Sawyer Business School

Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School History

Suffolk University, founded in 1906, is a private, coeducational institution. The campus is located in an urban area in Boston. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 7337.

The Sawyer Business School was founded in 1937 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Sawyer Building. Courses also are offered on Cape Cod (MBA, MPA), at Merrimack College in North Andover (MBA), and on-line MBA courses. The basic educational approach is firmly based on the integration of theoretical instruction with practical hands-on experience, case study, and cutting edge business theory. The goal is to produce successful leaders in the practice of global business.

Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School Academics

The Sawyer School of Management offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Finance (MSF), Master of Public Administration (MPA), Executive MBA (EMBA), Master of Science in Accounting (MSA), Master of Science in Taxation (MST), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Science in Financial Services and Banking (MSFSB), Master of Science in Philanthropy and Media (MSPM), Global Master of Business Administration (GMBA), Graduate Diploma Professional Accounting (GDPA), Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Accounting (MBA/MSA), Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Taxation (MBA/MST), Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Political Science (MBA/MSPS), Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MBA/MSCJ), and Master of Public Administration/Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling (MPA/MSMHC) as well as a joint degree in law and business administration (JD/MBA), law and public policy (JD/MPA), law and taxation (JD/MST), public policy and mental health counseling (MPA/MSMHC), public policy and criminal justice (MPA/MSCJ), public policy and political science (MPA/MSPS), business administration and accounting (MBA/MSA), and business administration and taxation (MBA/MST). Other programs include work-study, internships, foreign exchange by individual departments, and an accelerated MBA degree for CPAs and attorneys. The strongest areas of study are finance, accounting, management, and marketing. The most popular courses are global business, accounting, finance, and marketing. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus.

Required courses and electives vary be program and include:

• Effective Career Planning
• Organizational Behavior
• Statistical Methods
• Economic Analysis for Managers
• Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
• Value-Based Financial Management
• Marketing: The Challenge of Managing Value
• Information Management for Competitive Advantage
• Managing in the Ethical and Legal Environment
• Operations Management
• Managing in the Global Environment
• Strategic Management

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements through waivers, for core courses only.

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 10 months; maximum, 5 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 16 months; maximum, 5 years.

There are 96 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 80% hold a doctorate; there are 30 part-time faculty, of whom 2% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 5; average business class size is 18.

Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School Unique Programs

Library

Publications for the business school contained in the main library consist of more than 120,389 volumes, 143,488 microform items, and 1049 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 23,563 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as EBSCHhost Business Source Premier, Wall Street Journal, STAT-USA, Lexis/Nexis, and others. Other opportunities for research consist of the Fenway library consortium, which allows access to some 2 million volumes, and the Law School Library with 192,000 volumes.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of special computer lab/classrooms for Sawyer Business School students with more than 200 IBM and Mac PCs on a Novell LAN. Computer programs include Minitab, SAS, SPSSX, and specialized software for CPA, linear programming, business simulations, and maintenance policy simulation.

Career and Job Placement

In spring 2006, 25 companies recruited on campus. Forty percent were national corporations. Majors most in demand were finance, accounting, and information technology. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $70,700; range was $40,000 to $125,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 55%
• local large enterprises 23%
• local small enterprises 14%
• regional corporations 5%
• global 5%

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include all those available to graduate students. Placement is available through the university placement office. Ninety-six 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 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 80 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of proof of immunizations, and proof of adequate funds to cover 2 years of study. There are special fees for health insurance. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of institutional funds awarded on the basis of merit. The application deadline for fall entry is June 15.

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.

Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.7 and a GMAT score of 430. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and work experience. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 967; 738 were accepted; 376 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.19; average GMAT score was 383. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by minority recruitment fairs, AHANA outreach, special financial aid brochure, and a staff member appointed as liason.

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 $50, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume, and an essay. The application deadlines are June 15 for fall entry; November 1, spring; April 1, summer. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is August. Once accepted, students may defer admission on a case-by-case basis, 1 time only, 1 year only.

Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School Financial Aid

About 50% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $12,278 annually; maximum $63,168. The GAPSFAS or FAFSA, the school’s own financial statement, and the previous year’s tax return are required. The application deadlines are November 1 for spring entry; March 1, summer.

Books and supplies cost approximately $900; personal expenses, $900; and other fees, $120 Graduate student housing is not available. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School Students

Eighteen percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 91% 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 the Northeast (87%). Forty-eight percent are women, 9% are minorities, and 12% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 27; ages range from 21 to 49. Ten percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 4% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 14%, business; 13%, social sciences; 7%, economics; 1%, engineering; and 1%, math and science. About 6% 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, 474 graduate business degrees were awarded.