7000 J. Mack Robinson College of Business

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Graduate programs in the Robinson College of Business are described in detail in this chapter. See subsections for specific program information as well as policies and procedures

7010 General Information

7010.10 Office of the Dean

7th floor, Robinson College of Business Building
35 Broad Street
404-413-7000
robinson.gsu.edu

Rich Phillips, Dean
Brian Jennings,  Senior Associate Dean of Graduate and Non-Degree Programs
Todd Maurer, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research
Jen Bailey, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Mariam Higgins, Associate Dean for Culture, Equity and Inclusion
Satish Nargundkar, Assistant Dean for Professional and Flexible MBA Programs
Tracy Widman, Senior Assistant Dean for Organizational Effectiveness and Accreditation
John Hicks, Interim Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance

7010.20 Mission

The J. Mack Robinson College of Business of Georgia State University is committed to academic excellence through advancing the creation and dissemination of knowledge in business and management. Moreover, the college seeks to prepare its students for the practice of management with the knowledge and skills needed to remain effective in a global, culturally diverse, and technologically advanced world that is characterized by rapid change and complex interdependencies. As an academic unit of Georgia State University, the Robinson College seeks to add value to private, public, and not-for-profit organizations through excellence in its research, education, and outreach programs. The college enjoys a location that is distinctive among business schools and is committed to taking full advantage of its proximity to multinational corporations; entrepreneurial enterprises; federal, state, and city agencies; and not-for-profit organizations.

7010.30 Accreditation

The J. Mack Robinson College of Business is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The accounting programs of the college also hold accounting accreditation granted by the AACSB. The Institute of Health Administration is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. The Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration is accredited by the Commission on Programs in Hospitality Administration.

7010.40 Administration of Master’s Programs

The Graduate Program Council, a committee composed of five faculty members, has overall responsibility for master’s admission criteria and for recommending changes in the degree requirements and academic regulations of the master’s programs for approval of the faculty of the college. The Division of Master’s Admissions and Advisement, (see below), works with the associate dean for academic initiatives and innovation, on behalf of the dean and the faculty, to consider changes to the master’s programs.

7010.50 Units and Centers

The Robinson College of Business has 12 academic units: the schools of Accountancy and Cecil B. Day Hospitality Administration; the departments of Computer Information Systems, Finance, Managerial Sciences, Marketing, Real Estate, and Risk Management and Insurance; and the institutes of Decision Sciences, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Health Administration, International Business, and W.T. Beebe Personnel and Employment Relations. The college also has the following centers:

• Center for Business and Industrial Marketing
• Center for the Economic Analysis of Risk
• Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility
• Center for Excellence in Brand and Customer Management
• Center for Health Information Technology
• Center for Health Services Research
• Center for International Business Education and Research
• Center for Mature Consumer Studies
• Center for Process Innovation
• Center for Research in Information Systems
• Center for Risk Management and Insurance Research
• Economic Forecasting Center
• Herman J. Russell, Sr. International Center for Entrepreneurship
• Institute for Insight
• Small Business Development Center

7010.60 RCB Directory of Academic Units

All locations are in the RCB Building, 35 Broad Street, NW, corner of Broad and Marietta streets and 55Park Place. All phone numbers begin with 404-413-.

Academic Units

Accountancy
Human Resource Management
Computer Information Systems
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Finance
Health Administration
Hospitality Administration
International Business
Managment (Includes Business Analysis, Strategic Management, Operations Management, Organization Behavior and Entrepreneurship)
Marketing
Real Estate
Risk Management and Insurance (Includes Actuarial Science and Personal Financial Planning)

7010.70 Study Abroad Programs

The Institute of International Business promotes international learning experiences through a strong portfolio offering of study abroad programs. The study abroad programs range from two-to-three week intensive experiences to semester- and year-long programs. The programs span disciplines and geographic regions, affording students in all business disciplines the rich rewards of an international study experience. RCB currently offers programs in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, China, Cuba, Dubai, France, Hungary/Czech Republic, Italy, South Africa, Turkey, Morocco, Spain and Switzerland. Other locations are possible through our partner institutions. Students must be in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Additional requirements vary by program. For individual program descriptions and application information, consult the Institute of International Business at iib@gsu.edu.

7010.80 Student Organizations

The Actuarial Students Association (ASA) is an official Georgia State University student organization whose mission is to serve actuarial science students by providing information, coordinating with companies and recruiters, and assisting students with passing actuarial exams and seeking employment. All of the students in the Actuarial Science program at Georgia State University -prospective, current, and past-have access to ASA resources. For more information, contact the Department of Risk Management and Insurance, 404-413-7500.

AIESEC: AIESEC is an international non-profit organization that strives for spreading cultural understanding by means of international exchange. Being the world’s largest student organization, AIESEC serves as an “international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential so as to have a positive impact on society.” Currently, AIESEC occupies over 1,100 universities spanning across more than 100 countries and territories. AIESEC encourages and helps students to discover both their social and professional potential. Through AIESEC, students have access to leadership positions, traineeship abroad opportunities and conferences. For more information, contact aiesec.gsu@gmail.com.

Alpha Kappa Psi: This national professional fraternity aims to foster the study of business in universities, to encourage scholarship, to promote closer affiliation between the business world and students of business, and to further the development of high standards of business ethics. The Pi Chapter was organized at this university in 1917. More information about this general business fraternity can be obtained by visiting their website at www.akpsigu.com.

The American Marketing Association: The AMA, which is the world’s largest marketing organization, aims to serve the professional needs of marketing practitioners, educators, and students. By attending the programs, seminars, and workshops sponsored by the local AMA professional chapter, students can gain valuable firsthand knowledge of the marketing industry and how it works. Practical experience in research, advertising, and other areas can be acquired through participation in the AMA student chapter’s marketing-related projects. For more information about Georgia State University’s AMA chapter, call the Department of Marketing at 404-413-7650 visit www.gsuama.com/.

Beta Alpha Psi: This national honorary accounting, finance, and information systems fraternity has as its purpose to recognize outstanding academic achievements in the field of accounting, finance, and information systems; to promote the study of accounting, finance, and information systems; provide opportunities for self-development and association among members and practicing financial professionals; and to encourage a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibilities. For more information on Beta Alpha Psi, students may visit the local chapter website (www.bapgsu.com), the national organization website (www.bap.org), or contact the local Beta Alpha Psi VP of Membership (membership.bapgsu@gmail.com).

Beta Gamma Sigma: Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest general scholastic honor a business student can receive at Georgia State University. Nominations for membership in this national honorary business fraternity occur during spring semester. New members are recognized at the college’s Honors Day ceremony. Master’s students who have completed their programs and are in the upper twenty percent of the master’s graduates during the preceding calendar year are eligible for nomination. All doctoral students who graduated during the preceding calendar year are eligible for nomination. For additional information, contact 404-413-7130.

The College Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO): CEO’s mission is to inform, support and inspire college students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation. With a diverse entrepreneurial community and global network, CEO provides student entrepreneurs with opportunities, events, chapter activities and conferences to help start businesses. CEO currently supports entrepreneurship in over 250 chapters in all 50 states and worldwide.  Want to Join CEO? Here’s how to get involved:  Sign-up to join CEO on Panther Involvement Network, Connect with CEO members on GroupMe, Follow CEO @ceosatGSU: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Register for CEO meetings and events on the GSU Calendar

Delta Sigma Pi: This national professional fraternity aims to foster the study of business in universities, to encourage scholarship, to promote closer affiliation between the business world and students of business, and to further the development of high standards of business ethics. The Kappa chapter of Delta Sigma Pi was organized here in 1921. More information about this general business fraternity can be obtained by visiting their website at www.deltasigmapi.org.

Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Society: Founded in 1978, this international honor society recognizes hospitality undergraduate and graduate students for outstanding academic achievement, meritorious service and demonstrated professionalism. An annual induction ceremony is held for graduate hospitality students with a minimum 3.50 GPA. Contact the School of Hospitality for additional information.

Finance Society, The: This organization welcomes all undergraduate and graduate business majors who are interested in the field of finance. The organization is dedicated to fostering the student’s knowledge of finance-related issues and job awareness by exposing members to some of the industry’s most prominent speakers, offering interactive workshops and assisting students make career contacts. For more information, contact Genna Brown at gbrown@gsu.edu  or visit https://pin.gsu.edu/ and search for Finance Society.

Future Healthcare Executives: This student organization conducts seminars, projects, and other activities that provide student members with the opportunity for constructive involvement, recognition, and representation in the profession of health services administration. The chapter provides faculty and students in health services administration with a forum for professional dialogue. It also helps students enhance career and academic opportunities through its relationships with local and regional health services executive groups. For more information, contact the Institute of Health Administration, 404-413-7630.

Gamma Iota Sigma: This is a national organization of students interested in the various risk management professions - insurance, company risk management, actuarial science, employee benefits, personal financial planning - and of related faculty. The organization exists to encourage superior moral and academic achievement and facilitate close interaction between risk management professionals and students. The Zeta Chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma welcomes all majors. For more information, contact the Department of Risk Management and Insurance at 404-413-7500.

Graduate Business Association (GBA): This organization serves all graduate business students. The GBA’s objective is to provide career education and professional development to its members through contact with the Atlanta business community while creating an enjoyable, social atmosphere. Programs and activities are planned to achieve these goals. All students are invited to become active members of the organization by joining one of the following committees: Membership, Professional Development, and Social. For more information, contact Graduate Recruiting and Student Services 404-413-7167.

National Association of Black Accountants (NABA): NABA is dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for black professionals and other minorities in the accounting, finance and related business professions. NABA advances people, careers, and the mission by providing education, resources, and meaningful career connections to both professional and student members, fulfilling the principle of its motto: “Lifting As We Climb.” Student membership in NABA is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in careers in accounting or finance. For more information, contact the School of Accountancy, 404-413-7200.

National Black MBA: This national membership organization has as its primary focus the networking of the MBA students. This organization fosters the development and encouragement of African Americans as well as other minorities in MBA programs and other graduate programs. For more information, please contact the Robinson College of Business at 404-413-7167 for the current leadership.

Real Estate Alumni Group: This organization is open to alumni as well as graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in all aspects of real estate and land utilization to provide a social and intellectual atmosphere for the study of this professional area. For more information, contact the Department of Real Estate, 404-413-7720.

The Society for Human Resource Management: The Georgia State University Student Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is affiliated with SHRM National, the world’s largest association devoted to HRM with over 300,000 members in more than 140 countries. Membership is open to all enrolled students. SHRM at GSU offers professional development through workshops, online training, career guidance, leadership opportunities, and networking with SHRM-Atlanta members.  Please contact Dr. Kay Bunch, faculty advisor, for additional information at kbunch@gsu.edu.

Other Organizations: Information on other student organizations, fraternities, and sororities in which some graduate students may be interested is available from the Office of the Dean of Students, Suite 300, Student Center, 404-413-1515.

7015 Office of Academic Assistance

Delta Student Success Center
55 Park Place, NE
Suite 1201
404-413-7115, Fax: 404-413-7119
robinson.gsu.edu/undergraduate/contact-us/

M. Colleen Joyce, Director
Tracy Mitchell, Associate Director
Kori Barham, Graduate Academic Advisor
Michael McCree, Graduate Academic Advisor
 

The Robinson College of Business provides the Office of Academic Assistance for the benefit of its students.

Mission: This office supports the college’s mission of and commitment to academic excellence by assisting enrolled students in the development of meaningful educational plans that are compatible with their life goals. The office helps graduate students become knowledgeable about academic programs, pertinent regulations, and services available throughout the university.

Areas of responsibility: To support the graduate aspects of its mission, the Office of Academic Assistance Office serves graudate students in these areas:

• to provide programs of study for each major offered by the college
• to assist students in course selections and schedule revisions each semester;
• to explain catalog regulations;
• to administer policies for the college and the university;
• to refer students to other sources of help in the university.

7020 Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services

55 Park Place, NE; 14th floor
404-413-7167

Sarah Gill, Director of Recruiting
Richard James, Associate Director of Recruiting
Emily Lakemaker, Director of Student Experiences
April Williams, Integrated Student Services MBA Cluster
Charlene Watkins, Assistant Director of Integrated Student Services Global Cluster
Winifred Akande, Associate Director of Integrated Student Services Financial Cluster
Gillian Barlow, Assistant Director of Integrated Student Services Financial Cluster
Linda Lee, Associate Director of Integrated Student Services Modeling Cluster
Kumar Swaminathan, Assistant Director of Integrated Student Services Modeling Cluster
Shantina Knox, Assistant Director of Admissions

 

Mission

The Graduate Recruiting and Student Services staff supports the college’s mission of academic excellence by promoting the college to prospective applicants and facilitating the application process to admit qualified students to the master’s program. The Graduate Student Services office helps graduate students become knowledgeable about academic programs, pertinent regulations, and student services available through the college and university.

Services

This office provides admission counseling to prospective applicants and assistance in selecting a degree program that meets their academic and professional goals. This department provides academic counseling, including new student orientation, preparing evaluations of students’ academic programs and academic standing, assisting students with course selection and schedule revisions each semester, explaining catalog regulations, and administering policies of the college and university.

7025 Robinson Career Advancement Center

Robinson Career Advancement Center
Tower Place 200, Suite 249 | 3348 Peachtree Road N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-413-7166
robinson.gsu.edu/cac/

The Robinson Career Advancement Center (CAC) is dedicated to helping you maximize your investment by facilitating your professional and career development. Whether your goal is to move into the job market for the first time, advance within your current organization, move from one industry to another, or change careers completely, we have the resources to help you get there.

Your CAC team will help you manage your career during your Robinson experience and beyond. Our staff has a wealth of experience in career services, talent acquisition, career mobility, executive search, and human capital. We are dedicated to helping you maximize your career progression. The CAC also provides employers with a central gateway for recruiting our current students and alumni.

Each student will receivea Market-Ready To-Do List to guide them through the most important career development activities. Students who regularly utilize our resources are significantly more successful in the job and internship search process. In addition, students who make the most of their Robinson experience also join student organizations, get to know faculty members individually, attend guest speaking events, and build their networks - and we encourage you to do the same.

Graduate Career Coaches

Julie Chahboune, Senior Graduate Career Coach
404-413- 7243, jchahboune@gsu.edu

Flex MBA  Marketing, Flex MBA   Business Economics, Flex MBA  General Business, Flex Undecided, Flex MBA/JD, Flex MBA   Entrepreneurship, Executive MBA, Executive Doctorate in Busines, Flex MBA  Operations Management, Flex MBA  Organizational Management, Flex MBA, Flex MBA/Master of Health Administration, Master of Science in Marketing, Master of Business Economics, Master of Science in Department of Management, Master of Science in Health Administration, Master of Global Hospitality Management, Master of International Business

Career Advancement Center - Graduate Team

Jason Aldrich, Ed.D, Assistant Dean - Strategic Partnerships and Career Advancement
404-413-7156, jaldrich@gsu.edu
The leadership of the CAC and development of college wide strategic partnerships

Lauren McDow, Director, Graduate Career Advancement Center
404-413-7165, msantiago@gsu.edu
MBA/MS Employer-Student Recruitment Liaison; Employer Relations; Executive Career Coaching; Partnership Programs; Graduate Career Fairs; Graduate Career Coaching; and Graduate CAC Cross Events/Programs

Karen Martucci, Ph.D., Senior Graduate Career Coach
404-413-7153, kmartucci@gsu.edu

Open, Career and Employer Relations Specialist (3 positions)

Clare Higgins Morton, Assistant Director, Employer Relations
404-413-7157, chmorton@gsu.edu

Operations; Budget and Administration; Employer Relations; Technology and HR/Staffing

Juanda Rayner, Career & Employer Relations Specialist, Graduate
404-413-7166, jrayner@gsu.edu
MBA/MS Graduate Student Recruitment Events. Graduate Career Fair; Employer Interview Schedules; Employment Information Sessions; Career Development Workshops; Handshake Employment Postings; GRA Staffing; Department Website Management; Data Reporting; and Graduate Weekly Newsletter

Services

The following services are available to graduate students in the Robinson College of Business:

 

• On-Demand Virtual Tools for resume, Linkedin profile, elevator pitch feedback
• Digital Career Toolbox for 24/7 Job Search Preparation
• Small group career coaching and assessment
• Resume and cover letter critiques
• Behavioral Interviewing
• Mock interviews
• Job and internship postings
• Campus interviews
• Employer Engagement
• Panthers on the Move Survey (POM)
• Workshops pertaining to all aspects of the job search process
• Handshake - Our online career advancement system provides Robinson students with access to hundreds of internship, part time and full, time job opportunities.
• Annual career fairs and networking events to give students exposure to employeers. These events offer an excellent opportunity to make personal contact and gather informationconcerning specific companies, internship programs, staffing needs, and industry trends.

These events offer an excellent opportunity to make personal contact and gather information concerning specific companies, internship programs, staffing needs, and industry trends.

Programs

• ‘Ask a Coach’ Virtual Office hours- 4 days a week
• Career Workshops
• Graduate Career Fairs
• Campus Recruiting Activities
• Executive Career Coaching (ECC)
• Corporate Site Visits
• Employer Engagement and Connections
• Career Exploration Breakfast
• Women in Leadership Luncheon
• Panthers in the Valley
• Panthers on Wall Street
• Panthers in the District
• Panthers in Charlotte
• Career Workshops
• Employer Engagement and Networking Events
• Speaker and Panel Series
• Graduate Mentoring Program

7030 College Admissions

All documents and other materials submitted by or for persons in connection with their consideration for admission become the property of this institution and cannot be returned at any time. It is the responsibility of each applicant to follow the application procedures completely and correctly and to be certain that all materials have been submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the application deadline.

No guarantee regarding admission can be made before an applicant’s file is complete and has been reviewed by the Master’s Admissions Committee. Applicants must assume responsibility for all costs related to applying for admission regardless of the admission decision.

Admission is for entry in a specific program, major or status, and for a specific semester. A student who is admitted for one program, major, concentration or status may enter a different one only if, and after, formal approval has been given by the Master’s Admissions Committee of the college through the submission of a new application. An accepted applicant who wishes to defer enrollment to a future semester will be reevaluated according to the admission criteria in effect for the future semester.  Deferrals may be requested up until 3 weeks prior to the start of the desired semester.

7030.05 Retention of Records

If an applicant does not complete enrollment for the semester in which admission is sought, the application must be renewed and submission of additional credentials and information as requested by the Master’s Admissions Committee may be required. Accepted but not enrolled application files are retained for a maximum of three years.

If an applicant does not complete the application process for the semester in which admission is sought, a deferral request must be submitted for consideration for subsequent semesters. Incomplete application files are retained for a maximum of one year.

A student who earns master’s-level credit and later becomes inactive may be required to re-establish his or her file. A transcript of graduate credit earned at Georgia State University will be maintained indefinitely by the Office of the Registrar.

7030.10 Application Deadline Dates for Master’s Degree and Certificate Programs and Non-degree Status

Admission to flexible master’s programs in the Robinson College of Business is possible for any term (fall, spring or summer). Admission to the cohort master’s programs in the Robinson College of Business varies each term; please refer to the program’s website for term(s) of admission.

Listed below are the deadlines for submitting applications and all supporting materials. The deadlines are for two categories of applicants:

• All new applicants to submit applications for admission and all related materials including test scores
• Denied applicants to request reconsideration

If the deadline falls on a weekend or university holiday, applications and materials will be accepted until the next workday following the deadline. To be guaranteed a decision for the desired term of entry, applications and all supporting documents must be received by these deadlines.

7030.15 Application Procedures

Refer to the Executive M.B.A. Program later in this chapter for information on applying to those programs.

International Applicants: Applicants who completed all or part of their education abroad may be required to have their foreign credentials evaluated by Joseph Silny, World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators. Course-by-course evaluations, equivalence to an accredited U.S. degree (or number of years toward completion), and grade-point average equivalents are required.

7030.30 Master’s Application and Narrative Questions

The Application for Admission-Master’s Programs must be submitted online by all applicants.  In addition to asking for basic biographical and educational data, the master’s application also contains narrative questions. Evaluative interviews are part of the application process for all programs. This is the opportunity for applicants to present themselves to the Master’s Admissions Committee. It provides a way to highlight qualities relevant to success in a graduate business program that may not be evident in test scores and past academic performance. The application also is used to establish the applicant’s record on the university’s computer record system and with the Office of the Registrar. It is important that this information is coded completely and correctly.

7030.40 Residency Information

Residence data will be used by the university’s resident auditor to determine if an applicant is a Georgia resident for fee-payment purposes. It must be completed by all applicants. (See the “Regents’ Requirements for Georgia Resident Status” heading in the 1200 Financial Information  chapter earlier in this catalog.)

7030.50 Application Fee

You will be assessed a $50 application fee with your application for most programs. The application fee is nonrefundable and does not apply toward registration fees. For each subsequent online application that you submit, you will be assessed another application fee.

7030.55 Transcripts

One official copy of the transcript of all previous college work are required from each institution previously attended. Each set of transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope from the institution. If an institution’s policies do not permit it to send official transcripts to applicants the transcripts may be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Transcripts are required from each institution regardless of the length of time the applicant attended the institution or the applicant’s status while at the institution or whether the grades are listed on another institution’s transcript. EXCEPTION: Applicants who have attended Georgia State University must list their dates of attendance on their applications, but they do not have to request their Georgia State transcript.  The Office of Graduate Admissions will obtain a record of the Georgia State coursework.

An applicant who may have been granted provisional admission pending completion of the undergraduate degree must file one official copy of a supplementary transcript showing the awarding of the degree as soon as it is available but at the latest a month prior to late registration of the first semester.

Unofficial transcripts may be submitted at the time of application. Please find the guidelines for submitting unofficial transcripts online at robinson.gsu.edu/programs/graduate/unofficial-transcripts/.

7030.60 Admission Tests

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are the primary admission tests for admission at the master’s level in the Robinson College of Business. For admission tests information for Ph.D. Programs, please see Business Administration, Ph.D.  

GMAT

The GMAT is designed to measure aptitude for graduate study in business and is not a measure of knowledge in specific business subjects. Competitive scores are required for a successful application, and the level of competitiveness is subject to change throughout the year. Scores significantly below current averages are not likely to be competitive. GMAT scores may not be more than five years old at the desired semester of entry. Applicants whose scores do not meet this age limit must retake the GMAT and have the current scores sent to the Graduate School.

Scores from GMAT will be sent to the Graduate School two weeks after the test date. The “candidate’s copy” of the score report is not acceptable. However, an unofficial score report provided by GMAT is acceptable for admissions reviewing purposes. Should the candidate be accepted to the program, they will be required to submit official scores after acceptance.

In North America and most other parts of the world, the GMAT is administrated only as a computer-adaptive test (CAT). Prospective applicants who are located in a country that does not currently offer the GMAT CAT and who cannot travel to another country to take the test should contact Customer Service at the Pearson VUE: GMATcandidateservicesamericas@pearson.com

The GMAT is administered worldwide by Pearson VUE instead of Educational Testing Service (ETS). The college’s code number for master’s-level programs is 5251.

The GMAT Information Bulletin and the GMAC Website (www.gmac.com) contain detailed information about the options for registering to take the test, the most up-to-date listing of test centers, and instructions for having scores sent to desired schools.

GRE

The GRE is administered worldwide and year round. The General Test is offered only on the computer in most locations. It is an adaptive test measuring verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills. Updated information about the GRE computer-based and paper-based test centers and registration procedures may be found on the GRE Web site shown below.

GRE information may be obtained by contacting the Educational Testing Service in one of these ways:

GRE-ETS
P. O. Box 6000
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000, USA
Phone: 1-609-771-7670 (8:00 a.m.-7:45 p.m. EST)
Fax: 1-610-290-8975
E-mail: greinfo@ets.org
www.gre.org

GRE scores may not be more than five years old at the desired semester of entry. Applicants whose scores do not meet this age limit must re-take the GRE or take the Graduate Management Admission Test and have the current scores sent to the Graduate School.
Applicants taking the GRE must request that their scores be reported to Georgia State University. Those who have previously taken this test must request the Educational Testing Service to report their scores to Georgia State. The university’s code number is 5251. The “candidate’s copy” of the score report is not acceptable. However, an unofficial score report provided by GMAT is acceptable for admissions reviewing purposes. Should the candidate be accepted to the program, they will be required to submit official scores after acceptance.

7030.65 Interviews

All applicants to the graduate programs at Robinson College of Business are required to interview prior to acceptance. The interview may be part of the online application or a candidate may be invited by a member of the admissions committee to interview prior to acceptance. Some programs may require a second round of interviews. Applicants are therefore encouraged to provide complete answers to all questions asked on the applications. Applicants who have questions about the information in this catalog concerning admissions, the programs, or related matters, however, are invited to contact Graduate Recruiting and Student Services at any time during the application process.

7030.70 Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are not part of the admissions process for most programs. Applicants who wish to submit them, however, may do so. Applicants who choose to submit letters can use the online recommendation system or collect the letters from their recommenders in sealed envelopes; recommenders must sign their names across the sealed portion of the back of the envelope. Letters of recommendation must be submitted unopened with the rest of the application packet or submitted by the recommender using the online application system. They may not be reviewed by the applicant at any time. An applicant who does not wish to waive access to a letter of recommendation must arrange for the recommender to provide a copy.

7030.71 Resume

A resume is a required part of the application for all master’s-level programs in the Robinson College of Business.

7030.75 Immunization Certification

All new students attending regularly scheduled classes on campus or receiving resident credit are required to submit a certificate of immunization prior to registering for and attending such classes.  The immunizations required are Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) 2 vaccines at least 30 days apart. Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap), Varicella (chicken pox) and Hepatitis B 2 vaccines at least 30 days apart. In addition, the Meningitis Law requires students residing in university housing to have the Meningococcal vaccine. For more information, see the Georgia State Clinic website updates at health.gsu.edu.

7040 General Admission Criteria

(Refer to the Executive M.B.A. Program later in this chapter for information about admission criteria.)

The Master’s Admissions Committee, comprised of faculty representatives and admissions staff, determines the eligibility of each person who applies for master’s-level admission. Admission is competitive. Each applicant is evaluated individually and among the current group of candidates. In this evaluation, primary consideration is given to the applicant’s academic record, educational background, and test scores. Secondary consideration is given to the applicant’s educational objectives, narrative information, experience in business or government, professional activities, and character. The Master’s Admissions Committee prefers that applicants have some meaningful full-time work experience. These elements together must indicate a favorable prospect of success in graduate study for an offer of admission to be made. The college is also aware of the appropriate provisions of its accrediting agency, AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, in making admission decisions.

A bachelor’s degree in any field of study from a regionally accredited college or university is required for admission to all of the degree programs, or to the certificate program, of the Robinson College of Business. Only coursework from institutions with accreditation equivalent to that granted by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is considered in evaluating an applicant for admission.

In reviewing the past academic work of applicants, the Master’s Admissions Committee evaluates the overall undergraduate GPA. In evaluating scores on the GMAT, the committee looks for a balance between verbal and quantitative scores in addition to considering the total score, which includes the analytical writing score and the integrated reasoning score, because all of the master’s programs require strong communication skills and quantitative ability. Similar evaluations are made when GRE scores are submitted for applications to eligible programs.

Transcripts, test scores, and other materials are received by the Office of Graduate Admissions and are evaluated by the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services. Admitted students are not required to submit a general certification of their state of health but are required to submit proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, tetanus, and diphtheria (see 7030.75 above). Please see the Immunization website for more information. Also, the college reserves the right to investigate the health, character, and personality of each applicant.

The Robinson College uses rolling admissions. All application materials must be submitted by the final deadline date to guarantee a decision. Priority deadlines are provided to indicate significant benchmarks in the application cycle, including consideration for scholarships and the deadline to apply for a student visa. Admission decisions are communicated in writing to applicants as soon as possible after all application materials have been received and evaluated. Admission decisions cannot be given by telephone or email, nor can they be given to any person other than the applicant without a written release from the applicant to do so.

Graduate Admissions - General

Georgia State University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender, disability, veteran status or national origin. Admission is based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, an applicant’s academic record, test scores, experience, circumstances, good conduct and character. Admission is a competitive, selective process and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, good disciplinary standing at previously attended colleges and universities is a condition of admission for all applicants. For purposes of admission, good disciplinary standing means that the applicant has no pending disciplinary charges, outstanding disciplinary sanctions or disciplinary issues that would prevent the applicant from re-enrolling at previously attended postsecondary institutions.

Applicants with a criminal and/or disciplinary history who are determined to be otherwise admissible for a respective term based on their academic record and other credentials are required to complete an admissions background review process before an admission decision is made by the university. Instructions for completing that review process are communicated to the applicant after the university has determined that the applicant is otherwise admissible for that term.

Omissions or misrepresentations on an application for admission are grounds for automatically invalidating consideration by, acceptance to and continuation at Georgia State. Applicants have a duty to update their application with Georgia State when information changes after application submission.

Graduate Admissions Appeals

The Chair of the academic department of the graduate program and the Dean of the Graduate School are the President’s designees for purposes of hearing Graduate Admissions Appeals.

Applicants for graduate admission who are denied for reasons related to disciplinary/criminal history or falsification of application may appeal the denial to the Dean of the Graduate School within twenty (20) calendar days of the date of the denial letter. The decision of the Associate Provost for Graduate Programs is final.

Applicants for graduate program admissions who are denied admission due to academic ineligibility may appeal the denial to the department chair within twenty (20) calendar days of the date of the denial letter. The decision of the department chair is final.

Notice to Applicant of Background Review Requirement

Applicants with a criminal and/or disciplinary history who are determined to be otherwise admissible for a respective term based on their academic record and other credentials are required to complete an admissions background review process before an admission decision is made by the university. Instructions for completing that review process are communicated to the applicant after the university has determined that the applicant is otherwise admissible for that term.

Omissions or misrepresentations on an application for admission are grounds for automatically invalidating consideration by, acceptance to and continuation at Georgia State. Applicants have a duty to update their application with Georgia State when information changes after application submission.

7050 Master’s Level Non-degree and Postgraduate Status

The master’s level non-degree and postgraduate classifications are provided by the Robinson College of Business in recognition of the fact that education is a life-long process and that people may wish to enroll in one or more graduate courses at various times for personal or professional reasons without completing an entire degree or certificate program.

7050.10 Definition of Non-degree Status

Non-degree students are those who have followed the same admissions procedures and met the same admissions deadlines and criteria as applicants to the Master’s programs, but they do not wish to pursue a graduate degree or certificate. These students are admitted to enroll in graduate courses of their choice in the Robinson College of Business. They may enroll for credit or for audit, according to the same criteria as any other student.

All master’s-level non-degree students will complete the Business Communication Skills Requirement explained in this chapter. The regulations, policies, and procedures given in this chapter also apply to non-degree students.

7050.20 Definition of Postgraduate Status

Postgraduate students are those who have received a graduate degree from the Robinson College of Business and wish to reenter to take additional graduate courses in this college, but they do not wish to pursue another graduate degree. They may also enroll for credit or for audit.

7050.30 Responsibilities/Continued Enrollment

Non-degree and postgraduate students are responsible for meeting all academic regulations of the college and the university, including the requirements for maintaining good academic standing. It is therefore important that those students be familiar with the provisions of the graduate catalog in effect at the time of their enrollment in either status. Students may continue to enroll in non-degree or postgraduate status indefinitely, as long as at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA is maintained. No more than nine semester hours of coursework taken in non-degree or postgraduate status, however, may be subsequently applied toward a graduate degree or certificate of this college. (See below.)

Non-degree and postgraduate students must follow proper registration procedures each semester they wish to enroll; these classifications do not waive the responsibility to register correctly and on a timely basis.

Some academic units do not permit non-degree and/or postgraduate students to enroll in their courses due to the demand for the courses by degree-seeking students.

All prerequisites to any course taken must be met. These classifications are not intended as a means to circumvent proper course sequencing.

Neither non-degree status nor postgraduate status in the Robinson College of Business is provided for students who intend to qualify for any degree, certification, or other status in another college of Georgia State University. Students with this goal must, at the first opportunity, contact the appropriate graduate admissions office for procedures and criteria for establishing graduate status in that college.

7050.35 Change of Program

Currently enrolled non-degree or postgraduate students who wish to change to degree/certificate status must file a new admissions application and application fee for the program desired.

Further information on application procedures for changing to degree or certificate programs in the Robinson College of Business may be found in 7080.12 below or obtained from the Office of Graduate Recruiting & Student Services.

Any credit earned while in non-degree or postgraduate status must be no more than seven years old at the time the student graduates if it is to be counted for credit toward the program to which the student is changing.

Grades from all attempts at all courses that are later counted toward degree or certificate credit will become part of the student’s GPA for that program. This means that the non-degree and postgraduate statuses are not intended as a means to make attempts at courses that are anticipated to be difficult with the intention of having only the final attempt count in the GPA for the degree/certificate program.

7060 Transient Students and Cross Registration

7060.10 Transient Students

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program at another accredited institution may take graduate courses in the college. A maximum of nine semester hours may be taken as a transient student unless approval for additional hours is requested by the student’s home institution. Transients who later enroll in an RCB master’s level program may apply a maximum of nine appropriate graduate credit hours earned in transient status toward the requirements of the RCB program.

To become a master’s degree-seeking student, a transient student must submit a new online admissions application, application fee, and the required additional credentials by the normal application deadline for the semester in which he or she wishes to begin degree work.

The transient application materials described in items 1-3 below must be submitted online at gradapply.gsu.edu/apply/.

1. The online admissions application
2. A $50 application fee. This fee is nonrefundable.
3. A “Certification of Good Standing” completed by the home institution. Please refer to your home institution for the appropriate form. A completed form should be placed in an envelope, sealed with an official’s signature across the sealed portion of the envelope and returned to the applicant for submission with the other transient application materials.

Deadlines for receipt of all materials required for admission as a transient student in each semester are shown below:

Desired Semester of Entry

• Fall (August)
• Spring (January)
• Summer (June)

A transient student should come prepared with alternative courses approved by the home institution. Georgia State University does not guarantee that the courses desired will be offered or available. If, for example, courses are full when a transient attempt to register, the student will not be admitted to these classes.

A transient student must meet all prerequisites for Georgia State courses as defined by Georgia State University. Enrollment in some RCB graduate courses is monitored for completion of prerequisites. Examples are MBA prefixed courses and courses in accounting and finance. It is recommended that transient students have personal copies of their transcripts readily available to substantiate completion of prerequisites.

If a transcript is needed by the home institution, the student must make a request via the university website. The university does not automatically forward transcripts to the home institution.

A student who attends Georgia State University as a transient student normally will be allowed to attend only for the one semester for which acceptance was granted. A transient student who wishes to enroll for a subsequent semester(s) at Georgia State University must do the following:

1. File an Application for Re-entry with the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services for each subsequent semester.
2. Have the home institution submit another Certification of Good Standing to the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services if the previous one has expired. These certifications expire after one calendar year or after completion of the number of courses for which approval was granted, whichever comes first.

Re-entry must be approved by Graduate Recruiting & Student Services to be official. The college reserves the right to request a new Certification of Good Standing before the expiration date and/or a transcript from the home institution. If this information is deemed necessary, the transient student will be notified.

Transient students who apply for re-entry are cautioned that approval may not be granted by the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services if the grade-point average in the course(s) taken at Georgia State University is lower than 3.00, which is the minimum required to maintain good standing at the graduate level.

A complete re-entry application and any required document must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• Semester Fall Semester
• Spring Semester
• Summer Semester

7060.20 Cross Registration

Georgia State University participates in the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE) cross registration agreement. Please see section 1320 ARCHE Cross Registration Program  earlier in this catalog for complete information. Students from other ARCHE institutions may enroll in graduate courses in the Robinson College of Business provided they meet the academic eligibility and other requirements of the agreement, and show evidence that any prerequisites for the RCB courses they wish to take have been met.

7070 International Students

See also the note at the beginning of the 7030.15 “Application Procedures” section earlier in this chapter for information specifically for international applicants applying from abroad.

It is the policy of Georgia State University to encourage the enrollment of students from other countries. The institution subscribes to the principles of international education and to the basic concept that only through education and understanding can mutual respect, appreciation, and tolerance of others be accomplished. The recognition of the values of cultural exchange is inherent in our philosophy of education and is predicated on an awareness of the need to foster better cooperation, friendship, and understanding among the peoples of the world. In this regard, we welcome international students to our campus, because we believe in a cultural exchange program which will be beneficial to our own student body, to the international students involved, and to metropolitan Atlanta.

7070.10 English Proficiency

A list of recognized English language speaking countries is maintained and made available by the Graduate School. See college admissions pages for expectations regarding English proficiency. Proof of English proficiency can be demonstrated through one of the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• International Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Documentation that the baccalaureate or a prior graduate degree was obtained in an English-speaking country
• Completion of a University System of Georgia approved ESL program

7070.20 Academic Credentials

Each applicant must present “official” credentials attesting to academic achievement as to level and performance. “Official” documents will vary from country to country, but should be original documents with authoritative signatures, seals, stamps, etc. Whenever possible, these should be sent by the institution responsible for issuing such documents. In cases where it is impossible for an applicant to have these credentials sent from such institutions, the applicant should forward a duly “notarized” or “attested to “copy”. The notarization should be done by a proper government official or proper representative of the American Embassy in the country.

When the documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by translations. These translations must be the original form and contain acceptable notarization as described above for a copy of the original documents. Translations should be made by the American Embassy, the home country Embassy, or an appropriate government official. As a general rule, documents translated by the Office of the American Friends of the Middle East (AFME) and the Institute of International Education (IIE) will be acceptable.

Applicants who completed all or part of their education abroad may be required to have their foreign credentials evaluated by Joseph Silny (www.jsilny.com), World Educational Services (www.wes.org), or Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org). If this evaluation is needed, the applicant will be notified by the Office of Graduate Admissions. All evaluations by outside services are subject to review by the Master’s Admissions Committee.

Course descriptions (syllabi) and any other information submitted in an attempt to qualify for exemption from course requirements must meet the same criteria for “official” documents as described above. These documents must be received directly from the institution and have a cover letter written on the institution’s letterhead mentioning the student’s name and certifying that the outline is comparable to the way the course was taught when the student took it.

7070.30 Financial Resources

International applicants should be aware that the minimum financial resources requirement for a certificate of eligibility is based on an extremely modest budget and standard of living. With the exception of cohort graduate programs, tuition expenses for Robinson College of Business students are based on the minimum enrollment required for graduate international students, which is nine hours for the fall and spring semesters and six hours in the summer. Students who plan to take 12 or 15 hours a semester must budget for the costs of additional tuition and books. Tuition and fees expenses for cohort programs are based on the individual program’s course of study.

7070.35 Full-time Course Load

The international student with a student visa is required to carry a full course of study in fall and spring semesters; the summer semester can be a vacation semester or a semester with a reduced course load unless summer is the student’s first term. Students who choose to enroll during summer semester must meet the minimum course load required for an assistantship if received during that semester.

A full course of study at Georgia State University is 12 hours for undergraduate students and nine hours for graduate students. International students will not be admitted as non-degree students.

See also the heading titled “1348 International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) ” in the Student Life and Services chapter of this catalog.

7080 College Academic Regulations

7080.02 Students’ Responsibility

Graduate students must assume full responsibility for knowledge of the rules and regulations of the college and the university and of departmental, school, or institute requirements concerning their individual programs. Enrollment in a graduate program of this college constitutes students’ acknowledgement that they are obligated to comply with all academic and administrative regulations and degree requirements. Students are encouraged to read carefully Section 1300, “Academic Regulations” that applies to all of the university’s programs and the regulations specific to their RCB programs in this chapter. Students are also urged to read all of the requirements of their degree, program, or status that are presented in this chapter.

7080.04 Commitment to Master’s Programs

The Robinson College of Business provides a flexible schedule of courses for some of its master’s programs. The schedule attempts to accommodate the needs of a diverse student body, particularly with respect to students’ employment. However, the faculty of the college expects that students enrolled in a master’s program will bring to that program a commitment to complete their degree requirements in a timely manner. The faculty believes that maximum benefit will be derived from a program if students devote a period of concentrated study to the disciplines that constitute the master’s programs.

Before deciding to enroll in a master’s program of this college, students must examine seriously and realistically their abilities to adjust their personal and professional schedules to accommodate the challenge of graduate study. Students or applicants with questions about the commitment needed to complete the master’s programs should schedule an appointment with a Graduate Recruitment Coordinator in the college’s Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services.

The course load of master’s students may vary with the circumstances of the individual student each semester. Students normally enroll in three to 15 semester hours a term depending on the program. In determining each semester’s course load, students must balance other time constraints (work, family, civic, and other responsibilities) with the need to make reasonable and timely progress toward completion of the program within the five-year time limit.

If a student in good standing needs longer than five years to complete the master’s degree, they may petition for an extension of the time limit up to a maximum of seven years. Courses more than seven years old at the time of graduation expire and must be repeated or replaced with more current courses. Students who need more than five years to complete the degree requirements should schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services.

7080.06 Conduct

Students are expected to observe generally accepted standards of conduct and to assume personal responsibilities appropriate to potential business and professional leaders. The university reserves the right to exclude any student whose conduct is prejudicial or injurious to the university, the faculty, or other students. The formal policy of the university concerning student rights and obligations is under the heading “University Code of Conduct” in the General Information chapter of this catalog.

7080.08 Changing Semester of Entry

Admission to a master’s-level program is for the specific semester stated in the acceptance letter. Anyone who does not enroll for the semester for which acceptance was granted who wishes to be considered for a future term must complete an online deferral form so his or her records may be updated to a future semester and reevaluated according to admission criteria in effect for the future semester. Students are only allowed a one-time deferral within the academic year in which the student was admitted. If a deferral was granted previously, subsequent deferrals are not permitted, and the student must submit a new admissions application and application fee for consideration. Deadlines for notification to change to each semester is three weeks prior to the desired semester start.

If the deadline falls on a weekend or a university holiday, requests to change semester of entry will be accepted until the next workday following the deadline.

7080.10 Catalog Editions

Normally, students will be permitted to graduate under the provisions of the graduate catalog in effect at the time of first enrollment. Student may choose to graduate under the provisions of a subsequent graduate catalog; that is, they may choose to change their “catalog edition.” Students who choose to do this must meet all provisions of the subsequent graduate catalog.

Robinson College students are required to change to the current catalog edition when they change programs, statuses, and/or majors, and/or after certain absences from the program, as explained in the next two headings below.

7080.12 Changing Majors, Programs or Status (Master’s Level)

An M.B.A. student who wishes to change concentrations within the M.B.A. program may begin the process by notifying the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services via the online concentration change form no later than the first week of their graduation term, and consulting the graduate catalog to determine requirements for the new concentration. Written notification of the decision will be provided.

An RCB master’s student who wishes to change majors within the M.S. program or to change programs or status (for example, M.B.A. to M.S.C.R.E., M.P.A. to M.S.I.S.A.C,  non-degree to M.B.A.) must file a new application for admission and application fee. For programs that require faculty review as part of the admissions process, the file of the student will be sent to the appropriate faculty representative for a recommended admission decision. A student who has applied for admission to a new program will be notified in writing of the decision and, if approved, of any foundation courses required by the new program. Changes in M.S. major and changes in program require that students making such changes follow the program requirements of the graduate catalog in effect at the time of the change.

7080.14 Noncontinuous Enrollment and Requests to Re-enter

Absences shorter than one calendar year: Students continue to be eligible to register until they have not registered for one calendar year, except as noted below. Registration is defined as remaining registered until at least the end of the official late registration period. See the heading titled “1130 Re-entry Applicants ” in the Registration and Re-entry chapter earlier in this catalog.

Absence from the program is defined as not registering for graduate or relevant undergraduate courses or registering for such courses but not earning degree credit (minimum grade of C-), that is, earning D, F, W, or WF.

NOTE: Graduate students must register for at least a total of six semester hours of course work during any period of three consecutive terms (fall, spring, summer) until completion of degree. Failure to meet this standard for “continuous enrollment” will require the graduate student to apply for re-entry.

Absences of one calendar year or longer: All students who wish to reenter one of the master’s-level programs or non-degree status after an absence of one calendar year or longer must meet the degree requirements and academic regulations of the graduate catalog current upon return, along with other re-entry provisions as may be in effect.

Reentering students who have earned a minimum of 18 semester hours of appropriate credit at Georgia State University with a minimum GPA of 3.00 will be eligible for reentry without being required to meet current admissions criteria.

“Appropriate credit” means assigned foundation courses and/or courses that are applicable to the students’ current program.

Students who have not earned at least 18 semester hours of appropriate credit at Georgia State University with a minimum GPA of 3.00 must re-apply and meet current admissions criteria. The provision to meet current admissions criteria includes submission of current scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test if the latest score on file will be more than five years old at the time of re-entry.

7080.16 Re-entry Procedures

Re-entry applications must be submitted by the deadlines as shown for each term in Section 1100 Graduate Admissions , “1130 Re-entry Applicants ” earlier in this catalog. Re-entry applications are available online from the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services website.

Reentry applicants should request that the registrar of each school attended since their last enrollment at Georgia State University send an official transcript to the RCB Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services.

Transient students should refer to the heading titled “Transient Students” earlier in this chapter.

Graduate students normally reenter the same college and program/status in which they were last enrolled. Students who have attended Georgia State in both undergraduate and graduate categories may apply to re-enter any undergraduate or graduate program/status in which they were enrolled. Exception: Students who have graduated and wish to re-enter in order to take additional graduate level courses but not earn another graduate degree or must file a new application for admission and application fee as post-graduate (PG) students rather than a re-entry form.

RCB master’s students who wish to reenter this college under a new RCB degree or major or who have graduated from one graduate program in RCB and who wish to return to take courses for another graduate degree or certificate must file a new application for admission and application fee rather than a re-entry form. Graduate Recruiting & Student Services will evaluate the request to change degrees or majors in accordance with the relevant regulations of the college.

Re-entry approval is valid for the semester applied. Students approved for re-entry who do not register for the semester for which they applied, must submit a new reentry application and application fee for future semesters.

7080.18 Enrollment in Approved Courses

Students must not attend courses for which they have not officially registered and paid. Properly completing the registration process by the published deadline for each term is the responsibility of each student.

Students must enroll in courses that are part of the approved curriculum for the program to which they have been accepted. Students who do otherwise are subject to loss of credit and/or loss of eligibility to continue to register. Students in colleges other than the Robinson College of Business who take RCB courses may do so only if the courses are part of the program of study in the other college. For students to follow the program of study for an RCB degree or certificate, they must qualify for admission to the RCB program.

7080.20 Enforcement of Course Prerequisites

The faculty of the Robinson College of Business expects all students, regardless of status (degree seeking, non-degree, transient), to have satisfied the prerequisites for all courses for which they are registered. This expectation includes course prerequisites and computing skills prerequisites.

Satisfaction of prerequisites is enforced in the Robinson College of Business in varying ways. Prerequisites for some courses are monitored by the college or an academic unit once the term begins with violators withdrawn about the third week of the term, resulting in loss of fees and no opportunity to register for a replacement course. Other courses are monitored by the individual professors, who can also require violators to be withdrawn. The registration system will verify completion of prerequisites at the time of registration for selected courses. Students must assume this responsibility.

Prerequisites for each course are found in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog. The current catalog must always be consulted before registration to determine course prerequisites. Questions about prerequisites can be directed to the advisors in the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services.

7080.22 Day/Night Programs

There are no differences in admission requirements and degree requirements for students based on whether classes will be taken during the day or at night. The majority of the master’s programs  may be completed entirely at night. Students may take a combination of day and night classes, whatever is offered and/or suitable for their particular circumstances each semester.

7080.24 Separate Graduate and Undergraduate Programs

Except for the circumstance described in the regulation below titled “Policy on Allowing Undergraduates to Take Graduate Courses,” the graduate and undergraduate programs of Robinson College are entirely separate and only those persons who have been admitted to a graduate status may enroll in courses numbered 6000 or higher. No undergraduate course credit, including that obtained in required background work for a master’s degree, may be applied toward any of the master’s-level programs.

7080.26 Policy on Allowing Undergraduates to Take Graduate Courses

Undergraduate students with a cumulative grade-point average of 3. 50 or higher who have at least 18semester hours of degree credit at Georgia State University and who are in their senior year may petition to take up to two graduate courses in the Robinson College of Business in lieu of undergraduate courses. Students interested in petitioning should contact the RCB Office of Undergraduate Academic Assistance for a statement of restrictions and procedures pertaining to this policy.

7080.28 Double Concentrations and Multiple Master’s Degrees

An M.B.A. student who wishes to qualify for an additional concentration may do so successfully by completing 12 semester hours of appropriate coursework (See “Regulations for the M.B.A. Degree” for the list of M.B.A. concentrations and their requirements.) For double concentrations within the M.B.A. program, electives can be counted toward both concentrations to the extent they are acceptable in both. [NOTE: The Graduate Program Council may establish minimum hours requirements for students earning multiple degrees.].

The earning of the second concentration will be confirmed by letter from the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services, upon written request by the student, only if the additional courses are completed before any of the student’s M.B.A. credit will be more than seven years old. The grades in the additional hours must not cause the student’s cumulative GPA to fall below 3.00. All grades must be “C-” or higher.

A student may take a particular master’s degree only once (except as noted below). However, a student who holds a master’s degree of this college may qualify for a different master’s degree of this college. To so qualify, the student must complete a new admissions application and application fee and meet all admission requirements in effect for the second degree and thereafter fulfill all requirements for the second master’s degree. Along with all other requirements, the student must complete a minimum of 18 additional semester hours of appropriate credit in residence at Georgia State University for the second and each subsequent degree with appropriate grades and in coursework that has not been applied in satisfaction of the requirements of any other degree. This minimum residence requirement is permitted only when all courses to be applied toward the subsequent degree will be no more than seven years old upon completion of all degree requirements. If the seven-year time frame is not met, the minimum residence requirement for a second (or subsequent) master’s degree is 24 semester hours with appropriate grades and in coursework that has not been applied in satisfaction of the requirements of any other degree. Once the 24-semester-hour residency is met, students may transfer approved course work completed elsewhere in accordance with the college’s standard transfer-of-credit regulations.

Courses taken to earn an additional MBA concentration must be separate from any courses taken to meet the minimum residency for an additional degree. This applies whether the courses for the additional designations are taken before or after the first degree has been awarded. The final decision about the minimum course credit required for additional concentrations, and/or degrees rests with the Robinson College of Business.

A student who holds an M. S. degree from this college and wishes to earn an M. S. in another major must follow the provisions for qualifying for a different master’s degree (described earlier in this section).

7080.30 Standards of Performance

The dean or the associate dean for master’s programs of the college may require that a student withdraw from a particular course or courses, from a master’s program, or from the college because of unsatisfactory academic work or for other adequate reason. To continue in a master’s program, a student must make reasonable and timely progress in terms of grades and courses toward the degree or certificate concerned. The student’s progress may be reviewed each semester.

As a result of this review, any student whose scholastic performance does not indicate appropriate progress may be required to reduce the course load or may be required to withdraw from the program.

7080.32 Scholastic Discipline: Master’s Programs and Status

Each student admitted to a master’s program or status of the college must maintain a grade-point average (GPA) in the program equal or greater than 3.00 in all attempts at all courses numbered 6000 and higher. (This means that the original grade in a course that is repeated is not dropped from the cumulative GPA for purposes of determining good academic standing.) Also included in this GPA, except as noted below, are all Robinson College of Business courses that the student takes (if any) which are in addition to those in the degree/certificate program. Therefore, a student who wishes to take a course for personal enrichment or for other purposes not related to pursuit of the degree/certificate should audit the course.

Grades earned in other graduate programs of the Robinson College of Business from which the student has graduated or any grades earned at any time in graduate courses of other colleges of the university do not affect the cumulative GPA for the current program, unless they apply toward the current program. Grades in courses in areas where higher-level coursework has already been completed will not affect the cumulative GPA for the current program (example: taking MBA 8025 after MBA 8115). These grades are, however, included in the cumulative GPA which is calculated by the university and recorded on the student’s official transcript. The calculation on the transcript includes all attempts at all courses numbered 5000-level and above taken at the university. All references to “cumulative GPA” in the scholastic discipline policy are to the cumulative GPA in the student’s current program (except as noted in the next paragraph).

Students who change master’s-level programs within the Robinson College of Business (as opposed to completing one program then entering a second program) are responsible for all graduate grades earned in the college. That is, students with a GPA equal to or less than 2.99 in one master’s-level program or status cannot automatically return to good academic standing by changing programs or status.

Questions about calculation of the GPA for determining academic standing should be directed to the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services. The interpretation of the college’s scholastic discipline policy as it applies to unusual situations is the responsibility of the dean of the college as represented by Graduate Recruiting and Student Services.

All grade point averages are rounded to the hundredth place. For example, 2.676 is rounded to 2.68.

Each student whose GPA for a semester is equal to or less than 2.99, regardless of course load, will be on “scholastic warning.” Upon completion of the next semester of relevant graduate coursework, the performance of a student on warning will be evaluated in the following way:

1. If the semester GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00 and the cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00, then the student will return to good standing.
2. If the semester GPA is less than 3.00 and the cumulative GPA is less than 3.00, then the student will be suspended from the university for a minimum of one semester.
3. If the semester GPA is equal to or less than 2.99 but the cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00, then the student may continue to enroll but will continue to be on warning until a semester GPA equal to or greater than 3.00 is achieved.  At which time he or she will return to good standing, or until subsequent semester GPAs bring the cumulative GPA equal to or less than 2.99.  From this point, he or she will be suspended from the university for a minimum of one semester.
4. If the semester GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00 but the cumulative GPA is equal to or less than 2.99, then the student will remain on “scholastic warning.” The student may continue to enroll on warning, provided the semester GPAs are equal to or greater than 3.00, until the cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00; at this time, he or she will return to good standing. If any semester GPA is equal to or less than 2.99 before the cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00, the student will be suspended from the university for a minimum of one semester.

After a suspension of at least one semester and if the time limit for completing the program has not expired, the student may apply for readmission. The student has the right to petition to be immediately readmitted into the program and not serve the suspended semester.  Application for readmission must be made to the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services not later than six weeks prior to the first day of registration for the semester in which reinstatement is sought. Readmission into the program, whether requesting immediate re-entry or not taking classes for a minimum of one semester, is not guaranteed.

A student who is readmitted from suspension will be on probation. When on probation if any semester GPA is equal to or less than 2.99 before the student’s cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00, the student will be permanently excluded from taking graduate courses in the Robinson College of Business.

When the cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 3.00, the student will then return to good standing.

See the next section for grade requirements for graduation.

7080.34 Grade Requirements for Graduation

To graduate with a master’s degree or graduate certificate from the Robinson College of Business, students must have a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 3.00 in all attempts at all courses numbered 6000 and above taken at Georgia State University (See Sections 1330 Cumulative Grade Point Average  and 1336.15 Graduation Requirements ). In addition, students must have a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 3.00 in all courses applicable toward the program from which graduation is planned. Also included in this GPA are grades earned in all graduate RCB courses taken at Georgia State, including those taken while in any master’s program(s) or status which the student began but did not complete. Exception: grades in courses which are more than seven years old, while part of the cumulative GSU GPA, will not be factored into the College’s GPA requirement for graduation. No grade below a grade of C- is acceptable. No course in which a grade of B or higher has been earned may be repeated for degree credit.

Questions about calculation of the GPA for graduation should be directed to the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services. The interpretation of the college’s GPA requirement for graduation as it applies to unusual situations is the responsibility of the dean of the college as represented by the Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services.

7080.35 Panthers on the Move - Employment Outcomes Survey

Completion of this employment outcomes survey prior to graduation is a requirement for the degree. The valuable data obtained from the survey is used to support our continuous improvement efforts in program development, rankings, recruitment, career advancement, and maintenance of accreditation.

7080.38 Residency Requirements

The Robinson College of Business defines residency in a master’s program as being enrolled in courses that are numbered 8000 or higher, that are appropriate for the program, and that have not been counted toward another graduate degree of this college. The minimum residency requirement for each degree program except the Master of Science in Commercial Real Estate (MSCRE) is 24 semester hours. The minimum residency requirement for the certificate program in real estate is nine semester hours; the MSCRE minimum is 30 semester hours. The minimum residency for the certificate program in enterprise risk management is 18 semester hours of graduate course work.

In the Master of Business Administration program, at least one half the concentration, as appropriate, must be completed in residence to be designated as having completed the concentration in a specific field; otherwise the general business concentration is awarded. In the Master of Science program, at least one half of the major must be completed in residence.

7080.40 Transfer of Credits

Transfer of credit in master’s programs of this college is defined as receiving graduate degree credit for a course completed at another institution, thereby reducing the number of graduate courses to be taken at Georgia State University. Transfer of credit is distinguished from exemption from MBA-prefixed courses. Transfer of credit will be approved only under the following conditions:

1. Regarding the MBA program, the course must have been completed at an institution whose master’s programs were accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business at the time the course was taken.
2. The course must have been restricted to graduate students only.
3. A grade of B or higher must have been received in the course. Exceptions to the minimum grade requirement will be reviewed on a case by case basis for students participating under terms of international dual degree agreements.
4. The content of the course must correspond to that of a Georgia State course required or permitted in the student’s program.
5. Credit completed before enrollment in the current Georgia State program will be considered if it will not be more than seven years old at the time the student graduates.
6. Credit completed elsewhere after enrollment in the current Georgia State program will be considered for transfer credit if it is within the time limit allowed for completion of the current program.

It is also possible to receive transfer credit from another graduate program of Georgia State University, including previously completed Robinson College programs and programs from other colleges/schools in the university. These regulations are written for the usual transfer credit case, which is credit from another institution. The Office of Graduate Recruiting and Student Services should be consulted about transfer credit from other Georgia State programs.

A written request for consideration of transfer credit completed before admission must be submitted by the student concerned during the first semester of residence here. The request must indicate the specific course(s) for which transfer credit is sought. A copy of the other institution’s catalog must be submitted to verify that condition 2 (listed above) has been met; a course outline for each course must be submitted to verify that condition 4 has been met; if the course(s) were taken after application materials had been filed, an official transcript of the coursework must be sent directly from the other institution to Graduate Recruiting and Student Services to verify that conditions 3 and 5 have been met. Requests for transfer of graduate credit cannot be processed until all necessary information has been received.

Students who have met the residency requirement for their program and who wish to take graduate courses at another institution to complete the coursework for their Georgia State degree should provide the information listed above (except the transcript) to Graduate Recruiting and Student Services before enrolling at the other institution. Advance approval will ensure that the transfer credit can be granted if a grade of B or higher is earned in the course(s) and the coursework is completed within the time limit allowed for the program. Such students should plan to graduate at least one semester after the quarter/semester in which the last course to be transferred has been taken. This will allow adequate time for the necessary transcript to be received and for the transfer credit to be processed. (See the “Graduation Fee” heading in this catalog for details about applying to graduate.) A letter certifying completion of degree requirements and stating the date the degree will be conferred can be furnished to the student by the Graduation Office.

7080.42 Information Technology Access and Skill Requirements

Access Requirements: Because information technology is an integral part of business decision making, courses in the Robinson College of Business frequently incorporate assignments that require computing skills. The Robinson College requires students to be responsible for providing computer and Internet access for all RCB courses and programs.

Hardware and Software Requirements: Georgia State has standardized on the Microsoft Office Suite in the student computer labs. Students may consult the university’s Office of Student Financial Aid for information about possible funding opportunities for computer and Internet access expenses.

Skill Requirements: All RCB graduate students are responsible for establishing and maintaining their proficiency in the basic digital skills current in contemporary business workplaces. Such skills include, but are not limited to, effectiveness in storing, retrieving, calculating, and analyzing data with spreadsheets and offline or online databases; communicating digitally with word processors and computer-based documents, web postings and web documents; searching for information from the web and online resources; and presenting information with effective visualization, graphics, and audience presentation software. Examples of complete suites of such office tools include current versions of Microsoft Office (frequently preferred by instructors and site-licensed at Georgia State), Corel WordPerfect Office, Apache OpenOffice, GoogleDocs, etc.

7090 College Degree Requirements

The MBA program is designed for individuals with work experience who aspire to organizational or entrepreneurial leadership positions. The program enhances general management abilities and provides an opportunity to place emphasis on one or more functional areas of expertise. The primary objectives of the program are for students to develop and integrate: (1) analytical skills for decision-making that incorporate global, ethical, and culturally diverse dimensions; (2) skills in assessing organizational performance and developing approaches for improvement; (3) leadership skills; and (4) interpersonal skills that contribute to teamwork.

7090.10 Orientation

All entering Flexible Master’s students are required to attend the mandatory Master’s Orientation in their first semester of enrollment.  The specific dates for the Master’s Orientation can be found here: Master’s Orientation information. The objectives of the orientation are:

• To develop a sense of community and identification for students.
• To demonstrate how teamwork enhances learning.
• To begin the process of program planning and career planning.
• To introduce Robinson master’s students to the available resources provided by the college and how to use those resources effectively.

7090.20 Regulations for the Degree

The Master of Business Administration degree is awarded upon completion of a prescribed program ranging from 39 to 54 semester hours of credit, depending on the academic background of students and on options selected by the students. The M.B.A. program is developed on the assumption that students enter the program with certain skills:

• Computing skills; Because computers are an integral part of business decision making, courses in the Robinson College of Business frequently incorporate assignments that require computing skills.  Expectations are described in section 7080.42.
• Algebra skills; MATH 1111 (college algebra) or equivalent mathematical knowledge is assumed for all entering M.B.A. students. Students are expected to self select into MATH 1111 or take other appropriate steps if they do not have a working knowledge of college algebra.

7090.30 Degree Requirements

The regulations, policies, and procedures given in the “Master’s Enrollment” and “Master’s Programs” sections of this chapter apply to the M.B.A. program. The Master of Business Administration degree is awarded upon completion of the program prescribed in this section below. The time limit for completing the M.B.A. program is five years. 

7100 Student Complaints, Petitions for Policy Waivers and Variances, and Appeals

The appeals procedure for students will follow different courses depending on the nature of the student’s appeal. Please refer to University Information Section 1050.80 under Polices and Disclosures in this catalog for details.

Please note the procedure below for test alternative admissions review requests.

Some graduate programs allow applicants to request their application be reviewed without the GMAT/GRE. Information about a specific program’s test alternative consideration can be found on the graduate program’s website.

When applying to a program that allow test alternative review, applicants must submit an otherwise complete application and request to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Student Services for their application to be considered for a test alternative review under the graduate program’s specific test alternative criteria.

The Master’s Admission Committee will review the entire application file and test alternative review request. The decision to review an application without a GMAT/GRE is at the discretion of the Master’s Admission Committee. The submission of this request nor meeting a program’s outlined criteria does not guarantee approval nor does the approval of a test alternative review guarantee admission. The Master’s Admission Committee reserves the right to require a GMAT/GRE from all candidates.

7110 Master’s Programs

7110.10 Specialized Master’s Foundation Requirements

The requirements in this list are in addition to the hours required for the non-MBA master’s degrees, collectively referred to as specialized master’s degrees. They are assigned as part of the admissions process based on a review of each student’s transcripts. They can be exempted if equivalent course work has been previously completed with grades of C or higher.  Foundation requirements are commonly satisfied by one of the following:

1. A bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or accounting; or,
2. A bachelor’s degree in the specialization or an area related to the student’s specialized master’s degree; or,
3. Certified completion of approved online courses in accounting, quantitative methods, and economics as directed by RCB Graduate Student Services; or,
4. Completion of the following courses:
   1. Accounting: MBA 8025  or financial and managerial accounting principles (ACCT 2101-ACCT 2102).
   2. Economics: Microeconomics principles (ECON 2106) or earning above 85% on the comprehensive Economics online exam
   3. Mathematics: College Algebra (MATH 1111).
   4. Statistics: MATH 1070 or earning above 75% on the comprehensive Financial Statement Analysis online exam
   5. Business Communications: BCOM 8250  or MBA 8015  (completion of either of these will eliminate the need for taking the Business Communication Workshop in item 3 above)

Specific Master’s Programs may have further foundation requirements that are in addition to those listed here. See the specific program description for other specific foundation requirements.

7360 Ph.D. Program

Ph.D. Program Office
802 RCB Building
404-413-7070
Program website: robinson.gsu.edu/phd/
Email: rcbphd@gsu.edu

Likoebe Maruping, PhD., Academic Director of the Ph.D. Program
Adenike Brewington, MS., Administrative Director of the Ph.D. Program

7360.05 Goals and Expectations

The Ph.D. program of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business will develop in graduates a high level of competence in conducting research and in teaching business disciplines by requiring: (1) education in theory; (2) education in general research techniques as well as research techniques specific to a discipline; (3) research experience with faculty members on contemporary research problems and issues; and (4) training on teaching methodology reinforced with active classroom teaching experience.

The Ph.D. program requires that the student demonstrate mastery of a large and complex body of knowledge and a high degree of proficiency in the techniques of teaching and research. This is evidenced by the successful completion of coursework and examinations, effective performance in classroom instruction, participation with faculty members in research, presentation of papers and reports, and the writing of a dissertation of high quality. Given the substantial commitment of intellectual effort and time required to achieve these competencies, students are required to enroll on a full-time basis.

Conduct

All Ph.D. students must assume full responsibility for knowledge of the rules and regulations concerning their studies. Moreover, students are expected to abide by generally accepted standards of conduct. The university reserves the right to exclude any student whose conduct is prejudicial or injurious to the university, faculty, or other students. Students should review the “University Code of Conduct” in the General Information chapter of this catalog for explicit information on this topic.

The Nature of Ph.D. Studies

Ph.D. studies are fundamentally different from undergraduate or master’s programs. The Ph.D. student must be self-motivated and work well independently. The program is academically rigorous and students must have exceptional quantitative and verbal skills. Coursework is but one facet of the program. The research component is the heart of the Ph.D. program. The student must be highly motivated to work on research projects independently and with faculty. Most students take five years to complete the degree. Students are encouraged to present research papers at national and regional meetings. The college provides partial funding to help defray costs. The successful student is one who not only has excellent academic skills, but a passion for scholarly research.

7360.10 Ph.D. Concentrations Offered

The Robinson College of Business offers the Ph.D. in majoring Business Administration with concentration fields in:

• Accountancy
• Computer Information Systems
• Finance
• Management (specializations are currently offered in Organization Behavior/Human Resources and Strategy). Please contact the Ph.D. Program Office for information about which of these programs is currently admitting students.
• Marketing
• Real Estate
• Risk Management and Insurance

The specialization in international business is available to Ph.D. students in any business concentration.

The Center for Digital Innovation is a track under the Computer Information Systems concentration

Data Science and Analytics is offered through the Institute for Insight and the Center for Digital Innovation .

7360.15 Ph.D. Program Operation

The Ph.D. program of the Robinson College of Business is governed and administered as follows:

1. The Graduate Program Council of the Robinson College of Business, comprised of five faculty members, recommends Ph.D. degree requirements and academic regulations that are subsequently submitted for approval by the college faculty.
2. The Ph.D. Program Office is managed by the Administrative and Academic Directors. This office is the student’s primary point of contact for administrative matters. Applications for admission are reviewed by this office and each academic department.
3. The Ph.D. Coordinator is the faculty member in the student’s academic unit who advises students on courses to be taken and other degree requirements.

7360.20 Admissions: Applications, Procedures, and Criteria

Applications for the Ph.D. program will be accepted for once-a-year admission in the fall semester. The deadline for receipt of all required application materials is January 8.

The Ph.D. application is an online electronic application. Visit gradapply.gsu.edu/apply/ to apply online. All documents and other materials submitted by or for applicants for admission to the Ph.D. program become the property of Georgia State University and cannot be returned. It is the responsibility of each applicant to follow the application procedures completely and correctly and to be certain that all materials have been submitted to the Office of Admissions-Graduate Programs by the deadline for receipt of materials. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Admission is for entry in a specific concentration. A student may enter a different concentration only if, and after formal approval has been given by the Ph.D. admissions committee of that concentration. Not all concentrations admit students yearly.

Admission Criteria

Admission decisions are based on a careful review of the applicant’s scholastic record, admission test score(s), letters of recommendation, and the other information submitted in support of the application (including an interview, if required by the academic unit). In making the decision, each academic unit must consider at all times the optimum number of students in the program. This could result in the denial or deferral of otherwise qualified applicants.

Applicants are not required to submit a certification of their state of health but must submit an immunization certification upon admission. The college reserves the right to investigate the health, character, and personality of each applicant.

Listed below are the materials that all applicants must submit to the Office of Admissions-Graduate Programs to be considered for admission.

Application

Applicants must submit all application forms, including a statement of purpose and resume.

Application Fee

The $50.00 non-refundable application fee is payable by credit card (American Express, Visa, and Mastercard) and is due by the application deadline. The application will not be processed until the fee is paid. If the fee is not paid by the deadline, the application will not be reviewed. The application fee cannot be waived, is nonrefundable, and does not apply toward registration fees.

Transcripts

Applicants either must upload a copy of an official transcript with the application, request that one official copy of all transcripts be sent directly from each institution to the Office of Admissions-Graduate Programs, or submit the official transcripts to the Office of Admissions-Graduate Programs.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required from persons who are able to evaluate the applicant’s intellectual capacity for advanced study, independent research, analytical thinking, and the potential for effective teaching at the collegiate level. Applicants and students are not permitted to have access to letters of recommendation.Letters of recommendation should be uploaded to the online application or sent directly to the Office of Admissions- Graduate Programs.

Admission Test for Ph.D. majoring in Business Administration

All applicants to the Ph.D. majoring in Business Administration program must submit official scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) of the Graduate Management Admission Council or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

The following units will accept GRE scores -Center for Digital Innovation, Computer Information Systems, Finance, International Business, Marketing, Organizational Behavior/Human Resource, Real Estate, and Risk Management and Insurance. The GRE school code is 5251.

GMAT or GRE scores will not be considered if they are more than five years old at the time of application to the Ph.D. program. The school code is QCK-ZW-59.

Interview/Additional Information

As part of the review of an applicant’s file by faculty representatives in the academic unit, an interview or additional information may be required. In such cases, the applicant will be notified.

7360.25 International Applicants

TOEFL: An international applicant whose native language is not English must submit official scores from the Educational Testing Service on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). An international applicant who has received a degree from an accredited U.S. institution is exempt from this requirement. However, international applicants who have taken the TOEFL within two years of application to the Ph.D. program are encouraged to upload official scores even if the exemption applies. The school code is 5251.

IELTS: Select E-Delivery Account Name- Georgia State University Graduate Admissions. Georgia State Univeristy only accepts IELTS results delivered to its IETLS Results E-Delivery account by IELTS test center. No paper Test Report Forms will be accepted. An institution code for IELTS is NOT required. Please contact the test center directlywhere you took the IETLS test and request that your test scores be sent to the E-Delivery account using the IELTS system. All IELTS test centers worldwide can send score electronically.

Financial Requirements: Georgia State University reserves the right to admit only those international applicants who are academically qualified and who have documented their ability to meet the financial requirements while in attendance. Although the Ph.D. program does award assistantships to the majority of accepted applicants, this funding is not always adequate to meet all living expenses. Applicants who are requesting a student (F-1) visa might be required to have some independent sources of funding, depending on the amount of their award. Visit the International Student and Scholar Services site at isss.gsu.edu for the estimated costs of attendance.

Immunization Certification

Georgia State University is in compliance with the Georgia Board of Regents immunization requirements. All new students must show proof of being immunized. The Ph.D. program will consider applicants for admission without this documentation. However, in order to matriculate, an applicant must have fulfilled this requirement. The Immunization Form can be obtained from the Georgia State University Student Health Clinic.

7360.30 Changing Year of Entry and Record Retention

Admission to the Ph.D. program is for the specific semester and year stated in the acceptance letter. Any accepted applicant who does not enroll for the semester and year for which acceptance was granted must notify the administrative director of the Ph.D. program and the unit’s Ph.D. coordinator so his or her records may be updated for fall of the next year. Admission for the next year is not guaranteed. Applicants should be aware that assistantships, teaching fellow appointments, or fellowships could be affected by such a change. An applicant who wishes to reapply will need to submit a new application and may need to resubmit application materials.

7360.35 Ph.D. Assistantships, Teaching Fellow Appointments, and Fellowships

Ph.D. students in the Robinson College of Business are eligible for graduate research assistantships (GRA) and graduate teaching assistantships (GTA). No seperate application is required for applicants to be considered for GRA or GTA funding. The college also awards teaching fellow appointments to select Ph.D. students who have passed the dissertation proposal defense. In addition, there are various fellowships and scholarships awarded on a competitive basis to Ph.D. students.

7360.40 Graduate Research Assistantships

Newly admitted Ph.D. students. The offer of admission letter informs newly admitted students of the type of assistantship awrded by their academic unit for the first year of study. All accepted applicants are automatically considered for assistantships.

Students in their second and successive years of Ph.D. studies. Each academic unit will determine the assistantship appointment level to be allocated to its continuing Ph.D. students based on the students’ performance in the program and on the unit’s assistantship budget.

7360.45 Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The teaching assignment of a graduate teaching assistant is usually a basic undergraduate course in the student’s area of interest.

Advanced Ph.D. students may be permitted to teach advanced-level courses. Only Ph.D. students who have completed the requirements for a master’s degree, or the equivalent amount of graduate coursework, can be considered for appointment as a GTA.

Prior to the actual appointment as a GTA, a student must be recommended for hiring by the academic unit and receive approval to teach from the University. The student is responsible for completing all paperwork involved in this process well in advance of the semester for which approval is sought.

Any Ph.D. student appointed as a GTA must take BA 9200, Seminar in University Teaching, during his or her first or second semester of teaching. Prior teaching experience does not exempt a student from this requirement. Students whose primary language is not English must demonstrate adequate proficiency in their language skills to the satisfaction of their academic unit prior to being hired as a GTA.

7360.50 Tuition for GRAs and GTAs

A student hired as a GRA or GTA receives a tuition waiver. A registration fee assessed each semester includes the health clinic, student activity, student athletics, recreation and transportation fees. International students and all graduate students who have a full tuition waiver (as defined by the university) must pay a mandatory health insurance fee or provide proof of health insurance. Submission of proof of insurance does not automatically exempt a student from this requirement. Approval is contingent on verification of coverage. For further information, students should visit the Student Financial Services website: sfs.gsu.edu/tuition-fees/student-health-insurance/.

Standards Applying to Both GRA and GTA Appointments

1. During each semester in which an assistantship is held, students must register for a full load (as defined by the university) of credit hours that may be a combination of courses, dissertation hours, and/or research hours. Students must register for a minimum of twelve credit hours of appropriate course work (or research/dissertation (BA 9000/BA 9500) hours) each fall and spring semesters and nine credit hours each summer semester. Students who are visa-holders should discuss their status with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to make certain that they are registered for a sufficient number of hours.
2. Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing during the period(s) of their appointment, including a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. Ph.D. students must also be making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree requirements.
3. Satisfactory performance, as measured by the academic unit, as a GRA or a GTA is required for continuation of such appointments in subsequent semesters.
4. For further information on policies and procedures applying to GRA and GTA appointments, contact the administrative director in the Ph.D. Program Office.

7360.60 Teaching Fellow Appointment

A teaching fellow is appointed for one academic year at a time. Appointment as a teaching fellow benefits Ph.D. students who have passed the dissertation proposal defense and have demonstrated satisfactory classroom teaching ability over a period of two or more semesters by providing them with a significant level of income during the year in which they are working full time on their dissertation.

7360.65 Fellowships and Scholarships

The Robinson College of Business has a number of fellowships and scholarships available, ranging from $500 to $10,000 per year. Such fellowship and scholarship stipends are awarded in addition to the amounts received by Ph.D. students who are appointed as GRAs or GTAs. Information on specific fellowships and scholarships is available from the Ph.D. coordinator of the student’s academic unit.

7360.70 Doctor of Philosophy majoring in Business Administration

Program of Study

The Ph.D. Coordinator is the faculty member in the student’s academic unit who advises students on courses to be taken and on other degree requirements. As a function of, and implicit in course selection for the student’s program of study the academic unit will consider how the discipline fits into managerial and organizational contexts and will select courses accordingly.

A program of study indicating how the student will fulfill each of the degree requirements must be approved by the student’s Ph.D. Coordinator. Program by the end of the second semester of enrollment. This program of study is filed in the RCB Ph.D. Program Office; it may be revised, as appropriate, but must be kept current, as it will be a key factor in determining satisfactory progress in the program.  Courses would generally be at the 9000 Ph.D. level, except as advised by the Ph.D. Coordinator of the student’s academic unit, and would support and complement the student’s research interest. Undergraduate courses cannot be used towards the program of study.

Forty-two (42) semester hours of coursework, as a minimum, must be completed successfully for graduation. However, additional hours may be required to complete the program.The concentration field requirement is a minimum of 18 credit hours; the research methods requirement is a minimum of 15 credit hours; and free elective or secondary area courses are a minimum of 9 credit hours for a total of 42 semester hours.  Students are expected to complete the courses on their program of study on a timely basis.  Registration for a full load (as defined by the university) each semester is required, including courses for research and dissertation credit (BA 9000 or BA 9500). At a minimum, students who do not hold an assistantship must register for nine hours per semester (excluding summer semester unless the student holds a GRA/GTA or is in the last semester of the program). BA 9000 or BA 9500 can be used to satisfy this requirement.  Students who are visa holders should discuss their enrollment status with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

Quantitative and Research Foundations (15 semester hours)

Students entering the Ph.D. program are presumed to have background and current knowledge in the following additional areas:

• multi-variable calculus including multiple integration, partial derivatives, and infinite series;
• matrix algebra including linear transformations, vector differentiation, and eigenstructures;
• computer skills for empirical research including statistical packages and the use of databases; and
• macroeconomics and microeconomics through the intermediate level.

Students can remedy a deficiency in any or all of these areas by taking credit or noncredit courses, auditing appropriate graduate or undergraduate classes, and/or attending tutorial sessions. Students who feel their background is not adequate may consult with their Ph.D. Coordinator for recommendations on overcoming deficiencies.

Concentration Field (18 semester hours)

Hours of Course work. The satisfactory completion of no fewer than 18 graduate-level semester hours constitutes minimum preparation in the concentration field.

Students must have satisfactorily completed all courses on the program of study in the concentration field and in the research methods requirement area to be eligible to take the preliminary examination. However, some units may require the completion of fewer courses. Student should consult with their Ph.D. coordinator for course completion requirements. Requests to take the preliminary examination are made through the Ph.D. Coordinator. The Ph.D. Coordinator will notify the Ph.D. Program Office with the names of the student(s) and the results of the examination.

Students will not be permitted a second attempt to pass the preliminary examination except upon recommendation, by majority vote, of the group of faculty members who graded the examination. A maximum of two attempts is permitted to pass the preliminary examination.

Research Methods Requirements (15 semester hours)

The satisfactory completion of no fewer than 15 graduate-level semester hours constitutes minimum preparation in research methods.  The Ph.D. Coordinator may approve substitutions for any of the following research methods requirements.

1. Intermediate Statistics: Approved graduate-level statistics course (3)
2. Research Design: MGT 9940(3)
3. Regression: MGT 9950(3)
4. Multivariate Data Analysis: MGT 9960(3)
5. Elective: research methods/theory development course:  BA 9260; BA 9280; BA 9300; BA 9360: IFI 9000; IFI 8650 or a course may be from the student’s concentration field and department (3)

Free Electives or Secondary Area (9 semester hours)

1. The satisfactory completion of no fewer than nine (9) semester hours fulfills this coursework requirement and students may choose to fulfill these credits, with the approval of their Ph.D. Coordinator, either with a secondary area or with free electives.
2. Courses for each secondary area shall be taken from a list of courses prepared by the academic unit offering the secondary area, but students must have the approval of their Ph.D. Coordinator for both taking a secondary area and for the set of courses making up that secondary area.
3. Substitutions for secondary area courses can be made with the approval of the unit offering the secondary area and the student’s Ph.D. coordinator.

7360.75 Academic Regulations

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 15 semester hours may be transferred from other institutions or from other programs at Georgia State University. Transfer credit, whether from other institutions or from Georgia State, must have been completed within five years of the semester of entry to the Ph.D. program. The course must have been limited to graduate students only, and a grade of A or B must have been received.

At the time the program of study is planned with the Ph.D. coordinator, the student who requests transfer credit must submit a course description from the catalog of the institution, a syllabus or course outline, and written justification stating why the course is relevant to the program of study. Requests for transfer credit are approved at the discretion of the unit coordinator in consultation with Ph.D. faculty. Final approval for the acceptance of transfer credit is determined by the  Ph.D. coordinator.

Residency Requirement

In order to earn a graduate degree at Georgia State University, students must earn the majority of their graduate program credit hours from Georgia State University. All transfer hours are subject to unit/college level approval. The Robinson College of Business defines residency in the Ph.D. program as being enrolled in approved coursework that is appropriate for the program, and that have not been counted toward another graduate degree of this college. The minimum residency requirement is 18 semester hours.

