Eastern Washington University College of Business and Public Administration

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Students Say - Academics
For the "mostly working students who take night classes" pursuing MBAs at Eastern Washington University, the College of Business and Public Administration appeals on a number of levels: It's relatively inexpensive, it is close to home, and the extremely diligent can complete their graduate degrees here in one year. "Small classes" and "professors who are friendly, great communicators, and easy to reach with questions" further bolster the school's attractiveness. Students speak highly of the program's courses in healthcare administration. Because the business facility also houses the school's public administration program, EWU students have a unique opportunity to combine an MBA with an MPA. The EWU MBA consists of 50 credit hours. Core courses constitute 42 hours of required work; electives take up the remaining 8 hours. Foundation courses can add up to an additional 32 hours of required coursework; many or all of these courses may be waived for students with relatively recent undergraduate business degrees. Because EWU operates on a quarterly academic calendar, students who place out of foundation courses may complete the program in one year by taking 10+ credits per semester. Students love the convenience of evening scheduling and praise their professors for their flexibility. One reports that they "are willing to tailor work to what individuals need. I'm working on a tailor-made project, and I will have a business plan and start up when done." Expanded distance-learning options are on students' short wish lists.

Students Say - Admissions
Eastern Washington University requires all the following materials from applicants to its MBA program: two copies of the completed application for admission to a graduate program; two copies of official transcripts for all post-secondary academic work; and an official GMAT score report no more than five years old. The MBA program director reserves the right to require additional information. International applicants whose first language is not English must provide all of the above materials as well as an official TOEFL score report (students must score 580 for admission to the MBA program. EWU requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 during the final 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours of undergraduate work and a minimum GMAT score of 450. The school's website notes: "All students who graduate from the MBA program should have some practical work experience. The majority of students accepted into the program are working professionals and meet this requirement. For those students who enter the program lacking professional work experience, an internship should be part of the student's MBA program. Up to four (4) four credits earned while in an internship may be used for MBA elective credit."

Students Say - Campus Life
The smallish, predominantly part-time MBA program at EWU is a mix of working professionals and EWU undergraduates continuing directly through to their MBAs. Collectively, they are "very helpful and cooperative, and good at working in teams," and are typically "smart, hard-working, going places, no-silver-spoon kids" who constitute a "very diverse group ethnically, age-wise, and in terms of previous experience." The size and part-time nature of the program is not conducive to a cohesive student community. Students don't even get to tap into the culture of EWU's main campus because the MBA program is located on a satellite campus in downtown Spokane, 20 miles from the main campus. While the location stunts extracurricular life, it does have the advantage of convenience for those students who work in the downtown area. Most students don't have much time for bonding and after-class fun anyway. Atypical student explains his situation: "I work full-time at an executive level job. I am able to juggle my work and school load, but there is not a lot of time for much else." Classes convene at the Riverpoint Higher Education Park, located on the banks of the Spokane River. The facility is home to EWU's College of Business and Public Administration, a boon to those seeking a dual degree in those two fields. Riverpoint houses a 200-seat auditorium and a number of state-of-the-art classrooms.

Students Say - Careers
The Office of Career Services provides counseling and placement services for the entire EWU student body. The office organizes occasional career fairs and posts notices for other career fairs held in the area. In addition, the office hosts on-campus interviews and other recruitment events and maintains an online placement files service, which provides students' resumes, letters of recommendation, and other documents to prospective employers. Most of Career Services' efforts are directed at the school's substantial undergraduate population. Students tout the program's "strong alumni connections," which can be helpful to those in the program seeking post-degree employment.

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