Simon Business School

A Message From Andrew Ainslie, Dean, Simon Business School

"At Simon Business School, we offer an education that will attract students who value our analytic bias. This is a school that moves beyond management as usual and uses the power of data to drive smart decisions. We provide the skills you need to solve complex business issues in a range of environments with a challenging, rigorous education, and with support, coaching, and personalized attention. We believe strongly in the value of economics and statistics in the analysis of all business problems, and it is reflected in our ranking as a top five school for economics and finance." --Andrew Ainslie, Dean

Programs and Curricular Focus

Simon Business School offers full- and part-time MBA and MS programs designed to prepare students for career success. The curriculum emphasizes learning the principles of economics and effective decision-making through a mix of lecture, case study, and project courses. The Full-Time MBA program requires 67 hours (20 courses) and can be completed in six quarters of full-time study. Nine core courses are required in the underlying disciplines of economics, accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, organization theory, and management and information systems. In addition, a two-course sequence teaches students to frame, analyze, and communicate (FACt©) solutions to unstructured business problems. A course in business communications is also required of all full-time students. Eleven elective courses are required. Students select their electives to develop expertise in one or several concentrations. The 11 concentrations offered are: - Business Systems Consulting - Competitive and Organizational Strategy, including tracks in Strategy and Organizations and Pricing - Computers and Information Systems - Corporate Accounting - Entrepreneurship - Finance - Health Sciences Management - International Management - Marketing, including tracks in Marketing Strategy, Pricing, and Brand Management - Operations Management - Public Accounting Simon also offers full- and part-time MS programs in specialized areas of study including Finance, Accountancy, and Health Care Management, as well as a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Medical Management. Simon's Full-Time MS programs generally require only one year of dedicated study, allowing students to finish their degrees and return to the workplace at a faster pace. In addition, there are part-time MS programs aimed at working professionals in New York City. The School offers MS in Financeand MS in Health Care Management programs at a convenient Manhattan location. Weekend courses and residency weeks in Rochester, NY, allow students to immerse themselves in the Simon experience while continuing to balance their careers and personal obligations. Simon's other options for busy working professionals include an Professional MBA (PMBA) and Executive MBA programs in Rochester, NY. Joint-degree programs include the MD/MBA with the University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry, and the Technical Entrepreneurship and Management (TEAM) program with the University's Hajim School of Engineering and Center for Entrepreneurship.

Simon is the only business school in the US to offer a STEM-designated MBA option regardless of a student’s specialization. The STEM designation indicates that an academic program meets stringent criteria that ensure the curriculum is based in STEM-related concepts and that graduates are prepared to successfully use data to manage and make decisions throughout their careers. Students can specialize in any of Simon’s 11 concentrations and receive a STEM MBA in that area of focus.

Students and the MBA Experience

Simon students enter the program with a wide range of educational, professional, and geographic backgrounds. Undergraduate majors typically include economics, humanities, social sciences, business and commerce, engineering, math, and science. Prior full-time work experience averages 5.5 years and the average age is 28.

Global Focus

The Simon experience reflects a global reality. Students are thoroughly prepared to be effective professionals in a more diverse world. Like the larger global economy, there is a unique mixture of talents, personalities, and cultural backgrounds at Simon. Of the leading US business schools, Simon is one of the most diverse. Students from all over the world choose to join Simon Business School, year after year--bringing with them a variety of perspectives, personal, and professional backgrounds. The School's close-knit community and collaborative atmosphere allows each student to benefit from the diverse makeup of the student body. A Simon education combines rigorous business preparation with cross-cultural training and lifelong professional contact with an international alumni network. International exchange programs are offered with schools in 11 countries, each approved by a faculty committee for compatibility with Simon Full-Time MBA program objectives. Interested Full-Time MBA students may pursue study abroad during one quarter of their second year of study. The School also offers a Global Management Option that allows Executive MBA students to experience global markets in Switzerland and China.

Special Features

During the one-week Orientation Program, students participate in self-assessment exercises, personal selling and communication skills instruction, corporate leadership training, and one-on-one career counseling. The goals of the orientation include acclimating students to campus life, assessing and building on specific skills, and introducing the valuable programs of the Career Management Center. Students also participate in several modules designed to enhance leadership skills in the areas of team building, training in diversity issues, ethical decision-making, and social responsibility. In addition, Simon's comprehensive career management services begin on day one, with self assessments, workshops, webinars, and one-on-one advisement from a team of career experts dedicated to helping students maximize their professional opportunities. The Simon Edge, a professional skill-building and competency development program is another component of the MBA experience. It augments the technical skills Simon students acquire in the classroom with a high-impact training series developed to focus on key competencies today's employers demand in graduate business students including: communication, teambuilding, and leadership skills; global awareness; and integrity.

