2015-2016 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Business, BS
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The student bears responsibility for the fulfillment of degree requirements.
General Requirements
Total Credits
A minimum of 120 semester hours of academic credit required.
Residency
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science (Business) must complete a minimum of 30 credits of business course work (to include the 18 - 24 credit hours in the area of emphasis and BGSO 4000 & STRT 4500) after the student has been accepted into the College of Business and Administration.
Upper Division
A minimum of 45 credits must be upper-division (3000 or 4000-level) course work.
Community College Transfer Hours
A maximum of 60 credit hours of appropriate academic credit taken at a junior or community college may be applied toward the undergraduate degree in business. The College reserves the right to disallow any credit that is not appropriate academic degree credit.
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Model Degree Program for Business BS
The following four-year plan lists all the specific course requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Business degree for the academic year of this catalog. Equivalent courses taken at other institutions prior to admission to this degree program may satisfy some requirements, subject to College of Business and Administration policies regarding the transfer of academic credit. The order in which these courses are taken may vary with course availability; however, normal degree progress requires that students complete the degree in a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior sequence in order to complete prerequisites as required. Course prerequisites and class standing requirements are strictly enforced by the College of Business and Administration. Freshman Year First Semester
Freshman Year Second Semester
Sophomore Year First Semester
Sophomore Year Second Semester
Junior Year First Semester
Junior Year Second Semester
Senior Year First Semester
Senior Year Second Semester
- STRT 4500 - Strategic Management
- Business Area of Emphasis course - 3 credits
- Business Area of Emphasis course - 3 credits
- Upper division business course - 3 credits
- Open Elective - 1 credit
Model Degree Program Notes
- SAT/ACT scores will be used for placement into English courses. Students must take the university’s Math Placement Exam for placement into Math courses.
- Admission to the College of Business is required for all courses beyond the first semester sophomore year (except MKTG 3000 and MGMT 3300).
- Writing Portfolio - All students must complete the University Composition Competency requirement prior to graduation. After completing both ENGL 1310 and ENGL 2080, students must submit a Writing Portfolio or enroll in an additional approved upper division writing course.
- Prerequisites and class standing are strictly enforced for all business courses.
Undergraduate Curriculum Notes
Skills Courses
Skills courses are completed in the freshman and sophomore years and provide students with a foundational knowledge of business skills and competencies. Skills courses must be completed with a C- or better and are the following courses: ACCT 2010, ACCT 2020, ECON 1010, ECON 2020, ENGL 1310, MATH 1040, MATH 1120, MGMT 3000, QUAN 2010, and QUAN 2020. (See course descriptions by clicking on the hyperlinks in the model degree program.)
General Education Courses and Open Electives
The business degree requires 27-30 hours of general education courses (explore) and open electives. These credits provide a means to take courses geared toward expanding the breadth of students’ education. These courses should be chosen carefully based upon the student’s interests and objectives.
Business Courses
Nine hours of business courses are required beyond the core curriculum. These business courses can be used for a second area of emphasis, a business minor, or to explore business topics other than those required in the students’ area of emphasis. Students may also elect to utilize these business courses for minors offered through the Letters, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and/or Nursing Colleges (a maximum of 14 hours upper division Military Science/ROTC credit can be applied to the business degree if the student completes the Military Science minor if the student has an applicable history course). The Professional Program
The professional program consists of the junior core courses, the area of emphasis and the senior capstone courses. The professional program begins in the junior year and allows students to begin focused study in their chosen discipline. Business students must declare an Area of Emphasis (major) and must follow the sequence of courses listed in the Model Degree Plan for their catalog year of acceptance. Area of Emphasis
An area of emphasis requires 18 -24 hours of specific course work. Business students will select one of the following Professional Program Areas of Interest: Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources Management, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, Service Management or Sport Management*, (*this program has unique degree requirements, please see the following Emphasis sections for more details).
Senior Capstone Courses
Registration in STRT 4500 is restricted to business seniors only; ENGL 2080, all skills courses, and junior core courses must be completed prior to registration in STRT 4500. Registration in BGSO 4000 is restricted to second semester juniors.
Professional Program Areas of Emphasis
Each candidate for the Bachelor of Science-Business degree in the Professional Program must complete the prescribed courses in an area of emphasis comprising a minimum of 18 - 24 semester hours taken at UCCS.
To earn a professional area of emphasis, a grade point average of 2.5 is required for the area of emphasis courses, with no grade below a C-; a 2.5 cumulative GPA is required for all business courses; and a 2.0 GPA is required overall. Students who graduate with area of emphasis and/or business grade point averages from 2.0 to 2.49 will not earn an area of emphasis.
By completing extra courses, a student can earn a second area of emphasis. In order to earn a double area of emphasis, a student must fulfill all the requirements for both areas. If there are not at least 15 hours of unique courses in the areas, then the student cannot earn a double area of emphasis.
