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> MSU Undergraduate Catalog
College of Business
Richard Semenik, Ph.D., Dean
Bruce Raymond, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Administration and Finance
Susan Dana, Ph.D., Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and
Founding Director, The Bracken Center for Excellence in
Undergraduate Business Education
Christine Lamb, Ed.D., Assistant Dean
Undergraduate Programs Available:
General Information:
The College of Business at Montana State University has established an innovative, nationally recognized curriculum and assembled an extraordinary faculty to create a unique learning environment for students. Distinctive characteristics include an interactive, personalized learning environment characterized by small class sizes and the exclusive use of a highly qualified regular faculty in the classroom. Each student is assigned to a faculty mentor in the major interest area for advising support.
The College's commitment to student-centered learning is articulated in the following vision and mission statements.
Vision Statement: The College of Business at Montana State University will provide a locally revered and nationally recognized business education for undergraduate students and in selected areas of graduate study. The programs of study will be distinguished by the personalized attention accorded to students, a diverse and contemporary curriculum, and the dedication of the faculty to creating an extraordinary classroom environment and facilitating career opportunities for students.
Mission Statement:The mission of the College of Business is to provide excellence in undergraduate and select graduate business education.
To accomplish this, the College:
- Fosters an integrated and experimential learning environment
- Encourages critical thinking, effective communication, life-long learning, ethical
decision-making, and social responsibility.
The College is committed to the teacher-scholar model in which faculty members are simultaneously engaged in the creation and dissemination of knowledge. In keeping with the University's land-grant mission, the College provides service and outreach to a variety of stakeholders.
The College is fully accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premium accrediting association for business programs. AACSB has awarded its mark of distinction to only fifteen percent of all business programs in the nation. This status brands the College as a preferred source of recruitment in the minds of employers and graduate school admissions officers who evaluate our graduates.
The College grants the degree, Bachelor of Science in Business with specialty options in Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing. These options are complemented by a comprehensive University Core - courses chosen from categories such as fine arts and humanities, natural sciences, quantitative reasoning, social sciences, and diversity issues. This program assures a well-rounded education which, when coupled with the excellent professional education from the College of Business, is powerful preparation for a successful career.
The business curriculum consists of four parts:
- the University Core providing a well-rounded educational preparation;
- the College Pre-Core (freshman and sophomore years) developing knowledge and skills in the fundamental areas of mathematics; statistics, economics, technology, communication, expository composition, and accounting;
- the College Core (junior and senior years) establishing the basis for business education in management, marketing, finance, production and operations management, law, information systems, and strategy and policy;
- the Options enhancing the depth of understanding in one area of business: accounting, finance, management, or marketing.
All business students complete the first three parts of the curriculum; hence the majority of coursework is common to all. Several core learning themes drive the curriculum and are assessed. Students have the opportunity at all levels of their education to apply state-of-the-art techniques and technology to the comprehension, analysis, and development of solutions to real business problems. Written and oral communication skills are emphasized in concert throughout the curriculum as tools for development of techniques for problem-solving and critical analysis in order to prepare students for successful careers as business professionals. The development of skills for life-long learning, for the consideration of ethical issues, and for the awareness of social responsibility in business undertakings is stressed.
Every classroom in Reid Hall is internet-ready, highlighted by eight classrooms equipped with permanent smart-podium technology and augmented by portable "smart" carts available to serve the entire building through wireless broadcast. Student access to computers outside of the classroom is facilitated through five student computer laboratories in Reid Hall as well as by the presence of several labs situated around campus. University residence halls house convenient computer centers for student use and provide "ResNet" connectivity in living quarters for students' personal equipment.
The commitment to undergraduate student success is embodied in The Gary K. Bracken Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Business Education. The Bracken Center focuses on the expansion of opportunities for internships and business professionalization for students, on the enhancement of faculty development initiatives which facilitate excellence in pedagogy, and on the provision of resources for the maintenance of a contemporary curriculum.
State-of-the-art technology in several dedicated rooms directly support student learning. Students are able to rehearse presentations, conduct group meetings, use specialized business databases, and work with persons from industry to assess and enhance their job skills. Cutting-edge display technology broadcasts the latest business news including real-time stock ticker reports and is central for the dissemination of important announcements, deadlines, and college news.
In cooperation with our industry partners and with the MSU Office of Career Services, The Bracken Center provides career mentoring services and counseling, access to corporate recruitment, and skill building opportunities.
Through the Bracken Business Communication Center, students can receive one-on-one assistance with written and oral communication issues.
The College sponsors excellent educational opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.
The innovative First Year Seminar introduces broad business concepts and philosophies while urging introspection and subsequent discussion of ethics, environment, competitiveness, and other relevant business issues.
The Center for Entrepreneurship for the New West (affiliated with the nationally ranked Alderson Program in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management) provides students the opportunity to work side by side with entrepreneurs who are building their businesses and with MSU scientists who are exploring the commercialization potential of their scientific research. The Center is located in the TechRanch Venture Incubator adjacent to the main campus.
Many business students choose to enhance their educational perspectives by participating in elective offerings in the College of Business and in non-business programs. Within the College of Business, minor study is available in accounting, entrepreneurship and small business management (ranked "Top 10" in the nation by Entrepreneur magazine of programs with "entrepreneurial emphasis"), management of information technology, and international business. (Please refer to the Business Minors section). Students may also apply for participation in the Montana State University Honors Program.
Through the David B. Orser Executive Scholar Program, prominent business executives are invited to campus to mentor, advise, and teach first-year and advanced students. Rubbing shoulders with successful business professionals affords students the unique opportunity to gain "real-world" insight into business procedures, processes of problem-solving and decision-making, and collaborative investigation using case-study derived from contemporary business activity.
