School of Business Administration

Widener University-Main Campus, School of Business Administration History

Widener University, founded in 1821, is a private, coeducational institution. The 100-acre campus is located in an urban area 15 miles south of Philadelphia. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 6468.

The School of Business Administration was founded in 1967 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Leslie C. Quick Jr. Center. Courses also are offered through corporate off-site programs. The basic educational approach is to provide broad management training while balancing theory and application through instruction, case work, and papers administered by a diverse faculty.

Widener University-Main Campus, School of Business Administration Academics

The school offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Taxation (MST), Master of Science in Human Resource Organizational Leadership (MSHROL), and Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) as well as a joint degree in law (JD/MBA), engineering (ME/MBA), clinical psychology and health and medical services administration (PsyD/MBA), clinical psychology and human resources (PsyD/MSHR), and medicine (MD/MBA) with Jefferson Medical College. Other programs include interdisciplinary programs in information systems with the College of Arts and Science. The strongest areas of study are health administration, management, taxation, information systems, ERP and financial planning. The most popular courses are developing management skills, project management, financial planning, and information systems. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. The Banking and Finance Lecture series brings notable speakers in the area of banking and finance every year. The Economics Department has brought a Nobel Prize winner to campus every year for more than 10 years. There is also an Executive-in-Residence program, and international business leaders give lectures.

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

• Strategic Planning
• Leadership
• Information systems
• Data Mining, Collection and Analysis
• Customer/Market Focus
• Managing Human Capital
• Modeling and Forecasting
• Process Management
• Managing for Results

Required courses for the MSTEP include:

• Overview of Financial Planning
• Financial Fundamentals
• Federal Income Tax Taxation
• Research
• Federal Corporate Taxation and the Law of Business Entities
• Federal Estate and Gift Taxation
• Federal Taxation of Partnership

Required courses for the MSIS include:

• Project Management
• Decision Support Systems
• Business Process Analysis and Process Automation
• Managing Distributed Technologies
• Data Base Systems
• Systems Design, Analysis, and Implementation

Required courses for the MSHROL include:

• Organization and Management in a Global Environment
• Developing Management Skills
• Management of Change
• Organizational Development
• Preformance Management
• Measuring Effectiveness
• Strategic Policy and Planning in Human Resourse

All foundation courses (12 credits) may be waived because of undergraduate work; candidates may also take the challenge exam.

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 1 year; maximum, 5 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 5 years.

There are 31 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 97% hold a doctorate; there are 12 part-time faculty, of whom 17% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category llA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 15.

Widener University-Main Campus, School of Business Administration Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 223,827 volumes, 174,960 microform items, and 179 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 18,391 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in taxation and human resource management. Students have access to such databases and networks as AICPA, NYSSCPA.org, Accounting Terminology, Findlaw, Business (miner.com), GPOAccess, Fedworld, CR, Thomas, BLS, ABI/Inform, BusManagement, Business Source Elite, CCHINternet, EconLit, Lexis-Nexis, Regional Business News, StatUSA, WSJ. Other opportunities for research consist of a computer center and law library on the Delaware campus. The university is a member of a number of library consortia.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of a wireless network as well as a 32-seat lab within the business school several other computer centers on campus, with an ample selection of software. Computer assistance is available. There is a specialized management information systems lab with SAP R/3 software.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time, and are 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 family history and current immunizations, and proof of adequate funds to cover 2 years of study. There are special fees of $300 for administrative costs. The application deadline for fall entry is April 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 12 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only. Some weekend courses are available.

Widener University-Main Campus, School of Business Administration Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5 and a GMAT score of 510. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 1060. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and letters of recommendation. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 259; 164 were accepted; 89 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.13; average GMAT score was 531. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by advertisements in minority publications.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, (the GRE is permitted for the MBA, MSHROL, and MSIS), a nonrefundable application fee of $25, and 2 letters of recommendation. The application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; April 1, summer. Students are notified within a month of receipt of application (rolling admission) of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is August 1. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Widener University-Main Campus, School of Business Administration Financial Aid

About 12% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $14,255 annually; maximum $32,012. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. Priority deadline is February 15 for summer, April 1 for fall and spring.

Tuition for all students is $680 per credit. Books and supplies cost approximately $2000, for an estimated annual total of $22,400. Graduate student housing is available in on-campus and off-campus facilities. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Widener University-Main Campus, School of Business Administration Students

Twenty-two percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 91% have had an average of 7 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Pennsylvania (54%). Thirty-eight percent are women, 22% are minorities, and 9% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 33; ages range from 22 to 53. Six percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 46%, business; 14%, economics; 11%, math and science; 11%, social sciences; 9%, engineering; and 9%, health. About 11% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 75% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 68 graduate business degrees were awarded.