Majors:
Accounting (BSBA), Business Management (BSBA), and Economics (BSBA) 

Minors: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Supervisory Management

MBA: Joint BSBA/MBA and MBA 

Mission 

The mission of the Hasan School of Business is to provide quality undergraduate and graduate business education for a diverse student population. Our educational programs prepare our students to become business leaders by developing an understanding of contemporary business practices, managerial and entrepreneurial skills, and the global economy. Our outreach activities, developed in partnership with the community, serve to enhance the quality of life and economic well-being in southeastern Colorado. 

Undergraduate Majors 

The Hasan School of Business offers undergraduate degrees in accounting, business management (with an emphasis in marketing), and economics (with an emphasis in finance). Graduates will be able to successfully compete for appropriate entry–level positions in private firms, non-profit organizations or government. The accounting major will prepare majors for professional careers in accounting. The knowledge and skills acquired with the major in business management can be used in a number of areas including human resource and operations management. The business management major with a specialization in marketing prepares the graduate to successfully promote and sell goods and services. Economics majors are particularly well prepared to enter graduate programs in business in addition to assuming entry–level positions in business firms, non-profit organizations or government. The economics major with a specialization in finance prepares the graduate for positions in banking, financial analysis, and related financial services industries. 

Note: Students planning to take professional certification exams in any field are encouraged to consult with their faculty advisor to understand any additional requirements. 

The Hasan School of Business has identified ten core competency areas that should be developed in all students: 

· Creative Problem Solving and Innovation: Accurately use theoretical frameworks of problem solving, critical thinking, brainstorming, and other methods to analyze business situations, identify problems and find creative and innovative solutions. Deal effectively with ambiguity and risk. 

· Team Member Skills: Demonstrate the ability to interact effectively with others in group situations involving teamwork, demographic diversity and other interpersonal skills. 

· Communication Skills: Effectively communicate ideas, observations, conclusions and recommendations to others in a variety of professional settings using appropriate written and oral communication skills. 

· Leadership Skills: Demonstrate the ability to influence others in a variety of organizational settings using behaviors and practices which have been identified as effective. 

· Action and Change Orientation: Take the initiative in introducing new practices and procedures which help to improve organizational performance and provide opportunities for growth including innovation and customer value perspectives. 

· Knowledge of Business Disciplines: Demonstrate theoretical and practical understanding of concepts, models and techniques associated with each business discipline. 

· Values, Ethics, and Professionalism: Effectively identify goals and principles of ethical practice; adhere to principles of professional conduct and high standards of quality in all undertakings. 

· Global Awareness: Demonstrate awareness of different beliefs, values and perspectives held in other cultures; make informed judgments and take actions based on this awareness and information. 

· Use of Information Technology: Demonstrate the ability to use technology to access information and to interpret, summarize and convey this information to others using software and equipment. 

· Quantitative Skills: Demonstrate the ability to use mathematical concepts to collect, summarize and convey data, and to research, analyze, draw conclusions and communicate ideas using quantitative methods. 

Moreover, students must demonstrate core business knowledge or skills in:

• economics, quantitative decision making, marketing, financial control and analysis and accounting;
  
• management principles used in strategic and tactical planning, setting and integrating goals and objectives, managing change, and effective operations;
  
• the legal environment of business especially in the areas of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/ Affirmative Action, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA);
  
• the financial, marketing, cultural and operational aspects of global business relations;
  
• the ability to conduct an independent research paper where the project requires the use of the knowledge and skills developed in the required courses of the emphasis area. The paper should demonstrate the student’s ability to: (a) think independently, (b) synthesize ideas, and (c) think and analyze critically;
  
• and the ability to develop a career plan including short-and long-term career goals, a resume and letter of application suitable for sending to prospective employers. 

Undergraduate Minors 

The goal of the business administration minor is to provide students with an understanding of the fundamentals of accounting, economics, finance, and the basics of managing a business and marketing a product or service. 

The goal of the economics minor is designed to provide students with an understanding of micro and macro economic principles, income distribution, and to apply such principles to current economic problems. 

The goal of the marketing minor is to provide students with an understanding of how marketing activities, using a customer focus, can be used to sell products, services and ideas successfully. 

The goal of the minor in supervisory management is to provide a basic understanding of the complexity of managing people in organizations. 

A cumulative GPA of 2.000 is required in the minor courses.

