Wheeling Jesuit University, MBA Program, MSA Program History

Wheeling Jesuit University, founded in 1954, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church (Jesuits). The 65-acre campus is located in an urban area 60 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 1402.

The MBA Program, was founded in 1978 and is located on the main campus. The basic educational approach is aimed specifically at working residents of the upper Ohio Valley and is designed to provide a quality managerial education in an accessible evening program of study. The program emphasizes the functional areas of business and stresses the ethical implications of an organization’s decision-making processes.

Wheeling Jesuit University, MBA Program, MSA Program Academics

The Graduate Business Programs offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA). Other programs include internship programs. The strongest areas of study are ethics, leadership, and strategy. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Speakers on capitalism and morality are brought in on a regular basis by the Institute for the Study of Capitalism and Morality, which is funded through a grant.

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

• Organizational Behavior
• Marketing Management
• The Ethical Environment of Business
• Quantitative Business Analysis
• Managerial Economics
• Management of Financial Resources
• Accounting for Management Control
• Operations Management
• Managerial Policy and Strategy
• Leadership Skills
• 2 electives

Required courses for the MSA include:

• Management of Financial Resources
• Controllership
• Advanced Tax Accounting
• Managerial Economics
• Auditing and Professional Auditing Standards
• Ethical Environment of Business
• Law for Accountants
• Accounting Profession and Its Environments
• 2 electives

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by having foundation courses waived (MBA only); other substitutions are possible with the approval of the dean.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full or part time is 1 year; maximum, 7 years.

There are 6 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 66% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 11; average business class size is 13.

Wheeling Jesuit University, MBA Program, MSA Program Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 130,725 volumes and 129,803 microform items, and subscribes to 382 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in accounting. Students have access to such databases and networks as JSTOR, Project Muse, Academic Search Elite, Lexis/Nexis, Country Watch, CIAO, Business Source Elite, New York Times, SYBWorld, Newspaper Source, Regional Business News, and over 9,600 on-line full text journals in aggregated database. Other opportunities for research consist of the National Technology Transfer Center Resource Center, collection of business resources.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The university computer labs provide use of Macs, UNIX, and Windows systems for campus course work and access to the Internet.The computer center is open Sunday through Saturday 86 hours per week during the normal semester. The business department classrooms have 24 computers.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are limited, since most students are already employed full time. Placement services for alumni include resume preparation, career planning, and employment opportunities. Placement is available through the university placement office and the Career Center provides individual counseling on employment opportunities.

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 TOEFL (iBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of a university health form, and proof of adequate funds to cover the entire course of study. The application deadline for fall entry is August 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 6 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only and in summer.

Wheeling Jesuit University, MBA Program, MSA Program Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.8 and a GMAT score of 490. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, work experience, and GMAT results. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 32; 31 were accepted; 24 enrolled. The average GPA was 2.98; average GMAT score was 577. 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, a nonrefundable application fee of $25, 3 letters of recommendation, and a resume. A personal interview may be required. The application deadlines are August 15 for fall entry; December 15, spring; April 15, summer. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is August 20. Once accepted, students may defer admission for 2 years.

Wheeling Jesuit University, MBA Program, MSA Program Financial Aid

About 62% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $13,795 annually; maximum $18,500. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement and the previous year’s tax return are required. The application deadlines are August 28 for fall entry; January 8, spring; May 14, summer.

Tuition for all students is $495 per credit, or $8910 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $6300; books and supplies, $600; personal expenses, $700; and other fees, $260, for an estimated annual total of $16,770. Graduate student housing is available on campus; off-campus housing can also be found without difficulty.

Wheeling Jesuit University, MBA Program, MSA Program Students

Forty-three percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 67% have had an average of 9 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from West Virginia (40%). Forty-three percent are women, 6% are minorities, and 4% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 30; ages range from 22 to 54. Forty-four percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 4% already have a graduate degree. About 23% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons. In 2006, 19 graduate business degrees were awarded.