Changes in General Education and Their Benefit to Business Education
Marie Archambault, Jean Price, Jeffrey Archambault

Abstract
This study explores the general education curricula of schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and those without such accreditation during both the 1996/1997 and 2012/2013 academic years. In the sample business programs, differences are shown to exist between AACSB and non-AACSB universities as well as differences between curricula in the two time periods. Generally speaking, by the later time period, a shift can be seen toward more of an emphasis on soft skills within the general education curricula. More programs included requirements in humanities, oral communication, ethics, and diversity. A significant increase was also seen in international/global requirements. AACSB Standards revised in 2003 stressed specific general knowledge and skill areas (GKSAs). Results suggest that AACSB accredited universities were more likely to enhance the general education programs with the GKSAs implemented in the AACSB standards than non-AACSB accredited universities by the 2012/2013 academic year.

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