The College of Business Administration

Dean: Lawrence L. Schkade, Ph.D.

Suite 107 Business Bldg. • Box 19366 • 817-272-3368 • www.uta.edu/coba

The Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, Master of Business Administration, Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Marketing Research, Master of Science in Personnel and Human Resource Management, and Master of Science in Real Estate at The University of Texas at Arlington are fully accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.

Philosophy

Teaching, research, and community service are the essential activities of the College of Business Administration. All three activities are aimed at enhancing the college's scholarly environment and strengthening relationships with the business community. The emphasis on excellence in the performance of these cornerstone activities enables the college to offer an outstanding business education for students over a broad spectrum of interest, age, and experience.

To be of lasting value, education for business, like education generally, must develop in its students the ability to engage in critical thinking, to project the future, and to relate effectively to others. First-rate business schools are inhabitors of the ever-expanding intellectual frontier of the American business world. Their mission is to seek out and foresee the inevitable changes ahead and, on occasion, even bring them about. They must report findings, not only to students but also to the leaders of business practice. Then they must draw on all relevant knowledge, as well as all the modern processes of thought and analysis, that will help the students to understand, and business leaders to master, the problems of change. The College of Business Administration strives to prepare the student for a lifetime career in professional management, and the heart of that profession is the making of managerial decisions in a world of change.

The college is dedicated to the development of graduates who possess not only the skill and knowledge requisite for success in business, but also the wisdom and understanding which will enable them to become productive citizens. The college's program seeks to provide a firm base of liberal arts education consistent with that of any other professional preparation, to strive for adequate breadth within its own curriculum, and to maintain a continuing, lively interchange with related fields. Effort is exerted to make the study of business a challenging intellectual adventure rather than a mere exercise in specialized techniques.

Computer Literacy and Oral Competency

Students majoring in business administration obtain competencies in computer literacy and oral presentation via required coursework. They are required to take a computer course, BUSA 2303, Introduction to MIS and Data Processing. Students are also required to take an oral communication course, SPCH 1301, Fundamentals of Speech, or SPCH 2305, Business and Professional Communication.

Mission Statement

Consistent with the mission of the University, the College of Business Administration strives to be a recognized contributor in the field of business education and research. It is our mission to build and maintain a quality educational environment, creating value for our constituencies.

Our achievement-focused programs produce quality graduates at all degree levels. These programs respond to changing needs and opportunities, generate and communicate new knowledge and ideas to benefit the scholarly, public and private sectors, and provide a wide range of intellectual and professional services locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Objectives

Our mission will be fulfilled by achieving the following objectives:

•To discover and disseminate knowledge that, through its relevance and rigor, benefits our students, practitioners and other constituencies.

•To continue to develop and provide instructional programs that meet the needs of our students: part-time, full-time, employed and international.

• To maintain a rigorous and effective client-focused environment that capitalizes on our urban setting.

•To continually improve all our academic programs to effectively address the diversified needs of the Metroplex area.

•To further our community interaction by offering off-campus courses, distance education and professional development seminars.

•To enhance the visibility of the college and improve its financial strength through increased external funding.

•To provide advisory services to academic, professional and other organizations.

Programs

To attain these objectives, guidelines have been developed to provide minimum coverage of the basic areas of human knowledge and exposure to the fundamentals in each of the functional areas of business.

There are three major degree programs, each developed within the frame of reference described above. The first is the Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, with subject area concentrations in finance, information systems, management, production/operations management, marketing, real estate, or economics. The B.B.A. (Accounting) degree, while adhering to the basic philosophy outlined, permits a maximum 33 semester hour concentration in accounting. Thus, in addition to acquiring excellent preparation for a management career in industry, a student may also pursue professional objectives leading to a career in private, governmental, or public accounting. The B.B.A. in International Business includes a dual concentration including specific international business coursework and 32 hours of a foreign language. A B.S. degree in information systems is offered for the student planning a professional career in business information systems. A B.S. degree in economics is also offered for the benefit of the student planning a career as a professional economist. The B.A. degree in economics is the traditional liberal arts degree, oriented toward careers in teaching and research, government, or business.

