Academics
The Robert B. Pamplin School of Business Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other programs include work-study programs, internships, and joint research opportunities. The strongest areas of study are general business, entrepreneurship, and finance. The most popular courses are Negotiation and Persuasion Strategies, New Venture Management, Security and Portfolio Analysis, and Cross-cultural Management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. They include the Alumni Breakfast Series, the MBA Speaker Series, and the Bauccio Lecture Series.
Thirty-six total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 9 elective credits. Required courses include:
- Statistical and Quantitiative Analysis
- Economic Analysis
- Marketing Management
- Corporate Finance
- Operations Management
- Principles of Accounting
- Competing in the Global Economy
- Leadership and Upper Level Management
- Social Responsibility in Organizations
- Applied Marketing Strategies
- Applied Financial Analysis
- Cross-cultural Management
- Strategic Issues and Applications in Management
- Managerial Accounting Students are able to waive 5 of the 6 foundation classes (basic Business Principles) if they have successfully completed the coursework with a B grade or higher and the class has been within the last 7 years from an AACSB-accredited school.
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 3 semesters; maximum, 5 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 6 semesters; maximum, 5 years.
There are 25 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 96% hold a doctorate; there are 3 part-time faculty, of whom 33% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 20.