B. I. Moody III College of Business, University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, LA - University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, LA

Academics

The MBA Program offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Business in Health Care Administration (MBA/HCA). Other programs include foreign exchange with France, joint research programs, and a Strategic Management Plan Development capstone course. The strongest areas of study are management and health care administration. The most popular courses are Marketing, International Business, and Financial Management and Policy. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus including the Business Excellence speaker series and the Executive-in-Residence program.

Thirty-three total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 6 elective credits. Required courses include:

Analytical Methods for Planning and Control
Managerial Economics
Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Advanced Financial Management and Policy
Marketing Management
Management of Information Technology
International Business
Policy Formulation, Strategy, and Administration
Data Analysis

Required courses for the MBA/HCA include:

Organizational Behavior in Health Care
Quality Management in Health Care
Health Care Information Systems
Strategic Management in Health Care
Internship in Health Care

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by transferring up to 9 credit hours from AACSB International accredited institutions.

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<1/2> years; maximum, 6 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2<1/2> years; maximum, 6 years.

There are 53 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate; there are 10 part-time faculty, of whom 66% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 3; average business class size is 28.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.75 and a GMAT score of 450. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 1000. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, grades in upper-level courses, and work experience. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 139; 84 were accepted; 67 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.3; average GMAT score was 537. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited from the university’s undergraduates, from other business schools in the state, and from GMAT report forms.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $25, 3 letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal narrative. The application deadlines are July 15 for fall entry; December 15, spring; May 1, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision as soon as the approval is processed. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is July 30. Once accepted, students may defer admission for 1 semester.

Financial Aid

About 29% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $9750 annually. The school’s own financial statement is required. Check with the school for information and deadlines at www.ull.edu.

On-campus room and board costs approximately $5850; books and supplies, $1200; personal expenses, $1500, for an estimated annual total of $11,450 for in-state residents and $16,950 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available in campus dormitories and in campus apartments. Many other rentals are available within close proximity.

Students

Fifty-five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 80% 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 Louisiana (85%). Forty-eight percent are women, 13% are minorities, and 12% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 28; ages range from 22 to 61. Fifteen percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 10% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 51%, business; 15%, math and science; 12%, engineering; 12%, liberal arts; 8%, social sciences; and 2%, economics. About 2% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 92% remain to receive their degree.