Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University in Boone, NC - Appalachian State University in Boone, NC

Academics

The Walker College of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Accounting (MSAcc). The strongest areas of study are management, finance, and accounting. The most popular course is management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. The CEO Lecture Series brings chief executive officers of large corporations to campus to meet with students.

Thirty-two total credits are required to complete the MBA. Required courses include:

Ethics and Communication
Economics for Decision Making
Information Systems for Competitive Advantage
Managerial Finance
Problem Analysis and Quantitive Methods
Executive Skills
Marketing Strategy and Applications
Strategic Management
Operations and Supply Chain Management
International Seminar
Leadership Skills

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 1 year.

There are 64 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 6; average business class size is 25.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GMAT score of 450. Most important admissions factors are grades in upper-level courses, GMAT results, and academic accomplishments and ability. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 56; 39 were accepted; 29 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.13; average GMAT score was 518. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $45, 3 letters of recommendation, and a resume. The application deadline is May 1 for summer entry. Students are notified as early as possible of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is March. Once accepted, students may defer admission for 1 year by written request.

Financial Aid

About 80% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $5000 annually; maximum $11,000. Stipends and programs are available for minority students. The GAPSFAS or FAFSA is required. The application deadline is January 15 for fall entry.

Tuition for in-state residents is $2400 per year. Nonresidents pay $12,000 per year. Other fees are approximately $2000, for an estimated annual total of $4400 for in-state residents and $14,000 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is readily available off campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Forty-five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 76% have had an average of 5 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school. The greatest percentage of students are from North Carolina (97%). Thirty-one percent are women and 3% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 31; ages range from 22 to 41. Twenty-four percent enter directly from undergraduate school. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 70%, business; 5%, engineering; 5%, education; and 1%, economics. About 10% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 90% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 9 graduate business degrees were awarded.