College of Business Requirements

Dean: Dr. Donald R. Andrews

Associate Dean and MBA Director: Vacant

Administrative Program Specialist A: Mrs. Jasmine Patterson Banks

Development/Placement Coordinator: Ms. Toni Jackson

Information Technology Specialist: Dr. Baozhu Liu

Administrative Assistant IV: Mrs. Marilyn Doherty

The mission of the College of Business is to provide a quality business program that prepares students with diverse backgrounds for global career challenges and makes a positive contribution to the public and private sectors. The College contributes to the economic development of the state through relationships with small and minority businesses as well as through outreach activities which foster motivation for educational achievement. It supports intellectual growth and encourages scholarly pursuits and participation in professional organizations.

The primary focus of the College of Business has traditionally been, and continues to be, on teaching. In recent years, professional service activities and intellectual contributions have assumed more prominent roles in the College and serve to enhance the instructional programs.

The College is organized into two undergraduate academic units and one graduate unit. The undergraduate academic units include the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, and the Department of Management and Marketing. The graduate unit includes the Master of Business Administration program. In addition, the College has one endowed chair, including the Jack Binion Chair in Business Administration (Supply Chain Management) and 11 endowed professorships as well as the three enhanced James A. Joseph Endowed Professorships.

Undergraduate degree programs are offered in Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing. The College offers the Master of Business Administration degree program as well as the graduate certificate program in Supply Chain Management at the graduate level. All programs in the College of Business are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

Each curriculum offered by the College of Business consists of three educational tiers representing a broadly-based general education, a core education in the basic areas of business knowledge, and a specialized education in a business major. The business curricula have been continuously revised and updated to reflect recent trends in higher education and business to adhere to standards and guidelines set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-COC) and AACSB International.

The College’s academic offerings represent a full complement of courses ranging from introductory to advanced knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. A wide range of electives are also available in each of the business disciplines. Our educational programs emphasize quality instruction and considers the national and international dimensions of business and the development of students’ communication skills.

The baccalaureate degree programs facilitate lifelong learning opportunities to prepare students to compete favorably for global careers, to provide enhanced awareness of entrepreneurial challenges and rewards, and to prepare students for advanced studies in graduate and professional schools.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the College of Business is open to students who have successfully completed the following requirements:

• Attained at least a 2.0 grade point average on a minimum of 30 semester hours of college credit courses which must include
• Freshman Composition, SENL-101B - 102B, 6 hours (a grade of “C” or better);
• College Algebra and Calculus for Business and Social Sciences, SMAT-121B and 203, 6 hours (a grade of “C” or better);
• Computer Science, 3 hours; and
• Natural Sciences, 6 hours

Students transferring should pursue the program for one of the following curricula: Accounting, Finance, Management or Marketing.

Transfer from Other Areas at the University

Transfer credits are acceptable for degree programs to the extent they represent course requirements in the appropriate curriculum.

Transfer from Other Colleges or Universities

Students transferring from other approved colleges or universities must meet the general University requirements and the requirements of students transferring from other areas of the University. The College of Business may decline to accept transfer credits for any course when the grade earned is lower than “C” or for business courses completed at the lower-division level, when the course is offered at the junior or senior level in this college. Transfer credit will be granted for courses taken at an in-state institution based on state transfer and articulation criteria. Transfers from all other institutions will be reviewed on a case by case basis for academic equivalency and will be approved for credit toward the degree program when they are deemed comparable to existing courses offered by the College of Business and when students have earned a grade of “C” or better in the courses.

Student Advisement

Academic advisement is conducted through the department administering the major field. Students are assigned advisors when admitted to the College of Business. They are encouraged to consult with their advisors regarding all relevant aspects of their academic matriculation.

Student Responsibility

Students in the College of Business are responsible for selecting academic programs and adhering to all published regulations and requirements of the college and the University. It is the students’ responsibility to learn these regulations and to satisfy degree requirements. A student’s academic advisor may not assume that responsibility. Students must meet with academic advisors for a final degree checkout during the semester immediately preceding graduation.

Degree Requirements

To earn an undergraduate degree in the College of Business, students must complete an approved program of study of not less than 123 semester hours with a minimum overall 2.00 GPA and 39 credit hours in general education requirements. Students also must have earned a minimum grade of “C” in all courses taken in the College of Business and all courses pursued in the major area. See the departmental listings of required courses in each major.

