Frequently Asked Questions
Information and Forms
Questions of a General Nature
Concentrations and Certificates
Internships and Special Courses
Pre-MBA Program (for International Students)
MBA Programs
Waivers and Transfer Credit
More Information
Application Requirements and Procedures
Getting Started
Student Responsibilities
Financial Assistance
Graduation
Questions of a General Nature
Concentrations and Certificates
Internships and Special Courses
Pre-MBA Program (for International Students)
MBA Programs
Waivers and Transfer Credit
More Information
Application Requirements and Procedures
Getting Started
Student Responsibilities
Financial Assistance
Graduation (MBA Graduation Guidelines)
Questions of a General Nature
Q: Do you have MBA students from Romania? Thailand? Brazil? Iceland?
A: Our MBA program has students from more than 50 countries. Chances are, we have someone from your country in our program.
Q: What is the male-to-female ratio in your program?
A: The male to female population in our program is about 50%.
Q: How many full-time and part-time students does the UB MBA Program have?
A: The UB MBA Program has about 250 full-time students and about 50 part-time students.
Q: How many are from other countries?
A: About 75% of our MBA students are from other countries.
Q: What are some of the unique advantages of studying on the East Coast (at the University of Bridgeport)?
A: UB is located near the ocean (adjacent to Long Island Sound) just 55 miles from Time Square in New York City (Manhattan); the NY Financial District is close by. Southern Connecticut is one of the most prosperous locations in the U.S., and is home to many corporations, which helps our students get internships and future employment.
Q: Do you offer on-campus recruitment?
A: Yes. UB has a department called Career Services that maintains a database of employers and arranges for on-campus recruiting once a year. Usually, however, these corporations just provide company literature and collect resumes because of the large number of applicants. Internships are a very good method to secure future employment - see Internships.
Q: What percentage of UB MBA students gets placed in jobs after graduation or during their studies?
A: About 25% are placed as a result of recruiting and about 25% get offers directly from their Internships. Another 25% already have jobs, and the remaining 25% usually secure full-time employment within 6 months after graduation. For UB this is difficult to support and measure because, remember that we have students from all over the world, who upon graduation spread-out all over the world! Example: Tim is from Russia, and he had a great Internship as an Analyst in the Oil and Gas Industry in CT. Upon graduation, instead of accepting an offer from his employer he accepted a position from another company in London. See "How much money do you think I might earn after I graduate?"
Q: What degree do you offer?
A: We offer an MBA in General Administration, with the opportunity to take additional courses to earn one or more Concentrations. Our MBA in General Administration has considerable global content, and is 54 credits.
Q: What is the average class size?
A: In the Core courses or 400 level courses the average class size is 20. In the advanced courses, the most popular and required courses have about 40; the other courses have about 30.
Q: Do you offer courses at more than one campus?
A: Yes. We offer courses in Bridgeport (the Main Campus) during the week and in Stamford on the weekend.
Q: What are the qualifications of your faculty?
A: Nearly all of our faculty are doctorally qualified and have many years of professional experience. Several of our faculty are also multilingual with rich multicultural experiences. See faculty profiles
Q: Is your MBA Program accredited?
A: Yes. We are business school accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and by the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education.
Q: About how many of your students have work experience?
A: About 50%. Most of the U.S. students (about 25% of the total students) are working professional, and about 25% of the International students have some work experience.
Q: Do I need work experience to be accepted to the MBA Program?
There are 2 answers to this question, one for each program format:
A: No work experience is required to be accepted to the regular On-campus MBA Program.
A: 3-years of professional work experience is required to be accepted to the (Executive) MBA Weekend Program.
Q: What do you mean by professional work experience?
A: Professional work experience is loosely defined as experience that requires a significant amount of independent decision making in a job function the business perceives it needs to function properly.
Q: Who makes the judgement on professional work experience and how?
A: The Director of the MBA Program makes this judgement upon submission of a resume.
Q: How many courses must I take to be considered full-time?
A: Three per semester.
Q: If my English isn't good enough to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) what happens?
A: You will be required to take English at UB until your score is high enough for you to continue. During that time you may or may not be permitted to take MBA courses. If this happens you will be exempt from the need to maintain full-time student status, which will be determined by both the English Language Institute (ELI) and MBA Program administrators.
