George Washington Univ.'s School of Business this summer “launched a two-year executive MBA program that caters to the busy schedules of athletes and others in the public eye,” according to Melissa Korn of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The degrees are “for individuals in niche fields like professional football.” GWU “isn't the first to cater to athletes: Harvard Business School, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and others have long offered dedicated programs geared toward football players through courses sponsored” by the NFL. But those courses “last only a few days and don't lead to a degree.” GWU's STAR -- special talent, access and responsibility -- program is “possibly the first general business degree program for such a specialized group.” The STAR program's 22-student roster includes Ravens LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, former gymnast and Olympic gold-medalist Dominique Dawes and pro poker player Michelle Lau. The classes “focus on finance, marketing and global business and cover topics like negotiation and statistics.” The program “costs a total of $95,000, the same as the school's other executive MBA.” Korn notes “all of the students presently enrolled were specifically invited to apply” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/3).