MBA 

The Hasan School of Business also offers a graduate program leading to a master’s degree in business administration. The degree of master of business administration is granted for the completion of a graduate program which 1) includes knowledge of the various functions of the business organization, and 2) synthesizes that knowledge into the practice of management. 

Students are expected to achieve an advanced understanding of the function of the executive and to develop a high degree of competence in transferring that knowledge to the actual work situation. 

See the Graduate Studies section of this catalog for more information.

General Requirements 

All business students take the business foundation. This prepares students who are declaring a business major for general business knowledge and skills. The foundation also provides students with an understanding and appreciation for the intellectual discipline needed for the business program. 

Business Foundation 

* Total is 25 credits since BUSAD 160, ECON 201, and Math 220 are included in General Education. 

An overall GPA of 2.000 and a cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the business foundation courses is required to continue to the Business Fundamentals. In addition, students must have completed 8 of the 12 Business Foundation courses prior to enrolling in Business Fundamentals or business major courses. Students must also complete MATH 220 with a grade of C or better prior to enrolling in Business Fundamentals or business major courses. 

All business students take Business Fundamentals. These courses provide students with the common body of knowledge needed for imaginative and responsible citizenship and leadership roles in business and society, domestic and worldwide. The Business Fundamentals are designed to provide students with the opportunity to integrate their educational experience in business within a specific discipline and across disciplines. 

Business Fundamentals 

Majors and Emphasis Areas 
(specific course requirements are detailed later) 

Select one: 

Graduation Requirements 

Students must satisfy the university general education requirements, general institutional requirements, and have at least 120 total credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.000 to graduate. Non-business courses plus six hours of business statistics plus nine hours of economics and two hours of computing courses must total at least 50 percent of the total hours required for the BSBA degree. 

At least eighteen hours of a major or emphasis must be taken at USC, but this may be waived at the discretion of the department chair or dean. 

A cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major, Business Fundamentals and Business Foundations is required. Accounting majors are required to earn a minimum grade of C in each accounting course. 

Summary of Graduation Requirements: 

Minor Requirements 

Business students who have chosen majors in accounting, business management or economics automatically satisfy the business administration minor. However, students may pursue a second minor outside the Hasan School of Business. 

Course Waiver 

The Hasan School of Business offers a “test out” course waiver for some business core courses, but does not offer credit for life experience. 

Co-curricular Opportunities 

Co-curricular activities are encouraged for all business students. Included are internships, student clubs, and seminar programs. A current list of clubs is available in the Hasan School of Business or on the USC web site. 

Outcomes Assessment Activities 

Student Files 

The Hasan School of Business curriculum offerings are designed to help track each student’s progress at various checkpoints. Files are kept in a central file in the Hasan School of Business, accessible to the administration, the student, the student’s advisor, and the faculty of the school.

In addition, the Hasan School of Business faculty measure achievement annually in each major and area of emphasis by administering (whenever one is available) a nationally standardized test. Results of such measurements are used for program assessment. The Hasan School of Business compiles information to assess the success of graduates. Information is obtained from the USC Alumni Office, the Career Center, and other sources. 

Advising 

Students enter the university as pre-business majors. Upon declaration of a major, students are assigned to a faculty advisor in the Hasan School of Business and are encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor to plan their schedule. Generally, students complete General Education and Business Foundation before their junior year. Students may apply for admission to their major once they have earned 45 credits and completed at least 8 of the 12 courses in the Business Foundations. After completing 105 credits, students must file a graduation plan with the Student Success Coordinator to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. 

ACCOUNTING AREA 

Faculty Chair: Hanks 
Faculty: Regassa, Trippeer, Wheeling 

The major in accounting leads to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Degree. The primary objective is to provide an academic program that covers the conceptual basis of accounting as well as the application of accounting doctrine in current accounting practice. The programs of study are functional in that they provide the broad base of knowledge required by the accounting profession. 

Goals for Accounting Major 

Students must demonstrate the knowledge or skills of: 

· financial accounting and theory and practice, including revenue and expense recognition, valuation approaches, preparation and analysis of financial statements; 

· cost and managerial accounting, including cost accounting, planning, evaluation, allocation, and budgeting processes; 

Requirements for the Accounting Major: 

*Electives may be selected from the 400-level accounting courses and BUSAD 480. MGMT 368 may also be used as an elective; however, students taking MGMT 368 must also take ACCTG 430. 

