Frank G. Zarb School of Business

Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business History

Hofstra University, founded in 1935, is a private, coeducational institution. The 240-acre campus is located in a suburban area 25 miles east of Manhattan. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 12,550.

The Frank G. Zarb School of Business was founded in 1951 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Weller Hall. Courses also are offered at Interdigital (Melville), Estee Lauder (Melville), and Computer Associates (Islandia). The basic educational approach is to offer a combination of theory and case study in small classes and with a strong global perspective. Real-world applications are stressed throughout the curriculum and through student activities such as the MBA Consulting Group and the Consulting Research Project.

Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business Academics

The Zarb School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science (MS), and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) as well as a joint degree in law (MBA/JD) and tax (JD/MS). Other programs include 4-1 BBA/MS and BBA/MBA degrees in accounting, marketing, and market research, federal work-study, Hofstra assistantships, foreign exchange with 6 countries, a variety of internships at for-profit and not-for-profit firms between the first and second years and select opportunities during the academic year, and a student consulting group offering second-year students opportunities for consulting engagements with small-to medium-size companies. The strongest areas of study are management, finance, and health service. The most popular courses are Managerial Finance, Marketing Analysis and Management, Information Systems for Managers, and Global Business Decision Making. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus including the Graduate Business Executives Speaker Series, the Executive Breakfast Series, and the Corporate Connection Series (through Graduate Business Career Services).

Forty-one to 48 total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 15 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Managerial Accounting and Reporting
• Management Information Systems
• Corporate Financial Management
• Innovative Management of Contemporary Organizations
• Advanced Applications for Quantitative Analysis
• Marketing Management
• Ethics, Environmental Responsibility, and Sociopolitical Diversity
• Developing Leadership and Communication Skills

Required courses for the MS include:

• 30 credits in discipline/concentration
• Global Business Decision Making

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements through previous appropriate coursework with grades of B or better, taken within the past 5 years; residency workshops and core competency courses can be waived.

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 1 calendar year; maximum, 5 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 calendar years; maximum, 5 years.

There are 41 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 93% hold a doctorate; there are 9 part-time faculty, of whom 44% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 5; average business class size is 30.

Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business Unique Programs

Library

Publications for the business school contained in the main library consist of more than 1.2 million volumes, 3,485,009 microform items, and 14,730 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 9950 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in finance, marketing, and international business. Students have access to such databases and networks as Business and Company Resource Center, Business Source Premier, CCH Tax Research Network, DataStream, Dun & Bradstreet Million Dollar Database, Emerald Management Full Text, Factiva, Financial Accounting Research System, Governmnet Accounting Research System, Mergent Online, Mergent Web Reports (Moody’s Manuals), Political Risk Yearbook, Regional Business News, Research Insight, RIA Checkpoint, Simmons Study of Media and Markets, Standard & Poor’s Netadvantage, and Tablebase. Other opportunities for research consist of the Bloomberg Trading Room, Business Research Institute, the Merrill Lynch Center for the Study of International Financial Services and Markets, and project research with individual faculty. The McGraw-Hill Technology LAN offers access to all of the software and databases proprietary to McGraw-Hill.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 2 dedicated labs along with access to 40 other labs that are centrally managed. These facilities house about 1,600 PCs and Macintosh computers, with one lab open 24 × 7. Software applications on these networked computers include: SPSS, SAS, Microsoft Office, multimedia applications, programming tools, and many specialized business applications.

Career and Job Placement

In spring 2006, 90 companies recruited on campus. Eighty-five percent were national corporations. Majors most in demand were finance, accounting, marketing, and tax. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $71,977; range was $40,000 to $250,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 62%
• regional corporations 17%
• local small enterprises 17%
• local large enterprises 3%
• international 1%

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include password protected on-line job listings and search tools, individualized career coaching advisement, Zarb alumni career network access, Executive Speaker Series/networking events, professional development seminars, and “Career Leaders self assessment”. Placement is available through Zarb Graduate Career Services. Eighty-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 or the college’s own test . They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of a physical exam report and proof of MMR vaccine, and proof of adequate funds to cover 2 years of study. There is a $60 application fee and a health insurance fee upon enrollment. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of scholarship/graduate assistantship. The application deadline for fall entry is May 15.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 3 to 5 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and essays. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 609; 363 were accepted; 217 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.12; average GMAT score was 520. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by visits to HBCU, advertisements in minority publications, and participation in Destination MBA programs.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $60, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume, and a statement of professional objectives. The application deadline is rolling for fall entry. Students are notified within 4 to 6 weeks after the application has been submitted of the admissions decision. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year by writing a letter to the admissions office.

Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business Financial Aid

About 42% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $13,371 annually; maximum $41,669.The FAFSA is required. The application deadlines are February 15 for fall entry; December 15, spring; March 15, summer.

Tuition for all students is $770 per credit, or $13,860 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $9800; books and supplies, $1000; personal expenses, $3585; and other fees, $930, for an estimated annual total of $29,175. Graduate student housing is available in campus-owned apartments and residence halls. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business Students

Thirty percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students are from the Northeast (91%). Forty-two percent are women, 20% are minorities, and 8% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 30; ages range from 21 to 62. Twenty-three percent enter directly from undergraduate school. About 20% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 59% remain to receive their degree. In a recent year, 176 graduate business degrees were awarded.