Opus College of Business

University of St Thomas, Opus College of Business History

University of Saint Thomas, founded in 1885, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The 78-acre campus is located in an urban area in St. Paul. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 10,712.

The Opus College of Business was founded in 1974 and is located in its own building, Terrence Murphy and Schulze Halls. Courses also are offered at Woodbury, Chaska, Owatonna, Rochester, Anoka, Mall of America, and St. Paul (all MBA), Minneapolis location only, MBC, MS in Accountancy, MS in Real Estate Appraisal, full-time MBA. The basic educational approach is to offer a variety of programs to help students and working adults develop contemporary management skills. The programs have a strong theory-based foundation, with emphasis on case method, simulations, and practical approaches. The faculty offers both extensive academic credentials and business experience.

University of St Thomas, Opus College of Business Academics

The Opus College of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Health Care UST MBA (MBA), Executive UST MBA (MBA), Master of Business Communication (MBC), Master of Science in Real Estate Appraisal (MS), and Master of Science in Accountancy (MS) as well as a joint degree in law (JD/MBA). Other programs include internships, cooperative programs, work-study programs within the university, and foreign exchange with 13 countries. The strongest areas of study are finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, international management, health care management, human resource management, general management and accounting. The most popular courses are in management, finance, and marketing. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Visiting professors and speakers come to campus through the Opus Distinguished Speakers Program and through the Faculty Seminar Series.

Sixty-one total credits are required to complete the Part-Time MBA, including 15 elective credits. Required courses for the Part-Time MBA include:

• Financial Accounting
• Management and Organizational Behavior
• Legal Environment of Business
• Economics of Organization and Management
• Managerial Accounting
• Financial Management
• Marketing Management
• Business Ethics
• Operations Management
• Statistics Methods for Decision Making
• Strategic Management

Required courses for the Full-Time MBA include:

• Marketing Management
• Management of Organizational Behavior
• Financial Accounting
• Statistics for Management Decision Making
• Economics of Organization and Management
• Financial Management
• Managerial Accounting
• Operations Management
• Applied Business Research
• Business Ethics
• Information Technology Management
• Strategic Capstone Management

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements up to 12 credits in the part-time MBA. Core may be waived through examination. Full-time students may not waive core courses.

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 21 months; maximum, 21 months. For students attending part time, the minimum is 3 years; maximum, 7 years.

There are 72 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 84% hold a doctorate; there are 180 part-time faculty, of whom 33% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated below average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 21.

University of St Thomas, Opus College of Business Unique Programs

Library

The Keffer Library houses a collection of more than 395,816 volumes, and subscribes to 1850 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as those considered standardized commercial sources. Other opportunities for research consist of computerized access to a 9-college library consortium with more than 1 million volumes, as well as local and regional public libraries.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. Business students may use campus computer facilities, which consist of more than 397 computer stations.

Career and Job Placement

Majors most in demand by companies recruiting in 2006 were marketing, finance, and operations. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $54,231; range was $42,000 to $70,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 53%
• local small enterprises 23%
• regional corporations 13%
• local large enterprises 7%
• self-employment 3%

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include career and counseling services. Placement is available through Graduate Business Career Services and the university placement office. Seventy-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. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of immunization records, and proof of adequate funds to cover the first year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of limited scholarships. The application deadline for fall entry is April 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 10 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

University of St Thomas, Opus College of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, work experience, and management potential. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 112; 75 were accepted; 45 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.24; average GMAT score was 578. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited through local and national education and career fairs, advertisements in minority publications, and an annual multicultural forum.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall. To apply, students must submit an application form, GMAT scores, GRE or GMATscores (MBC), a nonrefundable application fee of $60, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume, and short essays. The application deadline is July 15, December, February, and April for fall entry. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is July 15. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year with permission of the program director.

University of St Thomas, Opus College of Business Financial Aid

Stipends and programs available for minority students include diversity grants. The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for all students is $708 per credit; an estimated annual cost of $21,863. Graduate student housing consists of limited on-campus accommodations and commercial apartment rentals nearby. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

University of St Thomas, Opus College of Business Students

Five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 95% 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 Minnesota (92%). Forty-one percent are women, 6% are minorities, and 4% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 34; ages range from 23 to 55. Two percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 2% already have a graduate degree. About 17% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 56% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 580 graduate business degrees were awarded.