Florida Atlantic University College of Business

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Students Say - Academics
The Barry Kaye School of Business at Florida Atlantic University "offers some interesting and unique programs," including a well-regarded MBA in sports management, an environmental MBA, a master's in forensic accounting, and distance learning options "with no obligation to physically attend classes," which makes for an especially appealing feature to the many busy professionals earning degrees here. Students especially appreciate how online courses counter "FAU's habit of scheduling all courses at the same time" by making it possible to "take a mix of online and onsite courses to get through the program much faster." FAU's sport management program "has a great reputation" and capitalizes on a strong local industry in order to allow students "to learn from industry professionals" and serve career-boosting internships. Likewise, FAU's graduate communications program is "intense and extensive. You must be certified in speaking and writing to graduate from this program. They give you all the tools you need to be a success and require you to do the work you need to get yourself to the level expected." Students also praise the accounting program, saying it's "just excellentâ€"the courses offered, course content, instructors. It is a very demanding program (much more demanding than the MBA)." Students in the MBA program concur, telling us, "The academics aren't overly demanding, since the university recognizes that many of its master's students also are employed full-time, but it is important to be able to balance everything." The FAU curriculum features "a strong focus on presentations and group work." Some approve, while others believe "there's too much focus on this. Most of the people here are career professionals and work on teams daily. Sometimes, the stress of meeting with members for assignments can be a bit overwhelming," especially when team members live in different cities. Classes include "free-flowing and wide-ranging discussions. Professors consider alternative points of view and create an environment to foster open and honest discussion." As at many large schools, "Going through the administration can be complicated. Persistence is key."

Students Say - Admissions
Admission to a FAU MBA program requires the following: an undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a four-point scale) for the final 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work from an accredited institution; and, a score of at least 500 on the GMAT, earned within the previous five years. In addition to the above qualifications, international students whose first language is not English must also submit official score reports indicating a score of at least 600 on the TOEFL and at least 250 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). All international applicants must submit Certification of Financial Responsibility and must provide translation and accredited evaluation of their undergraduate transcripts (the latter is necessary only if a grading system other than the American system was used at the degree-granting institution). Letters of recommendation, a resume, an interview, and a personal statement are optional for all applicants. After undergraduate record and standardized test scores, work history is the most important factor in admissions decisions.

Students Say - Campus Life
FAU MBAs are typically "employed full-time during the day so the involvement in campus activities is low; however, everyone is very friendly, and once we get to know each other we do mingle outside of the classroom (at least the students in our twenties). There are lots of activities available if you choose to take part, especially athletic events." The FAU campus provides "a supportive environment" with "state-of-the-art technology" and plenty of "sun and palm trees." The campus is "growing as FAU is becoming a top-tier school in Florida. More buildings are being built, and they make the campus a beautiful place to be." Hometown Boca is "a fantastic location. It's close to the beach and close to Miami and Fort Lauderdale," providing plenty of opportunities for internships and career networking. Students here "come from many walks of life" and "are all employed in various fields." "We have doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, professors, CPAs, etc.," one student explains. "You name it, we have it! Each of them is a professional in their own right and is seeking to enhance their knowledge base." All these commitments mean that students are "always on the run" and that "not too many have spare time to get together and study." However, when time allows, the program attendees' "diverse nationalities and backgrounds lead to great discussions." "About 90 percent of my classmates in my global culture class were not born in the United States. It's a great multicultural mix."

Students Say - Careers
FAU's College of Business houses the Career Resources and Alumni Relations Center to provide undergraduates and graduate business students with "invaluable guidance with interviewing skills, resume preparation, locating employment opportunities and locating internships." The office also compiles student resumes to be distributed to South Florida businesses. Graduate students have exclusive access to the Job Connection, an internetbased notification system that alerts them to job postings that match their qualifications. FAU participates in a statewide job fair held in the autumn, and "the school offers an online job board and hosts two large job fairs during the school year," but some complain that "there is a noticeable absence of top-tier companies recruiting graduates" at these events

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