Kogod School of Business

American University, Kogod School of Business History

American University, founded in 1893, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Methodist Church. The 84-acre campus is located in an urban area in the city of Washington, D.C. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 11,162.

The Kogod School of Business was founded in 1955 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Kogod School of Business. The basic educational approach is a curriculum that combines business theory with practical application and prepares students for a chosen career in accounting, finance, real estate, management, marketing, or international business.

American University, Kogod School of Business Academics

The Kogod School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Information Technology Management (MSITM), Master of Science in Accounting (MSA), and Master of Science in Taxation (MST) as well as a joint degree in Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA), Master of Arts in International Affairs and Master of Business Administration (MA/MBA), and Master of Laws/Master of Business Administration (LLM/MBA). Other programs include cross-registration through the Washington, D.C. Area Consortium of Schools, cooperative education programs, and international and domestic internships. The strongest areas of study are accounting, finance, marketing, management of global information technology, real estate, and international business. The most popular courses are in finance and marketing. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Distinguished speakers from major corporations regularly make presentations during the academic year.

Fifty-one total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 20 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Managerial Economics
• Accounting Concepts and Applications
• Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
• Managerial Statistics
• Marketing Management
• Financial Management
• Management Information Systems
• Business Law
• Business and Society
• Applied Strategic Management in a Global Environment
• Field Practicum
• Applied Production and Operations Management
• Strategic Decision-Making in a Global Environment

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 18 months; maximum, 4 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 1/2 years; maximum, 4 years.

There are 59 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 96% hold a doctorate; there are 14 part-time faculty. Faculty salaries are rated 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 35.

American University, Kogod School of Business Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 680,000 volumes and 940,000 microform items, and subscribes to 3500 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in finance, marketing, international business, management, and general reference. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Business Periodicals Index, Dialog, and Lexis/Nexis. Other opportunities for research consist of 500 DC area libraries, WRLC, Kogod Computer Lab, Compustat, and CRSP.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The university operates 12 computer labs, including specialized labs in business, communication, computer science, foreign languages, law, learning services, psychology, social science research, and writing. The university’s optical fiber backbone network connects all buildings on campus and provides students with direct access to the mainframe.

Career and Job Placement

Majors most in demand by companies recruiting in 2006 were accounting (auditing and taxation), management information systems, marketing, finance, marketing information technology, management of global information technology, and consulting. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $71,487; range was $45,000 to $125,000. Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include access to career resources, resume referrals, career advising, networking receptions, and professional development workshops. Placement is available through Kogod Graduate Career Services. Eighty-one 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 600 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 100 on the Interner-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of immunization records, and proof of adequate funds to cover the full academic year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of fellowships/assistantships and grants as well as Hall of Nations awards. The application deadline for fall entry is May 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 7 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

American University, Kogod School of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.8 and a GMAT score of 520. Most important admissions factors are work experience, GMAT results, and a successful interview. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 410; 225 were accepted; 87 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.01; average GMAT score was 565. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by special opportunity awards and through BMBA and HMBA annual conferences.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall and spring. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $75, 2 letters of recommendation, an essay, and a resume. The application deadlines are June 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring. Students are notified of the admissions decision on a rolling basis. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is August. Once accepted, students may defer admission for no more than 2 semesters, on a case-by-case basis only.

American University, Kogod School of Business Financial Aid

About 80% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $20,000 annually; maximum $40,000. Stipends and programs available for minority students include Special Opportunity Assistantship awards based on academic merit. The FAFSA and the previous year’s tax return are required. The application deadlines are February 1 for fall entry; October 1, spring.

Tuition for all students is $1048 per credit, or $27,404 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $14,430; books and supplies, $950; personal expenses, $1650; and other fees, $380, for an estimated annual total of $44,814. Graduate student housing is available off campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

American University, Kogod School of Business Students

Thirty-seven percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 99% have had an average of 3 to 5 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from District of Columbia (59%). Forty percent are women, 14% are minorities, and 23% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 28; ages range from 23 to 60. One percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 8% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 36%, business; 15%, engineering; 12%, humanities; 12%, social sciences; and 3%, math and science. About 1% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 95% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 182 graduate business degrees were awarded.