School of Business, University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT - University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT

Academics

The MBA Program offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Accounting (online) (MSAcc) as well as a doctoral program in business administration, and a joint degree in law (MBA/JD), social work (MBA/MSW), international studies (MBA/MA), medicine (MD/MBA), nursing (MBA/MS), international management (MBA/MIM). Other programs include a cooperative program with Em Lyon in France, foreign exchange with 2 countries, paid summer internships, joint research (particularly in e-business and financial services), the MBA Business Plan Competition, an edgelab (research and learning partnership with GE), SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator, and the Thomas J. & Bette Wolff Family Program in Entrepreneurship. The strongest areas of study are finance, health care management, insurance studies, management consulting, marketing intelligence, and operations and information management. The most popular courses are in finance and operations and information management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, including the Executive Speaker Series. Visiting professors come for research presentations and guest lectureships.

Fifty-seven total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 21 elective credits. Required courses include:

Managerial Statistics
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Market Driven Management
Managing Organizations
Economic Analysis for Business
Cost Analysis and Control
Financial Management
Operations Management
Management Information Systems
Business, Law, and Ethics in Modern Society
Enhancing Leader and Team Effectiveness
Strategy Policy and Planning

Required courses for the MS in Accounting (online) include:

Contemporary Financial Issues
Contemporary Managerial Accounting Issues
Global Financial Reporting and Analysis
Advanced Assurance Services
Taxation of Business Entities

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements only through comparable graduate work from another accredited university and the approval of program administration.

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 105 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 90% hold a doctorate; there are 33 part-time faculty, of whom 30% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 4; average business class size is 25.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 560. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and work experience. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 305; 185 were accepted; 89 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.4; average GMAT score was 603. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited through corporate partners and using specialized databases.

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 $65, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume and a statement of purpose. The application deadlines are April 15 for fall entry; January 16, spring; May 23, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision on a rolling basis for evening programs. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is June (January for international applicants. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Financial Aid

About 57% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $26,500 annually; maximum $27,100. Stipends and programs available for minority students include graduate assistantships and grants. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. The application deadline is April 15 for fall entry.

Tuition for all students is $540 per credit. On-campus room and board costs approximately $8864; books and supplies, $3500; personal expenses, $3000, for an estimated annual total of $25,374 for in-state residents and $38,654 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available on campus, but is limited. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Twelve percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 95% have had an average of 5 of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Connecticut (42%). Thirty-six percent are women, 15% are minorities, and 5% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 28; ages range from 21 to 48. Eight percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 9% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 33%, business; 18%, engineering; 15%, fine arts; 13%, math and science; 9%, economics; 9%, liberal arts; and 3%, social sciences. In 2006, 26 graduate business degrees were awarded.