Union Graduate College School of Management

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80 Nott Terrace
Schenectady, NY 12308
Phone: (518) 631-9850
Fax: (518) 631-9901

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The School of Management at the Graduate College of Union University offers both a conventional MBA and a unique MBA in Healthcare Management. The former focuses on all areas of general management with an emphasis on global business; the latter "prepares graduates for management positions in health-service delivery organizations (for example, hospitals, managed care organizations, group practices, long-term care) and in related organizations (for example, consulting, government, corporate benefits)," according to the school's website.

MBA students at the Graduate College benefit from small classes (the average class size is 17). Classes meet in the evening to accommodate part-time students, who make up roughly half the student population. A conventional MBA consists of 10 core courses and 10 advanced. The core includes a capstone course and standard surveys of core business skills (including accounting, statistics, and finance) as well as such unique classes as "Managing Ethically in a Global Environment" and "Managing People and Teams in organizations." Students choose courses from any of the following elective areas to establish a concentration: finance, economics, marketing, operations/management science, and international business. The program typically takes a full-time student two years to complete; part-timers generally complete it in four years.

The Graduate College's MBA in Healthcare Management emphasizes both theory and practice; that's why the academic curriculum is supplemented with a mandatory internship, typically completed between the first and second years of the program. Because of the specialized nature of the degree, only two electives are allowed in this program; the other 18 courses are required. The 10 required courses mirror the conventional MBA core. The other 8, which include such subjects as "Health Systems Marketing and Planning," "Structural Dynamics in Health Systems," and "Legal Aspects of Health Care," are specific to the health administration program.

Graduate College MBAs can pursue joint degrees in law or pharmacy; a five-year BA/MBA option is quite popular because it allows students to pursue an MBA without first accumulating several years of experience. Students appreciate that "teachers are all very enthusiastic and interested in our learning program" and "are, for the most part, always available to talk, whether it be class-related or not." The administration is reportedly "outstandingly friendly and service-oriented," and "tuition is reasonable."

Students Say - Admissions

In evaluating MBA applications, the Graduate College of Union University reviews academic records, stated career goals, letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores (GMAT for all applicants, plus TOEFL for international students). Admissions officers also use the application to assess applicants' stated career goals and their fit with both the program and the university community. The Graduate College generally requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0; the average full-time student typically enters with a higher undergraduate GPA. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis with admissions decisions delivered within two weeks of receipt of the completed application.

Students Say - Campus Life

The Graduate College's student body is "diverse in age, race, citizenship, occupation, and career goals. Students are friendly and team-oriented." The MBA program is an unusual mix of the very young and the much older; there are "lots of five-year undergrads, and nontraditional students generally return after a long time in the workforce. There aren't a whole lot of young professionals here." Students report that, unlike many MBA programs, "minority and female students are very common and thus are very well supported." There are roughly one in five students that are international students.

The Graduate College is located near Albany, New York, in the town of Schenectady. Sperling's Best Places recently ranked the Albany-Schenectady area the least stressful city among America's top 100 metropolitan areas. The area is home to many schools that together bring a total of 55,000 students to the region every school year. The Graduate College is located on the Union College campus which covers 100 acres and houses a substantial library, several new classroom and laboratory facilities, an arts center, and a student center with a 3,000-seat hockey arena and rink.

Students Say - Careers

MBA Career Services operates in conjunction with Union's Becker Career Center to provide internship opportunities, mentoring programs, and job-search guidance. Approximately 25 companies visit the college to recruit graduating MBAs; about 30 companies recruit summer interns. Students say that the career center is "great for internships but not for careers."

Top employers of the Graduate College MBAs include General Electric, IBM, KPMG, Lehman Brothers, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Nearly all MBAs remain in and around the New York State area after graduation.

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