Eastern Michigan University - College of Business

At EMU, “most of the professors are amazing,” with close to 100 percent of the school’s faculty holding the highest degree available in their field. Students admit that “you get a couple bad professors/classmates along the way, but there is little if anything to complain about.” Graduate class sizes average fewer than twenty, which gives students the opportunity to “work directly with professors who provide PhD-level class time, rather than having to work through a teaching assistant.” The result is a dynamic classroom environment, in which discussion is encouraged and “professors challenge you to develop your own opinions regarding global business and economies.” In addition to the professors, there is “lots of diverse work experience among the students,” adding even more depth to the academic environment. Real-world applications are stressed in the classroom, though students would like to see coursework incorporate “more up-to-date case studies” and hands-on instruction. One student suggests, “EMU needs to strengthen their program with real business partnerships where students can apply what they learn and gain real job experience.”

The MBA curriculum is comprised of foundation coursework (which can be waived for students with previous education in business), core coursework, electives, and an area of specialization, which combine for a program of study between thirty-six–fifty-four credit hours. Catering to its diverse student body, EMU offers specializations in a variety of business fields, including business analytics, e-business, entrepreneurship, internal auditing, international business, management, and nonprofit management, as well as the opportunity to pursue a general MBA with no particular specialization (in that case, students can take a range of elective coursework to meet the units required for graduation).

In complement to the resources at the business school, the University Advising and Career Development Center has a COB office that can assist with career planning and job-search skills. They also organize on-campus recruiting events with local companies. Prospective students should note, however, that the Career Development Center ’s ser- vices are chiefly directed at undergraduates, and “many of the recruiting companies are hiring retail managers, rather than looking for candidates for higher-quality positions.” A student adds, “Our Career Services Center has little help for those outside of account- ing and finance.”

Located in the suburban community of Ypsilanti, the EMU campus is “very conve- nient” to both Ann Arbor and Detroit, and theses two cities provides endless cultural, entertainment, food, and nightlife options. Drawing from the greater metropolitan area, EMU’s College of Business is incredibly “multicultural,” with students from a range of backgrounds and levels of experience.