A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California-Riverside in Riverside, CA - University of California-Riverside in Riverside, CA

Academics

The AGSM offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other programs include cross-registration with other University of California campuses, work-study and internship programs, foreign exchange with 33 countries, and joint research with faculty in all areas. The strongest areas of study are finance, marketing, organizational behavior/human resources management, accounting, and management information systems. The most popular courses are in marketing, finance, accounting, and management information systems. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus.

Twenty-three total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 9 elective credits. Required courses include:

Financial Management
Managerial Economics
Cost and Management Accounting
Introduction to Management Science
Production and Operations Management
Business, Government, and Society
Marketing Management
Computer Systems for Management
Managing Behavior in Organizations
Human Resources Management
Statistics for Management
Management Synthesis

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements.

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, 3 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 3 years; maximum, 5 years.

In a recent year, there were 33 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom held a doctorate; there were 15 part-time faculty, of whom 72% held a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 4; average business class size is 30.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0. Most important admissions factors are grades in upper-level courses, GMAT results, and letters of recommendation. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for a recent class was 234; 112 were accepted; 45 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.45; average GMAT score was 573. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by various graduate opportunity recruitment events.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, and spring. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $60, 3 letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume. Students are notified as soon as their file is complete of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is July.

Financial Aid

About 70% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $6500 annually; maximum $30,000. The FAFSA is required. The application deadline is May 1 for fall entry.

Residents pay no tuition. Nonresidents pay $12,245 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $7000; books and supplies, $1200; personal expenses, $1500; and other fees, $23,455, for an estimated annual total of $33,155 for in-state residents and $45,400 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing dormitories, family student housing, and university-owned apartments are available at relatively low cost. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Ninety percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 77% have had an average of 3 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school. The greatest percentage of students are from foreign countries (58%). Forty-eight percent are women, 27% are minorities, and 58% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 27; ages range from 21 to 62. Twenty-three percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 50%, business; 14%, economics; 11%, social sciences; 10%, math and science; 8%, engineering; and 7%, liberal arts. About 5% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 90% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 40 graduate business degrees were awarded.