Willamette University
Atkinson Graduate School of Management
http://www.willamette.edu/agsm
Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management offers the only management program in the United States accredited by the two most prestigious organizations governing management education: AACSB - The International Association for Management Education and NASPAA - The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. The distinctive dual accreditation for business and public administration provides the curricular and professional advantages of the MBA, and the flexibility to pursue a career in business, government and not-for-profit organizations.
The learning environment includes excellent teaching, teamwork, and the practical application of management theory to managerial decision-making. From the first day of class, Atkinson students apply what they learn to real organizations. The Atkinson School PaCE Project (where teams of students create and run a real enterprise), case studies, internships, simulations, and consulting projects provide multiple opportunities to "learn by doing" and build the work experience valued by employers.
The program offers functional areas of interest in accounting, finance, general management, human resources, information technology, international management, marketing, organizational analysis, public management, and quantitative analysis.
The Community
The Atkinson School is part of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Willamette University is a highly recognized private coeducational university with approximately 2,500 students.
A high degree of student-faculty interaction is the norm at the Atkinson School. Our efficient size and exclusive focus on the Master of Management program facilitates close relationships between students and faculty. Faculty are available to students both in and out of class and participate with students in a variety of social, recreational and professional activities. Barbecues, receptions, concerts, art shows, theater, speakers, athletic events, the international dinner, community service projects, holiday celebrations, pizza nights, and weekly "Thursday Night Out" gatherings balance the academic demands of the program. On the professional level, students and faculty interact with leaders of business and government through professional organizations, conferences, consulting projects, site visits, guest lectures and alumni activities.
Beyond campus life, our Salem location offers the advantages of one of the nation's most livable small cities (population 120,000), and quick access to the resources of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. An extraordinary variety of activities are within a short drive. Students can ski the Cascade Mountains, enjoy the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, hike the Willamette National Forest, windsurf the Columbia River Gorge --- or explore the urban and cultural offerings of the Portland metropolitan area.
Programs of study
The Master of Management program is designed for full-time students and is two academic years in length. The degree is comprised of a 30-credit core curriculum (10 courses) and 30 credits of elective course work (10 courses). The balance of required and elective course work ensures a broad understanding of the functions of management and provides the flexibility for students to pursue their specific career goals.
During the first year of study, students complete the core curriculum. The distinctive Atkinson School core curriculum is project oriented, cross-functional and multi-sector in nature. Students learn the financial, marketing, accounting, human resource, international, organizational, statistical, economic, quantitative and information technology tools that support managerial decision-making in the private and public sectors. And they apply what they learn through the unique Private, Public and Community Enterprise Project (PaCE) --- an extensive "hands-on" management project where teams of students create a business, make a profit, close the business, and use the profits for a not-for-profit service. The PaCE project and the core curriculum are carefully planned to provide a cross-functional learning experience that offers the powerful combination of a wealth of new skills and the opportunity to put those skills to the test in a real organization.
During the second year of study, students continue to build their knowledge and practical management experience through the elective curriculum. Elective courses include classes which involve projects and consulting for organizations, internships, independent study, industry analysis, case studies, research, study abroad programs, and traditional management classes. The elective curriculum provides students the opportunity to design their program to meet their individual career goals. Students may choose to pursue a broad background in general management or develop greater depth of knowledge in one or more of nine functional areas of interest.
Facilities & Resources
The Willamette University campus is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. The campus is comprised of 43 buildings on 61 acres of land. University facilities include two libraries, a number of computer labs, state-of-the art classrooms, recreational and athletic facilities, dining centers, a concert hall, an art museum, student apartments, and more.
Atkinson School classrooms are spacious, modern, and facilitate student interaction. Two classrooms are fully electronic and feature network computer-assisted instruction, CD-ROM players, VCR and overhead television projection. The main lecture hall also features a visualizer and video-television projection unit.
Atkinson students have 24-hour-a-day access to IBM-compatible and Macintosh personal computers. A local network provides Windows, statistical, database, forecasting and all standard word processing, spreadsheet and graphics applications. The Internet provides access to worldwide information services and e-mail. The lab also provides computer work stations for team use, facilities for preparation of multi-media presentations and network connectors for laptop computers.
The University's Mark O. Hatfield Library and the J.W. Long Law Library support the research needs of Atkinson students. Services include a Management/Economics Librarian who assists students and faculty, paper and electronic databases, books, periodicals, journals, newspapers, specialized materials, and programs that provide access to more than four million books and library resources.
Expenses and Aid
Expenses
Atkinson School tuition for the 2005-2006 academic year is $21,600. The student-body fee is $50. Books cost approximately $1,100. Room and board expenses vary with the needs and choices of individuals, but range from $4,500 to $6,850. Personal expenses also vary but average $2,400.
