Richards College of Business

Faye S. McIntyre, Dean
http://www.westga.edu/business

Vision

To become a globally recognized college of business preparing forward-thinking, responsible leaders.

Mission

We are in the business of transforming lives through education, engagement and experiences.

Strategic Goals and Values

Student Success

Admit quality students and provide them with an education that is rich in experiences and engagement opportunities to prepare them to be effective and ethical professionals.

Academic Success

Recruit, retain and develop faculty and staff by providing sufficient resources to support dynamic and up-to-date bachelor and master-level curricula, to conduct research and other professional activities, and to support engagement with all stakeholders.

Operational Success

Recruit, retain and develop administrative management and staff personnel to manage, develop and support infrastructure and those activities that build internal and external partnerships while working in an ever-changing environment.

Ethical Values

The Richards College of Business community (administrators, faculty, staff, students, and business partners) share a commitment to the principles of honesty and integrity in interactions and undertakings, accountability for personal behavior, and respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others. In addition, we strive to continuously improve our abilities to recognize unethical behavior and to make ethical and moral decisions.

http://www.westga.edu/business/vision_and_mission.php

The Richards College of Business offers the Bachelor of Business Administration degree (B.B.A.) with majors in accounting, economics, finance, management, management in-formation systems, marketing, and real estate. The College also offers the B.S. degree with a major in economics, the B.A. degree in international economic affairs and, the B.S. degree in economics with secondary education certification. Graduate programs are offered in business administration and professional accounting (see the Graduate Catalog for information).

These programs are administered through four departments: (1) Accounting and Finance, (2) Economics, (3) Management, (4) Marketing and Real Estate.

The Richards College of Business at West Georgia provides students a high-quality business education at both undergraduate and graduate levels, either to secure entry level managerial/professional employment or to continue graduate studies. A liberal arts based education is provided to undergraduate students.

Faculty members are committed to professional development through intellectual activities. The primary means by which instructors enhance and update the content of their present courses and design new ones is through research and other professional development activities. Intellectual activities are also essential to enhance the status of the Institution among accredited member schools, potential employers, and other publics.

Service to the Institution and to the professional community supports the activities necessary to accomplish the mission. This involvement promotes the design of a superior curriculum, placement of graduates, discovery of new ideas for intellectual activities and classroom instruction, and the procurement of external funding for College activities.

To provide the student with an awareness of the legal, social, political, and economic environment in which business functions, the first two years of study are devoted primarily to the arts, sciences, and basic business courses. The junior and senior years emphasize the development of skills, understandings, and knowledge in particular areas of business. Enrollment in upper division courses is reserved for students satisfying the criteria contained in the Policy for Major Status.

Note: All Richards College of Business students must be advised each semester before attempting to register.

Accreditation

The undergraduate B.B.A. and graduate M.B.A. and M.P.Acc College of Business programs are accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The B.B.A. and graduate M.P.Acc accounting programs at West Georgia are separately accredited by AACSB International.

Policy for Major Status

Any student seeking a business degree at the University of West Georgia must select a major. All BBA degree students will begin as pre-majors of the major selected. A business pre-major will become eligible for full business major status when he/she completes 45 hours of academic coursework with a cumulative grade point of 2.0 or higher and the following courses are completed:

After earning major status, a business student may advance register for Upper Division business courses, those numbered 3000-4000, provided he/she has met the necessary prerequisites. All academic courses taken at West Georgia and at other colleges or universities will be used to determine eligibility for major status. Any business major whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 will lose major status and the opportunity to enroll in upper division courses except to repeat courses previously taken until that student’s GPA improves to 2.0 or higher.

Students may be denied enrollment in the Richards College of Business for acts such as engaging in unprofessional behavior in a class or in any interaction with UWG faculty, staff, or students or engaging in dishonest or unethical conduct.

Non-business majors except those enrolled in the B.S. degree in Economics, the B.A. degree in International Economic Affairs, and the B.S. Ed. degree in Business Education may enroll in up to 18 semester hours in selected 3000-4000 level business courses provided they have met the necessary prerequisites and have completed 45 hours of academic coursework with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Business Core Requirements and Major Course Requirements for B.B.A. Majors are listed in each major.

The following Learning Goals and Objectives are applicable for all BBA degrees, regardless of major. Please see specific majors for additional learning goals for the major.

Learning Goal 1: Communicate effectively

Objective 1: Students will produce professional quality business documents.
Objective 2: Students will make a professional presentation.