The Faculty

Simon professors are considered to be among the finest in the world. The most-cited business article of all time, "The Theory of the Firm," is attributed to Simon faculty members. There is a long tradition at Simon of coordinating teaching and research as well as integrating knowledge from all of the functional areas into the curriculum. Many research findings produced and taught by faculty members serve as foundations for corporate practices in use today. Many faculty members are editors on major academic journals, including "Journal of Financial Economics," "Journal of Monetary Economics," and "Journal of Accounting and Economics," and "Journal of Applied Corporate Finance," all of which are published at Simon Business School.

The Business School Network: Corporate Partnerships

Simon is known for its accomplished network of industry leaders, distinguished faculty, and successful alumni. The Frederick Kalmbach Executive Seminar Series features senior corporate executives who lecture monthly on current issues in management. Each year, speakers include members or professional associates of Simon's internationally prominent Executive Advisory Committee. Simon students organize and participate in annual marketing and consulting case competitions--working directly with worldwide corporations such as Xerox, Sprint, AT Kearney, Mercer, Wegmans, Procter & Gamble, and Constellation Brands in project courses offered as part of the academic curriculum.

Prominent Alumni

-The long list of successful Simon alumni includes: -Mark Ain, Chairman, Kronos, Inc -Jay Benet, Vice Chairman and CFO, The Travelers Companies, Inc -Jack Davies, Founder, AOL International -Maria Fregosi, Chief Capital Markets Officer, Hamilton Funding, Inc -Mark Grier, Vice Chairman of Financial Management, Prudential Insurance -Pramit Jhaveri, CEO of Citi India, Citibank - Evans Lam, Senior Vice President of Investments and Senior Portfolio Manager, UBS Financial Services -Louise McDonald, President, Herman Miller -Sandeep Pahwa, Vice Chairman and Head of Investment Banking SE Asia and Country CEO of Indonesia and Malaysia, Barclays Capital -Doug Petno, CEO of Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co. -Mike Ryan, Chief Investment Strategist, Americas at UBS -Amy Tait, Chairperson & CEO, Broadstone Realty LLC -Kathy Waller, Vice President and Controller, The Coca-Cola Company

Career Management Center

The Career Management Center (CMC) offers one-on-one career counseling, targeted education, and the development of a personalized job-search strategy to assist students with securing meaningful internships and full-time opportunities. The CMC offers comprehensive professional services including: School-organized trips to help connect students with companies and recruiters, résumé development, mock interviews, and individualized career counseling. The Simon approach integrates self-assessments, communication workshops, webinars, and networking events to help connect students to the right opportunities. Career specialists also maintain strong relationships with employers who understand and appreciate the value of a world-class education. Dedicated professionals cover each of the following core job functions that target graduate students: - Analytics - Brand Management - Consulting - Energy - Entrepreneurship - Finance and Accounting - Health Care - Marketing Analytics - Market Research - Marketing/Pricing - Operations - Technology The Career Management team works diligently to develop opportunities within each sector and promote them to the right students. Last year was an outstanding year for Simon MBA career placement; 100 percent of the Class of 2016 obtained an internship. In addition, 96 percent of those seeking full-time employment in the MBA Class of 2015 obtained a position within three months of graduation. The average overall compensation package (salary plus bonus) rose to $112,500 from the previous year. Simon MBA talent have been hired by top companies including: Amazon, Accenture, Bain & Company, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Dell, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson, PWC, and UBS.

The College and Environs

Simon Business School is part of the University of Rochester, a leading research university offering graduate study in approximately 50 fields, with a combined enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students totaling more than 10,000. Situated near Lake Ontario, Rochester is New York State's third-largest city. It has a rich history of philanthropy, corporate development, and technological innovation. Once known as "the city that George Eastman built," these days Rochester is better known for exciting startup opportunities that have sprung from the industry giants that got their start here. With cultural events like the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival and the world-famous Lilac Festival, it is no wonder why Rochester was named one of the top 10 most livable cities in America. Outdoor activities are a way of life in Rochester. Whether it is summer boating on Lake Ontario, biking along the scenic Genesee River, or enjoying the snow in one of the many surrounding ski centers, Rochesterians know how to make the most of their natural surroundings. Nearby Letchworth State Park has been named "USA Today" Readers Choice Best State Park for 2015 As New York State's third-largest city, there are metropolitan offerings like coffee shops, boutique restaurants, bookstores, movie theaters, and museums. For music lovers, the city is home to a surprising number of concert venues, from grand theaters to a thriving club scene. Rochester is also home to the nationally acclaimed University of Rochester Eastman School of Music and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.