Accounting
Students who earn a degree in accounting are prepared for careers in financial accounting, managerial accounting, accounting systems, taxation, and auditing. The emphasis is designed to prepare students to work in public accounting, business and industry, and not-for-profit and governmental organizations.
Course work in accounting at UCCS conveys a comprehensive understanding of the theory and concepts that underlie practice. Emphasis is placed on logical reasoning and critical thinking to enable students to solve problems in accounting and to make sound policy decisions in the context of social, legal, and political environments.
The undergraduate area of emphasis in accounting consists of a minimum of 18 semester hours in upper division accounting courses. All accounting majors are required to complete the following five courses:
Students must complete one additional upper division accounting course. Choose from the following list of courses:
Accounting Notes:
Accounting students should work closely with accounting faculty, their advisors, and the undergraduate program director in planning a degree program that is congruent with their career goals.
Until July 1, 2015 students applying for licensure as CPAs in the State of Colorado must hold a bachelor’s degree and have completed a total of at least 120 semester hours, including a minimum of 27 semester hours in accounting, three of which must be in auditing. These total hours must also include 21 semester hours in other areas of business administration such as business law, management, marketing, statistics, business communications, economics, and finance. No more than six semester hours in any single area may be used to satisfy this 21 hour requirement.
Until July 1, 2015 in Colorado, individuals may be licensed as CPAs without professional apprentice experience if they have 30 semester hours of course work beyond the credits applied for the bachelor’s degree and 45 hours of accounting courses in their combined undergraduate and graduate studies. This option will not be available after July 1, 2015.
As of July 1, 2015, students applying for licensure as CPAs in the State of Colorado must hold a bachelor’s degree and have completed a total of at least 150 semester hours, including 27 hours of upper-division accounting. Six of these accounting semester hours must be in auditing and three of these accounting semester hours must be in accounting ethics. These total hours must also include at least 27 semester hours in upper-division business courses, of which three semester hours must be in business, technical, or accounting communications. No more than nine semester hours in any single area may be used to satisfy this requirement.
The above rules/policies are state guidelines that are subject to change.
Students should understand the requirements for sitting for the CPA and for the CPA licensure early in their accounting educations. More information about these topics is available at the Colorado Board of Accountancy website: http://www.dora.state.co.us/accountants/. Students also should be aware that most states now require a minimum of 150 semester hours to be licensed as a CPA. Students who plan to leave Colorado should check the specific requirements of the states to which they may relocate.
To accommodate the requirements that will be in effect July 1st, 2015 for CPA licensure, the College of Business has developed a 4+1 BS-MBA degree program. The accounting 4+1 BS-MBA degree program provides a student enrolled as an undergraduate in the accounting program at UCCS an opportunity to concurrently: 1) meet the Colorado law requiring 150 hours of post-secondary education to be licensed as a CPA and 2) earn a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Master of Business Administration with emphases in Accounting in a period as short as 5 years. To be eligible for this program, students must have completed ACCT 3010, 3020 and 3110 with B’s or better in each course and have a cumulative overall GPA of a 3.25 or above. Students must apply for admission to the MBA program well in advance of their final semester as an undergraduate and must meet the regular admissions requirements for the MBA program (no provisional admission allowed). Students who do not participate in the 4+1 program may still apply to the MBA program and be eligible for licensure upon completion.
Business Administration
The Business Administration area of emphasis allows students to select 18 semester hours of upper division business course work based on the individual’s particular interests and objectives. These courses must be three-credit hour upper division business courses and must be selected from at least two different subject areas to provide a solid business foundation. Course work selected for the area of emphasis must be pre-approved via a contract and cannot duplicate an existing area of emphasis.
Finance
Finance encompasses both the science and the art of managing money and investments. The finance curriculum is divided into three primary areas: financial management, financial markets and institutions, and investments. The study of finance provides students with an understanding of numerous financial theories such as the relation between risk and return, the factors that determine asset values, and strategies for minimizing the risk exposure of both corporations and investors. An understanding of these theories helps students develop the ability to make sound and practical business and personal investment decisions. The importance of finance in the economy and the functions and purposes of monetary systems, credit, prices, money markets, and financial institutions are stressed throughout the area of emphasis. Students are trained to think logically regarding financial problems and to formulate sound financial decisions, policies, and practices.
The finance emphasis prepares students for jobs in a corporate industrial setting or in the financial services industry. Students who study corporate finance prepare for careers managing corporate assets. Specific jobs in the corporate setting can include cash and receivables management, capital budgeting decision making, short- and long-term financial planning and analysis, risk analysis and management, and financing decisions. Financial services careers include positions in investment counseling, insurance, personal asset management and other financial planning careers.
