College of Business

West Texas A & M University, College of Business History

West Texas A&M University, founded in 1910, is a public, coeducational institution. The 135-acre campus is located in a small town 15 miles south of Amarillo. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 7412.

The College of Business was founded in 1940 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered at Amarillo. The basic educational approach is student-oriented, with an emphasis on applications of theory and practice. Cases, computer-assisted presentations, and seminar discussions provide a lively learning environment.

West Texas A & M University, College of Business Academics

The College of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Finance and Economics (MSFE), and Master of Professional Accounting (MPA). Other programs include 3-2 degree programs, foreign exchange with Taiwan and Canada, and internships. The university offers a professional program that integrates the undergraduate bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and the MPA degrees. The strongest areas of study are management, marketing, and general business. The most popular courses are Management, Quantitative Analysis in Business, and Economics.

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

• Accounting for Decision Making
• Seminar in Advanced Microeconomic Theory
• Quantitative Analysis in Business
• Seminar in Finance
• Information Technology Management
• Seminar in Marketing
• Seminar in Organizational Behavior
• Strategic Management

Required courses for the MSFE include:

• International Economics orInternational Finance
• Econometrics
• Seminar in Advanced Microeconomic Theory
• Seminar in Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
• Seminar in Finance
• Money and Banking orMoney and Capital Markets
• Portfolio Management
• Seminar in Finance Theory

Required courses for the MPA include:

• Seminar in Accounting Theory
• Seminar in Accounting Systems
• Seminar in SEC Accounting
• Seminar in Tax Research
• Seminar in Auditing

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by transferring credits from an accepted MBA program.

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 2 years; maximum, 6 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 3 years; maximum, 6 years.

There are 36 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 72% hold a doctorate; there are 40 part-time faculty, of whom 65% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated below average for Category llA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 11; average business class size is 31.

West Texas A & M University, College of Business Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 1,096,058 volumes, 1,274,559 microform items, and 4924 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 19,022 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as Business & Company Resource Center, Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe, Business Resource Premier, EcoNet, and Regional Business News. Other opportunities for research consist of access to Texas A&M resources and interlibrary loans.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of PC labs with extensive application software open to all students.

Career and Job Placement

In spring 2006, 164 companies recruited on campus. Seventy-five percent were national corporations. Majors most in demand were accounting, general business, finance, management, and marketing. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $35,058; range was $23,500 to $90,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• local large enterprises 25%
• self-employment 25%
• local small enterprises 20%
• national corporations 15%
• regional corporations 15%

Placement services are extensive. Placement services available to alumni include resume development assistance, interview coaching, job search assistance through an on-line resume database, on-campus interviews, job fairs, and career days. Placement is available through career and counseling services. Eighty-six 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 525 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 71 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. There is a $75 application fee. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of assistantships and scholarships. The application deadline for fall entry is May 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 5 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

West Texas A & M University, College of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5 and a GMAT score of 400. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, grades in upper-level courses, and GMAT results. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 325; 250 were accepted; 205 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.1; average GMAT score was 437. Transfers are accepted.

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 $25. The application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; May 1, summer. Students are notified within 1 month of application of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is before the end of the first 6 weeks of class. Once accepted, students may defer admission.

West Texas A & M University, College of Business Financial Aid

About 60% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $5199 annually; maximum $14,526. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. The application deadlines are August for fall entry; December, spring; May, summer.

Tuition for in-state residents is $127 per credit, or $3048 per year. Nonresidents pay $402 per credit, or $9648 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5000; books and supplies, $900; personal expenses, $2828; and other fees, $834, for an estimated annual total of $12,610 for in-state residents and $19,210 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available in dormitories and local rentals. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

West Texas A & M University, College of Business Students

Forty-two percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students are from Texas (71%). Forty-seven percent are women, 15% are minorities, and 24% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 30; ages range from 21 to 69. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 16%, business; 10%, math and science; 7%, liberal arts; 4%, social sciences; 2%, economics; and 2%, engineering. About 33% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons. In 2006, 125 graduate business degrees were awarded.