Frequently Asked Questions Is your MBA program accredited
Frequently Asked Questions
Is your MBA program
accredited?
The Iowa State University MBA is accredited by AACSB (Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) International, the premier
accrediting agency for business administration and accounting degree
programs in the United States.
How long does it usually take to complete the Iowa State University MBA?
The full-time MBA is a two-year, 48 credit hour degree program.
The first year of the full-time MBA consists of a series of required,
MBA core classes. The second year is comprised entirely of
elective courses in which you choose the classes that best meet your
academic and career objectives.
The part-time Saturday MBA
in Ames and Evening MBA in Des Moines programs are typically completed
in 31 months. The first half of the program consists of four,
twelve week semesters of MBA core classes (six credit hours per
semester). The remaining four semesters are comprised entirely of
elective courses. A wide variety of MBA electives are offered in
the evenings in Ames and Des Moines and on Saturdays on the Iowa State
campus.
Does your part-time MBA program differ from
your full-time MBA?
The part-time MBA curriculum is identical to the full-time
curriculum and is taught by the same faculty.
Am I required to take the prescribed
schedule of required, MBA core classes? You will be expected to follow the arranged schedule of core classes. The Iowa State MBA core is
comprised of a sequence of interrelated and interdisciplinary courses covering
all the functional area of business. The core curriculum is purposely
structured into building blocks to maximize your graduate
management experience.
Can I specialize in an
area through the Iowa State MBA program? You will have the option to pursue a general management MBA
or to develop an area of specialization within your MBA degree program.
Currently, areas of
specialization
are offered in accounting, agribusiness,
finance, information systems, international business, marketing, and
supply chain management. Specialized study in
finance, information systems, and marketing is available on Saturdays
in Ames and in the evenings in Des Moines.
Is financial assistance available for full-time MBA students?
Financial assistance is available to full-time MBA students with
the primary means being graduate assistantship appointments. Typically, a student on an assistantship appointment receives
resident-based tuition, a tuition scholarship equivalent to
one-quarter of the cost of tuition, and a monthly stipend (currently
$740 per month). In exchange, graduate assistants work 10 hours
per week for a College of Business faculty member on research-related
activities. Scholarship support is also offered on a competitive
basis to outstanding students.
What do you offer for placement services to MBA students?
A full-time, director of graduate career services is available to
assist you with your internship and full-time employment needs.
Resume referrals, individual career counseling, skills development
workshops, on-campus interviews, and career and industry panel
discussions are available to MBA students. In addition, the Iowa
State MBA program participates in an exciting new consortium, the
Southwest Alliance of MBA Programs, which hosts a regional job fair
each fall and provides excellent networking opportunities for students
as they pursue internship and full-time positions.
What types of extra-curricular activities are available for
students in the MBA program?
There are countless extra-curricular activities available for students
enrolled in the MBA program. The MBA Association hosts industry
panels and speakers, schedules company visits, coordinates service
learning projects, and hosts numerous social events throughout the
academic year. In addition, Iowa State is home to hundreds of
multicultural, departmental, honorary, and special interest clubs and
organizations so there is practically something for everyone.
Where are part-time MBA classes
held?
Evening MBA classes are held in downtown Des Moines at Capital Square
located at 5th and Locust, ground level.
Saturday MBA classes are held on the Iowa State campus in Ames. Classes
meet in the Gerdin Business Building which houses the ISU College of Business.
Additional electives are offered in the evening in Ames
When do
MBA classes meet?
Evening MBA classes in Des Moines meet twice a week in Des Moines from
5:45 p.m.- 9:15 p.m..
Saturday MBA classes in Ames meet from 8:30 a.m-12 noon and 1:00
p.m. - 4:30
p.m.
Can I begin taking MBA classes before being admitted into
the program?
Yes, however it is generally not recommended to take MBA
classes until admission is granted. Students with strong academic backgrounds
in business, however, may have an opportunity to take advanced business
elective courses prior to admission.
How are MBA
work teams assigned?
Team work is an integral part of the MBA experience with many of the
classroom projects and presentations utilizing student teams. Students
are divided into three to four member MBA teams. Typically, the same team
members are together throughout the MBA core portion of the program. Interdisciplinary teams greatly enhance the MBA
learning environment as students collectively contribute their special skills,
knowledge, and expertise to the team. Careful thought is given
when assigning team members, with each team member contributing
through varied academic backgrounds, occupations and work experience.
Since I do work full-time, how much time is involved outside
of the
classroom? What happens when I need to miss a class?
The time commitment varies significantly from student to student
and class to class. On average, you can expect to spend about
12-15 hours per week for class preparation in the part-time MBA
programs.
We recognize that you may need to miss class occasionally
due to unavoidable personal and work commitments. The MBA
faculty understand the special needs of busy professionals like yourself and will
work with you if conflicts arise. You will need to communicate
your missed classes ahead of time with faculty and team members. You will also have
the option to make-up a missed evening core
class, on a Saturday since the MBA core
courses follow parallel schedules.
What happens if I start the Iowa State MBA and need to move
because of a job transfer?
Course transfer policies vary widely among MBA programs. The
number of total credit hours that are transferable are often quite
limited. We will generally consider up to twelve credit hours of
MBA elective course work for transfer from an AACSB-accredited
business school.
What do you look for when evaluating candidates for admission?
Our goal is to bring in students representing a rich blend of academic
disciplines and work histories, industries and occupations, genders
and ethnicities who share a common goal--to succeed in the classroom
and beyond. Each student is expected to contribute, grow, and
excel in this challenging and rewarding learning environment. We
carefully assess each candidate's academic and career accomplishments,
communications skills, goals, and commitment to this educational
opportunity.
Do I really need to take the GMAT?
We require that all MBA applicants take the Graduate Management
Admissions Test (GMAT). The GMAT is an aptitude test commonly
used by MBA programs across the country as a predicator for
academic success in graduate business school. The GMAT is an
important factor in the candidate selection process but it's just one of
several criteria considered for admission. Preparation for the GMAT is recommended and may help to improve test performance.
IS the TOEFL required?
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required if
your native language is not English, or if you earned your bachelor's
degree at a university where English was not the language of
instruction. A minimum total score of 250 on the computer-based TOEFL is
required for admission (600 on the paper-based test).
Do I need to take
business prerequisites before my MBA core classes?
No. All entering students start the MBA core regardless of their academic
backgrounds. You will not be required to take business prerequisites.
E-mail us if
you still have questions we didn't answer.
