College of Business Administration/Graduate Division

Rider University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Division History

Rider University, founded in 1865, is a private, coeducational institution. The 353-acre campus is located in a suburban area 5 miles south of Princeton. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 5790.

The College of Business Administration/Graduate Division was founded in 1967 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered at Doral Forrestal in Princeton, NJ (EMBA). The basic educational approach is to develop management generalists through broad exposure to the major functional areas of business and the study of the relationships of business with its economic, legal, and global environment. Students have the opportunity to acquire quantitative and behavioral skills. Coursework is a mix of theory and applications, lecture, case study, and role plays.

Rider University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Division Academics

The College of Business Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accountancy (MAcc), and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA). Other programs include an internship in the MAcc program and joint research with faculty working across departments and from other colleges and universities. The strongest areas of study are accounting, marketing, finance, management, healthcare administration, entrepreneurship, and global business. The most popular courses are Ethical Issues in Business, finance electives, Entrepreneurship, Power and Politics in Organizations, international business electives, and healthcare administration electives. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. A variety of corporate leaders participate as guest speakers and subject matter experts in a variety of classes.

Fifty-one total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 15 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Economic Analysis and Decision Making
• Financial Analysis and Decision Making
• Advanced Organizational Behavior
• Marketing Analysis and Decision Making
• Strategic Planning and Policy
• 15 elective credits

Required courses for the MAcc include:

• Seminar in Taxation
• Analysis of Accounting Data
• Issues in Financial Reporting
• International Dimensions of Accounting
• 18 elective credits (3 in accounting, 15 in MBA electives)

Required courses for the EMBA include:

• Quantitative Analysis for Business (Statistics and Calculus)
• Management/Team Skills
• Accounting
• Economic Analysis
• Product and Services Management
• Financial Management
• Technology/Information Management
• Marketing Management
• Economic Analysis and Decision Making
• Advanced Organizational Behavior-Leadership Skills
• Financial Analysis and Decision Making
• Marketing Analysis and Planning
• Special Topics in Finance/Accounting
• Strategic Management and Policy
• Special Topics in Marketing/Technology
• Advanced Seminar: Business Law/Business Ethics
• International Business Seminar-Trip

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements in core courses only by passing a proficiency exam or on the basis of previous coursework or extensive work experience.

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 12 months; maximum, 6 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 16 months; maximum, 6 years.

There are 37 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 95% hold a doctorate; there are 18 part-time faculty, of whom 33% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 15.

Rider University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Division Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 400,000 volumes, 874,751 microform items, 1 special business collection, and 35,047 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 30,000 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in accounting, financial management, management, marketing, and human reources. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Academic Search Premier, Banking Information Source, Business Source Premier, Babell’s Directory, Consumer Index, Disclosure, Dissertation Abstracts, EconLit EdgarScan, Emerald Library, Factiva, Hoover’s Company Capsules & Profiles, Human Resources Library (BNA), JSTOR, LexisNexis Academic, OECD Health Data, Project MUSE, Reference USA, Regional Business News, RIA Checkpoint, Standard and Poor’s Net/Advantage, STAT-USA, Wall Street Journal, Wilson Business Full Text, and others. Other opportunities for research consist of information literacy instruction as well as individual consulations with the library faculty.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 2 classrooms and 2 laboratories with 72 PCs. Software includes Windows, Excel, Lotus, dBASE, and a variety of other programs. The laboratories are open 71 hours a week. An additional advanced PC laboratory is dedicated to CIS students. The fiber optic campuswide network supports voice, data, and video services and provides access to libraries and the Internet.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time, but those available to alumni include resume writing, role playing for interviews, skill building, full-time job notebooks, job list mailing, directories and company contacts, a career day, a recommended referral service, an alumni databank, and alumni networking. Placement is available through the university placement office.

International Students

International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 80 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health, and proof of adequate funds to cover tuition and living expenses for 1 year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of graduate assistantships and international loans. The application deadline for fall entry is August 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 13 weeks long; summer sessions, 6 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only, weekends, and evenings and weekends.

Rider University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Division Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 1050. Most important admissions factors are grades in upper-level courses, academic accomplishments and ability, and GMAT results. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 160; 92 were accepted; 81 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.34; average GMAT score was 499. Transfers are accepted.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $45, a resume, and a statement of goals and objectives. The application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; May 1, summer. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is when classes begin.

Rider University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Division Financial Aid

About 33% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $13,620 annually; maximum $30,000. The FAFSA, the school’s own financial statement and the previous year’s tax return are required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for all students is $680 per credit, or $20,400 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $10,800; books and supplies, $1000; personal expenses, $2500; and other fees, $320, for an estimated annual total of $35,020. Graduate student housing consists of a few residence hall openings and off-campus accommodations in the immediate area. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Rider University, College of Business Administration/Graduate Division Students

Twenty percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 96% 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 are from New Jersey (82%). Forty-four percent are women, 25% are minorities, and 3% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 27; ages range from 21 to 53. Twenty-eight percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 47%, business; 14%, engineering; 13%, social sciences; 10%, liberal arts; 9%, economics; and 7%, math and science. In 2006, 112 graduate business degrees were awarded.