Requirements for the Minor in Accounting (non-business students) 

A GPA of 2.000 or higher is required for the minor courses. 

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 

Faculty Chair: Hanks 
Faculty: Ahmadian, Billington, Browne, Castillo, Damron-Martinez, Eisenbeis, Hanks, Shah, Wakefield, Watkins, Zeis 

The major in business management leads to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Degree, and provides students with the theoretical and conceptual basis of business as well as application skills to assume leadership roles in industry, government and education. 

The undergraduate business management major permits students to select one emphasis as a specialty area. The knowledge and skills acquired with the major in business management can be used in a number of areas including human resource and operations management. 

The business management major with a specialization in marketing prepares the graduate to successfully promote and sell goods and services. 

Goals for Business Management Major 

Students must demonstrate core business knowledge or skills in: 

· organization concepts including various design arrangements; 

· human resource management to include effective practices of recruitment, training and development, appraisal, compensation, and motivation; and 

· interpersonal relationships and effective small group project management. 

Students must also demonstrate knowledge or skills that are specific to their selected emphasis area (marketing or management) and; 

· understand and use appropriate emphasis area terminology, principles, and concepts; 

· use the scientific problem-solving method; analyze critical case situations specific to the emphasis area; provide reasonable recommendations and support recommendations adequately; apply relevant emphasis area theories, concepts, and techniques; and integrate the primary functional disciplines of business; and 

· understand the role or the appropriate emphasis area in corporate policy and strategy development. 

Business Administration Major 

Requirements for Business Management Major 

Requirements for Business Management Major with Marketing Emphasis 

Business Administration Minors 

Note: Business minors are open to

non-business majors only. 

Requirements for Business Administration Minor 

Requirements for Marketing Minor 

Requirements for Supervisory Management Minor 

ECONOMICS AREA 

Faculty Chair: Hanks 
Faculty: Dhatt, Duncan, Fuller, Goodman, Whited 

The major in economics leads to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Degree and provides students with the theoretical and conceptual basis of economics. Economics majors are particularly well prepared to enter graduate programs in business in addition to assuming entry-level positions in business firms, non-profit organizations or government. The economics major with a specialization in finance prepares the graduate for positions in banking, financial analysis, and related financial services industries. 

Goals for Economics Major 

Students majoring in economics or economics with the finance emphasis must demonstrate that they: 

• understand microeconomic theories of production and consumption, including strategic behavior and decision making under uncertain conditions; and 
• understand macroeconomic models including classical, Keynesian, monetarist, new classical and new Keynesian systems, including applications of monetary and fiscal policies in the different models. 

Students majoring in economics must also demonstrate that they: 

• understand the specific theories studied in their elective courses, which may include money and banking, international economics, public finance, regional economic analysis and labor economics. Students majoring in economics with the finance emphasis must also demonstrate that they: 
• understand the specific theories studied in their required courses: managerial finance, investment analysis, financial institutions and markets, and financial policy analysis. 

Requirements for Economics Major 

Requirements for Economics Major with Finance Emphasis 

Requirements for Economics Minor 

JOINT BSBA/MBA 

Admission Requirements 

Students are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). An admission formula of 200 times the undergraduate GPA (4.000 system) plus the GMAT score is used as an admission score. The undergraduate GPA must be based on a minimum of 90 semester hours of course work including MGMT 201, FIN 330, and MKTG 340. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 and a GMAT of at least 450 to be admitted to the program. Students who fail to meet these requirements may provide additional evidence of their ability to complete the program. Such evidence may include: performance in outside activities, evidence of creativity or leadership, and a record of accomplishment. 

General Requirements 

Students in the joint BSBA/MBA program must complete: 

• the Business Foundation 
• a major within the Hasan School of Business 
• the joint degree core 
• all remaining specified MBA courses 

In addition, students must satisfy all GPA requirements for the BSBA and the MBA (see the MBA listing under the Graduate Programs section of the catalog). 

Joint Degree Core 

In addition, the following MBA courses must be completed: 

In summary, the joint degree plan has the following requirements: 

Students who complete part of the joint degree plan but decide to opt out of the MBA program and continue towards earning only the BSBA are granted credit towards the BSBA for 500-level courses taken as follows: 

500-Level                     300- and 400-Level 
Course Taken               Course Credit