School of Business

Mississippi College, School of Business History

Mississippi College, founded in 1826, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Baptist Church. The 75-acre campus is located in a suburban area 10 miles west of Jackson. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 4038.

The School of Business was founded in 1975 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Self Hall. The basic educational approach is a pragmatic one of solving problems within a structural framework of theory.

Mississippi College, School of Business Academics

The School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well as a joint degree in Law (JD/MBA) and business education (MED/MBA). Other programs include work-study and internship programs. The most popular course is in management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. The Distinguished Speaker Series brings two speakers per semester to the Business School to share their experiences and give advice to our business majors.

Thirty total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 6 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Accounting Issues in Business Decisions
• Economics of the Firm (Microeconomics)
• Financial Management
• Quantitative Management
• Market Administration
• Organizational Behavior
• Law and Ethics in the Business Environment
• Policy Formulation and Administration

Required courses for the MBA-Accounting Concentration include:

• Economics of the Firm
• Financial Management
• Quantitative Management
• Policy Formulation and Administration
• Federal Tax Accounting
• Auditing Concepts and Applications
• Advanced Accounting ll

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, 6 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 6 years.

There are 15 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 80% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category llA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 10; average business class size is 24.

Mississippi College, School of Business Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 255,862 volumes, 331,772 microform items, and 18,348 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 1258 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in finance. Students have access to such databases and networks as EBSCOhost Business Premier, and Lexis/Nexis. Other opportunities for research consist of a fully functional financial trading lab that will allow students to replicate the experience of being in a Wall Street trading room.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. Available computer facilities consist of 18 terminals connected to a mainframe and 210 PCs. Software includes word processing, spreadsheets, database statistical packages, and desktop publishing. All students have access. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time, and are available through the university placement office.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of a record of immunization against measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) and test results for tuberculosis, and proof of adequate funds to cover an entire year of study. The application deadline for fall entry is open.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long; summer sessions, 5 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

Mississippi College, School of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5 and a GMAT score of 400. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (GPA x 200) + GMAT, or minimum 950. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, academic accomplishments and ability, and work experience. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 145; 116 were accepted; 64 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.11; average GMAT score was 406. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by hiring recuriting agencies in other countries, and staff travel internationally to personally recruit students, focusing primarily on Asian students.

Students may begin the MBA program in the winter and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, and a nonrefundable application fee of $25. The application deadline is open for fall entry. Students are notified as soon as the files are reviewed by departmental personel of the admissions decision. The GMAT must be taken by the end of first semester.

Mississippi College, School of Business Financial Aid

The FAFSA is required. The application deadline is open for fall entry.

Tuition for all students is $405 per credit, or $4860 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5500; books and supplies, $400; personal expenses, $3600; and other fees, $300, for an estimated annual total of $14,660. Graduate student housing consists of single-sex dormitories.

Mississippi College, School of Business Students

Thirty-one percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students are from Mississippi (79%). Fifty-four percent are women, 48% are minorities, and 18% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 28; ages range from 21 to 57. Forty-four percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 64%, business; 20%, liberal arts; 11%, math and science; 3%, engineering; and 2%, economics. About 37% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons. In 2006, 50 graduate business degrees were awarded.