PPIB Program

The Professional Program in Business (PPIB) is designed for students with superior academic credentials and a clear focus on their career aspirations. This program will enable students to meet requirements for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a specially designed five-year format. The entire five-year program can be completed with up to 12 fewer hours than would be required in completion of separate Bachelor's and Master's degrees. With this plan both degrees will be awarded simultaneously. Any combination of undergraduate degrees (BBA, BA, BS) and graduate degrees (MBA, MS, MA) is possible. The number of undergraduate hours that can be waived (substituted) may be influenced by the degree combination chosen.

Prospective students must have a 3.2 overall GPA at UTA and a 3.2 GPA in COBA courses to be considered for participation in this program. Also, students must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of course work at UT Arlington. Students should seek advising about this option and make the decision to enter this program during their junior year. Information about the program and the process for applying is available in the Advising Center.

Business Honors Program

The Business Honors Program (BHP) operates as a part of U.T. Arlington's Honors College. Its primary objective is to establish a cohesive community of exceptionally intelligent and motivated students who will pursue the study of business together in a stimulating learning environment. Participation in the BHP is open to students who maintain a total cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students who complete the program successfully will receive a special citation on their diplomas. The university honors degree requirements are compatible with all College of Business Administration degree programs.

Admission

Business/Accounting/Information Systems/International Business/Foreign Language Degree Programs (B.B.A. and B.S.)

In addition to the general admission requirements of the University as stated elsewhere in this catalog, admission to the Bachelor of Business Administration Program is dependent upon a student's completion of at least eight courses from Group 1 and four courses from Group 2 below. The student must attain a grade point average of at least 2.25 in all courses taken in each group by the time of application for admission to the College of Business Administration. The required math courses or their equivalent must be completed before a student can be considered for admission into a degree program.

Group 1: General Education Courses: ENG 1301 and 1302, three hours of literature, three hours of liberal arts, POLS 2311 and 2312, HIST 1311 and 1312, MATH 1302 or 1315 and 1316, SPCH 1301, eight hours of science with laboratory, and three hours of fine arts/philosophy.

Group 2: Lower Division Business Courses: ACCT 2301 and 2302, ECON 2305 and 2306, BUSA 2301 (or a suitable substitute for specific degree programs), and BUSA 2303.

Economics Degree Programs (B.S. and B.A.)

Economics majors must complete a minimum of eight courses from the Economics general education core and four College of Business Administration courses to be considered for admission into a major. Math must also be completed. The student must meet the business grade point requirements as stated in the preceding paragraphs.

Transfer Students

A transfer student transferring in 30 or more hours will be admitted to any degree program in the College of Business Administration upon earning a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 on a minimum of 12 hours of College of Business Administration courses at U.T. Arlington. Group 1 courses are required for a degree but are not used in determining admission into a major or concentration. The required math courses or their equivalent must be completed before a student can be considered for admission into a degree program.

Requirements for Graduation

In addition to meeting the credit hour and course requirements for a specific College of Business Administration degree program, the student must meet the following requirements:

•A minimum overall grade point average of 2.0;

•A minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all coursework taken from the College of Business Administration; and

•A minimum grade point average of 2.0 for courses taken within the major and concentration area for those majors having a concentration. This requirement also applies to foreign language coursework for International Business degree programs.

•To be considered for any undergraduate business degree, students must complete at least 50 percent of their business coursework in residence.

Liberal Arts Major/Business Administration Minor

Liberal Arts majors planning to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree are advised to select a minor (18-24 semester hours) from the following courses: ACCT 2301, 2302, BUSA 2301, 2303, 3306, 3321, MANA 3319, FINA 3313, MARK 3321, and ECON 2305, 2306. In addition, MATH 1315 and MATH 1316 are recommended to fulfill the mathematics requirement.

Completion of the above courses will allow the student, subject to normal graduate admission requirements, to reduce the foundation MBA program requirements. A student not completing all the courses identified above will be required to enroll in the appropriate MBA foundation courses.

Science Major/Business Administration Minor

Science majors planning to pursue a Master of Business Administration Degree are advised to select a minor (18-24 semester hours) from the following courses: ACCT 2301, 2302, BUSA 2301, 2303, 3306, 3321, MANA 3319, FINA 3313, MARK 3321, and ECON 2305, 2306.