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Fuqua School of Business

Academics

Fuqua offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well as a doctoral program , and a joint degree in law (MBA/JD), engineering (MBA/MS), public policy (MBA/MAP), forestry or environmental management (MBA/MF or MBA/MEM), medicine (MBA/MD), and nursing (MBA and MS in nursing). Other programs include interdisciplinary programs in public policy and health sector management, and cross-registration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Central University, and University of North Carolina at Charlotte. There are work-study programs, foreign exchange with 14 countries, internships, and joint research. The strongest areas of study are finance, marketing, accounting, general management, and strategy. The most popular courses are Finance and Marketing. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, including the Distinguished Speaker Series, faculty sessions, student-organized workshops, symposia as well as visiting professors who teach and do research.

Eighty-five total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 39 elective credits. Required courses include:

  • Managerial Effectiveness
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Computer Skills
  • Global Economic Environment of the Firm
  • Financial Accounting
  • Marketing Management
  • Operations Management
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Informing and Influencing Business Audiences
  • Professional Project Communications
  • Effective Advocacy
  • Global Financial Management
  • Managerial Economics
  • Integrative Learning Experiences (ILEs):
  • Team Building and Leadership Development
  • Competitive Business Strategy

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by exemptions, which are available for all 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 2 years; maximum, 2 years.

In a recent year, there were 106 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 93% hold a doctorate; there were 25 part-time faculty, of whom 75% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 3; average business class size is 70.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for a recent class was 2389; 937 were accepted; 405 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.4. Transfers are not accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by attending minority events (such as the National Black and Hispanic MBA Forums), visiting selected historically minority colleges, and holding the Ford Minority Workshop each December.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall only. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $175, 2 letters of recommendation, 3 essays, and indication of completion of college-level calculus courses. The application deadline is November 1 for fall entry. Check with the school for additional deadlines. All decisions for a particular deadline are mailed on the same date. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is March 15. Once accepted, students may defer admission 1 year at a time, for up to 2 years. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 80% of graduate business school students received financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $49,000 annually; maximum $53,277. Stipends and programs available for minority students include school-funded scholarships. The FAFSA, the school’s own financial statement, and the previous year’s tax return are required. Early admission application during the fall is encouraged. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for all students is $36,000 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $6000; books and supplies, $1600; personal expenses, $8300; and other fees, $3079, for an estimated annual total of $54,979. Graduate student housing is plentiful off campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

All of a recent graduate business school class were enrolled full time; 99% have had an average of 6 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students were from foreign countries (25%). Twenty-nine percent were women, 32% were minorities, and 40% were foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 29; ages range from 22 to 46. Nineteen percent already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 27%, engineering; 24%, business; 19%, liberal arts; and 15%, economics. About 1% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 99% remain to receive their degree. In a recent year, 343 graduate business degrees were awarded.

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