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Frequently Asked Questions What are USF’s MBA program admission requirements? 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) upper level GPA (typically the last 60 hours of your undergraduate degree). To find out how to calculate this click here. 500 (out of 800) on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). For GRE requirement, please contact us Two years of relevant post-baccalaureate work experience Proficiency in algebra Computer Competency in: Spreadsheet analysis Word processing Presentation software What accreditation does USF’s MBA program hold? USF’s MBA program, along with the entire college of business, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. AACSB International accreditation is the highest level of accreditation that a business school can receive internationally. For more information, and a list of schools that are AACSB accredited, please go to www.aacsb.edu. Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in business or experience in the business field to be in the MBA program? No, not at all, USF’s MBA program gladly accepts qualified students from all academic backgrounds that hold a degree from an accredited undergraduate institution in the United States or from a recognized institution in a foreign country. The MBA encourages anyone to apply regardless of his or her business experience or knowledge. MBA’s often come from diverse educational backgrounds, which makes learning that much more effective. Will I be at a disadvantage not having a degree in business or little business experience? Certainly not. The MBA program is designed with everyone in mind. The tool courses, our introductory courses, are designed to acquaint everyone with business and provide them with the necessary business knowledge they will need to succeed in future classes and their career. These classes assume no prior business knowledge or experience. How many courses can I transfer from another University’s MBA program to USF’s MBA program? You may transfer up to nine (12) credit hours from an AACSB accredited MBA Program. Additionally, each course must have a grade of "B" or higher and be equivalent to a course offered in the MBA program at USF. For an up to date list on business schools that are AACSB accredited check on the AACSB’s website: http://www.aacsb.edu. What are tool courses? Tool courses are introductory business classes designed to provide everyone with a common body of business knowledge. Tool courses account for 20 credits of the MBA program. Generally, the tool courses last for half of a semester (8 weeks) and are presented in an accelerated format. Can I waive out of any MBA courses? The only courses that are eligible to be waived are tool courses. In order to waive them, one must have a bachelor’s degree in business from an AACSB accredited school awarded within the past seven years. Additionally, the student must have made a “B” or higher in the undergraduate class to be considered for a waiver. Waivers are assigned after the student has applied to the program on a case-by-case basis after a transcript analysis has been conducted. The student shall be informed of any waivers received upon admission to the program. How many students are in the MBA program? There are usually 400 MBA students in the program during the year. How large are the classes in the MBA program? Tool classes average 35 students per class and elective classes average 27 students per class. Does the MBA program offer career development or placement? The College of Business has an Office of Employer Relations that specializes in MBA and graduate business career assistance. They provide one-on-one specialized career coaching, as well as employer networking events exclusively for graduate business students. The USF Career Center also provides a full range of services including job postings and career events. For more information about career services for MBA students, visit: http://www.coba.usf.edu/services/career/prospective.htm or contact the Office of Employer Relations: http://www.coba.usf.edu/services/career/contact.htm How long does the program last? The maximum number of credit hours for the MBA program is forty-eight (48) credits. Typically, students take anywhere from two (2) to three (3) years to complete the degree, depending on the number of credits they take per semester. Everyone is allowed a maximum of five (5) years to complete the degree. Undergraduates in business administration who received their degree from an AACSB accredited institution within the past seven (7) years may waive up to twenty (20) credits of tool courses. The degree requirements for such students would be thirty-seven (37) credits. Can I take graduate level business courses if I’m not in a graduate program? No, unless you are a visiting MBA student from another AACSB accredited MBA program. Please call the office at 813-974-3335 for special approval. Can I register for classes when I am accepted into the MBA program? The MBA program requires that you attend an MBA program orientation before signing up for classes. Do I have to attend the MBA orientation? The MBA’s program orientation is mandatory of all newly accepted MBA students. The orientation is designed to describe the program in depth, provide registration information, enable you to meet fellow students, faculty, and staff, and acquaint you with the different services and benefits of the MBA program. Students that have been newly accepted into the MBA program will see a hold on their registration account, preventing them from registering for classes. Once the student has attended orientation, the hold will be removed, and you may register for classes. Why do I have to pay the $100 professional development? This non-refundable fee assures your spot in the newest entering class and is applied toward professional development programs and Graduate Business Association membership during your course of study. Does the USF MBA program offer online courses? Many professors utilize online course management through a web portal called Blackboard, in addition to their normal classroom experience. Blackboard allows the professor to upload course documents, send class emails, and post grades for students to obtain. How much is tuition? For current tuition rates please visit: http://www.coba.usf.edu/programs/mba/tutioninformation.htm What is the GMAT? The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized assessment test comprised of three sections: analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. The GMAT tests abilities that you have developed over a long period of time; it is not intended to test specific subject areas, nor does it presuppose any prior business coursework. The test takes four and one-half hours, and is computer-adaptive, which means that the difficulty of later questions is based on whether you correctly answered the earlier questions on the exam. Can I use a book to help prepare to take the GMAT? Numerous books are available to help test-takers prepare for the GMAT. Test-preparation books can be a valuable resource because they can help a test-taker determine whether he or she needs further preparation, while requiring a small initial investment. Many GMAT preparation books contain full or partial sample exams (sometimes on CD-ROM) along with tips and techniques for succeeding on each type of question. There are also entire books devoted to each of the main test sections - verbal, quantitative, and essay - if you find that you primarily need preparation in one area. GMAT preparation books are available at most retail bookstores including the USF Bookstore What are some online resources to help me prepare to take the GMAT? Graduate Management Admission Council http://www.mba.com This is the official home of the GMAT, with answers to all of your questions about the logistics of taking the exam. The GMAC website also has practice questions, free downloadable test preparation software called POWERPREP, and a study guide that you can purchase. USF Educational Outreach http://www.outreach.usf.edu/conted/testprep Educational Outreach offers courses designed specifically to assist you in preparation for the GMAT exam. You may register for courses online through their website. Should I take a classroom test-preparation course for the GMAT? You are the best judge of your own learning style and what strategies have worked for you when preparing for previous standardized exams. Some students prefer an interactive environment, whether in a classroom or online, while others can confidently prepare alone. In order to assess your individual needs, consider starting with a preparation book and/or working through one of the many low- or no-cost practice exams that are available. USF Educational Outreach and other test-preparation companies, such as the Sylvan Learning Centers and Kaplan, are well known for their classroom courses. Both Sylvan and Kaplan offer private tutoring and online preparation courses of varying lengths and levels of interactivity. When and where can I take the GMAT? Because the GMAT is in a computerized format, you may make an appointment to take the exam at the testing center nearest you at almost any time. To find the nearest testing facility and schedule your exam, click here. Pearson Professional Centers in Tampa, Florida is the closest GMAT testing center. Pearson Professional Centers 3922 Coconut Palm Drive Sabal Business Center, Suite 101 Tampa, FL 33619 How do I report my GMAT score to the USF MBA program? On the day of the exam you will have the opportunity to specify institution codes to have your scores reported. The institution code for USF is VP9-M4-80 for Part-Time and VP9-M4-97 for Full-Time. Can the GMAT requirement be waived? No, the GMAT is required of everyone applying to the MBA program. If you have already taken the GRE or have a M.D. degree please contact the program at (813) 974-3335 Can I take undergraduate classes while in the MBA program? Undergraduate courses may not be taken concurrently while in the MBA program. Graduate status prevents you from taking undergraduate courses, and may result in the student being dropped from the graduate program if they enroll for undergraduate courses. What are the computer requirements for the program? Click here for the Hardware, Software, and Internet connectivity requirements and recommendations for the MBA Program.