Admission Requirements
Admission to the University of Maine Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program
is competitive. In its admission process, the University of Maine Business Graduate
Program considers factors that indicate the potential to successfully complete
the MSA program and achieve positions of leadership in the private or public sector.
That potential is judged by academic performance, GMAT score, letters of recommendation,
communication skills, and work experience.
Academic Performance: Applicants must have a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited college
or university, or a four-year international equivalent. In reviewing the academic
record, the Graduate Committee considers both the institution attended and curriculum.
Students with GPAs over 3.0 are considered competitive.
Standardized Test Score: Applicants must submit official GMAT or GRE scores taken within the last five
years. Students are considered competitive with GMAT scores above 500. In addition,
the Business School requires a 3.5 on the analytical writing portion of the exam.
Students are considered competitive with GRE scores above 500 on each portion
of the exam. In addition, the Business School requires a 4.0 on the analytical
portion of the exam. Students who score below these standards will be asked to
retake the exam before their application will be considered.
Students whose test score or previous academic performance does not fall in the
competitive range may be admitted if the Business School feels there is substantial
alternate evidence of aptitude for business graduate work.
Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation must be included with the completed application.
If possible, MSA applicants are encouraged to submit letters from current or former
supervisors or those who can comment on work-related responsibilities and accomplishments,
career advancement and potential, managerial experience, and future career goals.
Meaningful academic references are also acceptable, and are most relevant for
recent undergraduates. References should detail your strengths, weaknesses, and
potential for academic and managerial success.
Communication Skills: Students are required to submit a personal essay as part of their application.
The essay is an opportunity for the candidate to describe important attributes
not apparent from the rest of the application, and also to convey one’s unique
background, character, and ability to add value to the Business School’s Graduate
Program. The essays are evaluated not only for content, but also for writing style
and grammar. Interviews are not required for admission to the Business School’s
graduate programs, but may be requested by either the applicant or the Business
School. If requested, candidates will interview with a University of Maine Graduate
Program representative prior to the final decision on admission.
University of Maine Business School Graduate Programs require extensive oral
and written communication. All students will be assessed on these skills at the
beginning of the program. Those demonstrating insufficient skills will be required
to utilize campus resources (e.g., Writing Center).
Work Experience: Work experience is not required for admission to the University of Maine MSA
program. Significant work experience with management responsibilities is especially
important to demonstrate maturity and motivation by a student with a weak academic
record.
International Students: Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The test must have been taken within the past five
years; the minimum required score is 213 on the computer-based version or 550
on the paper-based test. However, TOEFL is not necessarily a good indicator of
English speaking skills. The University of Maine Business School Graduate Programs
require extensive oral and written communication and all students will be assessed
on these skills at the beginning of their program. International students demonstrating
insufficient skills can be required to attend courses at the University of Maine’s
Intensive English Institute in order to continue in the program. Occasionally
international students must submit their transcripts to a professional evaluation
service (at the student’s expense) in order to demonstrate course equivalencies.
Graduate Standing Requirement: All students enrolled in 600-level BUA courses must be matriculated in a graduate
program at The University of Maine or elsewhere. Visiting graduate students will
request their department or university to provide a letter of good standing to
the Business School Director of Graduate Programs.
Students with an application submitted and transcripts received who are deemed
potentially admissible can take one 600-level BUA course before admittance in
the program.
Graduate Faculty
Daniel E. Innis, Ph.D. (Ohio State, 1991), Professor of Marketing, Dean of the College of Business,
Public Policy and Health, and Director of the Maine Business School. Customer
service performance and a firm’s overall performance, the impact of quick response
logistics on channel member behavior.
David J. Barrett, A.B.D. (Indiana University), Assistant Professor of Accounting.
Richard H. Borgman, Ph.D. (Florida, 1994), Associate Professor of Finance. Financial institution
management, securitization, portfolio risk management, asset pricing, international
finance.
Martha Broderick, J.D. (Western New England School of Law, 1983). Instructor in business law.
Steven C. Colburn, Ph.D. (Georgia, 1989), Associate Professor of Accounting. Taxation of individuals,
corporations, trusts and estates, with emphasis on tax planning.
Harold Z. Daniel, Ph.D. (Connecticut, 1997), Associate Professor of Marketing. Organizational
buying behavior and strategic acquisition, collaborative research and development,
strategic management of technology, diffusion of innovations, customer satisfaction,
student retention in institutions of higher education.
John K. Ford, D.B.A. (Harvard, 1977), Nicolas Salgo Professor of Business Administration.
Professor of Finance. Diversification of bond and stock portfolios.
Virginia R. Gibson, Ph.D. (State University of New York at Binghamton, 1986), Associate Professor
of Management Information Systems. Information systems, Ecommerce, EBusiness.
Carol B. Gilmore, Ph.D. (Massachusetts, 1979), Professor of Management. Labor law, labor arbitration.
Public sector collective bargaining, personnel management, employee rights, employee
relations law.
Bret Golann, Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1996), Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship/Marketing.
Entrepreneurship and managing rapid growth.
Wayne C. Ingalls, MBA (Wisconsin, Madison, 1968), Certified Public Accountant. Instructor in
Accounting.
Nory B. Jones, Ph.D. (Missouri, 2001), Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems.
Knowledge management, collaborative technologies, and diffusion of technological
innovations.
Omar J. Khan, Ph.D. candidate (St. Louis University, 2005), Assistant Professor of Marketing.
John F. Mahon, D.B.A (Boston University, 1982), John M. Murphy Chair of International Business
Policy and Strategy. Professor of Management. Management policy and strategy,
global strategy.
Ivan M. Manev, Ph.D. (Boston College, 1997), Associate Professor of Management. Management
of the multinational corporation, formation of strategy and competitive advantage
in social networks, management in post-communist transition societies.
Kim K. R. McKeage, Ph.D. (Massachusetts, 1996), Associate Professor of Marketing. Retailing, customer
service quality, relationship marketing, internal marketing, socially responsible
marketing, marketing education.
David M. Steiger, Ph.D. (Oklahoma State, 1993), Associate Professor of Management Information
Systems. Knowledge management, data mining, decision support systems.
Natalie M. Steiger, Ph.D. (North Carolina State, 1999), Assistant Professor of Management. Systems
analysis and optimization, operations research and production.
Robert A. Strong, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State, 1983), University of Maine Foundation Professor
of Investment Education and Professor of Finance. The dividend growth rate implied
in common stock beta; asset allocation and purchasing power risk; bond portfolio
duration.
Marie-Christine Therrien, Ph.D. (Ecole des Mines de Paris, 1998), Assistant Professor of Management/Canadian
Studies.
Gloria Vollmers, Ph.D. (University of North Texas, 1993), Associate Professor of Accounting
and Associate Dean. History of accounting, ethics in accounting and business,
business history.
Stephanie A. Welcomer, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State, 1997), Associate Professor of Management. Social
and cognitive networks, stakeholder theory, organizations and the natural environment.