1. Home »
  2. University of Akron

College of Business Administration

Academics

The Graduate Programs in Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Management (MSM), Master of Taxation (MT), and Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) as well as a joint degree in law (JD/MBA), law and taxation (JD/MT), and law and human resources (JD/MSM-HR). Other programs include interdisciplinary programs in international business, management of technology and innovation, entrepreneurship, e-business, global sales management, cooperative programs in engineering with the College of Engineering and Arts Management, foreign exchange with 14 countries, and internship programs. The strongest areas of study are international business, management, finance, taxation, information systems, and global sales management. The most popular course is Finance. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company sponsors an executive leadership forum that attracts 2 distinguished speakers each year, and the Colloquium in Business, which brings weekly speakers.

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

  • Process Analysis and Cost Management
  • Strategic Financial Decision Making
  • Management of Operations
  • Strategic Marketing Management
  • Business Strategy and Policy
  • Leadership
  • International Business Environments

Required courses for the MSM include:

  • Business Process Integration
  • Data Analysis for Managers
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Supply Chain Management

Required courses for the MT include:

  • Basic Tax Research
  • Corporate Tax I
  • Taxation of Transactions in Property or Taxation of Intellectual Property
  • Taxation of Partnerships
  • Tax Accounting
  • Tax Practice and Procedure
  • State and Local Taxation
  • U.S. Taxation of Transnational Operations

Required courses for the MSA include:

  • ERP and Financial Date Communications
  • Contemporary Accounting Issues
  • Enterprise Risk Assessment and Assurance
  • Accounting and Assurance Project
  • Advanced Accounting

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

There are 34 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 91% hold a doctorate; there are 15 part-time faculty, of whom 7% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 4; average business class size is 17.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.75. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 1100. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, academic accomplishments and ability, and motivation. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 198; 178 were accepted; 85 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.26; average GMAT score was 535. 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 $30, and 2 letters of recommendation. The application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; May 1, summer. Students are notified within 4 weeks of receipt of the complete application of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is August 1. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 2 years.

Financial Aid

About 23% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $25,218 annually; maximum $38,727. Stipends and programs available for minority students include diversity assistantships. The FAFSA is required. The school’s own form is required for assistantships and fellowships.The application deadlines are March 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring.

Tuition for in-state residents is $402 per credit, or $18,101 per year. Nonresidents pay $647 per credit, or $29,127 per year. Books and supplies cost approximately $1200; personal expenses, $10,800; and other fees, $1575, for an estimated annual total of $31,676 for in-state residents and $42,702 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is not available on campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Forty-eight percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 70% have had an average of 4 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Ohio (65%). Forty-two percent are women, 5% are minorities, and 24% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 27; ages range from 21 to 57. Twenty percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 16% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 56%, business; 14%, engineering; 10%, liberal arts; 10%, math and science; 6%, social sciences; 3%, economics; and 1%, education. About 6% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 60% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 122 graduate business degrees were awarded.

This website and its associated pages are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by this school.
StateUniversity.com has no official or unofficial affiliation with College of Business Administration.