Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics History

Lehigh University, founded in 1865, is a private, coeducational institution. The 1700-acre campus is located in a small town 60 miles north of Philadelphia; 90 miles west of New York City. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 6858.

The College of Business and Economics was founded in 1920 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered at individual sites through a satellite-delivered MBA program. The basic educational approach is a mixture of case method and theoretical teaching approaches, which are used to develop critical thinking and communications skills. The emphasis is on teamwork and the integration of disciplinary skills to solve the problems encountered in today’s business environment.

Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics Academics

The College of Business and Economics offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Economics (MSEco), Master of Science in Accounting and Information Analysis (MSAcc), Master of Science in Health and BioPharmaceutical Economics (MSHealth), and Master of Science in Analytical Finance (MSAFIN) as well as a doctoral program in economics, and joint MBA and engineering and MBA and educational leadership degrees. Other programs include foreign exchange in France and graduate certificates in Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship, and Project Management. The strongest areas of study are management, economics, finance, international business, entrepreneurship, and supply chain management. The most popular courses are Management Policy, Communications, and International Entrepreneurship. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. There are Executives-in-Residence, visiting scholars who address the business advisory council and the public and who hold in-class sessions and small group discussions.

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

• Introduction to the Organization and Its Environment
• Managing Financial and Physical Resources
• Managing Information
• Managing Products and Services
• Managing People
• Integrative Experience

Required courses for the MSEco include:

• Price Theory and Applications
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Advanced Microeconomics
• Mathematical Economics
• Econometrics

Required courses for the MSAcc include:

• Professional Issues and Ethics
• Advanced Information Systems and Auditing
• Corporate Financial Reporting
• Information Quality Assurance and Business Risk
• Business Consulting: Process and Practice
• Information Analysis for Management and Business Solutions

Required courses for the MSAFIN include:

• Derivatives
• Financial Calculus
• International Finance
• Optimization Models And Applications
• Econometrics
• Financial Engineering Projects
• Financial Calculus
• Advanced Investments
• Stochastic Programming and Portfolio Analysis
• Advanced Numerical Methods
• Random Processes and Applications

Required courses for the MSHealth include:

• Mathematical Economics
• Managerial Economics
• Economic Analysis of Market Competition
• Econometrics
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Health Economics
• Pharmaceutical Economics
• BioPharmaceutical Economics

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full or part time is 1 year; maximum, 6 years.

There are 64 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 98% hold a doctorate; there are 14 part-time faculty, of whom 30% 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 23.

Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics Unique Programs

Library

Publications for the business school contained in the main library consist of more than 1.1 million volumes, 1.9 million microform items, and 20,000 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscriptions to 10,000 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as Dow Jones Retrieval, Lexis/Nexis, and several national and international databases. Other opportunities for research consist of the Financial Services Laboratory, Internet connections worldwide, and memberships in Palinet, IDS, and OCLS.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 67 networked PC terminals in the college with all software available on mainframes and LANs, and a wireless network in the building.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include an on-line listing of jobs, a career library, career counseling, and an alumni network. Placement is available through the university placement office.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 600 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 94 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of vaccinations and a TB test, and proof of adequate funds to cover the first year of study. Financial aid is available for these students. The application deadline for fall entry is May 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long; summer sessions, 7 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, grades in upper-level courses, and difficulty of undergraduate major. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 457; 325 were accepted; 193 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.2; average GMAT score was 628. Minority students are actively recruited through GMAT and McNair Scholar forums.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $65, 2 letters of recommendation, a personal essay outlining objectives, and a resume. The application deadlines are July 15 for fall entry; December 1, spring; April 30, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision 3 weeks after submitting a complete application.The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is August. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics Financial Aid

The school’s own financial statement is required. The application deadlines is January 15 for fall, spring, and summer entry, with financial aid decisions being made once a year.

Tuition for all students is $630 per credit, or $11,340 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $10,500; books and supplies, $1500; personal expenses, $5000; and other fees, $300, for an estimated annual total of $28,640. Graduate student housing consists of on-campus graduate apartments and community housing. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Lehigh University, College of Business and Economics Students

Twenty-three percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 83% have had an average of 7 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. Thirty-one percent are women, 11% are minorities, and 15% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 32; ages range from 21 to 56. Eleven percent already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 38%, engineering; 33%, business; 18%, math and science; and 11%, liberal arts. About 9% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 84% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 108 graduate business degrees were awarded.