East Carolina University - College of Business

East Carolina is a medium-sized public school, but it seems like a smaller, more expensive one. Its MBA program provides students with lots of "individual attention" and allows them to tailor the program to their needs. "ECU has an intimate feel," one student says. "Professors know students' names," and the campus has a "friendly atmosphere." Students can take classes on campus, online, or both. It's common for distance education programs to feel alienating, but students say "very little of the East Carolina spirit is lost over the Internet." "There is still a lot of communication that goes on" in the online program, and the interactive media "makes up for the lack of face time" and means students still "get a chance to know people pretty well." Students may attend full or part time, and can change the number of classes they take and the method through which they take them every semester. One student explains, the school "is set up to meet students' needs, not the students having to work around the school."

East Carolina requires a number of foundation classes, such as Financial and Managerial Accounting and Financial Management, but students who studied business as an undergraduate can have these requirements waived if they took similar courses and received a B or higher. All students must take eight common body of knowledge courses that provide a solid foundation in business and three elective courses that allow them to focus on areas of their choice. Students may choose to take four electives toward a certificate in an area they want to specialize in. Current offerings include Business Analytics, Health Care Management, Finance and Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Project Management.

Professors at East Carolina get high marks. The "strong" and "challenging" faculty members are "genuinely concerned with their students' success in the program," and really "push them to get better." They are accessible outside of class, and students can "build real relationships with them." One student explains that a "professor put me in touch with professional networking organizations. Another put me in touch with a professor outside my program, who had insight into an aspect of business I am interested in." Professors definitely "expect hard work and high professionalism from each student," and those interested in East Carolina should be prepared to devote themselves to their studies. One online student who also works full time says, "My life revolves around class assignments, cases, group work, and other obligations. This program is not for the faint of heart!" East Carolina's combination of a demanding, but flexible academic program, dedicated professors, and enthusiastic students make for a great experience and is why so many people think the school offers a great "bang for the buck."

East Carolina University's Center for Student Success offers students a wide-range of individualized support for their academic and professional needs. The College of Business Career Center assists students with internship and job searches, conducts mock interviews, and provides help with resumes. In addition to providing networking oppor- tunities, the Center hosts career fairs and on-campus interviews. Companies that visited campus in the past year include Credit Suisse, BB&T, Ferguson/Wolseley, PIE Event, Sinclair Broadcasting, and McGladrey & Pullen.

The flexibility offered by East Carolina attracts a wide-range of students. You'll find stu- dents, who are "young and old, single and married, career changers, and professionals seeking to enhance their status within their current career tracks." Though people may be different, one student says "everybody is here to learn." Students are "excited about learning, and this energy comes through." Students who have "been in the professional world for several years, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience" into classroom discussions. The large number of distance learners does not diminish the school's spirit; in fact, the online students are some of the program's biggest champions.

The campus itself is nice and has "great places to study and to wind down" and offers lots of "great extracurricular activities." The football games are popular and "always a whole lot of fun." However, as many students work full time and have family obliga- tions, not everyone has time to participate in campus life, so those looking to actively socialize may have to look beyond the MBA program. Luckily, the Graduate Business Association organizes a lot of activities, such as networking programs with local business leaders and recruiters, as well as professional development seminars and social nights. Many departments, such as Accounting, Finance, and Management, have their own student organizations, and the school also has chapters of two national honor societies, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Phi Kappa Phi.