Eller College of Management

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management History

University of Arizona, founded in 1885, is a public, coeducational institution. The 380-acre campus is located in an urban area in the center of Tucson. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 37,036.

The Eller College of Management was founded in 1953 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, McClelland Hall. Courses also are offered in Phoenix (Executive MBA). The basic educational approach combines rigorous academics with experiential learning in a climate fostering leadership and innovation.

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management Academics

The Eller School offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Accounting (MAC), Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MSMIS), Master of Science in Management (Concentration in Finance) (MMF), and Master of Arts in Economics (MA) as well as a doctoral program in management and organizations, economics, MIS, marketing, public administration and policy, and accounting, and a joint degree in law (JD/MBA), management information systems (MBA/MSMIS), international management (MBA/MIM), management and finance (MBA/MMF), pharmacy (MBA/PharmD), engineering (MBA/MS Eng), science (MBA/MS), and optical sciences (MBA/MS Optical Sciences). Other programs include cross-registration and foreign exchange with 7 countries. The strongest areas of study are entreprenuership, management information systems, finance, and marketing. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Corporate executives regularly address students each semester. There is also a “study break” series in which senior executives meet with small groups of MBA students to discuss career options and strategies. The business projects course brings together student teams and corporate executives for discussion and project work.

Fifty-four total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 25 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Financial Accounting
• Finance
• Managerial Accounting
• Applied Business Statistics
• Operations Management
• Economics for Managers
• Leadership
• Market-Based Management
• Communication and Professional Development
• Business Strategy
• Business Field Projects
• Information Systems

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements in full-time programs only; a limited number of courses may be waived on a case-by-case basis in consultation with faculty. Waivers are for course content only; students must substitute an elective for the waived course.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 21 months; maximum, 24 months. For students attending part time, the minimum is 24 months; maximum, 24 months.

There are 114 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 93% hold a doctorate; there are 30 part-time faculty. Faculty salaries are rated above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 9; average business class size is 35.

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management Unique Programs

Library

Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Business Newsbank, County Business Patterns, Compact Disclosure, Dialog, National Trade Data Bank, FirstSearch, National Newspaper Index, EconLit, and QuickSearch. Other opportunities for research consist of the economic science and e-commerce lab and the Center for the Management of Information.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of a computer lab with 36 Micron PCs, as well as docking ports, servers, scanners, and printers, open 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily; an e-commerce lab with 20 workstations equipped with Microsoft Professional software in a 24-hour, open access area; and a state-of-the-art classroom with 10 student workstations and an advanced multimedia presentation system.

Career and Job Placement

Majors most in demand by companies recruiting in 2006 were finance, marketing, management information, human resource, and operating management. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $59,250; range was $14,000 to $95,000. Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni are provided on an individual basis. Placement is available through the Eller MBA Office of Career Development and the university placement office. Eighty-nine percent of the most recent graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degree.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. An interview is also required. International students must score 600 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 100 on the Internet-Based version (iBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of all immunizations (a test for TB must also be done on campus), and proof of adequate funds to cover entire proposed period of study. There is a $140 annual international student fee. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of scholarships and assistantships. The application deadline for fall entry is February 15.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 16 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0. Most important admissions factors are work experience, academic accomplishments and ability, and motivation. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 208; 121 were accepted; 55 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.49; average GMAT score was 624. Transfers are not accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by scholarships, targeted advertising, and forums.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume, essays, and program forms. The application deadline is November 15 for fall entry. Students are notified of the admissions decision approximately 4 weeks after completion of the application process. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is April 15. Once accepted, students may defer admission on a case-by-case basis for 1 year only.

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management Financial Aid

About 95% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships. Stipends and programs available for minority students include scholarships and assistantships. The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

On-campus room and board costs approximately $8400; books and supplies, $800; personal expenses, $4000, for an estimated annual total of $28,151 for in-state residents and $37,941 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing consists of apartments and houses throughout the city. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management Students

Fifty-eight percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 84% have had an average of 4 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Arizona (47%). Thirty-three percent are women, 16% are minorities, and 26% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 27; ages range from 19 to 45. Fifteen percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 7% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 25%, engineering; 22%, liberal arts; 18%, business; 7%, math and science; 5%, economics; and 4%, social sciences. About 1% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 99% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 112 graduate business degrees were awarded.