Aquinas College, Graduate Management Program History

Aquinas College, founded in 1886, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The 107-acre campus is located in a suburban area. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 2098.

The Graduate Management Program was founded in 1978 and is located on the main campus. The basic educational approach is designed for a broad range of professional managers and administrators. It emphasizes human relations and not-for-profit sectors and combines theory with practical application.

Aquinas College, Graduate Management Program Academics

The Graduate Management Program offers the Master of Management (MM). Other programs include an internship option for 3 elective credits. The strongest areas of study are organization development and marketing. The most popular courses are Organizational Behavior, Group Dynamics, and Leadership.

Thirty-nine total credits are required to complete the MM, including 12 elective credits. Required courses for the MM include:

• The Economic Environment
• Research Methods, Design, and Analysis
• Organizational Theory and Design
• Marketing Management
• Organizational Behavior: Focus on the Individual
• Human Development
• Ethics and Social Responsibility of Management
• Accounting for Management
• Strategic Management and Policy-Making
• CommunicationInterpersonal, Organizations, Managerial Presentation, and Group Dynamics

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by waivers given for previous coursework.

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 16 months; maximum, 7 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 7 years.

There are 12 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 67% hold a doctorate; there are 5 part-time faculty, of whom 20% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category IIB institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 3; average business class size is 10.

Aquinas College, Graduate Management Program Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 110,000 volumes, 227,444 microform items, 14,725 special business collections, and 4560 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 800 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as Academic Universe, ECO, General Reference Center Gold, IDEAL, ProQuest, and Wilson Select Plus.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. Available computer facilities consist of PCs in buildings throughout the campus that are available at various hours.

Career and Job Placement

Average starting salary of the graduating class was $43,800; range was $10,000 to $90,000. Sixty-seven percent of the most recent graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degree.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 80 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts and proof of adequate funds to cover the entire period of study. The application deadline for fall entry is open.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 12 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only and weekends.

Aquinas College, Graduate Management Program Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.75. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, work experience, and grades in upper-level courses. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 28; 22 were accepted; 17 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.43; average GMAT score was 463. Transfers are accepted.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, and GMAT scores; an interview is also required. Students are notified of the admissions decision within 2 weeks of the interview. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is open. Once accepted, students may defer admission. Admission is valid for an unspecified time period.

Aquinas College, Graduate Management Program Financial Aid

About 56% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $2100 annually; maximum $12,500. The FAFSA is required. The application deadline is August 15 for fall entry.

Tuition for all students is $430 per credit. Books and supplies cost approximately $716 Graduate student housing is not available. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Aquinas College, Graduate Management Program Students

Sixteen percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; all have had an average of 10 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Michigan (99%). Sixty-one percent are women, 10% are minorities, and 5% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 35; ages range from 23 to 53. About 10% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 36% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 26 graduate business degrees were awarded.