Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies

Sage Colleges System Office, Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies History

Sage Colleges, founded in 1949, is a private, coeducational institution. The 25-acre campus is located in an urban area in Troy and in Albany. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is approximately 3000. Figures given in the above capsule are approximate.

The Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies was founded in 1982 and is located on the main campus. The basic educational approach is systems based and behaviorally oriented. The program is designed to educate the manager to view the whole organization as a system that is composed of interdependent subsystems.

Sage Colleges System Office, Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies Academics

The Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MSHSA), and Master of Science in Public Administration (MS) as well as a joint degree in nursing (MBA/MS) and in law (MBA/JD) with Albany Law School. A 5-year BS/MBA program is also available. Other programs include cross-registration with Union College, St. Rose, SUNY Albany, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The strongest areas of study are finance and marketing. The most popular courses are Business Ethics, Personal Development for Managers, and Human Resources. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Guest speakers are executives from local corporations.

Thirty-six total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Human Resource Management
• Corporate Decision Making and Modeling
• Statistical Reasoning
• Managerial Economics
• Financial Management
• Marketing Systems

Required courses for the MS in Public Administration include:

• Introduction to Public Administration and Non-Profit Management
• Government, Non-Profit and Health Organization Budgeting and Finance
• Administrative Organization and Behavior
• Administrative Law for Government and Non-Profits
• Public Policy Process
• The Public Administrator and Economics
• Public and Health Administration: Analytic Methods

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by transferring credits (B or better) and obtaining waivers.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The maximum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time or part time is 6 years.

In a recent year, there were 6 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 71% held a doctorate; there were 23 part-time faculty, of whom 30% held a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 8; average business class size is 15.

Sage Colleges System Office, Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 371,686 volumes, 4060 microform items, and 34,485 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 16,747 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in management and finance. Students have access to such databases and networks as Proquest, Business Periodicals, EBSCOhost, and Lexis/Nexis. Other opportunities for research consist of interlibrary loans worldwide, physical access to most area libraries, and Internet access from any computer lab and home. There is dial-in to all library-provided databases via SageNet.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. Available computer facilities consist of Albany computer centers, a computer classroom, and the use of the Troy campus computer centers.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time. Placement is available through the university placement office and the placement director in the MBA office.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of MMR, tetanus, and TB, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 academic year of study.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 6 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only and weekends.

Sage Colleges System Office, Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.75. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, management potential, and maturity. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for a recent class was 76; 60 were accepted; 44 enrolled. The average GPA was 2.8. Transfers are accepted.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, a nonrefundable application fee of $40, 2 letters of recommendation, a statement of career goals, and a resume. A personal interview is recommended. Students are notified of the admissions decision after all materials are received. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is the first day of classes. Once accepted, students may defer admission.

Sage Colleges System Office, Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies Financial Aid

The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for all students is $500 per credit. On-campus room and board costs approximately $6626; books and supplies, $500; personal expenses, $2400; and other fees, $100, for an estimated annual total of $23,500. Graduate student housing is available in off-campus apartments within walking distance of the school; graduate student housing on campus is available on the Troy campus for women only. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Sage Colleges System Office, Sage Graduate School of Professional Studies Students

Twenty-one percent of a recent graduate business school class were enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students were from New York (96%). Seventy-four percent were women and 8% were minorities. The average age at entrance was 32; ages range from 20 to 57. Ten percent enterd directly from undergraduate school; 5% already had a graduate degree.