College of Business Graduate Program, Delta State University in Cleveland, MS

Academics

The MBA program offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA), Master of Commercial Aviation (MCA), and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA). Other programs include foreign exchange with 7 countries. The strongest area of study is management. The most popular course is in management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus which includes an Annual College of Business Lecture Series with Distinguished speakers.

Thirty hours are required to complete the MCA and MPA, 36 for the MBA and EMBA, including 9 elective credits. Required courses include:

Applied Decision Science
Financial Management
Strategic Marketing
Management Problems
Strategic Project Management
Production/Operations Management
Managerial Accounting
Management Information Systems
Managerial Economics

Required courses for the MPA include:

Management Information Systems or End User Systems Development
Financial Accounting—Theory and Analysis
Managerial Accounting
Federal Taxation Theory and Research
Advanced Auditing
Commercial Law

Required courses for the MCA include:

Advanced Human Factors in Aviation
Airline Management
Aviation’s Regulatory Environment
Airport Planning, Development and Operations
Fixed Base Operations
Advanced Aviation Safety
Air Cargo and Logistics Management
Advanced Transportation Systems
Special Topics in Aviation Business Administration
Methods of Educational Research and Statistics

Required courses for the Executive MBA include:

Managerial Communication
Managerial Accounting
Managerial Economics
Production/Operations Management
Managerial Finance
Management Problems
Problems in Corporate Finance
Business Modeling
Marketing Problems
Managing in a Global Environment

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by being granted credits for up to 2 graduate-level courses previously taken.

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

There are 18 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate; there are 4 part-time 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 credit hours faculty teach is 18; average business class size is 15.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.00. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, grades in upper-level courses, and GMAT results. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 92; 74 were accepted; 67 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.28; average GMAT score was 367. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by canvassing undergraduates, working through the alumni organization, and recruiting at minority institutions.

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 $28. The application deadlines are August 2 for fall entry; December 19, spring. Students are notified within 1 to 2 weeks of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is August 1. Once accepted, students may defer admission.

Financial Aid

About 70% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $8100 annually; maximum $14,000. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement and the previous year’s tax return are required.

Tuition for in-state residents is $222 per credit. Nonresidents pay $531 per credit. On-campus room and board costs approximately $4742; books and supplies, $800; personal expenses, $6000, for an estimated annual total of $15,550 for in-state residents and $17,108 for out-of-state residents. Limited on-campus housing is available; graduate and undergraduates share dorms. Students must apply to insure housing. There are also married and family housing available for rent on-campus. Students should contact University Housing at 662-846-4151 for more details.

Students

Forty-five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 68% have had an average of 5 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Mississippi (77%). Fifty-one percent are women, 44% are minorities, and 3% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 29; ages range from 22 to 59. Thirty-two percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 7% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 84%, business; 11%, math and science; 3%, liberal arts; and 2%, engineering. About 11% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 75% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 42 graduate business degrees were awarded.