Learning Goal 2: Apply basic quantitative skills to business problems

Objective 1: Students will construct and interpret tabular and graphical methods of presenting qualitative and quantitative data.
Objective 2: Students will use spreadsheet software to evaluate and use the results of regression models.
Objective 3: Students will solve and interpret quantitative business models using spreadsheet software.

Learning Goal 3: Use information technology to solve business problems

Objective 1: Students will effectively use a word processing program.
Objective 2: Students will effectively use a spreadsheet program.
Objective 3: Students will effectively use a presentation program.

Learning Goal 4: Possess a basic knowledge of accounting, economics, finance, the legal environment of business, management, management information systems, and marketing

Objective 1: Students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of the fundamental concepts of accounting, economics, finance, the legal environment of business, management, MIS, and marketing.

Learning Goal 5: Understand how ethical decision-making and globalization affect organizations

Objective 1: Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze issues and situations having ethical and legal implications for business.
Objective 2: Students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of international economic and business concepts.

Learning Goal 6: Utilize general and management-specific knowledge and skills in the analysis of business and economic problems

Objective 1: Students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of relevant costs for decision making.
Objective 2: Students will incorporate strategic thinking, analyze the current situation of an organization, and develop a plan to ensure its viability.

Degree, Majors and Departments

Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)

The B.B.A. programs provide students with a high-quality business education based on a solid liberal arts foundation so they can secure entry-level positions in organizations and/or pursue graduate studies.

To accomplish this mission, faculty members are committed to educating students who upon graduation will (1) communicate effectively; (2) apply basic quantitative skills to business problems; (3) Use information technology to solve business problems; (4) Possess a basic knowledge of accounting, economics, finance, the legal environment of business, management, and marketing; (5) Understand how ethical decision making and globalization affect organizations; and (6) Utilize general and management-specific knowledge and skills in the analysis of business and economic problems.

The B.B.A. programs serve high school graduates as well as students transferring from two-year and four-year institutions of higher learning. The majority of students are from the local/regional area served by West Georgia. The programs also attract a small number of students from outside the University’s regional service area, including other states and countries.

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The B.S. degree in Economics provides students with the flexibility to build a foundation for further graduate study in business, economics, law, or other professional careers as well as offers a broad liberal arts and economics background for entry-level positions in business, government, and teaching.

The B.S degree in Economics serves students who want the flexibility to complete a variety of supporting courses in areas other than business but still have a solid understanding of the American economic system.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The B.A. degree in International Economic Affairs is a multidisciplinary undergraduate degree. The International Economic Affairs program offers a broad liberal arts education with careful attention to international economics, foreign language skills, geography, cultural anthropology, history, political science, and sociology. The major serves its graduates by providing them with both the skills necessary to secure employment upon graduation and the broad conceptual and analytical abilities that will give them the flexibility needed for personal and professional growth.

The B.A. degree in International Economic Affairs serves students who want a background in international affairs and international economics. The program is designed to stand alone as a major and also serve as a second major for students earning a B.A. in other areas, such as foreign languages. Graduates from all three Economics majors (B.B.A., B.S., and B.A.) find jobs in management training programs, banking, real estate, stock brokerage, and journalism to name a few. Majoring in Economics is also excellent preparation for graduate study in business, law, or the social sciences.

Business Majors

Requirements for a minor in accounting, management information systems, management, marketing, economics, real estate, or finance (for business majors)

To minor in a specialization other than the major, students must take 15 hours of courses above the 3000 level in the specialized area and earn a minimum 2.0 GPA in courses submitted for the minor. These classes cannot be used to satisfy the core and major requirements.

Requirements for a Second Major Within the Bachelor of Business Administration Degree

Requirements for a second major within the bachelor of business administration degree:

To specify a second major in business administration, students must contact the chair of both departments selected. The chair of each department will develop a program of study. Students must complete all major and degree requirements for both degrees.

Graduate Degrees

For a Master of Business Administration, Master of Professional Accountancy, Master of Education in Business Education, and Specialist in Education in Business Education, see the Graduate Catalog.

Business Intern Program

In cooperation with local, state, national and international organizations, the College of Business helps facilitate intern opportunities for students who wish to apply their academic training to on-the-job experiences.

Juniors and seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA and participating in the program may receive from 1 to 6 hours of elective credit.

Interested students should contact the chair of the academic department for his or her major.

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program

Opportunities to combine classroom study and field experience related to students’ majors and/or career goals are available in the College of Business. For further details on co-op, consult each academic department and/or Career Services for more information and an application.