Radford University College of Business and Economics

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Students Say - Academics
Repeat business is one of the telltale signs of success in retail, and by that standard Radford University must be doing a pretty good job; a considerable number of students in our survey self-identified as former Radford undergrads, and nearly all cited their satisfaction during their first go-around as the reason for pursuing an MBA here. With an undergraduate population consisting of approximately 25 percent business majors, Radford has a large customer base from which to draw graduate students. You could say that business is booming at Radford's College of Business and Economics. Radford now offers two MBA programs: a full-time program on the Radford campus and the Professional Part-time program on the Roanoke and Radford campuses. Radford MBAs tell us that their program "is general in nature" and that "students wanting to specialize in a specific segment of business, e.g., marketing, may be well-served to look elsewhere." They are quick to add, however, that the program "does prepare you for work in many areas of business and does not skimp on content or focus in doing so" and that "Those who want the knowledge and skills to run an organization, even a global one, will be hard-pressed to find a better school, especially for the price." Part-time students also appreciate the way the program is "geared toward people who work full-time jobs." While describing the Radford MBA as "a challenging part-time program," they note that convenient scheduling and professors who will "work with your work schedule to [help you] get through the MBA program" make it "easy for a working professional to get an MBA" here. Radford's 24 credit hour curriculum is divided in a two-thirds, one-third spilt between required courses and electives (which constitute 12 hours). The program utilizes "a faceto- face presentation format" and includes a substantial writing component. "Small class sizes" and a faculty that "is very student-oriented (rather than concentrating on writing professional papers and books, they concentrate on teaching, which is a good thing)" makes this a very student-friendly program. Professors "do an excellent job of tying in current events and international matters of interest," although some "don't seem to have much experience in the professional corporate world. Many seem to have spent most of their time in academia." MBA courses are offered in two locations: the main campus in Radford, Virginia, and the Roanoke Higher Education Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Adistance learning option is also available. The RU MBA Program is moving towards differentiating its full-time and professional part-time programs. Full-time students have classes during the day and professional part-time classes will be held in the evenings in both Roanoke and Radford. Additional program support services will be provided for each of these groups.

Students Say - Admissions
Admission to Radford's MBA program requires successful completion of an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applicants must also submit an official report of GMAT scores, (applicant can request an application review for a GMAT Waiver with 5+ years of work experience that demonstrates progressively increasing levels of responsibility, and the management of EITHER people, projects, and/or budgets. Must make the request for the waiver in letter of intent, and briefly explain how applicant meets the criteria, and discuss why you wish to pursue an MBA; resume required), TOEFL scores (international students), two letters of recommendation, a resume of work experience, a personal statement of purpose, and "evidence of creativity and leadership." Also, "applicants must also have taken accredited collegiate preparation in the following foundation areas (or equivalents): fundamentals of financial accounting, fundamentals of managerial accounting, principles of economics I and II, organizational behavior, essentials of marketing, introduction to business finance, business statistics, and business calculus." Students can earn credit for some of these prerequisites through CLEP testing. Competency with computers is also a prerequisite.

Students Say - Campus Life
The RU MBA program is "a mix of adult and young adult students." The latter group includes nearly all of the full-time students, a combination of recently minted American undergraduates and international students. The student body tends to be "young, eager to get into a professional setting, worried about the job market," "friendly, hard-working, and intelligent." Working professionals constitute a substantial minority whose experience and insights are welcomed by their younger peers. Full-timers describe campus life as being "like any typical college student's life," with the "majority of time spent studying and preparing for class." Part-time students typically don't have time for the "many activities, clubs, and organizations that are at this school." Those who attend classes at the Roanoke Higher Education Center tell us that "the RHEC is a newly remodeled, high tech, and comfortable facility more suited to providing an appropriate atmosphere for educating older MBA students." Hometown Radford is a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains; Roanoke is about 45 miles away. The area is most amenable to outdoor enthusiasts, as it provides easy access to the Appalachian Trail, the New River, and Claytor Lake. Shopping, restaurants, nightlife, and such are not in great supply, students warn, although the proximity of Roanoke helps to make up for this deficiency. Charleston, West Virginia, and Greensboro, North Carolina, are also within a reasonable driving distance.

Students Say - Careers
The Career Services Office at Radford University offers a variety of resources to undergraduates, graduates, and alumni. These include a virtual resume, internship, and a jobs database "where students and employers come together to post and view resumes and position openings," as well as workshops in resume and portfolio development, career fairs, and career-assessment tools. On-campus recruiters include Ameriprise Financial, DMG Securities, Ferguson Enterprises, Northwestern Mutual, State Farm, Wachovia, and the federal government.

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