Iona College’s Hagan School of Business offers a wide range of graduate degrees for students who come straight out of college, professionals looking to climb the corporate ladder, and those looking to change careers completely. The school’s MBA program offers students a choice of eight different majors including General Accounting, Financial Management, and Healthcare Management. Students can also opt to pursue an MS degree in subjects such as Finance and Public Accounting. The latter is especially popular in Westchester, says Iona’s Director of Graduate Admissions Veronica Jarek-Prinz, who notes that many Iona grad students want to be CPAs, but have not perviously studied accounding.
Another trend within the Hagan School of Business is the need for flexibility; many of its graduate students want to work full-time while earning their advanced degrees. Classes are held in the evenings, and students who can’t make it to the classroom can “attend” online. A key advantage to that format, says Jarek-Prinz, is that students can utilize their new skills immediately. “Employers like the fact that their employees—our students—develop skills in our classrooms in the evenings that they can bring to the workplace the next day.”
Iona also prides itself on ensuring each student is taking the appropriate course-load for his or her career aspirations. As Vincent J. Calluzzo, PhD, dean of the Hagan School of Business, says, “We think our personalized approach to advising really sets us apart. Our students know from day one which courses they’ll take in which terms, and how quickly they will finish their degrees. And they also know that—should their circumstances or needs change—they can meet with someone to change that plan, often without losing any time toward their degree.”
