PREPARE
FOR THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
MARTHA AND SPENCER LOVE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ELON UNIVERSITY
The mission of Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business is to provide instruction and experiences for students so they graduate with the knowledge, skills and character essential for responsible business leadership in the 21st century.
The world of business is constantly changing.
Change with it. RE-IMAGINE learning within the context of your personal goals. RE-TOOL your understanding of organization-wide thinking. RE-INVENT yourself with knowledge for enduring growth and adaptability.
The Elon MBA helps you excel in today’s creative economy — a competitive environment led by those who generate new ideas and find innovative solutions to problems. The dynamic MBA curriculum has been revised to help you develop the skills you need to engage your creativity and prepare for leadership in the global business world.
The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business is accredited by AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This is the highest possible accreditation in business education. Elon, Duke and Wake Forest are North Carolina’s only private business schools accredited by AACSB.
ENERGIZE
your career with the Elon MBA
Elon’s MBA curriculum is built around five core components:
CUSTOMIZATION. The Elon MBA offers a customized approach to learning, where you decide what is best for your career and your lifestyle. Your first course, MBA 501, will focus on assessing your skills and setting personal career goals. You proceed through the curriculum at your own pace, taking one or two classes per semester. In addition to core courses, the MBA curriculum offers a number of electives that allow you to focus on subjects that are most relevant to your industry and interests. Near the end of the program, you’ll assess the progress you’ve made and refine your career objectives.
Applied Learning. As part of your MBA studies, you’ll take two management practice workshops that give you the opportunity to apply your business knowledge and utilize the leadership skills you are developing. Working with clients to help them solve real problems at their firms will give you valuable hands-on learning experience. If you want to take applied learning a step further, you can take an elective called Topics in Applied Management. This course gives you and your classmates the opportunity to explore areas of interest — you can even work with a team to tackle a problem at your own workplace.
Integration. Throughout the MBA program, you will be asked to look at issues from different perspectives, not just in the context of a single class. For example, students from economics classes collaborate on group projects with management students. This experience stimulates creative thinking as you work with people with different viewpoints, just like you would on the job. In addition, each new cohort of MBA students looks at issues from the perspective of a specific industry. Professors assign readings and case studies related to this industry throughout the program. Relating their disciplines back to a common theme helps professors integrate course material so you can apply what you’ve learned to your own field.
Leadership. Whether you are starting your own business, setting your sights on a promotion or taking on a leadership role in your community, Elon’s MBA program will prepare you for this challenge. Developing responsible business leaders is a major focus of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. You will hear from speakers brought to campus to discuss ethical leadership. For example, former executive Walt Pavlo spoke about the events and corporate culture that led to wire fraud and money laundering at MCI, and a panel featuring the president of the American Bar Association and the chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants discussed individual responsibility in today’s complex business environment. MBA students take active roles in bringing these business leaders to campus and take the lead in organizing service activities such as a beautification project for a local children’s home.
Globalization. In today’s business world, it is critical to look at issues from a global perspective. Elon’s MBA program approaches globalization in a number of ways. All students take an international business course, and global issues are addressed in core courses throughout the program. You can also study abroad through the MBA program, visiting U.S.- and foreign-owned firms in locations such as China, Europe or South America.
Daro Castro
WhY I Chose ELoN
Quality and Technical Leader GE Aviation Daro Castro joined GE Aviation in 2001, learning different aspects of the business in an extensive management training program before becoming a quality engineer. Shortly after starting Elon’s MBA program in the fall of 2005, his career took flight as he became a quality and technical leader for GE. Now he is responsible for the quality and assembly of the GE90 engine for the Boeing 777. Daro says the MBA program gives him business and leadership skills that complement his technical background. By gaining a better understanding of the business, he’s learning how his decisions are part of a larger chain of events. “All areas of the business get affected by a decision that I thought I just made,” he says. For example, if he decides to replace a part used by the engineers on his team, he now stops to think about how this will affect inventory, accounting and other aspects of the business. Choosing Elon was an easy decision for Daro. He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering manufacturing from Boston University and was looking for a graduate program with smaller classes and a friendly atmosphere. At Elon, he says, “You feel that professors and administrators are well connected to students and seem to care.” Daro also enjoys the teamwork environment that allows him to learn from his peers. “The networking aspect has been fantastic,” he says. Elon’s MBA program has helped Daro understand different work styles and gauge his own strengths and weaknesses. He says that giving presentations and doing group work have helped him improve his skills in a safe environment. “At work, you really can’t do that,” he says. “It’s sink or swim.”
