Master of Business Administration Degree

The MBA Degree at SFASU

The Master of Business Administration program at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) provides advanced training in the theory and practice of management. Students are exposed to the fundamentals of business, including accounting, economics, finance, information systems, the legal and social environment of business, marketing, operations, organizational behavior, quantitative methods, and strategy; specialized knowledge is available from elective courses. The program is designed primarily for part-time students, but full-time students are also accepted (most classes are scheduled during evening hours). Applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree and meet admission standards are accepted without regard to undergraduate major.

Why Get an MBA?

In many businesses, the MBA is a prerequisite for advancement to higher levels of responsibility. The degree is valued by employers, and average starting salaries are significantly higher for those who hold the degree than for those who do not. The MBA is particularly relevant for persons with technical or liberal arts training who desire to improve their administrative skills. Even students with undergraduate business majors can benefit from the MBA by raising their knowledge and skills to a higher level, and those holding a four-year accounting degree can use the MBA to meet the education requirements for Texas CPA certification.

Career paths for MBA graduates are numerous and include jobs in accounting, finance, human resource management, management information systems, manufacturing, marketing, and operations management. Many graduates work as consultants, and others start their own businesses. Still more opportunities exist in government, education, health care administration, and nonprofit agencies.

Program of Study

Applicants must ordinarily have completed the following undergraduate courses prior to admission, preferably with grades of "B" or better within the last five years (equivalents are considered). If a student is admitted with deficiencies, he or she must complete the required course(s) during the first semester of enrollment (see the General Bulletin for detailed descriptions):

Each student's graduate degree plan is customized according to his or her background. Graduate coursework is divided into two parts: "leveling" courses and the "core." Leveling courses cover the common body of business knowledge that would normally be included in an undergraduate business curriculum and should be completed before enrolling in core courses. This part consists of the following 21 semester hours (see the Graduate Bulletin for detailed descriptions):

Depending on the student's background, some or all of the leveling courses may be waived by the MBA director. For a course to be waived, the student must normally have completed equivalent undergraduate or graduate courses from a regionally accredited university. Grades of B or better within the last five years are required in most cases.

All MBA candidates are required to take the "core" of the program. These courses refine business knowledge by exploring business theories and applications and applying the knowledge to real-world situations. The core consists of the following 36 semester hours:

Most students major in General Business. However, anyone who selects his or her electives to obtain at least 18 total hours in Management may choose to major in that subject. At most, six hours of coursework may be transferred in from an AACSB-accredited school, and all requirements must be completed within six years of first enrollment in graduate courses. Each student must also meet the university comprehensive exam requirement (see current policy).

Admission

A student seeking admission to the MBA program should take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) at least two months prior to enrollment (scores more than five years old at the time of application are not normally accepted). Study information is available from many sources, including most bookstores, and the exam can be taken at SFASU. On-line practice GMAT tests are available at Practice GMAT.An admission application form (.doc) must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Graduate School, and official transcripts must be sent from all colleges and universities attended. The deadline for receipt of all material (including GMAT score) is 30 days prior to registration for the semester in which the student desires to enroll. Application and GMAT forms are available from the College of Business and the Office of the Graduate School. Application forms can also be found in the current Graduate Bulletin.

Once the application is complete, an acceptance decision is made based on a combination of undergraduate grade-point-average (GPA) and GMAT score along with a review of previous coursework (see required undergraduate courses in Program of Study above). To be accepted, a candidate must meet undergraduate course requirements and must have either a value of at least 950 using the formula (overall GPA x 200) + GMAT score, or a value of at least 1,000 using the formula (upper-division GPA x 200) + GMAT score. For purposes of this formula, "upper-division" is defined to be either the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework (excluding freshman-level courses) or all junior/senior courses. A student whose native language is not English must also present a score of at least 213 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 550 on the paper-based test. Exceptions to these standards are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Resources

Ample research support is available in the Ralph W. Steen Library. In addition to extensive holdings which include cultural and historical collections, the library supports interlibrary loan services, computer search and retrieval systems, and Internet access. Audiovisual services are also provided, including full access capabilities for students with disabilities. Microcomputer labs with up-to-date hardware and software are available in several locations on campus, including the library and the McGee Business Building.

Expenses

Tuition and fees are subject to change but typically run about the same as other Texas state universities and less than universities in many other states. In 2006-2008, tuition and fees for full-time (12-hour) students totaled about $2,263 per semester for Texas residents and $5,575 for others. Half-time (6-hour) students pay approximately half the full-time rate. Costs for summer school are approximately the same per course as in regular semesters. In general, a student must have resided in Texas for 12 consecutive months prior to first enrollment in order to receive the resident tuition rate. However, students employed half-time or more as graduate teaching assistants are allowed to pay the in-state rate regardless of residency status. Some regional firms will reimburse tuition for employees.

Ample housing is available in the form of dormitories and apartments on campus, and there are many other apartment complexes in the municipal area. On-campus apartments rent for $528-$941 per month in 2006-2007. For more information, contact the Housing Office at (936)468-2601.

Financial Aid

A small number of graduate teaching assistant positions are available to full-time (taking at least nine hours per semester) MBA students. Openings are typically announced during the preceding semester, and application must be made to the department responsible for the position. Scholarships are very limited, with most being administered by the Alumni Association; call (936)468-3407 for more information.

Loans are available from many sources, including the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which administers the GMAT test. Information is available on GMAT application forms as well as from GMAC at (800)366-6227. For more information on all types of financial aid, call the Financial Aid Office at (936)468-2403.

Career Services

The Career Services Center assists current and former students in seeking employment opportunities. The center serves as a liaison between students and prospective employers by announcing job opportunities and providing interview facilities. The Career Services Center will also maintain a placement file consisting of personal data, transcripts, and references to be presented upon request to prospective employers.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm thinking of going into the MBA program after getting my BBA.  Is that a good idea, or should I get some work experience first?

Most people who enter MBA programs have two or more years of full-time work experience, usually as a manager of some sort.  The work experience both gives the person a break from school and more importantly a perspective that makes the MBA coursework more meaningful.  Also, most MBA graduates will have work experience, so a person who gets an MBA and who lacks experience will be at a disadvantage in the job market.   In most cases, a student who lacks significant full-time work experience should obtain that experience before beginning an MBA program.

I work full time.  Can I attend the SFASU MBA program?

Generally speaking, yes.  In fact, most current SFASU MBA students work full time. To accommodate them, nearly all courses in the SFASU MBA program are offered after 4:00 p.m. or on Saturday. Courses offered at 4:00 in a given semester will generally be offered at 6:45 p.m. the next time.  See the Course Rotation for more information.

I have a three-year bachelor's degree from India.  Is this accepted for the bachelor's degree requirement?

No.  SFASU requires a masters degree from India to meet admissions requirements.   Business students from India must normally have passed both the MCOM1 and MCOM2 exams.

I want to attend the SFASU MBA program, but I am not a U.S. resident. Can I get financial aid?

International applicants must show that they are prepared to pay the full cost of the program. Financial aid opportunities for international students are very limited and typically cannot be guaranteed in advance of admission.

How many companies come on campus to recruit SFASU MBA graduates?

Our program is small, and most students already have full-time jobs.  There are few graduates who are actually in the job market, so few companies come on campus for interviews. Never the less, essentially all graduates manage to find good jobs. Search services like Career Central can help.

What are the average salaries of SFASU MBA program graduates?

That information is not available.

For additional information contact...

MBA Director
Stephen F. Austin State University
P.O. Box 13004, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962
(936) 468-3101
Fax: (936)468-1560
E-mail: mba@sfasu.edu

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