Overview
At the University of Bridgeport, students can earn degrees in a variety of innovative undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Twenty-five percent of Bridgeport’s students come from overseas. With students from more than eighty countries who are active in student government, publications, and clubs, the University of Bridgeport prides itself in being a real world “experience in globalization.” Through its international programs, the University provides academic, cocurricular, and extracurricular activities that support the University’s commitment to promote global citizenship and a commitment to public service.

There are 200 full and part time faculty members, including Fulbright Scholars, National Science Foundation Fellows, Ford Fellows, National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows, American Council for Learned Societies Scholars, and Phi Beta Kappa Scholars. Known for its competent, committed, and caring faculty members, the University has a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. It also takes pride in its commitment to diversity.

Most of UB’s M.B.A. students come from the Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey regions; however, there are students from around the globe as well. Approximately 400 students are in the M.B.A. program.

The Location and Community
The city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, is nestled along the Long Island Sound. Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city is known as the “park city,” the city that Barnum build. Phineas Taylor Barnum, better known as P. T. Barnum, was the showman-turned-mayor who made this port city into a major manufacturing center during the early nineteenth century. The city features a museum and festival in his name. Bridgeport also has one of Connecticut’s largest sports and entertainment venues, the only zoo in the state, a modern baseball complex for minor-league baseball, seaport shopping, a cabaret theater, a symphony orchestra, and museums. Bridgeport is also known for its scenic waterway parks, including its lighthouse.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The School of Business at the University of Bridgeport (UB) was founded in 1927, and, since that time has been committed to the mission of developing effective and responsible leaders for global business, industry, and government by equipping graduates with the technical, analytical, critical thinking, leadership, and cultural competencies required in an increasingly complex global environment. Students have opportunities for direct contact with some of the most prestigious individuals from nations around the world, so as graduates, they can network with key industry and government representatives from every corner of the globe. Personal acquaintance with the cultures and peoples of the world is an important product of the programs and personal experience offered by the University and the School of Business’s internationally accredited degree curriculum.

The curriculum is designed to recognize substantial diversity in preparation and experience for students entering M.B.A. study as well as the different goals and expectations of students after graduation. Therefore, applicants from all undergraduate and graduate majors are accepted, including those with no previous education or experience in business.

The M.B.A. degree requires 30 to 48 semester hours of study, depending on the student’s academic background and level of academic achievement. Students with a recent bachelor’s degree from an accredited business college may be able to complete the M.B.A. with fewer semester hours of study. Students with a bachelor’s degree in a nonbusiness field may require up to 30 credits (or ten courses) of business core courses as a foundation for the M.B.A. degree. Waiver of core requirements is considered upon presentation of transcripts that show successful completion of core-equivalent courses with grades of B or better as measured in the United States grading system.

The M.B.A. is offered for full-time or part-time study, with classes scheduled in Bridgeport during the day and in the evenings. The specialty areas for concentration are accounting, finance, global marketing, human resources, information technology, management and entrepreneurship, and operations management. Concentrations are also available in computer science, and fashion marketing and merchandising. There is also a weekend Executive M.B.A. (EMBA) program in Stamford, Connecticut, just 38 miles from midtown Manhattan. The EMBA is an M.B.A. degree program that has been modified for experienced professionals. Professors who are experienced professionals examine more complex issues and case studies and integrate knowledge and experiences into the curriculum to make the education more meaningful for the students. Acceptable qualifications and space permitting, students in the on-campus program may also take some courses with executives in the Stamford weekend program.

All degree programs in the School of Business are licensed and accredited by the State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition, the School of Business is internationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) to offer specified graduate and undergraduate business degrees. ACBSP accreditation of the School of Business at the graduate level applies to the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree.

Facilities & Resources
The Electronic Resources Room, located in the library, provides computers with access to the Internet, online databases, and interactive CD/CDRoms. An additional bank of twenty computers on the first floor of the library is also available for student use. The library’s fifth floor has been dedicated to audiovisual and multimedia viewing facilities. Equipment includes a laser disc player, TV/VCR units, a DVD player, and tape cassette/CD players. The alcove at the back of the floor is a designated group study area.

Expenses and Aid
Tuition for the 2005-06 academic year is $525 per credit, $1575 per course, or $4725 for three courses per semester. The registration fee is $65 per semester. Book costs vary by course. Health insurance, if required, is approximately $560 per academic year. Room and board costs range from $7000 to $9400 per year. For complete costs, prospective students should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions. All costs are subject to change.

Financial Aid:
.The Office of Financial Aid typically awards enough aid to cover direct costs (tuition, fees, and books) for most domestic graduate students. In some cases, students may request additional loans to cover indirect costs, such as room, board, and travel expenses, which occur during the academic year (usually nine months). These costs sometimes entail borrowing above and beyond federal loan limits and involve alternative loans, which are credit-based as well as need-based.

Housing/Living Expenses:
College-owned housing is available for graduate students on a limited basis. Off-campus housing is available at nearby apartment complexes. The cost of living is comparable with other midsize East Coast cities. Information pertaining to housing can be obtained from the Office of Resident Life at 203-576-4395.

How to Apply
The GMAT score is just one of the criteria used for acceptance; the average GMAT score of accepted students is 475. Upon presentation of an acceptable resume, the GMAT is also waived for those with more than three years of professional experience, and it is also waived for those who have already earned a U.S.-equivalent master’s degree. A GMAT score is required of applicants with fewer than three years of full-time professional business experience. Applicants with business-related undergraduate degrees who have QPAs of less than 3.3 and those who are graduates of degree programs other than business are required to take the GMAT. GRE scores are not accepted.

All applicants must complete the Application for Admission to Graduate Study and submit the form with a nonrefundable $40 application fee. Applicants must also submit an official college transcript from every institution attended, including degrees earned and the date; two letters of recommendation from employers, professors, or professional colleagues; a statement of why an applicant wants to enroll in a graduate program; and a description of the student’s most significant personal and professional accomplishments.

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