Laura A. McEwen, Director of Graduate Business Programs; Donald I. Bosshardt, Robert R. Davis, Lynn A. Fish, Edward J. Garrity, Michael J. Gent, Guy H. Gessner, Edward J. Gress, Patricia A. Hutton, Patricia A. Johnson, George F. Kermis III, Ji-Hee Kim, Larry Lichtenstein, Gordon W. Meyer, Stephen C. Molloy, Eugene P. O’Connor, Joseph B. O’Donnell, George M. Palumbo, Philip Pfaff, Michael Piemonte, Ian J. Redpath, Ronald R. Reiber, Ronald M. Rivas, Craig D. Rogers, Paul L. Sauer, Girish Shambu, Richard A. Shick, Coral R. Snodgrass, David J. Snyder, Howard Stanger, Edward J. Szewczak, Raymond W. Vegso, Linda A. Volonino, Richard A. Wall, Alan G. Weinstein, Gregory R. Wood, Mark P. Zaporowski.
Degrees
The Richard J. Wehle School of Business offers graduate programs leading to the following master’s degrees:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Evening Program
One-Year Program (full-time) - Master of Business Administration in Professional Accounting (MBAPA)
- Master of Business Administration in Accounting (MBAA)
The professional accounting program (MBAPA) is for those who enter on the graduate level without an accounting background. The MBAA is for those who begin as accounting undergraduates at Canisius College. The MBAA is designed to meet the 150-hour requirement of the American Institute of CPAs. The MBAPA and MBAA programs qualify students to sit for the CPA examination in New York State. Graduates of the MBAPA are required to complete two years of experience for certification in the State of New York; only one year of experience is required of MBAA graduates.
Students should check the registrar’s schedule each semester to determine whether a given course is taught on the Main Street campus or at the business school’s suburban facility: Canisius Center @ Amherst, 300 Corporate Parkway, Amherst, New York 14226.
Mission statement
The Canisius College Richard J. Wehle School of Business strives for excellence in developing within our students the skills, knowledge and perspective necessary to excel as leaders and managers in the competitive global marketplace and also as ethical and socially responsible citizens in the Jesuit tradition.
General goals
Provide the best business education in the programs offered and markets served through:
- Development of graduates who are known for their:
- Technical and professional skills which allow them to make an immediate contribution to their organization;
- Application of high ethical standards to decision making
- Ability to manage effectively in a changing business environment;
- Effective communication skills;
- Ability to confront issues and solve problems in an organized and effective way by integrating a number of different disciplines;
- Engagement in life-long learning and professional development;
- Interpersonal and team skills.
- A learning environment characterized by concern for the maximum development of our students who have a variety of abilities and backgrounds;
- An outstanding faculty of teacher/scholars who are excellent classroom instructors, who provide a blend of theoretical and practical aspects of their discipline, and who engage on a regular basis in professional / community service and scholarly activity involving a blend of basic, applied and instructional research;
- Maintaining a network of graduates and friends who will provide advice on the school’s programs, lend their expertise to the school, serve as a teaching resource and provide counseling, internship and job opportunities for our students;
- Operating the school with sound management practices including continuous improvement and the efficient allocation of resources.
The Evening MBA is designed primarily for working adult students who complete their studies on a part-time basis. The majority of students come from the Western New York area and they have a variety of undergraduate majors, the largest of which is business. In addition to the general goals of graduate education, the specific goals are:
- Offer a broad-based management education based on the theme of the decision-making process;
- Encourage students to take a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving;
- Present a select number of concentrations in the business disciplines;
- Provide the opportunity to interact with students who have a variety of professional experiences and perspectives.
The One-Year MBA Program is a full-time program designed for individuals who wish to minimize the delay in starting their professional career or reduce the time away from their present career. This intense program begins in the fall semester and continues through the spring and summer semesters. Because of the special nature of this course of study, candidates for the One-Year MBA are admitted as a single group in the fall and complete the program together. Classes are during the day at the main campus.
