H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program

Saint Ambrose University, H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program History

Saint Ambrose University, founded in 1882, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The 6-acre campus is located in an urban area within residential Davenport. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 3780.

The H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program was founded in 1977 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered in Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Burlington, Muscatine, Ottumwa, and Waterloo, Iowa, and at the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Illinois. The basic educational approach is to enhance the competence of the professional manager through a balance of theoretical and practical applications. The program is designed for the working professional.

Saint Ambrose University, H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program Academics

The MBA Program offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting (MAcc), and Master of Science in Information Technology Management (MSITM) as well as a doctoral program in business administration. Other programs include a cooperative program with Black Hawk College, work-study, internships, foreign exchange with 1 country, and a 1-year MBA program. The strongest areas of study are management, marketing, and human resource management. The most popular courses are the capstone seminar, Business Ethics, Leadership through People Skills, Organizational Theory, Marketing Management, and Financial Management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Panels of business leaders participate in various graduate-sponsored forums.

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

• Integrative Organizational Theories and Business Systems
• Managing in the Business Environment
• Statistics in the Discipline
• Accounting for Managers
• Ethical and Social Responsibility of Business
• Human Behavior in Organizations
• Managerial Economics
• Operations Management
• Financial Management
• Marketing Management
• Leadership through People Skills
• Strategic Management
• Organizational Project

Required courses for the MAcc include:

• Advanced Financial Accounting Theory
• Advanced Managerial Accounting Theory

Required courses for the MSITM include:

• Data Management
• Advanced Computer Networks and Data Communications
• Systems Analysis in the Enterprise
• Project Management and Control
• Legal and Ethical Issues of Computing

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by transferring up to 9 credit hours from an approved graduate business school or through competency examination.

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 1 year; maximum, 5 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 5 years.

There are 31 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 84% hold a doctorate; there are 97 part-time faculty, of whom 19% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category IIB institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 24; average business class size is 15.

Saint Ambrose University, H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 131,718 volumes, 6441 microform items, and 2659 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 847 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in marketing and management, economics, accounting, and organizational theory. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Lexis/Nexis, Business Source Premier, and Wiley Interscience. Other opportunities for research consist of a shared computer catalog that includes the collections of 9 area colleges and universities, 73 public libraries, and 4 corporate libraries.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. Available computer facilities consist of 6 PC labs with a total of 159 PCs and 1 Macintosh lab with 21 workstations. Available software includes Microsoft Office 2003 Professional SPSS, and additional software for specific classes. All labs have Internet access. Four of the labs have hours 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, with additional hours Friday through Sunday. Two labs have hours 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with additional hours Friday through Sunday. One of the PC labs is open 24 hours.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are extensive, and all are available to alumni. Placement is available through a separate placement office for graduate business students and the university placement office. 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 or the University of Michigan Language Test. International students must score 500 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 79 to 80 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of a physical exam, a medical history, and immunization records, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of a limited number of research assistantships. The application deadline for fall entry is July 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long; summer sessions, 6 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

Saint Ambrose University, H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 1050. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and essays. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 188; 152 were accepted; 108 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.6; average GMAT score was 478. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, spring, and summer.To apply, students must submit an application form, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $25, 2 letters of recommendation, and an admissions essay, and a professional resume. Application deadlines are 1 month before each term starts. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. Once accepted, students may defer admission.There is a conditional admission status. Students on this status must receive a 3.2 GPA in their first 4 courses to obtain full admission.

Saint Ambrose University, H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program Financial Aid

The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for all students is $574 per credit, or $10,332 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5560; books and supplies, $750; personal expenses, $1575, for an estimated annual total of $18,217. Graduate student housing consists of on- and off-campus facilities. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Saint Ambrose University, H. L. McLaughlin MBA Program Students

Twenty-two percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 95% have had an average of 10 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from the Midwest (94%). Sixty-two percent are women, 11% are minorities, and 2% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 34; ages range from 21 to 71. Eighteen percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 28%, business; 22%, math and science; 15%, social sciences; 5%, liberal arts; and 1%, engineering. About 25% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons. In 2006, 135 graduate business degrees were awarded.