College of Business

Dean and Associate Professor: M. Hargis (PhD), 450-3106

[1] Vision, Mission, and Core Values

[1.1] Vision

Our vision is to be the leading regional public business college in Arkansas, with national recognition in selected fields or areas.

[1.2] Statement of Mission and Core Values

Our mission is to provide high quality business education to our undergraduate and graduate students through the delivery of a current and responsive curriculum that promotes intellectual and professional development. We promote excellence through our scholarly endeavors and service to our stakeholders through strong engagement with the regional and global business community. In carrying out this mission, the College of Business is guided by the following core values:

1. Intellectual Excellence
   1.1 Educate students: We promote intellectual and professional development of students by emphasizing communication, critical and analytical thinking, collaboration, information management and a broad exposure to key business disciplines.
   1.2 Scholarship: We believe that faculty and students should engage in professional development and scholarly endeavors that promote the application and creation of knowledge in business practice education.
   1.3 Cultural competence: We maintain and develop current and responsive curriculum that prepares students for the global business environment through broad exposure to key business disciplines.
   1.4 Physical learning environment: We strive to provide a physical infrastructure with appropriate technology that provides an environment in which our students and faculty can thrive professionally and intellectually.
2. Community
   2.1 Collegiality: We encourage transparency in our decision-making practice through a process of shared governance based on interactions among faculty, staff, and students.
   2.2 Service: We pursue collaborative partnerships between our internal and external stakeholders to promote life-long and experiential learning, research, service, and community interaction.
3. Diversity
   3.1 We value the opportunity to work, learn, and develop in a community that embraces the diversity of individuals and ideas.
4. Integrity
   4.1 Ethics: We are committed to ethical and responsible behavior in our own actions and to developing the same commitment in our students by promoting the awareness of professional ethical responsibilities.
   4.2 Responsibility: We commit to being responsible and accountable in our operations at all levels, including assessment and continuous improvement of our academic programs and transparency in our fiscal and operational proceedings.

[2] Limitation on Business Courses Taken by Non-Majors

Students majoring outside of the College of Business may not take more than 30 hours of business courses.

[3] Prerequisites Policy

Credit is not granted toward a degree for any business course taken without the prerequisites required by the College of Business. Students who enroll for courses for which they do not have the prerequisites may be administratively dropped from these courses. Both BBA majors and non-BBA majors are subject to prerequisite requirements. See the course descriptions for details.

[4] Administrative Structure

The College of Business consists of the following administrative units:

[5] Curricula

[5.1] Bachelor of Business Administration

[5.1.1] Majors

For details on major and minor requirements, please refer to the department listed in parenthesis.

[5.1.2] Minors

[5.1.3] Progression Requirements

In order for a BBA-seeking student to enroll in more than nine (9) hours of upper-division courses in the College of Business, she/he must meet the following progression requirements:

1. Obtain a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average, and
2. Complete ACCT 2310, 2311, ECON 2320, 2321, QMTH 2330 with a 2.0 grade point average in these five courses.

Business Education minors and others who wish to enroll in courses in the College of Business are not bound by the grade point requirements above but must complete the prerequisite courses stated in the bulletin. Non-BBA majors may not take more than 30 hours in the College of Business.

[5.1.4] Requirements for the Bachelor of Business Administration

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree emphasizes professional development based on a general education background of liberal arts and business courses. Degree requirements are divided into five groups: UCA Core, business foundation, business core, major, and electives.

UCA Core. Complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses. (See the UCA Core requirements.) Courses in English, history, humanities, culture and language, government, the sciences, mathematics, and health prepare students with basic speaking, reading, writing, and analytical skills as well as the time-management and self-discipline skills needed for advanced study.

Electives. Students must complete the appropriate number of electives to ensure a minimum of 120 credit hours required for graduation. All BBA majors are reminded that graduation requirements include a minimum of 40 hours of upper-division courses.

[5.1.5] Other Academic Policies and Requirements

In addition to the courses required to earn the BBA degree, the university and college have established policies on the following: minors and second majors, assessment tests, and grade requirements.

Minors. College of Business majors may (but are not required to) minor in any available discipline in any college including the College of Business with the following exceptions:

• General Business majors cannot minor in a College of Business discipline, but may minor in any available discipline in another College.
• Business majors (any discipline) cannot minor in General Business, but may minor in any other available discipline in the College of Business or in another discipline. Available options within the College of Business are currently limited to the following:
  • Accounting
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Marketing
  • Management
  • Management Information Systems
• Business majors (any discipline) are limited to one minor within the College of Business, but may choose additional minors in any available discipline in another College.
• Not every College of Business discipline offers a minor to students majoring in business. Refer to each department in this bulletin for minor offerings.