Financial Aid
Full-time students may be eligible for Atkinson School scholarships, government and/or private educational loans, and campus work programs.
All full-time students are considered for Atkinson School scholarships. Priority consideration is given to students who complete the application process and are admitted by March 3l. Atkinson School scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit as measured by GMAT/GRE scores, undergraduate grade point average and experience. Scholarships range in value from one-third to two-thirds of tuition.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to borrow up to $18,500 per year through the Federal Stafford Loan Programs. Eligibility for the Stafford Loan Programs is determined by submission and analysis of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Private supplementary loans programs are also available .
Financial aid for international students is limited. International students may be eligible for Atkinson School scholarships, and may be eligible for private educational loans if they have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. However, international applicants and/or their sponsor should be prepared to fund the entire cost of educational and living expenses for the two year program.
How to Apply
Applicants requesting admission to the Atkinson School must submit the following materials to the Atkinson School Admission Office: application for admission (paper or online), personal statement of experiences and professional goals, two letters of evaluation, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work, official GMAT or GRE scores, and a $50 non-refundable application fee.
In addition to the documents listed above, international applicants must submit the following: English translation of academic records and transcripts, official TOEFL scores, Statement of Financial Responsibility and official bank verification showing sufficient resources to cover educational and personal expenses.
Who to contact
Director of Admission
Atkinson Graduate School of Management
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
503-370-6167
e-mail: agsm-admission@willamette.edu
web: http://www.willamette.edu/agsm
The Faculty and Their Research
Choate, Marc. G., Professor of Economics and Finance, B.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.,University of Washington. Research interests include: financial management in health care, corporate capital structure and dividend policy, and public budgeting in an agency framework.
Connor, Patrick E., Professor of Organization Theory and Behavior, B.S.E.E., University of Washington; M.S.I.A., Purdue University: Ph.D., University of Washington. Research interests include: impact of personal value systems on managerial action, managerial decision styles and management of organizational change.
Dothan, Michael U., Guy F. Atkinson Professor of Economics and Finance, B.SC., M.SC., Israel Institute of Technology; Ph.D., Harvard University. Research interests include: financial derivatives, security pricing, financial markets and institutions, and market efficiency.
Eliason, Alan L., Professor of Management Information Technology, B.M.E/I.E., M.B.A. Ph.D., University of Minnesota. Research interests include: database design, web-based business computer applications, theory and management of information technology, and team-based rapid prototyping.
Gates, Bruce L., Professor of Quantitative Methods and Public Management, B.S.E., Princeton University; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh. Research interests include: applied forecasting, decision-making in small business, and value chain analysis.
Hand, Michael L., Professor of Applied Statistics and Information Systems, B.S., Oregon State University; M.S., Ph.D., Iowa State University. Research interests include: statistical computing, resampling methods, parallel computing, robust estimation, data analysis, forecasting methods, and statistical methods in public policy research.
Johnston, Bryan M., Dean and Professor of Conflict Management, B.S., Northern Illinois University, J.D., Loyola University of Chicago. Research interests include: conflict management, negotiation, and mediation in public policy.
Littrell, Earl K., Professor of Accounting and Information Sciences, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D., University of Oregon. Research interests include: accounting frauds and scandals, and uses of management accounting.
Maltz, Elliot N., Associate Professor of Marketing, B.A., Trinity University; M.B.A., University of California, Davis; Ph.D., University of Texas. Research interests include: marketing management and strategy with particular emphasis on acquisition and dissemination of market information for strategic decision making.
Maser, Steven M., Professor of Public Management and Public Policy, S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.A., Ph.D., University of Rochester. Research interests include: negotiation, public policy analysis, conflict management, and economics of public organizations.
Powers, Kathleen J., Associate Professor of Human Resource Management, B.B.A., M.B.A., Florida International University; Ph.D., University of Florida. Research interests include: affirmative processes, organizational justice and due process, issues of responsibility and accountability, issues of free speech, organizational privacy, equal employment opportunity, and managerial effectiveness training.
Ringold, Debra J., Professor of Marketing, B.A., Texas Tech University; M.B.A., Southern Illinois University; Ph.D., University of Maryland. Research interests include economics of information.
Thompson, Fred, Grace and Elmer Goudy Professor of Public Management and Policy Analysis, B.A., Pomona College, Ph.D., Claremont Graduate School. Research interests include: economics of organization, budget theory, and public sector financial engineering.
Truitt, Frederick J., Helen Simpson Jackson Professor of International Management, A.B., Muhlenberg College; M.B.A., D.B.A., Indiana University. Research interests include: case writing in international business, international strategy and foreign market entry, teaching/learning in international business, and state government promotion of international business.