Hagan School of Business

Iona College, Hagan School of Business History

Iona College, founded in 1940, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The 35-acre campus is located in a suburban area 20 miles north of New York City. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 4242.

The Hagan School of Business was founded in 1965 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Hagan Hall. Courses also are offered at Pearl River (MBA and PMC). The basic educational approach is an integrated core curriculum that uses active learning strategies, including team teaching, case studies, student team projects, and presentations, as well as traditional lectures on relevant business theory.

Iona College, Hagan School of Business Academics

The Hagan offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Post Master’s Certiticate (PMC). The strongest areas of study are financial management, management, and marketing. The most popular course is are those offered on-line. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Iona hosts in-person and live interactive video teleconferences with business executives both as part of graduate courses and as noncredit seminars.

Fifty-seven total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 18 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Business Perspectives
• Quantitative Tools for Management
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Economics for Management
• Operations Management
• Finance for Management
• Marketing Management
• Management and Organizational Behavior
• Management Information Systems

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by completing comparable course work with a minimum grade of B within the past 7 years.

The maximum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full or part time is 6 years.

There are 37 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 97% hold a doctorate; there are 12 part-time faculty, of whom 50% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average business class size is 21.

Iona College, Hagan School of Business Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 270,000 volumes and 510,000 microform items, and subscribes to 450 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in finance, management, and marketing. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Business & Company Resource Center, Business Source Elite, Compustat, Lexis/Nexis Academic, Mergent Online, Regional Business News, RIA Checkpoint, and Value Line, SRDS, and Cabell’s. Other opportunities for research consist of the Research Assistance Program consisting of one-on-one appointments with a reference librarian, access to academic libraries in Westchester County and the New York metropolitan area via the WALDO and METRO consortia, and interlibrary loans.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities. There are 500 student computer workstations on campus, with 83 of these located in the business school’s Hagan Hall. Facilities in Hagan are available 7 days a week, 10 hours per day. Fifty-one computers are located in the student union, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Software programs available include Microsoft Office, SPSS, SAS, CRISP, and Moody’s.

Career and Job Placement

In a recent spring, 77 companies recruited on campus. Majors most in demand were finance and accounting. Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time. Placement services for alumni include job postings, some resume referrals, and campus career fairs. Placement is available through the university placement office.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of immunization records, and proof of adequate funds. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of graduate assistantships and academic scholarships based on GMAT scores. The application deadline for fall entry is August 15.

Calendar

The school operates on a trimester basis. Trimesters are 12 weeks long; summer sessions, 5 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only and on-line classes are offered.

Iona College, Hagan School of Business Admissions

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

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 96; 81 were accepted; 68 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.25; average GMAT score was 430. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by attendance at minority fairs and at colleges with strong representation of minority students.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, all undergraduate and graduate transcrip, and a resume. The application deadline is rolling for fall entry. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Iona College, Hagan School of Business Financial Aid

About 18% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $10,723 annually; maximum $23,500. The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for all students is $665 per credit. Graduate student housing is available in off-campus apartments. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Iona College, Hagan School of Business Students

Thirteen percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 80% have had an average of 5 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 York (76%). Forty-eight percent are women, 10% are minorities, and 4% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 27; ages range from 21 to 49. Twenty-five percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 15% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 60%, business; 10%, social sciences; 9%, math and science; 5%, economics; 5%, liberal arts; and 4%, engineering. About 22% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 70% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 118 graduate business degrees were awarded.