Participation in internships and in the Management Practicum earns academic credit for upper-division students who apply course material to a practical work environment. These opportunities provide career-related on-the-job training and unparalleled educational enlightenment.
Clubs and associations at the College broaden opportunities for professional development, leadership, social and cultural exchange, and practical application of theoretical concepts. Projects, research, guest speakers, special forums, and field trips round out the educational experience to be accrued from extracurricular participation. Students can join seven special-interest clubs in the College.
National and international exchanges offer students a chance to study at universities across the United States and around the world. In addition to many international exchanges available through MSU's Office of International Programs, the College of Business offers direct exchanges with colleges of business in a variety of countries including Ireland, France, Mexico, and Sweden. The College offers a highly competitive summer internship in Tokyo, Japan and short-term coursework experience in Lithuania.
| | Fall | | Spring |
|
| Freshman Year | CS 150 | |
Math 170 |
| Bus 101 |
|
Econ 102 |
|
| Sophomore Year | Stat 216 | --> | Stat 217 or Mgmt 231 |
| Bus 201 | | Econ 201 |
| Mgmt, & Mktg Options - | Bus 221 | --> | Bus 222 |
| Acct & Fin Options - | Bus
221 | --> | Acct 223 |
|
| Junior Year | Bus 301 | | |
| Bus 302 |
or |
Bus 302 |
| |
Bus 311 |
--> | Bus 331 |
| See Option | Bus 341 |
or | Bus 341 |
| Table For | Bus 351 | or | Bus 351 |
| Preferred Order | Bus 361 | | |
|
| Senior Year | | |
Bus 474 |
|
The College's Office of Student Services coordinates student's record keeping and course-selection advising. Each student is also assigned a faculty mentor to work with the student in selecting elective courses, minors, or to answer career-related questions.
University undergraduate programs in business administration normally concentrate professional business courses in the last two years of a four-year program. The objective is to allow students the opportunity to build a foundation of work in the arts, sciences, and humanities prior to beginning professional course work. As a result of this approach and because of the standards and requirements of AACSB - International, it would be best for students planning to transfer into the College from another university to do so no later than the end of their sophomore year.
Students taking their first two years of work at a junior college or at another four year institution should take only those business courses that are offered at the freshman or sophomore level at Montana State University. Lower-division business courses may not be used to satisfy upper-division course requirements of the College of Business.
If at all possible, students should complete courses which will transfer to Montana State University as the equivalent of our College Pre-Core.
All students transferring to the College of Business must meet the College of Business residency requirement. Students are required to complete at least the following 25 credits in residence at MSU.
For additional guidance on transferring to Montana State University, see the Admissions section of this catalog and contact the Office of Student Services, College of Business at business@montana.edu
| Minimum of 9 credits of upper division required option courses |
|
|
9 |
Plus a minimum of 12 credits of upper division required BUS and/or
option courses |
|
|
12 |
| BUS 474, Senior Seminar |
|
|
4 |
| Total |
|
|
25 |
All business majors must be formally admitted to the College of Business in order to be eligible for enrollment in upper-division option courses and BUS 474, Senior Seminar.
The performance criteria for formal admission to the College of Business are as follows:
* Junior Standing (completion of 60 semester credits)
* Completion of all Business Pre-Core Courses with no grade less than a C-
* Score of at least 3 on the ACT Workkeys Written Exam
* Minimum 3.00 cumulative MSU GPA for Priority Admission
Admission to the College of Business is competitive, and the number of students admitted each term is limited by the instructional, classroom and resource constraints of the College. To be considered for admission, students must submit a completed admission application prior to the application deadline below. Students who meet all performance criteria and have a 3.00 or higher cumulative MSU GPA will be given priority admission. Applications from transfer students and students with cumulative grade point averages less than 3.00 will be considered on a case-by-case basis with preference based on academic performance. Applications from students with a cumulative grade point average less than 2.50 will not be considered.
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, a student must earn a C- or better in all required business courses.
Applications for formal admission to the CoB will be considered twice a year. The application deadlines for admission are as follows:
Admission for Fall/Summer Term
On or before May 1st
Admission for Spring Term
On or before December 1st
Applications are available in the College of Business Student Services Office, 338 Reid Hall. Notification of admission decisions will be made via e-mail.
The Montana Board of Regents has established a common policy on minimum course grades across all campuses in the System. This new policy affects only students who enter or are readmitted to the system starting in Fall 2005. According to the policy, a grade of C- or better is required to satisfy requirements for pre-requisite and required courses in majors, minors, and certificate programs and for all core requirements. Further, a grade of C-or better is required in all courses that will be counted toward the 42 upper-division credits required in all degrees. Courses with a passing grade of D-, D, or D+ may only be counted toward the overall 120 credit requirement. This policy creates a minimum requirement, which may be superseded by more stringent requirements within specific majors. Any such requirements are explained within the descriptions of those curricula.
The following courses are recommended for non-business undergraduate students who are considering graduate study in business. These courses provide the "common body of knowledge" required for most MBA programs. Completion of these courses can reduce the time required to obtain an MBA, but students should correspond with the Graduate Admissions Officer at their intended graduate school to confirm the acceptability of these courses prior to enrolling in them.
The College of Business offers the Master of Public Accountancy degree. This highly reputed program (consistently ranked "Top 10" in the nation by NASBA for first-time CPA exam pass rate) should be considered by students who are interested in pursuing CPA certification or advanced financial positions. Information about this program can be found in the College of Graduate Studies section of the catalog.
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