Q: What is OPT (Optional Practical Training)?
A: OPT is one year of work experience after you graduate. International students can apply for OPT and a work permit is usually granted for one year from the date of graduation.
Q: When can I apply for OPT?
A: At the beginning of your final semester you should apply for OPT about 3 to 4 months before you intend to graduate to insure you get your work permit in time to use it.
Q: I started the UB MBA program years ago, but for reasons beyond my control, never finished. Is there a way I can finish my MBA now?
A: Yes. Contact us and lets discuss where you were in your previous studies and what we can sensibly do to help you get your UB MBA. We generally have 3 to 4 students who are finishing MBA's they started 10 to 30 years ago!
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Concentrations and Certificates
Q: What is the difference between a major and a concentration?
A: An MBA program with a major is usually a program of study that requires the student to focus in a specific area of study at the expense of learning a broad spectrum of MBA knowledge. We however believe students should earn an MBA in General Administration first, then optionally choose to earn as many Concentrations as they wish. Concentrations are currently available in several areas. Please see Concentrations page.
Q: How many courses do I need to complete to earn a Concentration?
A: You need to complete four advanced courses to earn the Concentration. In the general MBA, two courses would already have been completed in one specialty and one course in each of the others.
Q: Can I earn more than one Concentration?
A: You can earn as many as you like.
Q: Can I graduate then come back and earn a Concentration later?
A: Yes. But not on F-1 Status.
Q: I'm not ready to study for my MBA yet. Can I still take some courses that will be counted later?
A: Yes. You can take one of our Certificate Programs. A Certificate Program is a path of study that gives students advanced skills in a chosen field. Upon completion the student receives a certificate much like a diploma, capable of being framed. Our Certificate Programs use the same rules as our Concentrations. So if you read about our Concentrations you will learn about Certificates - see link to Concentrations at left. Basically you must take 4 advanced courses in the subject area, after satisfying the Core course (prerequisite) in that discipline. Then if you decide later to earn your MBA we will apply the Core course and two of the advanced courses toward your MBA, assuming your grades in each course is "B" or higher.
Q: Do you have any Certificate programs?
A: Yes. See the previous question -- I'm not ready to study for my MBA yet. Can I still take some courses that may be counted later?
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Internships and Special Courses
Q: What is an Internship, and why do we have them?
A: Our MBA Program is structured so that every student has the opportunity to apply what they have learned in their MBA studies before graduation. We do this by allowing the student to either work for an employer for one semester (Internship), or by allowing the student to take a special course called Business Games. Experienced professionals in the weekend program take the Business Games course. Experienced professionals in the evening program may choose, but if Internship is selected it must be an assignment different from the normal job. The choice between these courses is generally made near the end of the student's program. The academic world calls this experiential learning.
Q: What is the difference between Co-op (education) and Internship (education)?
A: Co-op education is experiential learning that is prearranged with an employer in such a way as to offer the student employment upon graduation by stretching (usually) a 4- year Bachelor's program into 5 years. In this arrangement the student works one semester then comes back to school the following semester. Repeated twice during the fourth year of study, the student ends up with one year of work experience upon graduation, and a job. MBA Programs don't usually have co-op arrangements unless the employer initiates them.
Q: Does your program have good Internships?
A: Yes! We have a very successful Internship program. Although nothing is guaranteed, many of our students get good Internships when they want them. UB has affiliations with companies throughout New England that offer our students Internships. Our students are selected from companies like PriceWaterhouseCoopers, divisions of GE in Connecticut and New York, Pitney Bowes, and a variety of financial corporations in lower Connecticut near New York and in the NYC financial district. Our students enjoy Internships in many industries. We also have students who choose to take Internships in places like Texas, California, Japan, India and other countries.
Q: When can I start taking Internships?
A: It depends on several factors. To take a 3-credit internship to count toward the MBA the Internship is generally taken at the end of the program so that MBA knowledge can be put to work.
Q: How many Internships may I take?
A: In total 3-credits worth for the degree, but for no more than 11 months.
