College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs

Butler University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs History

Butler University, founded in 1855, is a private, coeducational institution. The 290-acre campus is located in an urban area in Indianapolis. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 4437.

The College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs was founded in 1948 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Holcomb. The basic educational approach is to accommodate the needs of working students by providing a pragmatic, operational point of view.

Butler University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs Academics

The College of Business Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) as well as a joint degree in pharmacy (PharmD/MBA). The strongest areas of study are leadership and international business. The most popular courses are Leadership and Finance concentration courses. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Speakers have included Steve Forbes; Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox; and Sidney Taurel, CEO of Eli Lilly and Company.

Thirty-three total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 8 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Leadership
• Managerial Accounting
• Managerial Economics
• Legal and Ethical Operation of Business
• Managerial Finance
• Operations Management and Systems
• Marketing Management
• Integrated Capstone

Required courses for the MPAcc include:

• Leadership
• Financial Reporting
• Other Financial Valuation and Reporting
• Legal and Ethical Operation of Business
• Applied Financial Accounting
• Advanced Auditing/Taxation
• accounting electives (2)

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by having completed similar course work in undergraduate study with a grade of B or higher or by passing waiver exams.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full or part time is 2 years; maximum, 7 years.

There are 17 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 94% hold a doctorate; there are 7 part-time faculty, of whom 57% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 5; average business class size is 25.

Butler University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 16,000 business-related volumes and subscribes to more than 3800 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in management, finance, accounting, and marketing. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Accounting Research Manager, Business & Company Resource Center, Business Insights, Businsess Source Complete, CCH Tax Research Network, EconLit, Euromonitor, General Business File ASAP, International Financial Statistics, JSTOR, Lexis/Nexis, Market Insight, Mergent Online, Oxford Reference Online: Economics & Business PPC Reference Library, Regional Business News, TableBase, and Value Line. Other opportunities for research consist of individual projects with experts in international business.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of a Windows lab, with connection to the mainframe and 31 terminals. Hours are 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Other computer labs are also available to students throughout the campus.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time. Placement services for alumni include all those available to students. Placement is available through the university placement office.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 79 on the Internet-Based version (iBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of immunizations and evidence of no communicable diseases, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 academic year of study. The application deadline for fall entry is July 15.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 6 weeks. Graduate programs are offered evenings and Saturdays.

Butler University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, work experience, and letters of recommendation. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the fall 2006 class was 142; 58 were accepted; 51 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.22; average GMAT score was 542. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $35, and 2 letters of recommendation. The application deadlines are July 15 for fall entry; November 15, spring; April 15, summer. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. Once accepted, students may defer admission.

Butler University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs Financial Aid

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

Tuition for all students is $500 per credit. On-campus room and board costs approximately $6750; books and supplies, $750. Graduate student housing consists of a dorm for full-time students.

Butler University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Programs Students

Five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 95% have had an average of 6 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Indiana (90%). Thirty-eight percent are women, 7% are minorities, and 6% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 28; ages range from 22 to 49. Six percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 8% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 39%, business; 31%, liberal arts; 12%, math and science; 10%, engineering; 5%, social sciences; and 2%, economics. About 24% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 76% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 78 graduate business degrees were awarded.