Mississippi State University, College of Business and Industry History

Mississippi State University, founded in 1878, is a public, coeducational institution. The 4200-acre campus is located in a small town 120 miles northeast of Jackson. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 16,206.

The College of Business and Industry was founded in 1915 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, McCool Hall. Courses also are offered at Meridian and through distance learning (MBA and MBA/Project Management). The basic educational approach is to provide a broad background for business leadership through emphasis on practical administrative problems with a strong theoretical base, consisting of 40% case studies, 35% lecture, and 25% team projects.

Mississippi State University, College of Business and Industry Academics

The Graduate Studies in Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Business Administration (MSBA), Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA), Master of Taxation (MTX), Master of Arts in Economics (MA), and Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) as well as a doctoral program with concentrations in accounting, economics, information systems, finance, management, and marketing. The strongest areas of study are management, marketing, and economics. The most popular courses are in management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. The MBA Association is active in bringing in guest speakers.

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

• Financial Statement and Management Accounting for Decision Making
• Managing Information Technology and Systems
• Multimedia Presentation and Communication
• Law, Business Ethics, and Dispute Resolution
• Quantitative Analysis and Business Research
• Economics for Managers
• Capital Acquisition and Allocation
• Corporate Liquidity Analysis
• Strategic Marketing Management
• Human Resource Issues
• Leadership Skills for Management Behavior
• Strategic Business Consulting

Required courses for the MBA/Project Management include:

• Project Management Field Study
• Financial Statement and Management Accounting for Decision Making
• Leadership Skills for Management Behavior
• Enterprise Systems Engineering
• Business Case Analysis Using Statistics
• Economics for Managers
• Process Improvement Engineering
• Human Resource Issues
• Marketing Management
• Financial Management of Projects
• Law, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution
• Business Research
• Managing Information Technology and Systems

Required courses for the MA/Economics include:

• Econometrics I
• Macroeconomics I
• Microeconomics I
• 21 hours of economic course work

Required courses for the MSBA/Finance include:

• Capital Acquisitions and Allocation
• Corporate Liquidity Analysis
• Case Problems in Corporate Finance
• Advanced Financial Management
• Portfolio Management
• Financial Institutions Management
• Financial Markets, Rates, and Flows
• International Financial Management

Required courses for the MTX include:

• Auditing and Seminar classes
• Research in Tax Practice and Procedures
• Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
• Federal Estate and Gift Taxation
• Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates
• Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory

Required courses for the MPA include:

• Auditing Seminar and Cases
• 9 elective credits
• Advanced Accounting
• Income Tax II
• Advanced Managerial Accounting
• Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory
• Business Assurance Services
• 6 hours from the following courses:
• Municipal and Government Accounting
• International Accounting
• Fraud Examination
• Professional Accounting Policy and Research
• Research in Tax Practice and Procedures
• Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
• Federal Estate and Gift Taxation
• Taxation of Partnerships, S-Corporations, Trusts, & Estates
• Advanced Individual Taxation
• Tax Topics

Required courses for the MSIS include:

• 15 elective credits
• Management Information Technology and Systems
• Advanced Systems Analysis and Design
• Advanced Database Design Administration
• Business Telecommunications
• Information Systems Collaborative Project
• MIS Administration

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by transferring up to 6 credit hours.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time or part time is 2 semesters; maximum, 6 years.

There are 66 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 86% hold a doctorate; there are 18 part-time faculty, of whom 17% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 12; average business class size is 25.

Mississippi State University, College of Business and Industry Unique Programs

Library

The Mitchell Memorial Library houses a collection of more than 2 million volumes, 3.3 million microform items, 138,257 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 18,700 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as Compustat, CRSP, and 30 others. Other opportunities for research consist of the library’s instructional media center, library instruction services, and the services of the reference department. The access to information and the information technology support are additional and strong assets on behalf of this program.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 2 labs with more than 90 computers available from 8 a.m. to midnight in the College of Business building and one MBA resource room with 3 computers, Internet access, and wireless Internet.

Career and Job Placement

In spring 2006, 54 companies recruited on campus. Majors most in demand were accounting and business information systems. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $38,199; range was $24,500 to $52,800. Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include job searches through campus career services. Placement is available through the university placement office.

International Students

International students must score 575 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 91 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of immunization records indicating vaccinations against measles and rubella, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. There are special fees of a $30 application fee and a $75 administrative processing fee. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of graduate assistantships. The application deadline for fall entry is July 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 5 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

Mississippi State University, College of Business and Industry Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 510. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200xGPA)+GMAT=1100. Most important admissions factors are grades in upper-level courses, GMAT results, and letters of recommendation. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 252; 147 were accepted; 125 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.57; average GMAT score was 470. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by regular visits to predominantly black institutions.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, GRE for MA in Economics, a nonrefundable application fee of $30, and 3 letters of recommendation. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring; April 1, summer. Students are notified within 6 weeks of receipt of the completed application of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is July. Once accepted, students may defer admission for 12 months.

Mississippi State University, College of Business and Industry Financial Aid

About 45% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $13,323 annually; maximum $37,890. The FAFSA is required. The application deadlines are rolling for fall entry; rolling, spring; rolling, summer. The school prefers that FASFA results be received by April 1 prior to the upcoming fall semester.

On-campus room and board costs approximately $11,640; books and supplies, $1425; personal expenses, $2742, for an estimated annual total of $22,701 for in-state residents and $31,635 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available both on and off campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Mississippi State University, College of Business and Industry Students

Fifty-four percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students are from Mississippi (57%). Thirty-six percent are women, 10% are minorities, and 12% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 26; ages range from 21 to 49. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 63%, business; 8%, economics; 8%, engineering; 7%, math and science; 3%, social sciences; and 2%, liberal arts. In 2006, 135 graduate business degrees were awarded.