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Seidman College of Business

Academics

The Seidman College offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Taxation (MST), and Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) as well as a joint degree in nursing and business (MSN/MBA); a dual JD/MBA and a dual JD/MST are available with Michigan State University College of Law. The strongest areas of study and the most popular courses are accounting and finance. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. A Distinguished Executive Lecture is held each semester.

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

  • Managerial Accounting
  • Financial Policy for Managers
  • Organization Dynamics and Leadership
  • Managerial Economics
  • Marketing Management
  • Operations Management
  • Strategy
  • Global Competitiveness
  • Management Information Systems and Org Processes

Required courses for the MST include:

  • Corporate I
  • Estate, Gift, and Trust I
  • Partnership Taxation
  • Tax Problems, Planning, and Current Issues
  • Tax Research and Writing

Required courses for the MSA include:

  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Financial Accounting Systems
  • International Accounting
  • Advanced Accounting
  • Accounting Theory

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, 8 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 8 years.

There are 21 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate; there are 6 part-time faculty. Faculty salaries are rated below average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 25.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5 and a GMAT score of 500. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (GPA x 200) + GMAT, or minimum 1100. Most important admissions factors are work experience, grades in upper-level courses, and GMAT results. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 262; 219 were accepted; 191 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.2; average GMAT score was 570. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by the Minority Business Education Center for undergraduate students and minority scholarships for graduate students.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, and a nonrefundable application fee of $30. A personal interview is helpful. The application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, winter; April 1, spring. Students are notified of the admissions decision within 1 month of application. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is July. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Financial Aid

About 26% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $4360 annually; maximum $13,665. The FAFSA is required. The application deadlines are February 15 for fall entry; October 1, winter; February 15, summer.

Tuition for in-state residents is $325 per credit, or $5850 per year. Nonresidents pay $600 per credit, or $10,800 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $6500; books and supplies, $900; personal expenses, $1100; and other fees, $90, for an estimated annual total of $14,440 for in-state residents and $20,890 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available on the Allendale campus and on the Grand Rapids campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Seventeen percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 90% have had an average of 7 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Michigan (95%). Thirty-seven percent are women, 6% are minorities, and 5% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 30; ages range from 21 to 60. Five percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 40%, business; 25%, engineering; 15%, math and science; 10%, liberal arts; 5%, economics; and 5%, social sciences. About 10% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 75% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 99 graduate business degrees were awarded.

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