School of Business Administration

Oakland University, School of Business Administration History

Oakland University, founded in 1957, is a public, coeducational institution. The 1500-acre campus is located in a suburban area 25 miles north of Detroit. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 17,737.

The School of Business Administration was founded in 1971 and is located on the main campus, in its own building. Courses also are offered at Oakland University Center/Birmingham and Macomb Intermediate School District Building/Clinton Township (MBA). The basic educational approach combines a variety of educational methods, including theoretical foundation, case method, and practical application. The program stresses recognized common elements in management rather than concentrating on narrow traditional specialties.

Oakland University, School of Business Administration Academics

The School of Business Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting (MAcc), and Master of Science in Information Technology Management (MSITM) as well as a joint JD/MBA with the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Other programs include interdisciplinary programs in engineering management, and in health safety management, joint research, and a post-master certificate program. The strongest areas of study are management information systems, organizational behavior, finance, marketing, accounting, and international business. The most popular courses are Total Quality Management, international courses, and courses in finance, marketing, and ethics. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, including the Business Forum, the Dean’s Lecture series, Executive-on-Campus programs, and the Alice Gorlin Memorial Lecture.

Thirty-six total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 15 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Managerial Accounting Systems
• Managerial Economics
• Marketing Management
• Enterprise Information Systems
• Operations Management
• Policy, Strategy, and Goals
• Financial Management
• Statistical Analysis
• International Business
• Organizational Behavior
• Legal Environment of Business

Required courses for the MAcc include:

• Accounting and Communications
• Professional Issues in Accounting
• Financial Management
• 15 credits of accounting electives

Required courses for the MSITM include:

• Managerial Accounting Systems
• Marketing Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Operations ManagementorFinancial Management
• Introduction to Information Systems Management
• Technology of Information Systems
• Systems Analysis
• Systems Design
• Software Project Management
• Project Seminar

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements based on previous graduate or undergraduate course work. Students may be exempted from any core course except Policy, Strategy, and Goals. MBA students must take at least 1 graduate-level course in each of the functional areas.

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 50 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 96% hold a doctorate; there are 15 part-time faculty. Faculty salaries are rated 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 35.

Oakland University, School of Business Administration Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 688,000 volumes, 1,100,000 microform items, and 16,600 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 2000 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in management information systems, marketing, finance, accounting, organizational behavior, and economics. Students have access to such databases and networks as Business Periodicals Index, United States Tax Reporter, National Economic Data Base, Michigan Economic Data Base, ABI/INFORM, and Disclosure.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 2 computer labs with a total of 60 PCs and 2 teaching labs with 58 PCs, with Windows 2003, Internet Explorer, and other software programs. The facilities are available to MBA students 7 days a week. Two other computer laboratories located on campus are open to all university students.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time, but those available to alumni include individual advising, on-campus recruiting, career fairs, and placement seminars. 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). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts and proof of adequate funds to cover 2 years of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of research assistantships awarded on a competitive basis. The application deadline for fall entry is May 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 7 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only, with weekend classes offered at the Macomb University Center.

Oakland University, School of Business Administration Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 500. 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 grades in upper-level courses. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 120; 112 were accepted; 86 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.21; average GMAT score was 543. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by participating in National Black MBA Association functions (Detroit chapter) and offering scholarships.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, and a supplemental MBA application. The application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, winter; April 1, spring; June 1, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision approximately 2 weeks after application. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is July. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year, with a written request.

Oakland University, School of Business Administration Financial Aid

Stipends and programs available for minority students include the School of Business Administration/Board of Visitors Tuition/Book Awards, a $500 annual award. The FAFSA, the school’s own financial statement, and the previous year’s tax return are required. The application deadline is January 1 for fall entry.

Tuition for in-state residents is $414 per credit. Nonresidents pay $716 per credit. On-campus room and board costs approximately $7730; books and supplies, $600, for an estimated annual total of $15,782 for in-state residents and $21,231 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing consists of dormitories, student apartments, and married-student apartments. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Oakland University, School of Business Administration Students

Ninety-seven percent of the current graduate business school class have had an average of 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 Michigan (98%). Ninety percent are minorities and 8% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 28; ages range from 22 to 53. Four percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 48%, business; 23%, engineering; 13%, math and science; 7%, social sciences; 3%, liberal arts; and 1%, economics. In 2006, 187 graduate business degrees were awarded.