Walter A. Haas School of Business

University of California-Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business History

University of California/Berkeley, founded in 1868, is a public, coeducational institution. The 1232-acre campus is located in an urban area 10 miles east of San Francisco. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is approximately 33,940.

The Walter A. Haas School of Business was founded in 1898 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Haas School of Business. Courses also are offered at in Santa Clara (Evening and Weekend MBA) and at the Columbia Business School, New York (Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA). The basic educational approach is a mixed curriculum that features traditional lecture, case-method, group-project instruction and experieutial learning. Emphasis is placed on developing highly creative, innovative leaders who are effective in multicultural settings, sensitive to public policy issues, and capable of finding imaginative solutions to business problems.

University of California-Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business Academics

The Haas offers the Master in Business Administration (MBA) and Master in Financial Engineering (MFE) as well as a doctoral program in 6 areas of concentration, and a joint degree in law (JD/MBA), public health (MBA/MPH), and international area studies (MBA/MIAS). Other programs include cross-registration, interdisciplinary programs in real estate (urban land development and economics), foreign exchange with countries in Europe and Asia, internships, cooperative program with Columbia Business School, and joint research. The strongest area of study is general management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Forums for guest speakers include classroom presentations, public lectures, panel discussions, informal question-and-answer sessions, formal dinners, alumni events, executive visitation programs, and conferences.

Fifty-one total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 31 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Leadership
• Strategy in the Global Context
• Leadership Communication
• Financial Accounting
• Finance
• Organizational Behavior
• Macroeconomics in the Global Economy
• Operations Management
• Ethics and Responsibility in Business
• Marketing Management
• Economics for Business Decision Making
• Data and Decisions

Required courses for the Evening and Weekend MBA include:

• Leadership
• Microeconomics
• Organizational Behavior
• Marketing
• Macroeconomics
• Financial Accounting
• Finance
• Operations Management
• Ethics and Responsibility in Business
• Communication

Required courses for the Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA include:

• Organizational Behavior
• Managerial Economics
• Data Analysis
• Financial Accounting
• Corporate Finance
• Global Economic Environment
• Decision Models
• Managerial Accounting
• Marketing
• Corporate Strategy
• Operations Management

Required courses for the MFE include:

• Financial Risk Measurement and Management
• Empirical Methods in Finance
• Introduction to Stochastic Calculus
• Derivatives: Economic Concepts
• Derivatives: Quantitative Methods
• Fixed Income Markets
• Fundamentals in Financial Economics
• Financial Institutions Seminar l

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by taking waiver examinations, which permit substitution of elective courses for core courses.

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 2 years; maximum, 2 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 1/2 years; maximum, 7 years.

There are 74 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate; there are 142 part-time faculty. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 3; average business class size is 30.

University of California-Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business Unique Programs

Library

The business school library houses a collection of more than 145,000 volumes, 1.4 million microform items, and 1.3 million audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 1307 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in finance, accounting, organizational behavior, real estate, entrepreneurship, international business, information technology and management, marketing, and general management. The Business and Economics Library provides access to 85 electronic databases. Other opportunities for research consist of the 25 other libraries on the Berkeley campus as well as the libraries of the 9-campus University of California System, which contain more than 25 million volumes.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of wireless access, a PC computer lab, a multimedia lab, and digital teleconferencing training and support.

Career and Job Placement

Average starting salary of the most recent graduating class was $98,977; range was $24,000 to $143,000. Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include one-on-one career advising by account representatives with expertise in specific industries, job-opportunity listings, research materials, electronic career service bulletins, on-line databases, networking opportunities, workshops on career development skills, mentor opportunities, and corporate visits. Placement is available through the Haas Career Center. Ninety-four percent of the most recent graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degree.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 648 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts and proof of adequate funds to cover the first year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of scholarships and private loans.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

University of California-Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 2727; 477 were accepted; 240 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.52; average GMAT score was 707. Transfers are not accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall only. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $175, 2 letters of recommendation, 4 to 5 essay responses, and a detailed work history. The application deadline is March 14 for fall entry. Students are notified January through May of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is March 14.

University of California-Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business Financial Aid

About 61% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $32,651 annually. Stipends and programs are available for minority students. The FAFSA is required. The application deadline is March 1 for fall entry.

On-campus room and board costs approximately $14,640; books and supplies, $2500; personal expenses, $2838, for an estimated annual total of $45,436 for in-state residents and $56,611 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing consists of 1 principal graduate student dormitory and several university married-student housing complexes. Extensive off-campus housing is available. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

University of California-Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business Students

Forty-four percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. Thirty-four percent are women, 24% are minorities, and 29% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 29; ages range from 24 to 41. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 26%, engineering; 21%, economics; 16%, business; 11%, social sciences; 7%, math and science; and 5%, liberal arts. 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, 580 graduate business degrees were awarded.