A
FLEXIBLE
program for busy professionals
Elon’s MBA curriculum was designed with convenience in mind. Because most students have demanding jobs and family obligations to consider, Elon gives you the flexibility to study at your own pace. You can start the program in the fall or spring. Take one class at a time and earn your degree in 33 months, or take two at a time and finish in just 21 months. Decide what works best for you and set your own pace. Program earns #1 national ranking
Elon’s MBA program is ranked #1 in the nation — ahead of universities such as Emory, Villanova and Washington University in St. Louis — in the “best administered” category of the 2006 edition of The Best 237 Business Schools. The Princeton Review bases the guide on a survey of MBA students across the country. Elon MBA students also commended the school’s flexible scheduling, engaged learning opportunities and focus on leadership development.
Classes are offered during three 10-week sessions and two five-week summer sessions. Need to take a session off? No problem. You can pick up where you left off without worrying about whether the class will be offered when you return. And classes are held in the evenings, from 6 to 9 p.m., to help you balance your class and work schedules. Sample Class Schedules
Fast Track (2 classes per semester)
Career Track (1 class per semester)
Fall
Fall
Goal Setting & Career Development I (1.5 sh) Enhancing Managerial Communications (3 sh) Economic Policy & the Global Environment (3 sh)
Goal Setting & Career Development I (1.5 sh) Enhancing Managerial Communications (3 sh)
Winter Accounting for Managerial Decisions (3 sh) Marketing Management (3 sh) Spring Management operations, Science & Systems (3 sh) Management Practice Workshop I (1.5 sh) Elective (1.5 sh)
Winter Applications in Management & organizational Theory (3 sh) Spring Economic Policy & the Global Environment (3 sh) Summer I Accounting for Managerial Decisions (3 sh) Summer II
Summer I
Marketing Management (3 sh)
International Business (3 sh)
Fall
Summer II Elective (3 sh)
Management Practice Workshop I (1.5 sh) Elective (1.5 sh)
Fall
Winter
Financial Management (3 sh) Applications in Management & organizational Theory (3 sh)
Elective (3 sh) Spring
Winter
Management operations, Science & Systems (3 sh)
Management Practice Workshop II (1.5 sh) Elective (1.5 sh)
Summer I
Spring Enhancing organizational Leadership (3 sh) Goal Setting & Career Development II (1.5 sh)
International Business (3 sh) Summer II (No Classes) Fall
U.S. News & World Report ranks Elon University #3 among 127 Southern master’slevel universities in its 2007 America’s Best Colleges guide.
Financial Management (3 sh) Winter Management Practice Workshop II (1.5 sh) Elective (1.5 sh) Spring Enhancing organizational Leadership (3 sh) Goal Setting & Career Development II (1.5 sh)
Katie Galbraith
WhY I Chose ELoN
Divisional Marketing and Communications Officer Durham Regional Hospital When Katie Galbraith had to choose between MBA programs at Duke, UNC and Elon, she decided to sit in on a class at each school. She says it was a tough decision, but Elon’s approachable professors and bright, energetic students made an impression. “I think that what strikes me here is that students are very competitive with themselves, but we all really work well in teams together,” she says. “I just felt like the fit was right for me here, and it has been.” As a member of the executive leadership team at Durham Regional Hospital, Katie is responsible for advertising, marketing, Web development, media relations, publications and physician relations. Although she has a solid background in communications, including a journalism degree from Northwestern University, she is pursuing the MBA to take her career to the next level. “I’m getting so much out of it — very practical information that helps me better understand business operations, management and leadership,” she says. Katie and her husband, Mike, have two young children, so she wants to complete the program in just 21 months. She finds Elon’s flexibility reassuring as she works to balance children, career and coursework. “If something happens at work or with family where I needed to drop down to one class or take a semester off, I could,” she says. “This is a rigorous program, but the professors understand that most of us are working outside the classroom.” Katie has enjoyed the MBA curriculum so much that she recruited one of her employees to enroll. “I really think I’ve gotten out of this what I would get anywhere else — and then some,” she says.
First-rate
FACULTY FACILITIES and
When you enroll in Elon’s MBA program, you will learn from highly qualified faculty who are committed to your success. They are active researchers and practitioners who have earned doctorates from some of the world’s finest business schools, and they are eager to share their professional experience with you. MBA professors will sit down with you periodically to discuss your career goals and help you make the most of the program.
