The West Virginia University College of Business and Economics is offering a course in contemporary business theory and practice for busy executives and professionals. The course will include lectures ranging from human resources management to understanding financial statementsand each class begins with a gourmet meal.

Offered in Morgantown Sept. 17Nov. 5 and Fairmont Oct. 1Nov. 21, the program is called MBA Essentials and is an intensive eight-week course that focuses on the best practices of today’s businesses.

The program meets twice a week from 6-9 p.m., during the dinner hour, said Maria Yester, Executive Education director.

“We realized that our students are busy professionals who have been at work all day and often skip lunch because of meetings or other obligations,”she said.”So, we begin each class with a catered meal.”

Sharing a meal offers an opportunity to make the transition from the responsibility of decision-making at work to a learning mode, she added.

“Our students get a chance to share a meal, network with their classmates, their faculty, and to wind down a little after their work day,”Yester said.

The Essentials program is designed for those who need to understand and apply the most current business practicesstudents who need the knowledge assets of an MBA rather than the degree credential, Yester said. For those who need to fulfill their continuing education requirements, the program provides extensive continuing education units and a taste of what a full-blown MBA covers. Single session enrollment is offered for those who cannot participate in the full course.

Some of the topics covered are organizational behavior and motivation, leadership, marketing management, economics for managers, human resources law, strategic management, and negotiations and conflict management. All courses are taught by B&Es top faculty and executive practitioners and have included two WVU presidentsNeil Bucklew and David. C. Hardesty Jr.

Information sessions will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the West Virginia High Technology Consortium in Fairmont; from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport; and from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Washington (Pa.) Crown Center Mall.

For more information, visithttp://www.be.wvu.eduor call 304-293-7961.