School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, WI

Academics

The School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Business (MS), Actuarial Science (MS), Quantitative Master’s in Finance (MS), Master of Accountancy (MAcc), and Executive MBA (EMBA) as well as a doctoral program, and a joint degree in Law (JD/MBA). Other programs include interdisciplinary programs in 13 specialized areas, cross-registration, work-study programs, international study trips, foreign exchange programs with 8 countries, internships, joint research opportunities, a 3-year evening MBA program, and a 2-year Executive MBA program. The strongest areas of study are applied programs in corporate finance, security analysis, real estate, brand and product management, and marketing research. The most popular courses are in finance, marketing, real estate, entrepreneurship, management, and supply chain management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. These include Executive-in-Residence, Business Writer-in-Residence, John J. Oros Executive Leadership Speaker Series, IS Speaker Series, Graduate Marketing Network Speaker Series, and Net Impact Speaker Series.

Fifty-two total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 6 elective credits. Required courses include:

Accounting
Economics for Managers
Marketing Management
Financial Management
Operations Management
Data Analysis and Decision Making
Business Strategy
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Managing Behavior in Organizations

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements Core courses must be completed in residence as part of the lockstep cohort curriculum. Graduate level courses completed within the past two years at a “B” level of higher may be transferred as an elective.

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

There are 87 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 95% hold a doctorate; there are 35 part-time faculty. Faculty salaries are rated above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 3.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0. Most important admissions factors are work experience, career plans, and essays. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 405; 173 were accepted; 121 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.37; average GMAT score was 661. Transfers are not accepted. Minority students are actively recruited through the Consortium for Study in Graduate Management, a minority fellowship program, and a diversity weekend on campus.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall only. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $45, 3 letters of recommendation, 4 essays, and a resume. The application deadline is November 15 for fall entry. Students are notified within of the admissions decision 5 weeks of application deadline. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is May 12.

Financial Aid

About 77% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $29,560 annually; maximum $46,551. Stipends and programs available for minority students include advanced opportunities fellowships, providing stipends and tuition and fees. The school’s own financial statement is required. The application deadline is February 28 for fall entry.

On-campus room and board costs approximately $9893; books and supplies, $890; personal expenses, $5057; and other fees, $730, for an estimated annual total of $26,480 for in-state residents and $41,918 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing consists of a good supply of rooms, apartments, and houses to rent. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Sixty-five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 95% have had an average of 46 months of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Wisconsin (62%). Thirty-two percent are women, 9% are minorities, and 26% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 28; ages range from 21 to 45. Four percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 19% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 42%, business; 17%, engineering; 14%, liberal arts; 11%, social sciences; 7%, math and science; 5%, economics; and 4%, computer science and law. About 3% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 97% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 229 graduate business degrees were awarded.