Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration

University of Missouri-St Louis, Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration History

University of Missouri/St. Louis, founded in 1963, is a public, coeducational institution. The 177-acre campus is located in a suburban area in St. Louis County. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is approximately 16,000. Figures in the above capsule are approximate.

The Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration was founded in 1969 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, University Center Building. The basic educational approach is to combine theoretical and case study to give students knowledge based on recent research as well as practical applications from the real world.

University of Missouri-St Louis, Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration Academics

The College of Business Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting (MAcc), and Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MSMIS) as well as a doctoral program in business. Other programs include cross-registration with Washington University, St. Louis University, and Southern Illinois University/Edwardsville, cooperative programs with Boeing and Edward Jones, work-study programs, foreign exchange with 6 countries, internships, and joint research. The strongest areas of study are international business, finance, management, and management information systems. The most popular courses are Law, Ethics, and Business and Telecommunications: Design and Management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, speakers are usually executives with major local corporations and leading scholars.

Thirty-nine to 54 total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 9 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Quantitative Methods and Modeling in Economics, Business, and the Social Sciences
• Managerial Communication
• Financial and Managerial Accounting
• Economics for Managers
• Law, Ethics, and Business
• Financial Management
• Organizational Behavior and Administrative Processes
• Contemporary Marketing Concepts
• Management Information Systems
• Statistical Analysis for Management Decisions
• Production and Operations Management
• Strategy Formulation and Implementation

Required courses for the MSMIS, in addition to the MBA requirements, include:

• Applications of Programming for Business Solutions
• MIS: Theory and Practice
• Information Systems Analysis
• Database Management Systems
• Information Systems Design

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by receiving credit for prior course work or by proficiency exam.

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 3 years; maximum, 6 years.

There are 30 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 93% hold a doctorate; there are 4 part-time faculty, of whom 50% 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 5; average business class size is 23.

University of Missouri-St Louis, Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 2.3 million volumes, 1.2 million microform items, and 3871 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 3614 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, FirstSearch, Lexis/Nexis, and Compustat. Other opportunities for research consist of research assistantships to assist faculty members and for individual research projects.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of There are approximately 150 terminals, which contain popular word processing, spreadsheet, and database management application programs, and provide Internet access. The labs are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Career and Job Placement

In a recent spring, 17 companies recruited on campus. Ninety-four percent were national corporations. Majors most in demand were accounting and marketing. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $52,000; range was $27,000 to $99,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 50%
• local small enterprises 33%
• regional corporations 16%

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time. Placement services for alumni include access to the resources of the university’s career services office. Placement is available through the university placement office. Ninety-one 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 measles/rubella immunization, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. There is a application fee of $40. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of graduate assistantships. These are generally awarded after the student has begun school. The application deadline for fall entry is May 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 8 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

University of Missouri-St Louis, Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 500. Most important admissions factors are grades in upper-level courses, GMAT results, and academic accomplishments and ability. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 107; 71 were accepted; 61 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.2; average GMAT score was 565. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by several outreach programs.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $35, 2 letters of recommendation, and a personal letter or interview. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; December 1, winter; May 1, summer. Students are notified after each deadline of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is June 20. Once accepted, students may defer admission for 1 calendar year.

University of Missouri-St Louis, Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration Financial Aid

The FAFSA is required. The application deadline is March 31 for fall entry. Applications for assistantships may be submitted anytime.

Tuition for in-state residents is $276 per credit, or $6624 per year. Nonresidents pay $714 per credit, or $17,136 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5120; books and supplies, $1000; and other fees, $1500, for an estimated annual total of $14,244 for in-state residents and $24,756 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing consists of traditional residence halls, of which 90% are singles. There are also on-campus apartments. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

University of Missouri-St Louis, Graduate Programs in Business/College of Business Administration Students

Nine percent of a recent graduate business school class were enrolled full time; 90% had an average of 5 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school. The greatest percentage of students were from Missouri (50%). Fifty percent were women, 7% were minorities, and 15% were foreign nationals. The average age at entrance was 27; ages ranged from 21 to 60. Eleven percent entered directly from undergraduate school; 13% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 50%, business; 12%, math and science; 11%, engineering; 10%, social sciences; 6%, liberal arts; and 5%, economics. About 10% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons.