Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
Distance Learning Program
Auburn University is the largest institution of higher education in the state of Alabama.
In response to industry's request, Auburn's College of Engineering began offering courses to off-campus students through the Graduate Outreach Program in 1984. The College of Business made Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) courses available in 1990. The Graduate Outreach Program allows professionals the opportunity to continue their education while maintaining full-time employment. The program serves more than 400 students in forty states. The M.B.A. program is accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Graduate credit taken in residence at another approved graduate school may be transferred to Auburn University but is not accepted until the student has completed at least 9 hours of work in the Graduate School at Auburn University. No prior commitment is made concerning whether transfer credit can be accepted. A student must earn at least 21 semester hours or half of the total hours required for a master's degree (whichever is greater) at Auburn University. No transfer credit is approved without two official transcripts. No course in which a grade lower than B was earned may be transferred.
The Graduate Outreach Program makes every effort to ensure that the off-campus students receive the same high-quality education as on-campus students. Live classes are videotaped daily and distributed in standard VHS or DVD format. Professors establish telephone office hours and/or e-mail communication so that off-campus students may receive answers to any questions they may have. E-mail accounts are established for the Graduate Outreach Program students. Most faculty members also utilize the Internet to post handouts and class materials. The Auburn University faculty consists of more than 1,200 members. Eighty percent of the faculty members hold a doctoral degree, and 88 percent hold a terminal degree in their field.
Career and job placement assistance is available through Auburn University's Career and Student Development Services. Accessibility to the R. B. Draughon Library is also available. A valid Auburn University student identification card is required to check out resources. The Division of University Computing provides University-wide computing and networking services to students. Computer accounts are free of charge to currently enrolled students.
Programs of Study
The Graduate Outreach Program offers the Master of Management Information Systems, the Master of Accounting, and the Master of Business Administration degrees as well as master's degrees in eight different disciplines in engineering. The Master of Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering are all nonthesis programs without residency requirements. Each candidate must pass an on-campus, comprehensive, oral examination covering the program of study to graduate. The examination covers the major and minor subjects, including any research or special projects involved. The Master of Science degree, offered in eight disciplines, requires a formal written thesis and at least one quarter of full-time residence.
In the Master of Business Administration program, students may earn a concentration in either finance, health-care administration, human resource management, management information systems, management of technology, marketing, or operations management. The program consists of 36 to 42 semester hours of course work, including eight core courses and four electives. Applicants are required to complete a course in calculus and statistics prior to entering the program. Students with nonbusiness undergraduate degrees may be required to pass foundations exams in economics, finance, marketing, management, and accounting. Incoming students are also advised to have a working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software and an elementary understanding of database applications. M.B.A. students must visit the campus for five days during their final fall semester prior to graduating for on-campus presentations.
Nondegree professional development courses are available for those who need to meet job requirements or professional certification.
Applying for Distance Education
An applicant to the Graduate School must hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is required for admission to the College of Engineering, and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required for admission to the M.B.A. program. Students whose native language is not English must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for admission to the M.B.A. program. Admission is based on the grade point average of university-level courses, GRE or GMAT scores, and recommendation letters from instructors and supervisors. Students can be informed by the Graduate Outreach Program on how they can enroll as off-campus students once they are accepted by the Graduate School.
To apply for admission, a prospective student must return a Graduate School application, an M.B.A. application (if applicable), a nonrefundable application fee of $25 for U.S. citizens or $50 for non-U.S. citizens, three letters of recommendation, GRE or GMAT scores, and two official transcripts of all undergraduate and subsequent course work from the respective institutions. Graduate School applicants may apply online. This ensures a quicker response in most cases.
Costs
The Graduate Outreach Program fees are $500 per credit hour for engineering and $510 for business. Registration schedules and fee bills are mailed to the student prior to the beginning of each quarter.
Financial Aid
Military personnel who have been accepted into the Graduate School may apply for tuition aid through DANTES at their local education office. Many of the Graduate Outreach Program students receive tuition assistance through their employer's tuition reimbursement plan. The Auburn University Office of Student Financial Aid assists in the awarding of grants, loans, and scholarships for qualified full-time students.
For Additional Information
Graduate Outreach Program
Auburn University
217 Ramsay Hall
Auburn, Alabama 36849-5331
888-844-5300 (toll-free)