Q: How many students are offered full-time jobs from their Internships?
A: About 25%. Another 25% are offered jobs with other companies as a result of having their MBA's and good Internships.
Q: Is there a syllabus for the Internship?
A: Yes. In fact, to get academic credit for an Internship the student must write a paper that explains what they did during their Internship and what they learned from what they did -- much like a paper that supports the experience of a management training program (written for someone higher up in the management structure). The grade from this paper coupled with the employer's evaluation are used to determine the final grade for the Internship course. Syllabus
Q: Can I take a course by not attending regular classes or can I do it or some other special project as an Independent Study?
A: Yes; we try to help with special situations, but these events are carefully controlled. Each semester we have a few students who are approved to do Independent Studies. An Independent Study is a course or special project that for all practical purposes cannot be done any other way than independently. To take this course a professor must agree in advance to work with the student to meet an academic objective that fits our program and to get a grade, and the student's advisor must approve.
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Pre-MBA Program (for International Students)
Q: What is the Pre-MBA Program?
A: The Pre-MBA Program is a program structured to meet U.S., Connecticut and regional accrediting agency requirements to earn an MBA while having completed a 3-year Bachelor's program. This program allows 3-year Bachelor degree students the ability to complete our 10 Pre-MBA undergraduate Core courses with the undergraduates while perhaps at the same time taking some regular MBA advanced courses. By comparison, 4-year graduates take 8 similar Core courses, so the difference between the programs is 2 courses.
Q: How is the Pre-MBA Program different from the MBA Program?
A: Aside from the difference in the Core courses the Pre-MBA Program is the same program as the MBA. Once the Pre-MBA Core courses have been completed the student has completed the Pre-MBA Program and is considered a regular MBA Program student.
See comparison chart
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MBA Programs
Q: How many MBA programs do you have?
A: Three: Pre-MBA, MBA and EMBA.
Q: How many MBA program-scheduling formats do you have?
A: Four:Q: How is the Pre-MBA Program different from the MBA Program?
The Pre-MBA Program is 14 week daytime courses in Bridgeport.
The MBA Program has daytime 8-week courses in Bridgeport.
The MBA Program has 14-week courses evenings in Bridgeport.
The EMBA Program has daylong courses on Saturdays and Sundays on alternating weekends in Stamford.
Q: What is the difference between the MBA On-Campus Program and the Weekend Executive MBA Program?
A: From an application standpoint the weekend program requires 3 or more years of qualifiable work experience or a master's degree. The on-campus program i sopen to anyone with a bachelor's degree, with or without work experience.
A: From a scheduling standpoint please see How long does it take to finish the MBA Program?
Q: Can I apply to the On-campus MBA Program and still take some weekend courses with the weekend Executive MBA students, and vice versa?
A: Yes. To ensure a generous mix of cultural, academic and professional backgrounds, by permission we allow some On-campus students into weekend course. Weekend students are always welcome to take evening classes.
Q: How long does it take to finish the MBA Program?
It depends on many factors, including which program we are discussing. The MBA program is 18 3-credit courses or 54 credits, comprised of 8 core courses and 10 advanced courses. We offer waivers for most of the 8 3-credit core courses for previous work with grades of "B" or higher.
A: The On-campus program is taught 4-days per week, Monday through Thursday. Someone accepted to the on-campus program would take one to four courses (generally 3 courses), one each day (for 2 1/2 hours for 14 weeks). Assuming 3-courses per semester, if the student needs to take all 18 courses s/he would take 3 courses/semester x 6 semesters, which equals 3 years. (We operate on a 3-semester schedule but only offer a few special Concentration courses during the summer semester because most students take the summer off). Generally, our full-time On-campus students complete their programs in one to 3 years; part-time students take from 2 to 4 years, depending on waivers.
A: The weekend program is very different. It is an accelerated program taught 9-months each year, September through June with about 4 weeks off during the winter holidays. Courses are Saturday and/or Sunday every other weekend (every 2 weeks), from 8:30 AM to 5PM. Because of this accelerated format courses take only 2 months, then 2 weeks later the next set of 2 courses begins. In this format there are 2-terms/semester, or the ability to take 4-courses/semester, two at a time. The weekend program each year is (2 + 2) + (2 +2) + (1) = 9 courses. In the weekend format a student with no previous business courses can complete the entire MBA program in less than 2 years.