Master of Business Administration in Professional Accounting
In addition to enabling them to earn an MBA degree, this program makes it possible for holders of undergraduate and graduate degrees with majors other than accounting to:
- Complete a major in accounting.
- Prepare to enter the accounting profession.
- Acquire the credentials to take the CPA examination leading to professional licensing.
This program is designed for undergraduate accounting majors at Canisius College. It meets the 150-hour requirement of the American Institute of CPAs and qualifies students to sit for the CPA examination in New York State. Graduates are required to complete two years of experience for certification.
Students should apply for admission in their junior year. They should take the GMAT at the earliest opportunity and no later than March of their junior year. The admissions criteria for this program are different from those that apply to the MBA and MBAPA programs. Candidates must have: (1) a minimum cumulative average of 2.75 in all accounting courses taken at Canisius, including junior accounting courses; (2) a minimum cumulative overall average of 3.0 by the end of junior year; (3) a minimum score of 500 on the GMAT.
Admission
The graduate programs in business are open to any qualified holder of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university regardless of the undergraduate major field of study. The goal of the admission policy is the selection of those candidates who indicate the greatest potential for academic and professional achievement. The candidate for admission to graduate study must present evidence of qualifications to participate successfully in a graduate level academic endeavor. The Admissions Committee recognizes the need to adjust the criteria for pre-service and in-service students.
The Admissions Committee in its decisions takes into consideration the undergraduate QPA (and any graduate QPA) and the scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The following guidelines are suggested for those considering applying to one of the programs. The candidate should have a total of at least 1000 points for the One-Year MBA and 950 for the other programs based on the formula: 200 times the undergraduate QPA (4.0 system) + the GMAT score.
It should be noted, however, that candidates who meet minimum requirements are not guaranteed an offer of admission. Because of limitations in staff and resources, only the most qualified of the eligible applicants may be admitted.
Applicants should plan to take the GMAT at the earliest opportunity. Information is available at www.mba.com.
Each applicant must submit: (1) a completed application form; (2) an official transcript of all college work; (3) other information as requested by the Admissions Committee. In addition, the applicant must arrange for an official score on the GMAT to be submitted by the Graduate Management Admission Council or by Educational Testing Service.
Additional admissions information may be found in the sections on the individual programs.
Academic standing
A student is placed on academic probation if:
- After completion of six hours of course work, the student’s cumulative grade point average is 2.00 or lower or
- Any time after completion of nine or more hours of course work, the cumulative grade point average is less than 2.66.
- After completion of six hours of course work subsequent to being placed on academic probation, the cumulative grade point average is less than 2.66 or
- After completion of at least 18 hours of course work, the cumulative grade point average is less than 2.50. A student may be disqualified without having been placed on probation first.
Graduation
To graduate, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.66. Students must ordinarily complete all requirements within five years of their first semester of attendance. Extensions may be granted upon the petition of the student to the Director of Graduate Business Programs.
Transfer credit
Graduate business course work completed by a student at another AACSB accredited college or university may be accepted for transfer credit. Students desiring transfer credit should submit a written request to the program director for evaluation.
No transfer credit will be awarded for courses with grades below “B” and not more than 21 credit hours of transfer credit will be accepted for the evening MBA and MBAPA programs. No transfer credit is allowed for the One-Year MBA program.
Transfer students in the MBA program must complete at least 24 credit hours at Canisius College. Transfer students in the MBAPA program are reviewed on an individual basis.
Graduate business students at Canisius College who wish to transfer graduate course work at another institution must have the prior written permission from the director of Graduate Business Programs.
The Jesuit Consortium (JEBNET), of which Canisius is a member, allows MBA students from another Jesuit institution to readily transfer up to 24 credit hours of coursework.
Waivers
Students may qualify for waivers of foundation courses based upon their undergraduate or graduate coursework, at the discretion of the director and academic coordinator. No waivers are granted for the One-Year MBA program.
Additional Information
There is no language requirement for any of the graduate business programs. However, term papers and/or research projects may be required in individual courses.
Click here for course requirements and descriptions.