College of Business, Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA - Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA

Academics

The College of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other programs include a study-abroad program. The strongest areas of study are finance, accounting, marketing, management information systems, and management. The most popular courses are Advanced Accounting Information Systems, Health Care Law, and Database Modeling and Design. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. These include Business Week and the Ethics Speaker Series.

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

Accounting for Business Decisions
Business Policy and Strategy
Statistical Methods in Business and Economics
Financial Policies
Organizational Theory and Behavior
Managerial Economics
Marketing Administration

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by transferring up to 9 credit hours from another institution.

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, 6 years.

There are 32 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 2; average business class size is 34.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5 and a GMAT score of 400. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 950. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, grades in upper-level courses, and academic accomplishments and ability. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 114; 51 were accepted; 36 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.71; average GMAT score was 497. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by attending job fairs and professional school fairs at African-American universities.

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 $20. The application deadlines are July 15 for fall entry; December 1, spring; May 1, summer. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is July 15. Deferred admission is granted upon review of each individual’s reason(s) for requesting deferment.

Financial Aid

About 51% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $6152 annually; maximum $16,135. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. The application deadlines are May 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring; March 1, summer.

Tuition for in-state residents is $123 per credit, or $2216 per year. Nonresidents pay $345 per credit, or $6212 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5750; books and supplies, $1000; personal expenses, $2570; and other fees, $986, for an estimated annual total of $12,522 for in-state residents and $16,518 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available on campus.

Students

Sixty-five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students are from Louisiana (84%). Forty-five percent are women, 20% are minorities, and 16% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 25; ages range from 21 to 39. Ninety-one percent enter directly from undergraduate school. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 71%, business; 4%, economics; 4%, social sciences; 2%, engineering; and 2%, math and science. About 27% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 56% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 85 graduate business degrees were awarded.