Learn from experienced business professionals These are just a few of the accomplished faculty who teach MBA courses:
Dr. James Barbour, associate professor of economics Research interests: distributional ethics, history of economic thought and unconventional market structures
Dr. Buck McGregor, associate professor of accounting Research interests: analysis of cost behavior and professional ethics and organizational/professional conflicts
Dr. Bill Burpitt, associate professor of business administration Research interests: organizational innovation and learning, strategic response and the creation of organizational resources in confronting off-shore competition
Dr. David Noer, Frank S. Holt Jr. Professor of Business Leadership Research interests: business ethics, downsizing and leadership skills
Dr. Tina Das, associate professor of economics Research interests: intellectual property rights, international trade and finance and economic development
Dr. Kevin O’Mara, associate professor of business administration Research interests: business model innovation, strategy, mass customization and leadership
Dr. Larry Garber, associate professor of business administration Research interests: visual persuasion, nonprofit and arts marketing, marketing education and the graphical presentation of statistical data Dr. Norris Gunby, assistant professor of business administration Research interests: healthcare strategic management, strategy development processes and applied critical race theory in business Dr. Glenn Helms, professor of accounting Research interests: forensic accounting, IT auditing and assurance services Dr. Sharon Hodge, assistant professor of business administration Research interests: consumer decision-making, sequential purchasing and mental accounting Dr. Earl Honeycutt, professor of business administration Research interests: sales management/personal selling, crosscultural interactions and business-to-business marketing
Dr. Robert Pavlik, associate professor of finance Research interests: marketability, IPO’s and trading room methodologies Dr. Herb Schuette, associate professor of business administration and computing sciences Research interests: information systems for human services and nonprofits, Web services and evolutionary modeling Dr. Wonhi Synn, professor of finance Research interests: enterprise valuation, emerging capital markets and market innovations Dr. Matthew Valle, associate professor of business administration Research interests: organizational politics and political perceptions, leadership and process design issues
“The world changes constantly. To survive, businesses must change with it. So, too, must MBA education.� Dr. Bill Burpitt, MBA program chair
A
HIGH-TECH
environment for business education
As an MBA student, you will take courses in the new ernest A. Koury sr. Business Center. The three-story facility features resources for optimum learning: n the William Garrard Reed Finance Center, which provides real-time data from global financial markets n LaRose Digital Theatre, a 240-seat facility wired for multimedia and videoconferencing technology n three computer labs with the latest software n classrooms, study rooms and student research rooms n open areas designed to encourage student-faculty collaboration n a cafĂŠ designed for MBA students coming to class straight from work.
International LEADERS and business LEGENDS on campus Elon brings world leaders and scholars to campus to interact with students:
The Legends of Business program brings seasoned executives to campus to participate in seminars with students and share their philosophies for success. Speakers include:
Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Former U.S. President George Bush Archbishop Desmond Tutu Former U.S. Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Thomas Friedman, Anna Quindlen and David McCullough
Jerry D. Neal Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Development for RF Micro Devices Robert Ingram Vice Chairman of Pharmaceuticals for GlaxoSmithKline Former CEO/chairman of GlaxoWellcome Leslie M. “Bud” Baker Jr. Former Chairman, President and CEO of Wachovia Corp. Thomas J. Murrin Former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce Former President of the Energy and Advanced Technology Group at Westinghouse
Wade Jurney
WhY I Chose ELoN
President/Owner Wade Jurney Homes Wade Jurney says that Elon’s MBA program helps him make higher-level decisions in the home building business he started in 2001. He finds that courses such as business communications, leadership, economics and accounting all have practical applications in the workplace. The small business owner has already made changes in the way he does employee evaluations and budgeting based on what he’s learned so far. “Everything is pertinent to the running of my business,” he says. “It’s all very near and dear to my heart.” Wade, who has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, decided to get his MBA because he enjoys learning and was looking for a challenge. He appreciates how his professors go out of their way to integrate the MBA courses into one another. For example, his accounting professor brought marketing, finance and management into the curriculum. Sometimes professors even take each other’s courses to make sure they’re on the same page. “Every professor I’ve had so far has been excellent ,” he says. “They give you the confidence that you need to succeed.” Wade says that being self-employed gives him the ability to balance work, school and family life. His wife, Karen, also works at Wade Jurney Homes, and they have two young children. Next January, the couple will travel to Chile and Argentina with the MBA program as part of a study abroad course. Despite this busy schedule, giving back to the local community is very important to Wade. He and his 16 employees help build Habitat for Humanity houses with the local homebuilders’ association every year. “It makes a difference in people’s lives,” Wade says. “That’s really what it’s all about.”
