Fuqua School of Business

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business History

Duke University, founded in 1924, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Methodist Church. The campus is located in a suburban area 20 miles northwest of Raleigh. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is approximately 11,000. Figures given in the above capsule are approximate.

The Fuqua School of Business was founded in 1969 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Thomas F. Keller Center for MBA Education and Wesley Alexander. Courses also are offered through the Duke MBA-Global Executive Program, which features residential modules in Europe, Asia, and the Americas plus Internet-based distance education. The Duke MBA-Cross Continent Program is based out of the Faqua School of Business Europe in Frankfurt, Germany. The basic educational approach is a general management one with a blend of functional skills and broad, strategic capabilities. The curriculum is integrative and flexible; it uses teamwork and a wide variety of teaching methods.

Duke University, 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.

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business Unique Programs

Library

The Fuqua School of Business Library houses a collection of more than 28,000 volumes, 446,631 microform items, and 2231 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 1300 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in corporate and industry information. Students have access to such databases and networks as One Source Public Companies, General Business File, ABI/INFORM, Dialog, Business Periodicals on Disc, Datastream, Lexis/Nexis, Morningstar, EIU Country Reports, Disclosure Worldscope, Disclosure Access, Disclosure Comport D/SEC, Compustat, STAT-USA, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. Other opportunities for research consist of the library’s on-line catalog, which links users directly with 4 million volumes in other Duke libraries, as well as with research collections at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University.

Computers

Graduate business students must have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 5 computing labs, 38 team rooms, and several special-purpose computing resource areas, which collectively provide access to 200 Pentium-class systems and plug-in access for laptops. An Internet Web environment is offered. Services are available 24 hours per day.

Career and Job Placement

Majors most in demand by companies recruiting in a recent year, were marketing, finance, operations, general management, and health management. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $83,935; range was $65,000 to $110,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 63%
• regional corporations 15%
• local large enterprises 9%
• non-profit 7%
• local small enterprises 5%
• self-employment 1%

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include job search counseling in person or by phone and an Internet job listing with available positions sent to alumni upon registration. Placement is available through the Career Services Office. Ninety-four percent of a 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 a university form, and proof of adequate funds to cover 2 years of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of limited merit-based scholarships. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Calendar

The school operates on a 17-week terms basis. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening, weekends, only full-time.

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business 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.

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business 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.

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business 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.