Q: How much money do you think I might earn after I graduate?
A: Wow! That is a big question full of many variables. It includes having a good resume and good interviewing skills. It includes the availability of jobs in the profession and city the applicant is looking in, and whether they have the right qualifications for the job they seek. It includes luck, timing, and even the ability of the applicant to fill out an application without making mistakes. Then everything depends on your perceived abilities, organizational fit, previous experience, importance of the position to the company, industry in which you will work, and on and on. Our graduates get offers ranging from $25,000 to $125,000 per year.
Q: How much does the MBA Program or the Pre-MBA Program cost?
A: Please click on the links related to the programs: Pre-MBA, MBA & EMBA.
Q: Does your MBA Program require a thesis?
A: No.
Q: Does your MBA Program require a program comprehensive final exam to graduate?
A: No, not usually. But we do ask special students to take an exam only as a feedback mechanism to determine what we need to do to improve the program. In these special cases the requirement to take the exam is known in advance and stated in the acceptance letters.
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Waivers and Transfer Credit
Q: How do I get waivers for previous course work?
A: Submit transcripts that show course duration specific to the subject matter, equivalent to 3-credits or more with grades of "B" or higher (as measured in the US grading system). When translating from one system to another, in the 100 point system a course with a grade of 80 or higher is waived; in the mark system a course with a grade equivalent to 55/100 marks** or higher is waived.
**Where 55 is about a grade of "B" or 80% in this system for a (usually) combined subject course that represents a teaching time duration of 100 or about 4-credits. India and Pakistan are among the countries that use this system.
Q: Do you accept technical school transcripts from programs like NIIT as proof of college study?
A: Generally, no. These program are generally not broad enough in subject matter to qualify for even one semester of academic study, but in many cases we will waive the Core course GSB 451 (Computer Applications & Information Systems) if there is enough information to support this request.
Q: I didn't get all the waivers I expected; will you review my courses for waivers?
A: Yes. Usually, the reason the course was not waived was because something was not clear on the transcript. Perhaps the name is sufficiently different to suggest it is not the course material we would like. The best way to resolve this problem is for the student to provide a course syllabus. We will wait for it. In the meantime the student may continue with their studies.
Q: I completed the advanced course; will you now waive its core course or prerequisite?
A: No! Every semester we have a few students who think that by being able to successfully complete an advanced course they will get its prerequisite course waived. This happens mostly when the student failed to get a waiver for the course and is looking for ways to avoid taking it (again). We take our responsibility as educators seriously. We also occasionally let students discover the hard way to do things, because after all we are trying to educate for the real world, which has many traps or tricks. Consider the following: Should we give someone a license to drive a large truck because they managed to pass a road-driving test (special advanced course), but never passed the exam that explains the rules of the road (the prerequisite or Core course)? No.
Q: Can I also get waivers for advanced study?
A: For courses that fit our program we allow up to 6-credits of transfer credit from an accredited institution for graduate or 500 level or advanced study.
Q: Does the MBA Program accept experience for course work?
A: No, and there are a number of good reasons why. (Also see But there must be some way I can prove to you I really know what needs to be known in this subject so I don't have to take the course?) 1) There is no good way to determine whether the student knows the fundamentals of the subject matter because we have no way to determine who "educated" the student. 2) The student will never know what s/he doesn't know unless s/he takes the course. 3) There is no way to determine whether the student has 15 years of useful experience or one year of bad experience repeated 15 times. 4) We are an educational institution that strives to graduate students beyond their current abilities - there is no course in our MBA program that a student could not benefit from because, if you "confess" your experience, the professor will make sure you will learn beyond your current abilities.
Q: But there must be some way I can prove to you I really know what needs to be known in this subject so I don't have to take the course?
A: Okay. We have equivalency exams in a few subjects. If you pass the exam the course will be waived. Our exams are in (Micro and Macro) Economics and Financial Accounting. We also accept CLEP exam scores for Financial Accounting, Economics (Micro and Macro) and Marketing.
