admitted to the upper level, students who fail to meet the point requirement will not graduate.

• For the first offense of academic dishonesty, a student will get a verbal warning as well as a 10 point deduction from their total PDP score.
• If a student commits an act of academic dishonesty more than once, we have no choice but to report that student to the Provost's office.
  

How can students track points?

• Students can track their points on blackboard:  blackboard.missouri.edu.   Look for announcements and tracking under "Professional Development Program".

Once admitted to the upper division in the Trulaske College of Business, what are the PDP requirements?

• Students will continue to attend professional events for points (see above point section for specifics about required workshops)
• Students will complete a Professional Development Course - BA 3500 (3 credits),
• Students will complete  BA 4500 (3 credits) which requires the completion of an internship. (online.missouri.edu/ba4500)
  

When should I take BA 3500 (the Professional Development Course)?

• Students are required to complete Management 3500 immediately upon entry to the upper level, which is typically the first semester of junior year.  Exceptions can be made for students who plan to study abroad during their first semester in the upper level.  Please email the PDP Office at mubuspdp@missouri.edu to gain approval.

When can I complete the internship course (BA 4500)?

• Students can complete the internship after successfully completing BA 3500.  BA 3500 is a pre-requisite for BA 4500.
  
• With assistance from the PDP office, students are responsible for securing and completing an internship before graduation.

How will I know if my internship will count for BA 4500 credit?

• All internships must be approved by the PDP office prior to the start date.  Students must complete required paperwork found on Blackboard under the "BA4500/Internship" tab and submit it to the PDP office for official approval.
  

When does my paperwork need to be turned in to the PDP office for review and approval the internship?

Students must submit the following to the PDP office at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the internship. Be sure that you are turning in a very thorough job description outlining all project-based work.

What counts as an internship?

Domestic:

• Internships must be a minimum of 120 work hours long,
• Internships must be a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks long,
• Internships must be project-oriented with defined learning outcomes,
• Internships can either be paid or unpaid.

• Internships must be a minimum of 150 work hours long,
• Internships must be a minimum of 5 consecutive weeks long,
• Internships must be project-oriented with defined learning outcomes,
• Internships can either be paid or unpaid

Will an internship completed in a foreign country meet the PDP internship requirement?

•  Yes, as long as it meets the above criteria and is approved by the PDP office in advance of the start date.

Where can I go to search for an internship?

• Business Career Services has many resources available to assist with the internship and full-time job search process.  These includes an online job board (CSO), fall and spring career fairs, and individual career coaching.  Please see this link for more information:  http://business.missouri.edu/1958/default.aspx.
  
• In addition, there are many resources located in the "BA4500/Internship" tab in your PDP Blackboard site.