To meet the 18 credit hours of upper division course work in the finance emphasis, students must complete the following required courses and one of the elective courses listed below. And select one course from the following:
Human Resources Management
The goal of the human resources management function in organizations is to develop and maintain effective relationships between employers and employees. Human resource (HR) managers achieve this in a number of ways—matching people’s skills to job requirements, developing fair compensation practices, appraising employees’ performance levels, developing employees’ skills and abilities through training and career planning, implementing productivity improvement programs, and many other activities. HR managers perform these roles ethically and legally in an ever-changing environment. These changes include new employment laws, the changing skills and demographics of the work force, people expecting more and different things from their employers, and companies becoming increasingly globalized in their operations. The HR manager’s job is challenging. HR managers are in high demand.
The human resources management emphasis prepares students for careers in HR by covering such topics as recruiting, staffing, training and development, performance appraisal, evaluation, compensation, career planning, safety and health, equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, and labor relations. And select one course from the following:
Information Systems
The use of information technology is pervasive in the business world today. No matter what career is chosen, virtually all students will have to work with and understand the basics of information technology to be successful. The information systems area of emphasis helps prepare students for this technology-centric world.
The information systems curriculum includes an introduction to basic computer hardware and software, programming, databases, networking, along with the fundamentals of analysis and design and project management. The continuous advances in the use of decision support systems and management information systems make the field one from which to build a productive career in business. International Business
Economies are intertwined as never before, and in most industrial sectors competition is increasingly global. Simultaneously, there are a number of new and dynamic events and processes that influence the world economic, cultural, and political arenas. It is essential that managers understand the implications of these changes. They affect managers in at least three ways. First, firms that see themselves as primarily domestic companies are facing increased competition by foreign firms in their domestic market. Secondly, foreign markets and resources are becoming increasingly important in terms of incremental revenue, profitability, sources of technology, and capital. And third, U.S. world-wide economic influence has diminished in a relative sense, and it has become more important than ever for executives to be aware of international influences.
This area of emphasis addresses these issues and introduces students to the challenges and basic skills required for effective international business management. And select two courses from the following:
Foreign Language Recommendation
Students majoring in international business are strongly encouraged to use their lower-division electives for learning another language and/or taking a language immersion program.
Management
Today’s highly competitive, constantly changing global environment places a premium on skilled managers who know how to lead and motivate people, build high performance teams, develop world class organizations, and understand the dynamics of organization behavior. Organizations of all sizes and types need skilled managers.
The management curriculum provides a foundation for careers in management, human resource management, small business management and entrepreneurship, and public agency management. This area of emphasis addresses contemporary issues in management and the changing roles of managers and leaders at all levels of the organization.
And select one course from the following:
Marketing
Global and national economies are directly influenced by marketing, a dynamic and challenging activity relevant to profit and nonprofit organizations alike. Marketing is the guiding force in conceiving and designing products and services, pricing them according to perceived value in the marketplace, promoting them through advertising and personal selling to potential buyers, and providing acceptable distribution arrangements for customers. Customer-oriented planning and implementation provide the cornerstone of modern marketing techniques and strategies.
Marketing is a vital ingredient in an organization’s formula for success in effecting mutually beneficial exchanges between buyers and sellers. Because marketing is a synthesis of a wide variety of disciplines, including management, economics, psychology, statistics, and sociology, marketing classes tend to attract students that excel in creative areas, problem-solving capabilities, and strategic thinking.
Our graduates typically find career opportunities in sales, advertising, marketing research, product development, retailing, wholesaling, e-commerce and related endeavors, both domestically and internationally. And select three courses from the following:
PGA Golf Management
The objective of the PGA Golf Management (PGM) program is to prepare students to be professional managers in the golf industry who hold the distinction of membership in the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). These individuals will be qualified to fill any of a number of roles in a variety of positions at many different kinds of entities.
The program involves a three-part preparation process: (a) completing the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in business, (b) completing 16 months of supervised internships, and (c) completing the PGA’s Professional Golf Management 2.0 Program, including passing the Playing Ability Test (PAT).
Individuals generally enter the PGM Program as freshman business students; in addition to meeting standard academic entrance requirements, these students must have a documented golf handicap that is no greater than 12.0. Qualified transfer students are also accepted into the program; applicants must also meet the handicap requirement and should understand that their transfer credits may shorten only the time allocated to the academic portion of the program. They must complete the internships and the PGA 2.0 Program on the same schedule as other students. Because there are relatively few electives in the program, it is possible that not all transferred courses will count toward graduation. The UCCS PGA Golf Management Program also accepts transfer students from other PGA-accredited PGM Programs if they are in good standing and otherwise meet our entrance requirements.