Q: Can I take courses at some other University and get credit for them at UB?
A: UB's policy is that up to 2 courses may be taken at another University for transfer credit. But is important to say that these courses must meet a special need not available under the current circumstances and be approved in writing in advance by your academic advisor.
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More Information
Q: Will you send me a catalog?
A: There is no need. Link to our entire catalog (click here)
Q: Where can I get more information about courses, etc?
A: We are in the process of providing the syllabuses for each course on our web-site. Check the link alongside the course name.
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Application Requirements and Procedures
Q: What skills or pre-requisites must I have?
A: You must have computer skills useful for an MBA student. This means, at the minimum, word-processing skills, spreadsheet skills and Internet skills. In the absence of those skills the student must take CAIS 191.
Q: What are the general application requirements? Education (examples):
A: A minimum of a 3-year bachelor's (this qualifies for the Pre-MBA program). India is a country that has 3-year bachelor's degree programs.
A: A minimum of a 2-year bachelor's degree plus a one-year master's degree (this qualifies for the Pre-MBA program). Pakistan is a country that uses this system.
A: U.S.: A minimum of a 4-year bachelor's degree.
A: Applications from other countries will be evaluated considering the system used by the country of origin and how it relates to the U.S. System.
Q: What is the minimum final Grade Point Average (GPA) for acceptance?
(To establish a final GPA UB uses a conversion to the U.S. grading system of "A" equals 4.0, "B" equals 3.0)
A: It is part of UB's philosophy to try to help those applicants who we believe are likely to succeed in our programs, so every effort is made to review all applications for characteristics that demonstrate the potential for success. Applicant's with final GPA's of less than 2.5 will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Some are accepted; some are not.
Q: For International students, what TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score is required?
A: A score of 213 by computer or 550 using paper is required. Students who arrive without having taken the TOEFL will be required to take our English (ELAB) test, which is equivalent to the TOEFL. Students who do not have a TOEFL score of 550 or do not reach an equivalent on our ELAB will be required to take English at UB until they pass. During that time the student may or may not be permitted to take MBA courses. If this happens the student will be exempt from the need to maintain full-time student status, which will be determined by both the English Language Institute (ELI) and MBA Program administrators.
Q: Do you accept the GRE (Graduate Record Exam)?
A: No. We accept the GMAT only.
Q: Is the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) required?
A: The GMAT is required only when there are no other ways for us to determine the student's ability to do graduate level work. In place of the GMAT we offer applicants the opportunity to:
a) Submit a resume that describes 3 or more years of professional experience to waive the GMAT.
b) Submit transcripts that describe one or more years of successful study at the graduate level, or advanced degrees.
c) Submit final transcripts from a school of business related undergraduate program that shows a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.3 or higher or graduation at the level of First Class. If the applicant is unable to fulfill any of these exceptions, a GMAT score of 400 is required.
Q: What is UB's Institution Code Number? (Use this code for sending copies of exam scores to UB)
A: JPM - KP - 7I
Q: What is UB's Federal School Code Number? (Use this code for student loan information)
A: 001416
Q: What are the total financial resources I need to show proof of having in order for an I-20 to be issued?
(Proof of financial resources should be sent with the application.)
A: MBA
A: Pre-MBA
Q: Is there more detailed Visa, insurance, language, and pricing information available somewhere?
A: Yes. Please go to this Admissions page.
Q: What is the procedure to apply to the MBA Program or the Pre-MBA Program?
A: The procedure is the same. From the UB website, go to Admissions and fill out an online application or download one and fill it out. Then send it along with all transcripts, two letters of recommendation, TOEFL and GMAT scores (or resume), and a short personal statement of why you want to study in the MBA. You may also request a program literature package be sent to you that contains the application - send an E-mail request to mba@bridgeport.edu. By telephone call 1-203-576-4363.
Q: When and how will I know if I am accepted?
A: From the date you mailed your application it takes about 2 months for you to receive an answer by mail. The answer will be a letter describing whether you have been accepted, and the conditions of that acceptance. If you have been accepted you will also receive a sheet that describes course waivers we are permitting.
Q: What are the deadlines for sending Applications?