Scholastic Warning and Termination

The Ph.D. grade-point average (GPA) is defined as the GPA for all courses numbered 6000 or higher taken after admission to the Ph.D. program. Each student must maintain a 3.0 Ph.D. GPA (“B” average). A student whose semester or overall Ph.D. GPA falls below 3.0 is on “scholastic warning.” After being placed on scholastic warning, a student must attain a 3.0 Ph.D. GPA within two consecutive calendar semesters; otherwise, the individual will be terminated from Ph.D. studies in the Robinson College of Business.

The Ph.D. GPA could differ from the GPA calculated by the university and reported on the student’s official transcript, since the university GPA would also include the grades from all courses taken at Georgia State University before admission to the Ph.D. program.

No student will be permitted to sit for any examination required for the Ph.D. degree, other than course examinations, without having a minimum 3.0 Ph.D. GPA at the time the examination is to be taken. A student with a Ph.D. GPA below 3.0 is ineligible for graduate assistantship appointments as either a GRA or GTA. Students must have at least a 3.0 Ph.D. GPA in order to graduate.

A student who has been terminated from the Ph.D. program will not be permitted to reapply to or reenter the program.

Standards of Performance

The requirements and regulations listed in this catalog refer to minimum standards of performance. The student’s academic unit may have additional requirements, as set forth in writing that exceed the minimum standards published in this catalog. If a student fails to meet these additional requirements, the academic director of the Ph.D. program, in consultation with the chair of the student’s concentration academic unit and the Ph.D. coordinator of the unit may require that the student withdraw from the Ph.D. program.

To continue in the program, a student must make reasonable and timely progress toward the degree in terms of coursework completed and examinations. Students who fail to adhere to the minimum standards published in the catalog or to any higher standards established by the academic unit will be terminated from the program.

Petitions

When a student feels that unusual circumstances call for an exception to any of the regulations or requirements relating to the degree in his or her particular case, the student may write to the Ph.D. coordinator and request exemption from or change in the policy. The petition by the student must be submitted with accompanying justifications. If the Ph.D. coordinator and academic unit support the request, the Ph.D. coordinator will write a letter of support for the student and submit the material to the academic director of the Ph.D. program for a decision.

Continuous Registration

Beginning with the semester of acceptance, a Ph.D. student must register for a full load each semester) until graduation. Summer enrollment is mandatory if required by the Ph.D. coordinator, if the student is receiving a GRA/GTA, if the student is in the last semester of the program, and for certain visa holders. A full load is considered a minimum of twelve credit hours each fall and spring semesters and nine credit  hours each summer semester. Students who are visa-holders should discuss their status with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. BA 9000, Doctoral Research, may be used to satisfy the minimum enrollment  requirement until the student has passed the dissertation proposal defense. BA 9500, Dissertation Research, may be used to satisfy the minimum enrollment  requirement once the student has passed the dissertation proposal defense. Students who fail to meet the continuous registration requirement are subject to withdrawal from the Ph.D. program in the Robinson College of Business.

Re-entry

As stated in the previous section concerning continuous registration, students must enroll for a full course load each semester. Summer enrollment requirements may vary. Consult the Ph.D. Program Office for details. Any absence from the program must be approved through the petition procedure (see section regarding petitions). Students who leave the program without an approved petition or who do not fulfill the terms of an approved petition for an absence, may not be allowed to re-enter the program. Any student who is not registered for one calendar year must file a re-entry application with the Ph.D. Program Office. Students must be mindful of the deadline for this application. There is a charge to file a reentry application. As previously stated, re-entry approval is not automatic and the student should check with the Ph.D. Program Office if considering re-entry.

Preliminary Examination

The purpose of the preliminary examination is to determine the student’s mastery of the body of knowledge in their area of specialization and their readiness for dissertation research. Students are encouraged to confer with their Ph.D. coordinator regarding the areas the examination will encompass. The preliminary

examination is a written examination, supplemented in some cases by an oral examination. The preliminary exam may have several parts and students must have successfully completed all parts before being designated, informally, as ABD (“All-But-Dissertation”). The units offering a Ph.D. concentration will determine how many parts there will be to their preliminary exam and when these will be offered.

Students must have satisfactorily completed all required courses in the program of study in the concentration field and in the research methods requirement area to be eligible to take the preliminary examination (or the first part in the event of a multi-part exam). However, some units may require the completion of fewer courses. Students should consult with their Ph.D. coordinator for course compltion requirements. Requests to take the preliminary examination are made through their Ph.D. coordinator. The Ph.D. coordinator will notify the Ph.D. Program Office with the name(s) of students and results of the examination.

Students will not be permitted a second attempt to pass the preliminary examination except upon recommendation, by majority vote, of the group of faculty members who graded the examination. A maximum of two attempts is permitted to pass the preliminary examination.

The Dissertation

The purpose of the dissertation is for the Ph.D. candidate to demonstrate his or her ability to conduct research leading to a significant contribution to the candidate’s discipline. Before a student begins to collect any primary data from human subjects, s/he must make sure that all data collection, including surveys and use of archival data, are in compliance with the guidelines set out by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Included among these requirements is certification via an online test on ethical treatment of subjects. The IRB’s Human Subjects Manual is accessible online at https://ursa.research.gsu.edu/human-subjects

Acceptable Forms of Dissertation

Dissertations may be a single study or they may be composed of multiple essays or papers. In the latter case, these papers make up separate chapters of the overall dissertation or they are summarized within the dissertation and attached in full text.

Guidelines for Multi-Paper Dissertation

Whereas the essay(s) or paper(s) that are included in the dissertation may be co-authored, it is critical that the student provide evidence of leadership to demonstrate ability to conduct independent research. Committee members can and should exercise their own judgment as to the quality of the dissertation. Unit standards for multi-paper dissertations may be formulated and distributed to students to equal or exceed the guidelines expressed here.

The Dissertation Committee

The Dissertation Committee consists of a chair plus a minimum of three members. At the time of formation and for a projected additional three years, the chair must be tenured, have graduate faculty status, meet Robinson’s AACSB criteria for PhD teaching, and be from the home department.  If the chair is not tenured, the co-chair must be tenured and meet the same criteria as a chair including graduate faculty status and Robinson’s AACSB criteria for PhD teaching. Internal committee members must have graduate faculty status. The committee, and any subsequent change in its membership, is appointed by the academic director of the Ph.D. program upon the recommendation of the Ph.D. coordinator. Faculty from institutions other than GSU may serve as members of the committee, but at the time of the initial formation of the committee, there must be at least three GSU faculty members on the committee. At least three committee members must be from the home department and in good standing with respect to GSU graduate faculty status. One member must be from outside of the academic unit. Co-chair arrangements are not only acceptable, but even encouraged, especially in cases where one of the co-chairs is an assistant professor. Unit standards for committee membership may be formulated and distributed to students to equal or exceed the policies expressed here.

As the student develops an interest in a potential dissertation topic, he or she should discuss the topic with individual faculty members both to determine the topic’s feasibility and merit and the faculty members’ interest and expertise in that area. When the student is ready to begin the initial work on the dissertation, he or she should first discuss with the Ph.D. coordinator names of potential faculty who would be the most appropriate chair of the Dissertation Committee. Only after the Ph.D. coordinator has agreed with the student as to the choice of a particular faculty member should the student then invite the faculty member to be chair of the committee.

Once the dissertation chair has been chosen, the chair, in consultation with the student, will recommend the selection of the three remaining committee members to the Ph.D. coordinator, which should include at least one committee member from outside the academic unit. The final committee membership is then sent to the unit Ph.D. coordinator and the academic director of the Ph.D. program for their approval. The committee and approvals should be documented on the PhD Dissertation Committee Policy and Approval Process Form. Should either of these managers disapprove of a particular committee member(s), the chair will work with the student to find a suitable replacement(s).

Dissertation Proposal Defense

Prior to admission to candidacy for the degree, a dissertation proposal defense must be held. After the student completes a written proposal that the Dissertation Committee deems to be ready for final defense, a dissertation proposal defense will be held before the Dissertation Committee.

The student’s dissertation proposal should include a summary of the following: the purpose of the study; the nature of the subject to be investigated and its importance; a brief review of the literature; the theory, if any, to be developed; the empirical methodology, techniques, and data sources, if any, to be used; the nature of the hypotheses to be developed or tested, where appropriate; and a time frame for completion of the dissertation.

The proposal defense will be open to all interested faculty and doctoral students in the Robinson College of Business. After the proposal defense has been held, the members of the committee will vote to determine if the student is deemed to have a satisfactory research topic. A unanimous decision by the student’s Dissertation Committee is required. The members of the committee will sign the dissertation proposal defense approval form.

Submission of the approval form does not constitute a contractual agreement between the student and the Dissertation Committee. It is within the scope and function of the Dissertation Committee to recommend modifications to the research as it proceeds. Upon submission of the proposal defense approval form to the Ph.D. Program Office, the student is admitted to candidacy for the degree.

Committee members should be given a draft of the proposal (and also the final dissertation) at least one month before the proposed defense date. This will permit a revision cycle to both improve the work before the defense and ensure that committee members have adequate time to comment and raise substantive issues, should this be the case. It will also allow the defense date to be postponed in the event that required changes could not be completed before the proposed defense date.

Final Dissertation Defense

When the candidate’s Dissertation Committee judges that the dissertation is complete, it must be defended orally in a final dissertation defense. At least one month in advance of the final dissertation defense, the draft should be submitted to the committee for review, the Ph.D. coordinator will inform the Ph.D. Program Office of the candidate’s date of defense and an announcement will be made to all academic units. While any interested Robinson College of Business faculty member or doctoral student may attend the examination and participate in the discussion, only those individuals who are members of the candidate’s Dissertation Committee will vote to approve or disapprove the dissertation. Upon successful defense of the dissertation, a Final Oral Examination approval form will be signed by the members of the Dissertation Committee and submitted to the Ph.D. Program Office. A signed Acceptance form is required for evidence of satisfactory completion of the written dissertation. Unanimous approval is required for the oral defense and written dissertation. Guidelines for the dissertation are available from the Ph.D. Program Office and on the Ph.D. website at https://robinson.gsu.edu/phd/online-student-handbook

Dissertation Embargo Policy

Students may request a 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, or 12-month restriction of dissertation publishing (hereafter termed embargo). Requests must be made in writing to the dissertation chair/co-chairs prior to the electronic uploads of the dissertation to Georgia State University’s Scholar Works. Written approval from the chair/co-chairs must be sent to the Ph.D. Program Office. Once the approval is received by the Ph.D. Program Office, the dissertation will not be published for the approved embargo period. The dissertation will be released for publishing after the embargo period ends. Students who opt to upload the dissertation to ProQuest should consult that organization regarding embargo requirements.

Graduation

Students must apply for graduation through the Office of Graduation. The deadline for applying for graduation is usually several months before the anticipated graduation date, so students need to apply in a timely manner. There is no summer commencement. More information concerning applying for graduation can be found at https://registrar.gsu.edu/graduation.. The administrative director of the Ph.D. program will provide the candidate with information regarding clearance for graduation. An electronic copy of the dissertation must be uploaded to Georgia State University’s Scholar Works two weeks prior to the anticipated date of graduation.

Time Limits for the Degree

These time limits should be interpreted as the maximum amount of time students may take to complete each of the degree requirements. It is anticipated that most students will complete the requirements much earlier than the maximum time limits specified below:

• All coursework on the program of study and the preliminary examination in the Ph.D. majoring in Business Administration program must be completed within four years from the semester of entry into the Ph.D. program.
• The Dissertation Committee must be appointed, the dissertation proposal defense must be held, and the student’s dissertation proposal must be approved within one year after completion of all parts of the preliminary exam.
• All requirements for the Ph.D. degree, including the dissertation, must be completed within seven years from the semester of entry into the Ph.D. program.

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