Evening MBA: Frequently Asked Questions

General Program Questions

How long does it take to complete the Evening MBA Program?
When and where are the Evening MBA classes?
How much flexibility does the Evening MBA offer in course selection?
Will I be able to take all of my courses at my home campus?
Can Evening MBA students transfer into the Full-Time Program?
What is the cost of the Evening MBA classes?
Are there differences between the Full-Time, Evening, and Weekend MBA degrees?
What is the teaching methodology?
How can I contact the Evening MBA Program staff?
Can I take a course at the Smith School without being admitted as a degree-seeking student?
What type of financial assistance is available?

Application and Admission Questions

Is the GMAT required for admission to the Evening MBA?
What type of student is the Admission Committee looking for?
What are the application deadlines?
Is an interview required?
Can students transfer coursework?
Can students waive coursework?
Can I apply online?
Where do I send my application for the Evening MBA Program?
Can I apply for both the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA at the same time? Or can I apply to more than one Evening MBA campus?
Can I defer admission to the part-time MBA?

International Applicant Questions

Do I have to take the TOEFL?
What is the minimum TOEFL score required?
What degrees are acceptable from international applicants?




How long does it take to complete the Evening MBA Program?

The Evening MBA can be completed in 28 to 36 months. Students who wish to complete the program in less than 36 months can accelerate their studies by taking electives during the Winter Term (January).

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When and where are the Evening MBA classes?

Each semester Evening MBA students take core courses on either Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays with each class meeting once a week. Typically, all two-credit core courses will meet from 6:25pm to 10:00pm while all three-credit core courses meet from 7:00pm ­ 9:40pm. Evening electives during the fall and spring normally meet once a week from 7:00pm ­ 9:40pm. Summer electives usually meet twice a week from 6:40pm ­ 10:00pm but are taken one at a time.

All core courses are 2 credits with the exception of Data, Models and Decisions (3 credits), Financial Management (3 credits), and the MBA Case Competition (1 credit).

Students take their core classes at one of three locations: Baltimore, Shady Grove, or Washington, D.C. Upon completion of the core, Evening MBA students may take electives at any of these three locations as well as at the College Park campus. Students who take elective in College Park and are not residents of the State of Maryland are subject to non-resident tuition rates.

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How much flexibility does the Evening MBA offer in course selection?

Students follow a prescribed core curriculum during the first four semesters. Upon completion of the core curriculum, you are able to choose from over 30 - 50 electives per semester to satisfy the elective portion of the program.

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Will I be able to take all of my courses at my home campus?

Students who want to take advantage of the wide variety of electives offered at the Smith School should be prepared to demonstrate flexibility in campus location. While many of the electives in the popular areas, such as Finance and Marketing, are offered frequently at each campus, the more specialized electives are typically offered once a year at College Park. This may include, but is not limited, to:

Advanced Accounting Theory

Financial Planning and Control Systems for Managers and Consultants

Management Simulation

Managing Technology in the Supply Chain

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Can Evening MBA students transfer into the Full-Time Program?

After completing the core curriculum, students may petition the Masters Program Office to take a full-time course load, which is nine or more credit hours per semester. However, students are still considered part-time and must fulfill their program's requirements. All students, regardless of their credit load, may participate in any MBA program activities upon approval of the Masters Program Office.

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What is the cost of the Evening MBA Program?

There are three components to the pricing structure of the program: tuition, site fees, and student service fees. Your total costs vary depending on your state residency status, the location at which you choose to study, the semester in which you study, and the number of credits in which you enroll.

For example, based on 8 credits, your tuition cost for the first fall semester is approximately $6,424 and $5,621 during the Spring (based on 7 credits) and $3.212during the Summer (based on 4 credits).

The average student enrolls in 6 credit hours per semester during their elective phase. Based on 6 credit hours, your tuition cost per semester during your elective phase is currently $4818 when taking electives at a satellite campus.

Campus fees vary by campus and currently are $44/credit hour for students enrolled at the Baltimore campus; $50/credit hour for students enrolled at the Shady Grove campus; and $120/credit hour for students enrolled at the Washington, D.C. campus. Students are also charged an MBA/MS fee for all courses which is currently $92 per credit.

Books are approximately $120 per class.

Please note, tuition and fees are subject to change. To see a more detailed listing of tuition and fees, click here.

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Are there differences between the Full-Time, Evening, and Weekend MBA degrees?

All MBA graduates receive a degree that reads Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland at College Park. The diploma does not mention the campus or field of study. All three programs have the same admission criteria, utilize the same faculty, require 54 credit hours, and implement the cohort system.

Evening MBA students do not participate in the MBA Consulting Project because they are typically employed full-time.

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What is the teaching methodology?

Courses are integrated and taught using a team-based approach. Professors utilize lectures, cases, simulations, and group presentations. Each course uses a different amount of these teaching methods based on the subject and the professor's personal approach.

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How can I contact the Evening MBA Program staff?

