IOWA Ivy

History

The Business courses in the university commenced in the Department of Economics in the 1920s. The name of the course changed to Engineering Economics from Business Engineering. Later in 1930s, the name changed to Industrial Economics under the Department of Economics and Sociology. The School of Business Administration was formed in 1980. The College of Business Administration officially came into being in 1984 and the first BBA degrees were awarded to students. In 1985, the MBA program got approved by Board of Regents and the first set of students were admitted for the program.

MISSION STATEMENT

Create and share research and educate tomorrow’s business leaders to be prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Core Strengths of the School

The College of Business at Iowa State University has been accredited by AACSB International, thus marking it as the institution with challenging curriculum, world-class faculty and exceptional educational facilities. Corporate Social Responsibility is one of the core values of the school and is interwoven throughout the curriculum with the intension of producing future business leaders who realize their responsibility towards the society. The MBA program offers students to choose elective courses and customize their MBA program in alignment with their long-term career goals. The Successful Start Program provides the students with an array of tools and resources to ensure a smooth transition into the program. Students are given access to the Pre-MBA online courses and Lynda online tutorials before the commencement of their classes. The first week of the program comprises of an intense orientation program, so that the students become well versed with the entire MBA program. The Professional Development Class further grooms the students by enhancing their communication skills.

Uniqueness in MBA Pedagogy

The MBA program culminates with a two-day Internal Case Competition wherein the students work in teams over a business case and present their recommendations and suggestions to the panel of judges, who are renowned business executives and world-class faculty. This experience instills essential teamwork skills in students and also provides an opportunity to implement their theoretical learning to a real world scenario. Scholarships are bestowed upon the winning teams at the end of the competition. The study trips to Denmark, Italy and Ireland give insights into the business practices followed in other countries and prepare the students to conduct business in a global environment. The students delve into studying the economy, politics and business of these countries and enhance their professional network during their visits to the corporate offices of companies from varied industrial sectors. The Global Business Club further re-instates the importance of learning the knitty-gritty of business in an international setting. All students are encouraged to join the MBA Association, which is a platform that connects students with faculty, alumni and business leaders. The Association creates coursework that is in alignment with the business concepts covered in the curriculum. This ensures that the students are able to acquire the requisite skills and behavior that are imperative to conduct business. The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Learning Community fosters the entrepreneurial spirit within the students by providing access to an array of tools and resources. The students learn to hone their entrepreneurial skills through the seminars offered by budding entrepreneurs and guest speakers. They collaborate with others who share similar interests and exchange ideas to build new enterprises with the guidance of mentors and professional contacts. The Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship boosts the entrepreneurial spirit of students by conducting Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. The top three winners are awarded a cash prize of $5000 each. This acts as a great source of inspiration for students who want to start their own venture. The Center acts as a platform for students to connect with faculty, researchers and the business community.

CONCENTRATIONS OFFERED

LOCATION ADVANTAGES

Iowa State University is located in a small town of Ames with access to quality education right from kindergarten to grad school. The city has hundreds of acres of parks and well constructed bike paths. Iowa State’s Reiman Garden has been named as the best public rose garden in the US. The Iowa State’s campus houses over 600 public works of art and was rated as America’s 25 most beautiful in the 1991 book “The Campus as a Work of Art.” The Brunnier Art Museum, Christian Peterson Art Museum and Farm House Museum are the main art attractions of the city.

CAREER SUPPORT

Career Fairs are conducted by the Business Career Services in order to update the students regarding the current internship and full-time career opportunities. The Graduate Career Services Center provides all the details regarding the employers to the students including the salary statistics. Hence, the students can make a choice in case they have multiple job offers in hand. They further help the students in preparing winning resumes that depict their skills and strengths. The career counselors conduct mock interview sessions and provide feedback to the students, so that they are able to reform their responses in a better manner.