A: If you will be applying from outside the continental U.S. the answer is about June 1 for the fall semester, and November 1 for the spring semester. This is to allow for postal time in both directions and Visa approvals. If you will be applying from within the continental U.S., about July 1 would be okay for the fall, and December 1 for the spring.
Q: Do you accept students for the summer semester?
A: Yes, but only those who qualify as experienced professionals who are prepared to take only one law course (GSB 560) during the months of May and June in our accelerated weekend program in Stamford. The student's English must be very good to take this as a first course in our MBA Program – a TOEFL of about 600 or higher would be required.
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Getting Started
Q: What do I do if I arrive in the evening after the offices are closed?
A: Go to Security - ask anyone on campus where security is. They will in-turn help you to find the right dormitory to stay for the night.
Q: Where do I go and what do I do when I arrive at UB for the first time?
A: The very first place you should go is Admissions to let them know that you have arrived and to take care of any administrative details that need to be done. Admissions will also give you directions on what else you need to do administratively. Admissions is located on the 6th Floor of the Wahlstrom Library.
Q: What do I do next?
A: Register for Classes.
Q: How do I register for classes?
A: To register for classes you must meet with your advisor. Your advisor is located in the School of Business Dean's Office, in Mandeville Hall. When you go to the Dean's Office to register for classes, depending on the day and time you arrive, you will be asked to wait, or asked to come back later in the day, or asked to sign up for later in the week. Each semester there are about 200 returning students and 50 new students, and each student is helped depending on their individual needs. New students always get as much attention as they need. You may be given schedules and other more detailed program information when you arrive that will help you understand more about how the program works, and graduate assistants are always available to help with any questions you may have before you meet with your advisor.
Q: Who will be my Advisor?
A: At this time Ward Thrasher Advisor to all the MBA students.
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Student Responsibilities
Q: What are my responsibilities as an MBA student at UB?
A: Graduate school is different from undergraduate school. By the time you receive your bachelor's degree you are not only old enough to participate fully in the obligations of your country, you are also old enough to begin taking responsibility for all your future actions. Graduate school is preparation for a career. Please be prepared to learn everything about our school and its programs to make best use of your UB experience. While you are at UB we will support your desire to be proactive and think responsibly in every way we can.
Q: Does UB have a code of ethics?
A: Yes! [link code of ethics]
Q: Is there anything else I need to do?
A: Yes. Be sure to keep track of the expiration dates of all your papers. It is much easier to extend your stay at UB before dates expire. In fact, sometimes it is not possible to get extensions after they expire. [link to International affairs]
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Financial Assistance/Student loans/GA (Graduate Assistant positions)
Q: Are student loans and or scholarships available?
A: Yes. Please go the UB Financial Aid page
Q: Do you offer Graduate Assistant positions?
A: Yes, but only to students already in our program. At the School of Business the requests for GA positions far exceed the supply, so we usually select students for these positions after their first or second semester. UB has 10 colleges and fills many student assistant and work-study positions during the school year. These positions usually go to the students who are polite, patient and persistent - but not everyone can be accommodated.
Q: Does the UB School of Business use student teaching?
A: No. All UB faculty are experienced professionals highly qualified to teach the courses they teach.
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Graduation
Q: Do I need to maintain some level of grades to graduate?
A: Yes. To graduate your GPA must be 3.0 or higher. If you are in any doubt use our GPA calculator
Q: I'm done taking all my courses. How do I apply for graduation?
A: Please read the linked memo to students Click here.
Q: How many graduation ceremonies does UB have?
A: UB has one graduation ceremony each year in May. Students who are graduating in May, or the previous December, or the following August, may attend the May graduation ceremony by checking 'Yes' to the question about attending graduation on the form Application for Graduation.
Q: Can I go to the May graduation ceremony if I'm going to graduate in December?...or August?
A: Yes -- see previous Q&A -- How many graduation ceremonies does UB have?
Q: What is Certification?
A: Certification is a process that is followed by program administrators to certify students for graduation. Please see the Q&A -- I'm done taking all my courses. How do I apply for graduation?
Q: Can I apply for graduation and still take courses?
A: Yes.
MBA Graduation Guidelines
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