College of Business and Economics, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Whitewater, WI - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Whitewater, WI

Academics

The College offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA). Other programs include a foreign exchange program. The strongest areas of study are accounting, finance, management, marketing, international business, and production management. The most popular courses are Business and Professional Communications, Management of Technology, and International Business.

Thirty-six total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 9 elective credits. Required courses include:

Advanced Statistical Methods
Business Conditions Analysis orManagerial Economics
Organizational Behavior or Building Effective Organizations
Strategic Decision Making
Business and Professional Communications
Managerial Economics

Required courses for the MPA include:

Cost Management II
Advanced Financial Accounting
Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting
Accounting and Management Information Systems
Auditing
Tax I
Intermediate Accounting I
Intermediate Accounting II
International Accounting or or Financial Statement Analysis
Corporate and Special Entitites Tax
Issues in Financial Accounting
Forensic Accounting and Professional Ethics
Advanced Accounting Theory l
Advanced Business and Commercial Law

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by submitting previous undergraduate work.

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 1 <1/2> years; maximum, 7 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 3 years; maximum, 7 years.

There are 83 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated below average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 18; average business class size is 27.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.75 and a GMAT score of 450. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 1000. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and grades in upper-level courses. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 170; 141 were accepted; 122 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.22; average GMAT score was 540. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by offering assistantships to minority students.

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 $45. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; May 1, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision immediately after the application file is complete.

Financial Aid

Stipends and programs available for minority students include the Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP). The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for in-state residents is $399 per credit, or $7176 per year. Nonresidents pay $990 per credit, or $17,812 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $4765; books and supplies, $2000; personal expenses, $2420, for an estimated annual total of $16,361 for in-state residents and $26,997 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available on campus in residence halls or off campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Twenty percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 65% 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 Wisconsin (60%). Forty-eight percent are women, 46% are minorities, and 16% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 27; ages range from 22 to 55. Thirty-five percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 13% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 50%, business; 30%, engineering; 10%, liberal arts; 5%, math and science; 2%, social sciences; 2%, education; and 1%, economics. About 4% 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, 129 graduate business degrees were awarded.