Proficiencies

To be a successful graduate business student, the College of Business (CoB) requires students have certain professional skills, including knowledge of Excel, the ability to write, and quantitative/statistical skills. Upon admission, students need to provide evidence of proficiency in each of these areas. The following information provides how to prove your proficiency via test scores or class grades. If you cannot demonstrate your proficiency in these important skills through the items listed, recommendations for acquiring the proficiencies are included in each section.

You will need to demonstrate your proficiency prior to, or during, the application process, before enrolling in Core and Professional courses. Contact an adviser with additional questions.

Products that can provide you further assistance in practicing skills can be found at the MBA Store.

Required Skills

Writing in English

Writing in English proficiency can be demonstrated by:

• GMAT verbal score in the 30th percentile or higher AND
• GMAT analytical essay score of 4 or higher OR
• Completion of 6400:655 with a grade of B or better or a recommendation from a professor of 6200:601; 6400:602; or 3250: 601 that indicates the student’s English writing skills are proficient.
  

Recommendations to acquire proficiency:

• Students may enroll in 3300:111 English Composition I, 3300:112 English Composition II, 2020-120 Writing and Editing, 2020-222 Technical Report Writing a grade of B or better will demonstrate English writing proficiency. Student may take a comparable course at another accredited university.
• Successful completion of an approved Excel course will demonstrate software skills.

Quantitative Skills

Quantitative Skills Proficiency will be demonstrated by:

• GMAT quantitative score in the 30th percentile or higher OR
• Completion of relevant coursework with grades of B or higher OR
• Completion of Core courses: 6200:601; 6400: 602; or 3250:601 with grade of B or better

Recommendations to acquire proficiency:

• Enroll in 3450:145 College Algebra, 3450:149 Precalculus Math, 3450:210 Calculus with Business Applications, or comparable course at an accredited university.
• Successful completion of one of these courses will demonstrate quantitative skills proficiency.
  

Statistical Skills

Statistical Skills Proficiency will be demonstrated by:

• Completion of relevant academic coursework with grades of B or higher.

Recommendations to acquire proficiency:

• Enroll in: 6500:300 Business Statistics; 3470:250 Statistics for Everyday Life; 3470:250 Basic Statistics; 3470:261 Intro Statistics I, or comparable course at an accredited university.
• Successful completion of one of these courses will demonstrate quantitative skills proficiency.

Excel Skills

Excel Skills Proficiency will be demonstrated by:

• Completion of relevant academic coursework (6200:250 and 6500:305) with grades of B or higher OR
• Proficiency petition approved (now until CoB Excel proficiency test implemented). Approval of petition will require student to provide a written summary of their Excel experience and skills. The petition will also include a self-assessment report.

Excel Proficiency Self-Assessment

• You can provide information through rating yourself on various aspects of Excel, which may be used to show your proficiency. Complete the Excel Self- Proficiency Assessment electronically or in hard copy and submit it to the Graduate Programs Office, CoB 412, or gradbusiness@uakron.edu for approval.
  

Recommendations to acquire proficiency:

• Enroll in an Excel course offered at Summit College: 2420:270 Business Software Applications (see instructor for prerequisite waiver) or comparable course at another academic institution.
• Self-instruction via online and print resources:
• Successful completion of an approved Excel course will demonstrate software skills.