Graduate School of Management

Kent State University-Kent Campus, Graduate School of Management History

Kent State University, founded in 1910, is a public, coeducational institution. The 2466-acre campus is located in a small town 33 miles southeast of Cleveland. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 22,697.

The Graduate School of Management was founded in 1950 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered at the Kent State Stark campus and Lorain County Community College. The basic educational approach is use of a mix of theoretical and case approaches, with increasing use of technology and the Internet for a global emphasis.

Kent State University-Kent Campus, Graduate School of Management Academics

The GSM offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Accounting (MSA), Master of Arts in Economics (MAE), and Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MSFE) as well as a doctoral program in business administration, and a joint degree in nursing (MSN/MBA), library science (MLIS/MBA), and architecture (MArch/MBA). Other programs include 3-2 degrees in economics and accounting, foreign exchange with France, internships, and opportunities for joint research. The strongest areas of study are global management and finance. The most popular courses are Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, and International Business. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. The Pilliod Lecture Series, sponsored by a grant from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, hosts 4 national/international speakers annually, the Michael D. Solomon Speaker Series brings entrepreneurs to campus to share their experience, the Borgwarner Lecture focuses on global management speakers, and the Biggar Lecture Series addresses small business issues.

Fifty-four total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 6 to 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Financial Accounting for Managerial Action
• Accounting for Managerial Action and Evaluation
• Management Information Systems
• Business Conditions Analysis and Public Policy
• Managerial Economics
• Financial Management
• Human Resources Management
• Marketing Management
• Operations Management
• Statistics
• Business Strategy
• International Business
• Leadership and Managerial Assessment
• Legal and Ethical Environment of Mgmt. Decisions (core courses may be waived because of the completion of equivalent undergraduate work from AACSB schools)

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.

In a recent year, there were 58 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 95% held a doctorate; there were 3 part-time faculty. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average business class size is 35.

Kent State University-Kent Campus, Graduate School of Management Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 2.5 million volumes and 1.3 million microform items, and subscribes to 12,000 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Compact Disclosure, Lexis/Nexis, and Compustat. Other opportunities for research consist of borrowing privileges; interlibrary loans; and on-line access to holdings of all Ohio state-assisted universities, select private universities, medical schools, and community colleges.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of more than 100 IBM PCs available Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Career and Job Placement

Majors most in demand by companies recruiting in 2006 were accounting, marketing, and finance. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $44,800; range was $35,500 to $57,500. Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include on-campus recruiting, referrals, and a job-applicant retrieval system. Placement is available through the university placement office. Eighty-five percent of the most recent graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degree.

International Students

International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 79 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of a questionnaire filled out by the student, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. There are special fees of $100 (SEVIS). Financial aid is available for these students and consists of a limited number of graduate assistantships. The application deadline for fall entry is April 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long; summer sessions, 5 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

Kent State University-Kent Campus, Graduate School of Management Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.7. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and grades in upper-level courses. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 89; 72 were accepted; 42 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.39; average GMAT score was 534. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by the PhD Project.

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, 3 letters of recommendation, an essay, and a resume. The application deadlines are April 1 for fall entry; December 15, winter; May 15, summer. Students are notified 2 to 3 weeks after the file is complete of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is April 1 (full time) and July 15 (part time). Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Kent State University-Kent Campus, Graduate School of Management Financial Aid

The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for in-state residents is $408 per credit, or $8968 per year. Nonresidents pay $728 per credit, or $15,980 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $6880 to $6990; books and supplies, $1000; personal expenses, $1800, for an estimated annual total of $18,648 for in-state residents and $25,770 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing consists of upper class/graduate halls exclusively for juniors, seniors, and graduate students; married student/family housing is also available. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Kent State University-Kent Campus, Graduate School of Management Students

Fifty-seven percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 45% have had an average of 16 months of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Ohio (71%). Forty-five percent are women, 5% are minorities, and 18% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 24; ages range from 22 to 28. Fifty-two percent enter directly from undergraduate school. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 43%, business; 14%, math and science; 12%, liberal arts; 10%, social sciences; 5%, economics; and 4%, engineering. About 5% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 85% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 109 graduate business degrees were awarded.