A student transferring to the College of Business is required to complete at least 50 percent of the total business credit hours, the courses taken to satisfy the major, and the 300- and 400-level courses at Southern University and A&M College. All 300-400 level business courses are restricted to students who have completed 56 semester credit hours of college-level course work. Business students must meet the writing proficiency requirements and the African American Experience requirement of the university and complete the departmental comprehensive exam in their respective major.

General Education Requirements

Students in the College of Business are required to complete the following general education requirements:

English Composition and Literature

Nine credit hours as follows:

• Freshman Composition, SENL-101B (a grade of “C” or better)
• Freshman Composition, SENL-102B (a grade of “C” or better)
• Literature Elective at the 200 level or above. Students are encouraged to complete Introduction to African-American Literature (SENL-204B), which will also satisfy the African-American Experience

Requirement. However, students may take other approved English Literature Elective courses if they have satisfied the African-American Experience requirement with another course.

Natural Sciences

Ten hours of coursework in the biological and physical sciences, with a laboratory experience. At least six hours must be in a two-semester sequence. The College of Business recommends that students take the following courses to fulfill the Natural Science requirement:

• General Biology, SBIO-101B (3 credit hours)
• General Biology, SBIO-102B (3 credit hours)
• Physical Science (Lecture), SPHYS-102B (3 credit hour)

Arts

Three credit hours at the 200 level or above, which may be selected from the following:

• Fine Arts
• Music
• Dance
• Theatre

Humanities

Three credit hours of History at the 200 level or above. Students are encouraged to complete African-American History (HIST-311), which will also satisfy the African-American Experience Requirement. However, students may take other approved History courses if they have satisfied the African-American Experience Requirement with another course.

African-American Experience

Students who were first-time freshmen at any post-secondary institution on or after August 1, 1991, are required to pass a three-credit hour course in African-American studies. This requirement may be satisfied by selecting one of the several courses offered in literature or history (HIST-311 encouraged). See the University General Education Requirements section of this catalog for more detailed information.

Service Learning

Students who were first-time freshmen at any post-secondary institution on or after August 1, 1993, are required to complete a minimum of 60 clock hours of community service as of the requirements for graduation. See the University General Education Requirements section of this catalog for more detailed information.

Mathematics

Six credit hours as follows:

• Pre-Cal. I: College Algebra, SMAT-121B (a grade of “C” or better)
• Calculus for Business and Social Sciences, MATH-203 (a grade of “C” or better)

Other higher-level calculus courses (where the student has earned a grade of “C” or better) may be substituted for MATH-203. Enrollment in advanced mathematics courses is encouraged.

Computer Science

Three credit hours as follows:

• Advanced Techniques Using Spreadsheets, CMPS-291 with a grade of “C” or better.
• Students that have taken CMPS-290, Micro Computer Applications in Business prior to the Fall 2010 semester, will be given credit for meeting the Computer Science requirement.
• Enrollment in additional advanced computer science courses is encouraged.

Social Sciences

Six credit hours in the social sciences at the 200 level. Business students are required to complete three hours in General Psychology, SPSY-201B and three credit hours in social sciences at the 200-level or above from the following disciplines:

• Economics
• Geography
• Political Science
• Sociology

Students in Accounting program must satisfy the three hours of the Social Sciences requirement by completing Principles of Economics I, (Macro), SECO-221B.

Communications (Written and Oral)

Six credit hours in communications as follows:

To satisfy the written communications requirement, students must complete one of the following:

• Technical Writing, ENGL-362 or Advanced Writing, ENGL-401

To satisfy the oral communications requirement, students must complete one of the following:

• Business Communication & Professional Development, BUSP-210 or Techniques of Speech, SPTH-210 or an approved equivalent course

MINORS in the College of Business

Non-Business majors may receive a minor in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing or Supply Chain Management by completing 18 hours. A minor in General Business requires 21 hours. Check with the Office of the Dean in the College of Business or online via the SUBR website for the curriculum for minors.

It is important to note that students majoring in Accounting, Finance, Management, or Marketing are required to take 18 hours of general business education courses, therefore they cannot receive a minor in business management, since by definition they already have completed a minor by majoring in Business.

Correspondence and Online Courses

If correspondence or online courses are taken, the plan of study must be submitted in writing to the appropriate department chairperson for approval prior to enrolling in the class. A maximum of six hours can be approved without special permission from the dean.