Telephone: (301) 405-2559
Fax: (301) 314-9862
E-mail: mba_info@rhsmith.umd.edu

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Can I take a course at the Smith School without being admitted as a degree-seeking student?

Students who wish to attend courses without being admitted as degree seeking students must be a graduate of or be admitted to a graduate program that is accredited by AACSB. You must submit an application through the Graduate School for admittance as an Advanced Special Student (graduate of an AACSB-accredited institution) or a Visiting Graduate Student (currently enrolled in an AACSB-accredited institution).

The student sends by fax a written request to the attention of Faye Baker in the Masters Program Office at (301) 314-9862. Once the student's application has been submitted, the request can be processed. Requests are reviewed approximately two weeks before the start of the semester and the final decision is based on a space availability basis.

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What type of financial assistance is available?

Students can apply for the Stafford Loan, a low-interest loan offered by the US Department of Education. The most important process in applying for this loan is filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). FASFA forms are available at the beginning of December online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or by contacting the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Maryland at (301) 314-9305. The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), in cooperation with Sallie Mae and Wells Fargo Education Financial Services, offers part-time MBA students low cost financing through its Tuition Loan Program. For further details, contact GMAC at 1-888-440-4MBA, or visit www.salliemae.com/mbaloans or www.gmac.com.

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Is the GMAT required for admission to the Evening MBA?

Yes, the Admission Committee requires an official copy of the GMAT score before reviewing an applicant's files. Please request Educational Testing Service (ETS) to forward an official copy of your GMAT to institutional code 5814 to avoid any delay. For details on taking the GMAT, click here.

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What type of student is the Evening MBA Admission Committee looking for?

Competitive applicants to the Evening MBA Program should have a GMAT in the mid-500s or better. Their undergraduate and/or graduate grade point average should be 3.00/4.00 or stronger.

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What are the application deadlines?

Applications for the Fall 2008 class are being accepted now. Application deadlines can be found here. Please contact the Office of Admissions at 301-405-2559 for more specific details. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.

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Is an interview required?

Interviews are not required for consideration for the Evening MBA program. However, applicants are invited to meet with a program representative or attend one of the Evening MBA/Weekend MBA Information Sessions to learn more about the program.

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Can students transfer coursework?

Students admitted to the part-time program may transfer up to nine credits earned prior to matriculation in the Smith MBA program. In order to transfer credits, all of the following conditions must be met:

The credits were earned while enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an MBA program but were not used to meet the requirements of any other earned degree.

The credits were earned at an AACSB-accredited business school.

The student transferred to a new location for professional reasons and thus was unable to complete the program as originally intended. (ie. A student had a job transfer from New York to Washington, DC and cannot complete their current degree remotely.)

The courses are no more than seven years old at the time of a student's graduation. If a student's planned graduation date is delayed for any reason beyond this time limit, these courses will no longer provide credit toward the Smith School degree.

Both the Masters Program Office and the relevant academic area must accept the content of the course.

The student must have received a grade equivalent to a "B" or above for the course.

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Can students waive coursework?

All MBA students are required to fulfill all MBA core course requirements. MBA core course requirements follow a strict no waiver policy. Exceptions to this policy are listed below. The following core courses may be waived if the following conditions are met.

Course
Waiver Requirement

BUSI 610 Financial Accounting
CPA license & department chair approval

BUSI 611 Managerial Accounting
CPA license & department chair approval

BUSI 630 Data Models & Decisions
Successful passing of waiver examination

BUSI 640 Financial Management
Successful passing of waiver examination


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Can I apply online?

Yes, the application for Fall 2004 is available online at www.embark.com.

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Where do I send my application for the Evening MBA Program?

Send your application by mail:

Masters Programs Office
The Robert H. Smith School of Business
2417 Van Munching Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742-1815

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Can I apply for both the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA at the same time? Or can I apply to more than one Evening MBA campus?

No, the Office of the Registrar at the University of Maryland does not permit applicants to apply for more than one program at the same time.

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Can I defer admission to the part-time MBA?

Admitted students begin their MBA program in the semester for which they have applied. If a student needs to request a deferral for an emergency medical reason, the admission- committee will consider requests on a case-by-case basis.

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Do I have to take the TOEFL?

The University of Maryland at College Park requires any applicant who has not completed a university degree in a country in which English is the principal language (such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand) to take the TOEFL. All applicants must comply by this policy regardless of citizenship status, number of years residing in the United States, and language of instruction of his or her university.

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What is the minimum TOEFL score for international students?

Applicants required to take the TOEFL must submit a minimum score of 250 under the computer format or 600 under the paper format.

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What degrees are acceptable from international applicants?

All Evening MBA applicants should have the equivalent of a four-year US bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Please send a photocopy of the diploma and/or degree conferral with transcripts from institutions outside the US.

A three-year degree, such as a Bachelor of Commerce, is not sufficient for admission to the University of Maryland. Applicants may not substitute one year of a two-year master's program, but rather must complete the master's degree.
The BA or BS are acceptable only under a four-year program.

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