2022-2023 Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Business, BS


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Business and Administration

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 coursework (to include the 18 - 24 credit hours in the area of emphasis and BGSO 4000  and 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) coursework.

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.

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.

Sophomore Year First Semester


Junior Year First Semester


Junior Year Second Semester


Senior Year First Semester


Senior Year Second Semester


  • Business Area of Emphasis course - 3 credits
  • Business Area of Emphasis course - 3 credits
  • Upper Division Business course - 3 credits

Model Degree Program Notes


  1. SAT/ACT scores, Placement tests and Self-directed placement will be used for placement into English and Math courses. If a student would like to challenge their Math course placement, they would be allowed to take the Accuplacer exam.
  2. Admission to the College of Business is required for all online business courses and the business courses numbered 2010 and above - except MGMT 3300 and MKTG 3000.
  3. Writing Portfolio - All students must complete the University Composition Competency requirement prior to graduation. After completing both ENGL 1310 and TCID 2080, students must submit a Writing Portfolio or enroll in an additional approved upper division writing course.
  4. 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, QUAN 2010, and QUAN 2020.  (See course descriptions by clicking on the hyperlinks listed above in the model degree program.)

General Education Courses and Open Electives


The business degree requires 26-30 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, Education, Engineering, Public Affairs, and/or Nursing Colleges.

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 and must follow the sequence of courses listed above in the Model Degree Plan for their catalog year of acceptance.

Area of Emphasis


An area of emphasis requires 18-24 hours of specific coursework. Business students will select one of the following Professional Program Areas of Interest: Accounting, Business Administration, Cybersecurity Management, 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.

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. All attempts of emphasis courses will be calculated into a students GPA.

By completing extra courses, a student can earn a second area of emphasis. 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.

Coursework 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 21 semester hours in upper division accounting courses. All accounting majors are required to complete the following six 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 and advisors in planning a degree program that is congruent with their career goals.

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  must be in accounting or business ethics. The minimum 150 semester hours must also include at least 27 semester hours in other non-accounting business areas. No more than nine semester hours in any single business 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 examination and for CPA licensure. More information about these state requirements is available at the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website: www.nasba.org.

Business Administration


The Business Administration area of emphasis allows students to select 18 semester hours of upper division business coursework 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. Coursework selected for the area of emphasis must be pre-approved via a contract and cannot duplicate an existing area of emphasis. 

Cybersecurity Management


The Cybersecurity Management emphasis is designed to meet the increasing employer demand for cybersecurity professionals to protect corporate IT assets. It will prepare students for a career in cybersecurity across diverse industry sectors including finance, healthcare, government and defense. The course sequence in Cybersecurity Management emphasis will train students for entry level and mid-level cybersecurity roles of cybersecurity analyst, risk analyst, cybersecurity consultant, and IT Auditor. Students will develop necessary skills and competencies to handle day-to-day cybersecurity operations and programs in organizations.

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 21 credit hours of upper division coursework in the finance emphasis, students must complete the following required courses and three of the elective courses listed below.

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 and they are currently 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.

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, system security, along with the fundamentals of system integration and documentation. The continuous advances in the use of enterprise systems and mobile 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.

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. 

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 courses 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. 

Digital Strategy and New Media Marketing Track


The Digital Strategy and New Media Marketing Track is designed to give students a competitive edge in workplace readiness. This track produces students who are ready to begin work in both innovative startups that need to gain traction quickly and build a consumer base, as well as established companies that have or are developing a digital presence in the pursuit of growth. Among the qualifications students will gain in this track are, a well-developed understanding of brand management and promotion in the digital landscape, a solid foundation for digital business models, new forms of digital-based revenue and blockchain technology, how to develop and execute email, pay-per-click, and social media campaigns, and industry relevant certifications-all of which can be added to the student’s resume upon completion.

PGA Golf Management


The objective of the PGA Golf Management (PGM) program (the only golf professional academic program offered at UCCS)  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 3.0 Program, including passing the Playing Ability Test (PAT).

