School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies

University of Houston-Clear Lake, School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies History

University of Houston/Clear Lake, founded in 1974, is a public, coeducational institution. The 524-acre campus is located in a suburban area between downtown Houston and Galveston Island. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is approximately 7800. Enrollment figures in the above capsule are approximate.

The School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies was founded in 1974 and is located on the main campus. The basic educational approach is a mix of teaching methods.

University of Houston-Clear Lake, School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies Academics

The School of Business and Public Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Accounting (MSAcc), Master of Science in Finance (MSFin), Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MSMIS), Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEnvMgmt), Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), and Master of Arts in Human Resource Management (MAHRM) as well as a joint degree in health care administration (MHA/MBA). Other programs include work-study and internship programs. The most popular courses are in Management and Finance.

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

• Corporate Income Tax
• Individual Income Tax
• Legal Concepts for the Business Professional
• Seminar in Auditing Theory and Practice
• Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory
• Management Information Systems
• Accounting Information Systems
• Advanced Accounting Problems
• Teamwork and Leadership Skills
• Management Science and Operations
• Strategic Management Seminar

Required courses for the MBA include:

• Accounting for Administrative Control
• Economic Policy and Applications
• Financial Policy
• Global Environment of Business
• Teamwork and Leadership Skills
• Management Science and Operations
• Strategic Management Seminar
• Executive Decisions in Marketing

Required courses for the MISFin include:

• Management Science and Operations
• Economic Policy and Applications
• Financial System
• Financial Policy
• Structure of Financial Statements
• Security Analysis
• International Finance
• Seminar in Finance

Required courses for the MAHRM include:

• Group Processes in Organizations
• Legal Environment of Human Resource Management I
• Compensation and Benefits
• Employee Planning, Staffing, and Selection
• Human Resource Information Systems
• Training and Development
• Human Resource Management Processes
• Human Behavior in Organizations
• Organizational Change
• Transforming Data into Information
• Seminar in HRM I (Capstone) Contemporary Issues in Leadership
• Seminar in HRM II (Capstone) Strategic, Ethical, and International Issues

Required courses for the MSMIS include:

• Management Information Systems
• Fundamentals of Database Design and Development
• Advanced Applications Programming with C# or Advanced Applications Programming with Java
• Advanced Applications Programming in Visual Basic
• Internet Applications Development
• Fundamentals of Computer Networking
• Advanced Database Applications Development
• Systems Analysis and Design

Required courses for the MSEnvMgmt include:

• Environmental Law
• Pollution Control Technology
• The Study of Administration
• Transforming Data into Information
• Decision Support Systems
• Environmental Impact Assessment (capstone course)

Required courses for the MHA include:

• Healthcare Human Resource Mangement
• Managerial Epidemiology and Health Policy
• Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations I
• Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations II
• Planning Healthcare Services
• Healthcare Information Systems
• Organizational Change and Quality Improvement in Healthcare
• Legal Aspects of Healthcare Systems
• Managed Care
• Hospital Operations or Group Practice Management
• Seminar in Healthcare Policy and Leadership

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements through course work where applicable.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The maximum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time or part time is 5 years.

In a recent year, there were 50 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom held a doctorate; there were 11 part-time faculty, all of whom held a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 30.

University of Houston-Clear Lake, School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 415,745 volumes, 18 microform items, 2200 special business collections, and 10,172 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 3154 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in economic history (Goldsmiths’-Kress). Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, FIS Online, Business Periodicals Index, and Health Star. Other opportunities for research consist of American Statistical Index Full-Text Microform Collection, U.S. Census, and other government data.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 180 PCs available 24 hours, Monday through Thursday and 14 hours Friday through Sunday; 31 additional PCs are available 24 hours every day. Software includes NT, Office 2000, SPSS, MiniTab, SASS, Netscape, and Explorer.

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. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. There are special fees for health insurance and an international fee of $630 per year. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of assistantships and new student scholarships.

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.

University of Houston-Clear Lake, School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.00 and a GMAT score of 450. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, grades in upper-level courses, and academic accomplishments and ability. A strong mathematics background is not required.

Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by the Black MBA Forum and other activities through Enrollment Services.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, and a nonrefundable application fee of $35. The application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; May 1, summer. Students are notified continuously of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is June 1. Once accepted, students may defer admission for 1 year.

University of Houston-Clear Lake, School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 20% of graduate business school students received financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $8500 annually; maximum $15,000. Stipends and programs available for minority students include in-state tuition. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement and the previous year’s tax return are required. The priority application deadline is April 1 for fall entry.

Tuition for in-state residents is $3618 per year. Nonresidents pay $8568 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $4838; books and supplies, $918; personal expenses, $13,000; and other fees, $978, for an estimated annual total of $23,352 for in-state residents and $28,352 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing an on-campus apartment complex. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

University of Houston-Clear Lake, School of Business and Public Administration/Graduate Studies Students

Twenty-eight percent of a recent graduate business school class were enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students were from Texas (75%). Forty-seven percent were women, 15% were minorities, and 17% were foreign nationals. The average age at entrance was 28; ages ranged from 21 to 60. Eight percent already had a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 40%, engineering; 39%, business; 10%, math and science; 5%, social sciences; 4%, liberal arts; and 1%, economics. About 5% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 90% remain to receive their degree. In a recent year, 275 graduate business degrees were awarded.