Why Study at PSU
Great MBA programs are judged on four major criteria:
Curriculum
The MBA at PSU emphasizes the
balance between theory and practice, with students encouraged to apply
creative thinking and innovation to manage the challenges of contemporary
business organizations. Key values include: critical analysis of quantitative
and qualitative information, teamwork, communication, management of innovation
and change, strategic and ethical decision making and global competition.
Students
The MBA program at PSU is highly
competitive, with approximately 25% of all applicants admitted to the
program. Entering scores on the GMAT and undergraduate GPAs place PSU
students on par with those from nationally ranked programs. Of the 500
graduate business students at PSU, more than 75% are employed at the time
of admission, and their experiences serve to enrich the classroom and
teamwork experience. See Graduate
Quick Facts.
Faculty
100 percent of full-time faculty
in the MBA program hold doctorate degrees, and are actively pursuing research
in a wide array of contemporary subject areas. 100 percent of the faculty
also has experience working with corporations, including global competitors
such as Toyota. See Faculty Research.
Accreditation
The MBA program at PSU is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) the leading accrediting body worldwide, and the accreditor of the 400 business schools internationally which are ranked by U.S. News & World Report and Business Week.
Other great reasons to choose Portland State:
Location
The School of Business at Portland State is located in the center of downtown Portland, selected in 2000 by Money Magazine as the “Best Place to Live” in the United States.
For business students, the attractions are many. In addition to unmatched scenic beauty and recreation opportunities, Portland is home to many of the most creative and innovative companies in the U.S. Major industry sectors include:
- Sporting/Recreation: Led by Nike, Adidas America,
Columbia Sportswear, and filled with a host of small, entrepreneurial
goods and services providers for whom the Pacific Northwest defines
“sport and recreation.”
- High Tech: Major players include Intel, Hewlett Packard,
IBM, and a solar system of small to medium sized, successful high tech
firms spawned from creative, entrepreneurial Tektronix employees in
the late 70’s and 80’s
- Creative Services: Portland has a well-deserved reputation
as a center for creative excellence, with some of country’s leading
product design, architecture, advertising, web services, animation firms,
including Wieden&Kennedy, Allied Works, Ziba Design, and Will Vinton
Studios among others.
- Food Industry: Oregon’s gentle climate and abundant
rainfall make agriculture and related food products a major economic
source, with grains, fish, nuts, fruit, wine and dairy products major
Oregon exports, particularly to Asian and domestic markets.
- Sustainability Economy: Portland is home to the leading edge of companies and organizations dedicated to building and supporting sustainable business practices, including EcoTrust, The Natural Step and Shore Bank.
Business Connections
Faculty within the MBA program have well-established connections to key executives and managers within each of the industries noted above, thanks in part to PSU’s location in the heart of Oregon’s business community. As a result, industry professionals are a common feature in the classroom, as students, as lecturers and often as instructors for MBA courses. They lend the “real world” edge that distinguishes the PSU MBA program, and provide the opportunity for “applied” learning in the program.
Industry professionals also regularly serve as mentors to MBA students, or provide internship opportunities. The Executives-in-Residence Program quarterly invites area executives to spend a day with students and faculty.
Careers
PSU MBA grads earn an average salary of $60,055 upon graduation (2002 data), approximately 40% higher than the mean Portland household income (2001 census data). Career Services for MBA students begin with the first class in the program, with career assessment and personality inventories helping to establish student goals and strengths. On-going services include interview skill building, resume writing workshops, career counseling, job fairs and networking events. See Career Services.
© 2003 Portland State University SBA