Individuals generally enter the PGA Golf Management 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 PGM 3.0 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.

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, 2100, and 3100 are completed in the summer following each academic year. PGMT 4100 and 4110 are completed in successive Summer and Fall semesters following a student’s 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 Program and Internship Coordinator and members of the PGA of America at facilities approved by the PGA Golf Management Program team and the PGA of America. Over 800 approved facilities are located throughout the United States or, in some circumstances, outside the country. Placement is assisted by the Program and 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 1003. 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 PGM 3.0 Program  also requires passing four levels of PGA knowledge tests (during the first, second, third, and fourth 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 state students must participate in a PAT one time during their first year in the PGA Golf Management University Program. For years two and beyond, student must participate in a PAT a minimum of two times per year with encouragement to participate in a third PAT until the PAT test is passed. Per the UCCS PGA Student Handbook, all PGA Golf Management students who have not passed the PGA PAT must participate in a PAT each semester while in the program (Fall, Spring, Summer). Additional information about the PGA PGM 3.0 Program and the PAT is available at www.pga.org. Graduates who have completed all PGA PGM 3.0 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.

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. Our program has been crafted to provide a blend of critical insights together with highly-relevant experiential opportunities to address the varied opportunities and challenges within sport. In particular, we align the opportunities in our program with the dominant sport management sub-sectors including professional sport, collegiate athletics, International and Olympic sport, and recreational sport including youth sport development. To this end, we have well-developed partnerships and opportunities with the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Rapids, Team USA, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation and the 20+ National Governing Bodies of Sport who are located in Colorado Springs.

Importantly, the Sport Management program is housed in the AACSB-accredited College of Business. The program is classified as a program of distinction with restricted and limited enrollments. In order to gain admission to the Sport Management program applicants must first be admitted to the College of Business and specify interest in the Sport Management program through the application process. College of Business admission criteria can be found here: College of Business and Administration Undergraduate Programs  

The Sport Management program seeks to admit reliable students with strong academic aptitude who are able to present themselves in a professional environment. Sport Management students are required to engage in field experience opportunities and multiple internships and, as such, are expected to represent themselves and the program with the highest degree of professionalism. 

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 or practicums during their junior and senior years. Internships/practicums are not guaranteed or awarded. Students work with the program’s Internship Coordinator to identify opportunities and prepare to compete for positions.

Required Field Experience


  • ** SPTM 3970  - Project Based Learning in Sport Management may be used in place of SPTM 3960 or SPTM 4960. Students interested in pursuing this experience should speak with the department directly.

     

    • Internships are typically conducted with local sports organizations such as the USOC, USA National Governing Bodies, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, Colorado Rapids, Colorado-based professional sport clubs, local collegiate programs or other select private and public sports organizations. Students are responsible for obtaining these opportunities as well as the transportation to and from these opportunities. 
    • Internship opportunities are competitive and are not guaranteed.
    • Internships are awarded only by the organization sponsoring the opportunity. 
    • To access SPTM 2960, SPTM 3960 and SPTM 4960 students must have a CU cumulative 3.0 GPA. If GPA is lower than 3.0 student will be subject to further review.

Elective Courses - select three from the following


  • Sport Management students must take a minimum of two from SPTM 4150, SPTM 4250, or SPTM 4450. Students can choose to complete all three SPTM courses above should they wish.
     

  • One class from either: ECON 3800   (The Economics of US Professional Sport) or any elective 3000 or 4000 level class offered by the College of Business.
  • To enhance the emphasis in sport management students can take SPTM 4150, SPTM 4250, and SPTM 4450 as their sport management electives and take ECON 3800 as an open elective.

    To enhance your focus in a particular areas of business students can take a specific 3000 or 4000 level elective class as well as their BUS elective class in a range of specific topics such as leadership, HR, services marketing, digital marketing, and marketing research.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Business and Administration