All new PGA Golf Management students start their program in the fall semester. Required Courses
The undergraduate curriculum for the PGM includes the following required courses: Required Internships
The following internships must be completed:
PGA Golf Management Program Notes
In addition to required courses and internships, PGA Golf Management students must complete all requirements included in the BS Business degree. Many of the PGMT required courses satisfy electives in the Business program. Please see an academic advisor for questions about PGA Golf Management program progression.
Normally, PGMT 1100 is completed in the summer following the freshman year. PGMT 2100 and 2110 are completed in successive Summer and Fall semesters following the sophomore year. PGMT 4100 and 4110 are completed in successive summer and fall semesters after the senior year. Transfer students may complete their internships on a different schedule, depending on the number and nature of their transferred academic credits.
All internships are supervised by the Internship Coordinator and members of the PGA of America at facilities approved by the PGA Golf Management Program team. Over 400 approved facilities are located throughout the United States or, in some circumstances, outside the country. Placement is assisted by the Internship Coordinator in cooperation with each student. Internships provide compensation paid directly to the students. Each student submits a post-internship report and receives a grade based on completing specified work experiences and a performance evaluation.
Students must also enroll in the program at the beginning of their first year. Enrollment occurs when students enroll in PGMT 1002. The cost of the PGA/PGM™ program is in addition to regular tuition and student fees. These amounts are collected from students as special course-related fees and are passed through to the PGA of America. Completing the PGA 2.0 Program also requires passing three levels of PGA knowledge tests (during the first, second, and third years) as well as the Playing Ability Test administered by the Colorado Section of the PGA or other sections in other states. Students are encouraged to pass the PAT as soon as possible, even before enrollment and preferably before the second internship. PGA accreditation standards require first year students to attempt the PAT at least once, second year students at least twice, and all others at least three times per year until it is passed. Additional information about the PGA 2.0 Program and the PAT is available at www.pgalinks.com. Graduates who have completed all PGA 2.0 Program requirements are eligible for Class A membership in the PGA of America upon gaining employment in suitable positions in the industry. Students are subject to additional academic and professional policies described in the PGA Golf Management Student Handbook. Copies of the handbook are available from the Program Director. Additional information about the program and how to gain admission can be found at http://www.uccs.edu/~pgm/.
Service Management
In the U.S., approximately 82% of the labor force and 80% of the GDP are accounted for by services. Virtually every organization has a significant service component. The Service Management area of emphasis is an integrated collection of courses designed to provide the unique skills and knowledge required to succeed in the service economy. This emphasis is especially valuable for those who plan to work in a management or professional capacity in the service sector, including professional service organizations (e.g. law, accounting), customer service departments, call centers, help desks, insurance etc. And select three courses from the following:
Sport Management
The Sport Management area of emphasis is designed to prepare students to become the next generation of leaders in the sport management industry through education and training that imparts the knowledge, skills, and experience essential for providing increased enjoyment and rewarding participation within the wide and varied world of sport. The Sport Management program at UCCS emphasizes the Olympic sports movement, soccer, and collegiate sports. In addition to this, the program also works with professional clubs and public and private sports organizations. Under the Sport Management emphasis students can be considered for a Soccer Management track specifically geared to train the next generation of soccer management leaders.
The Sport Management program is housed in the AACSB-accredited College of Business and is classified as a program of distinction with restricted and limited enrollments. Admission standards for the Sport Management program are higher than the College of Business. Consequently, admission to the College of Business does not automatically mean admission to the Sport Management program. In order to gain admission to the Sport Management program applicants must first be admitted to the College of Business and then make separate application to the Sport Management program.
Individuals generally and preferably enter the Sport Management program as freshman business students. In order to be considered for admission to the Sport Management program students must have earned a high school diploma with a minimum of 3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale, 20 ACT scores in all topic areas or 500 SAT scores in all topic areas. These are minimum application standards, thus meeting these minimum standards does not guarantee admission to the Sport Management program. While many students within the program will have actively participated in sports, this is not a requirement of the program.
The Sport Management program seeks to admit reliable students of strong moral character who are able to present themselves in a professional environment. Sport Management students are required to engage in multiple internships and field experience events and as such will represent themselves, the Sport Management program, the College of Business, UCCS, and in international internships the United States. While not required, submitting one or more letters of recommendation from high school teachers familiar with an applicant’s academic performance is considered a plus.
Upon graduation Sport Management students will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis in Sport Management. Students in the Sport Management program will be required to meet all College of Business undergraduate requirements and all Sport Management major requirements. In addition to the specific courses listed below, Sport Management students are required to engage in 50+ hours of field experience during their freshman and sophomore years and then two separate internships during their junior and senior years. Internships are not guaranteed or awarded. Students work with the program’s Internship Coordinator to identify opportunities and prepare to compete for positions. Sport students must also abide by the rules and policies that are set forth in the Sport Management Program Handbook and the Sport Management Internship Handbook.
Sport Management Specific Courses
Required Field Experience
Elective Courses - select three
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