College of Business Administration

University of Rhode Island, College of Business Administration History

University of Rhode Island, founded in 1892, is a public, coeducational institution. The campus is located in a rural area 30 miles south of Providence. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 15,000.

The College of Business Administration was founded in 1924 and is located on the main campus, in its own building. Courses also are offered at Providence (Evening MBA). The basic educational approach is a mixture of theory with internship/case exposure to develop general management leaders with global, ethical, and comprehensive orientations.

University of Rhode Island, College of Business Administration Academics

The College of Business Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Accounting (MSAcc) as well as a doctoral program, and a joint degree in MBA/PharmD program, 4+1 Engineering/MBA. Other programs include interdisciplinary programs, cross-registration, internships, joint research opportunities, and foreign exchange with 2 countries. The strongest areas of study are marketing, finance, accounting, and management. The most popular courses are management and finance electives. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, including the Executive-in-Residence program and the Guest Research Scholars series.

Forty-five total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 9 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Principles of Economics
• Statistics for Management
• Financial Accounting
• Organizational Behavior
• Financial Management
• Managerial Marketing
• Strategic Management
• 5 of the following
• Legal Environment of Business
• Information Systems Concepts
• Quantitative Methods for Management
• Production and Operations Management
• Managerial Economics
• Managerial Accounting
• Organizational Decision Making and Design

Students may take a waiver exam for Statistics, Finance or Marketing. Some basic MBA required courses may also be waived from the program of study if a student has taken two similar courses and receives Bs or better in both within the past 5 years.

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, 1 year. For students attending part time, the minimum is 18 months; maximum, 5 years.

There are 49 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category 1 institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 25.

University of Rhode Island, College of Business Administration Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 12,000 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 8900 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Compustat, F & S Indexes, Disclosure II, CRISP, Dialog, and Bloomberg. Other opportunities for research consist of the Research Center in Business and Economics, the Labor Research Center, the Center for Pacific-Basin Capital Markets Research, and the Research Institute for Telecommunications and Information Marketing.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, PC labs are available with more than 200 IBM and Mac computers; the College of Business houses a computer lab.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time. Placement services for alumni include the Career Services Center on campus. Placement is available through the university placement office.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 575 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 91 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of a health form from URI, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of assistantships only. The application deadline for fall entry is February 15.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long; summer sessions, 5 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening, weekends, and some Saturdays classes are offered.

University of Rhode Island, College of Business Administration Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, academic accomplishments and ability, and letters of recommendation. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 68; 52 were accepted; 38 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.2; average GMAT score was 579. Transfers are accepted.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall and spring. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a resume, and a residency form for in-state residents. The application deadlines are June 1 for fall entry; October 1, spring. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is June 1. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

University of Rhode Island, College of Business Administration Financial Aid

The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for in-state residents is $335 per credit, or $11,057 per year. Nonresidents pay $960 per credit, or $31,688 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $7365; books and supplies, $2500; personal expenses, $2500; and other fees, $1781, for an estimated annual total of $25,203 for in-state residents and $45,834 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing consists of efficiency or 2- or 3- bedroom apartments in Graduate Village. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

University of Rhode Island, College of Business Administration Students

Twelve percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. Thirty-nine percent are women. The average age at entrance is 29; ages range from 22 to 42. Thirty-two percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 8% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 50%, business; 26%, engineering; 11%, math and science; 10%, liberal arts; and 3%, social sciences. In 2006, 61 graduate business degrees were awarded.