EXCEL
in a teamwork environment
Total Students
55
Academic Background 2006 Entering Profile for MBA Students
Average GPA
3.1
Median GPA
3.1
Average GMAT
545
Median GMAT
530
First/Undergraduate Degree Business/Management/Economics 31% Engineering/Computer Science
24%
Social Sciences/Law
15%
Humanities
11%
Sciences/Mathematics
9%
Other
7%
Fine Arts
3%
Personal Background Average Age
31
Average years of work experience
8
Gender Male
67%
Female
33%
Ethnicity Caucasian/White
90%
African American/Black
8%
Hispanic American
2%
APPLY today The Elon MBA program enrolls cohorts each August and February. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis throughout the year. Please submit all required application materials as early as possible prior to enrollment. For a complete list of requirements and additional admissions information, refer to the graduate catalog or visit www.elon.edu/mba. MBA Admission Checklist 1. Complete the application form. (Apply online at www.elon.edu/mba.) 2. Send official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. 3. Submit official GMAT scores. 4. Secure three letters of recommendation.
Elon MBA students come from a variety of backgrounds and industries — so you’ll not only learn with your classmates, you’ll learn from them in small group work, class discussions and even casual conversations about your careers. Elon’s central location draws students from both the Triangle and Triad areas, which allows you to network with classmates from companies across a major section of North Carolina. Elon’s strong sense of community is an important part of the MBA program. You’ll find that students are eager to share their areas of expertise, professors make themselves accessible and staff members go out of their way to help you reach your goals. Elon MBA students work for employers such as these: Aetna Appian Digital Technologies Banner Pharmacaps BB&T Campbell Soup Company Ciba Specialty Chemicals Cisco Systems Duke Energy Duke University Health System Epes Logistics First Horizon GE Aviation GKN Driveline Gold Toe Brands, Inc. IBM LabCorp
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Penn National Insurance Performance, Inc. Progress Energy, Inc. Sandvik Tooling Sealy, Inc. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications The Business Journal of the Triad UNC Healthcare Underwriters Laboratories U.S. District Court VF Jeanswear Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. Wachovia Bank, NA
Elon University does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, veteran status or disability in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff or the operation of any of its programs. Students with documented disabilities may request in writing reasonable special services and accommodations. Questions should be directed to Ms. Priscilla Lipe, disability services coordinator, Duke 108H, (336) 278-6500. The university’s Section 504 coordinator for students and Title IX coordinator is Dr. Smith Jackson, Alamance 109, (336) 278-7220. The university’s Section 504 coordinator for applicants and current employees is Mr. Ronald Klepcyk, 314 W. Haggard Ave., (336) 278-5560. In the spirit of the Elon University Mission Statement, Elon University regards discrimination against gay and lesbian members of the university community as inconsistent with its goal of providing an atmosphere of mutual respect in which students, faculty and staff may learn, work and live. In accordance with the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, complete information regarding campus security policies and programs and campus crime statistics is available upon request from the Director of University Relations, 2030 Campus Box. Information regarding completion and graduation rates may be obtained from the Office of Admissions or at www.elon.edu/irweb.
Bernadette spong
WhY I Chose ELoN
Chief Financial Officer Rex Hospital Bernadette Spong says that Elon’s MBA program has opened doors for her. When she interviewed for the position of chief financial officer at Rex Hospital last fall, she was the only candidate without prior CFO experience. She feels that being an MBA student spoke of her initiative and drive — and helped her get the job. As chief financial officer, Bernadette has overall responsibility for finance, purchasing and medical records at the Raleigh hospital. She oversees 400 employees and says that Elon’s MBA program is helping her better communicate in areas such as marketing and operations. Bernadette is no stranger to Elon. She received her bachelor’s degree in history from Elon in 1978, and her children are both Elon students. As a graduate student, Bernadette has found that it’s important to immerse herself not only in the program, but with her classmates, who offer constructive criticism and actively participate in study groups. Because MBA students come from a variety of backgrounds — finance, human resources, marketing, engineering and the nonprofit sector, just to name a few — they can bounce ideas off each other without competing in the business world. “We all bring different experiences to the class,” she says. “It’s interesting to sit back and listen to how we all process information.” One classmate even helped coach Bernadette through the interview process last fall. “The relationships you make here actually help you in your career,” she says.
DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS LEADERS
START TERMS August & February
PROGRAM LENGTH 21–33 Months
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 51: 39 MBA level, 12 Foundational (Accounting, Economics, Finance, Statistics) Monday–Thursday, 6–9 p.m. One evening per week
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING Yes
STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Per mit No. 1 Elon, NC 27244-2010
CLASSES MEET
Yes
COHORT SIZE 30 Students
AVERAGE STUDENT AGE 31
AGE RANGE 23–40
AVERAGE WORK EXPERIENCE
545
MID-RANGE GMAT SCORE 470–660
www.elon.edu/mba
AVERAGE GMAT SCORE
800-334-8448 ext. 3 elonmba@elon.edu
2 Years
ELON
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Office of Graduate Admissions 2750 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244-2010
8 Years