APU Graduate Business Program

Alaska Pacific University, APU Graduate Business Program History

Alaska Pacific University, founded in 1959, is a private, coeducational institution. The 170-acre campus is located in an urban area in midtown Anchorage. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 880.

The APU Graduate Business Program was founded in 1986 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered at Danube University in Austria (MBA). The basic educational approach is to develop entrepreneurial managers who will creatively and skillfully combine human, natural, and financial resources into optimum contributions to their organizations. The program stresses a generic view of the management process, entrepreneurial management for problem solving, development of personal skills, an international perspective, and use of management knowledge relevant for business organizations.

Alaska Pacific University, APU Graduate Business Program Academics

The APU Graduate Business Program offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Business Administration in Telecommunications Management (MBAMBT), Master of Global Finance (MGF), Master of Business Administration in Global Finance (MBAGF), Master of Business Administration Concentration in Health Services Administration (MBAHSA), and Executive Master of Business Administration in Information and Communication Technology (MBAICT). Other programs include internships in an area of concentration, guided by a faculty member and an on-the-job supervisor, and directed-study courses for motivated students as arranged by the faculty. The most popular course is Finance.

Thirty-six total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Take the following 3 courses:
• Accounting for Decision Making
• Leadership
• Capstone
• Select 1 from the following:
• Managerial Economics
• Health Care Policy and Economics
• Select 1 from the following:
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care
• Law and Corporate Leadership
• Business Ethics
• Telecommunications and Information Policy and Regulation
• Select 1 from the following:
• Entrepreneurship II: Venture Funding
• Corporate Finance
• Health Care Finance
• Invest Theory and Practice (with lab)
• Select 1 of the following:
• Marketing Management
• Internet Marketing
• Health Care Marketing
• Technology and Intellectual Property Marketing and Strategy
• Select 1 of the following:
• Intermediate Statistics for Management Systems
• Thinking and Computer Simulation
• Spreadsheet Modeling and Simulation
• Spreadsheet Modeling and Analysis

Required courses for the MGF include:

• Accounting and Decision Making
• Leadership
• Capstone
• Select 1 from the following:
• Business Ethics
• Law and Corporate Leadership
• Take 1 from the following:
• Entrepreneurship: Venture Funding
• Health Care Finance
• Corporate Finance
• Select 2 from the following:
• Intermediate Statistics for Management
• Spreadsheets Modeling and Simulation
• Systems Thinking and Computer Simulations
• Required Courses:
• Fundamentals of Financial Instruments and Institutions
• Domestic/Global Securities and Financial Markets
• Investments (with lab)
• Financial Securities and Derivatives (with lab)

Required courses for the MBA (Global Finance Specialization) include:

• Design and Principal Research
• Securities Analysis
• Invest Theory and Practice (with lab)
• Domestic/Global Securities and Financial Markets
• Intermediate Statistics for Management or Spreadsheet
• Modeling and Simulation
• Accounting for Decision Making

Required courses for the MBA (Health Care Administration Specialization) include:

• Leadership
• Capstone
• Health Care Systems
• Informatics: Health Information Systems and Technology
• Program Evaluation and Outcomes Assessment
• Health Care Policy and Economics
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care
• Health Care Finance
• Health Care Marketing
• Intermediate Statistics for Management
• Select 1 from the following:
• Practice Management
• Reimbursement Systems
• Informatics: Integration and Application

Required courses for the MBAMT include:

• Intermediate Statistics for Management or Systems
• Thinking and Computer Simulation or
• Spreadsheet Modeling and Simulation
• Introduction to Telecommunications
• Digital Telephony and Data Communications
• Policy and Deregulation
• 9 hours of electives

Required courses for the MBAICT include:

• Fundamentals of Financial Instruments
• Accounting for Decision Making
• Leadership
• Capstone
• Select 1 from the following:
• Entrepreneurship: Venture Funding
• Health Care Finance
• Corporate Finance
• Investment Theory and Practice (with lab)
• Select 1 from the following:
• Intermediate Statistics
• Spreadsheet Modeling and Simulation
• Systems Thinking and Simulation
• Required MCT Courses:
• Information and Communication Technology and Theory
• Telecommunications and Information Policy and Regulation
• Technology and Intellectual Property Marketing and Strategy

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by transferring from 9 to 12 semester hours of graduate-level credit from other institutions with approval of the program director.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The maximum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time or part time is 7 years.

There are 8 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 75% hold a doctorate; there are 6 part-time faculty, of whom 2% hold a doctorate. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 9; average business class size is 13.

Alaska Pacific University, APU Graduate Business Program Unique Programs

Library

The Consortium Library houses a collection of more than 360,000 volumes. Students have access to such databases and networks as the Internet. Other opportunities for research consist of reference and catalog access services for research and coordination with the Consortium Library, which provides primary library services for the University of Alaska/Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. Available computer facilities consist of PCs, software, and technical support with terminals available in the Academic Support Center, 2 large computer labs, and smaller labs in residence halls.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. Financial aid is available for these students. The application deadline for fall entry is August 15.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long; summer sessions, 14 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

Alaska Pacific University, APU Graduate Business Program Admissions

Requirements include a GPA of 3.0. Most important admissions factors are work experience, motivation, and academic accomplishments and ability. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 153; 86 were accepted; 82 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.5; average GMAT score was 495. Transfers are accepted.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $25, 2 letters of recommendation, and a current resume. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring; March 1, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision.when all documents are received. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is prior to the application deadline. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 calendar year.

Alaska Pacific University, APU Graduate Business Program Financial Aid

About 36% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $13,270 annually; maximum $25,455. Stipends and programs are available for minority students. The FAFSA and the FAT (Financial Aid Transcript) for transfer students are required. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring; March 1, summer.

Tuition for all students is $550 per credit, or $9900 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $7000; books and supplies, $960; personal expenses, $1500; and other fees, $110, for an estimated annual total of $19,470. Graduate student housing consists of some on-campus facilities for both single and married students.

Alaska Pacific University, APU Graduate Business Program Students

Ten percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students are from Alaska (81%). Forty-eight percent are women, 37% are minorities, and 16% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 37; ages range from 22 to 57. Ten percent enter directly from undergraduate school. In 2006, 22 graduate business degrees were awarded.