Second majors. By completing the major requirements in a second major beyond the minimum 120 credit hour requirements and prior to earning the first degree, students can complete a second business (BBA) major. If students return after graduation to earn another BBA major, at least 30 semester hours must be taken.

Assessment tests. The university and college reserve the right to require, administer, and apply the results of appropriate assessment tests for the purpose of ensuring the student’s basic qualifications to proceed with the desired program of study and/or to earn a degree. Such tests may include, but are not limited to, assessments of (1) personal computing skills, (2) economics knowledge, and (3) major field achievement.

Grades. Candidates for the BBA degree must satisfy the following minimum grade point average requirements:

1. a 2.0 grade point average overall
2. a 2.0 grade point average in all courses used in the foundation and core areas
3. a 2.0 grade point average in all major courses taken as determined by the department
4. a 2.0 grade point average in all minor courses (if a minor is selected)

[5.2] Transfer of Credit Policies

In addition to university policies controlling the granting of credit for course work taken at other institutions, the following policies apply to transfer work applied to any undergraduate business program:

Transfer students electing to pursue a major in the College of Business are subject to the same progression requirements listed in § 5.1.3 (above).

1. A transfer student is expected to arrange for a degree check by his/her College of Business advisor to ascertain remaining requirements.
2. A transferred course cannot carry more degree hours than are available in a similar University of Central Arkansas course. For example, a four-hour principles of accounting course transfers to UCA as three hours.
3. Credit earned at a two-year college cannot be used to meet upper-division requirements in the College of Business.
4. Courses taken at any institution of higher education where the course content is remedial are not acceptable for degree credit.
5. The student should be prepared to submit course descriptions, syllabi, or other course-related information for transfer course work if there is any question as to whether the College of Business will grant degree credit for such work.

[5.3] Bachelor of Science

[5.4] Bachelor of Arts

[5.5] Master’s Degree in Business Administration

The university offers a program of study leading to a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and, within this degree program, specializations in Finance, Health Care Administration, and International Business Administration. These programs are designed to serve the needs of qualified students preparing for careers in accounting, business, government, and doctoral study in business administration. The specialization in International Business Administration is especially designed for students preparing for careers in multinational businesses or working in businesses that engage in international commerce. An undergraduate business degree is not an admission requirement for graduate business study. Leveling classes are available for non-business majors to provide necessary competencies for success in the MBA program. For more information, see the Graduate Bulletin.

[5.6] Master’s Degree in Accountancy

The university offers a program of study leading to a Master of Accountancy (MAcc). The degree is designed to provide a fifth year of accounting education to prepare students for careers in professional accounting. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants recommends five years of academic study in order to obtain the professional knowledge for a career in accounting. Most states (including Arkansas and surrounding states) have laws requiring five years of study as a prerequisite to sit for the Certified Public Accountant’s examination.

The objective of the Master of Accountancy program is to give students greater breadth and depth of accounting knowledge and if desired, a specialization in taxation. The program requires 30 hours of course work beyond the Bachelor’s degree and, with proper scheduling, can be completed in 12 calendar months. A bachelor’s degree in accounting or the completion of certain undergraduate courses is required for admission to the program. Admission is also based on an applicant’s undergraduate record and on their score on the GMAT or GRE. Outstanding employment opportunities in public accounting, industry, and government await graduates of the Master of Accountancy program. For more information, contact the Department of Accounting.

[6] Small Business and Entrepreneurship

The College of Business houses the Small Business Advancement National Center (SBANC), which is devoted to teaching, research, and service in the areas of small business and entrepreneurship. These activities are provided locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally for those interested in small business and entrepreneurship using electronic linkages, newsletters, counseling sessions, and website. The SBANC houses the Small Business Advancement Electronic Resource (www.sbaer.uca.edu), which is both nationally and internationally acclaimed for its information and research dealing with small business and entrepreneurship. The center has links with hundreds of universities and serves as an information and research point for many government agencies around the globe.

[7] International Exchange Programs

Students and faculty in the College of Business have the opportunity to participate in numerous business and cultural exchange programs. The College is a partner in several mobility grants sponsored by the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE), US Department of Education. These grants provide travel stipends for students and faculty to cover some of the expenses incurred during the international exchange. One of the FIPSE grants is between the US and four European universities and the other is between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Participating Mexican and Canadian universities are: Universidad de Colima (Mexico), Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico), Universidad Baja California Sur (Mexico), St. Francis Xavier (Antigonish, Canada), University of Moncton (Canada), and the University of Prince Edward Island (Canada). The College also has exchange agreements with the following European universities: FUNDESEM Business School (Alicante, Spain), The Haagse Hogeschool University (Netherlands), University of Leon (Spain), University of Mons Hainaut (Belgium), and Fachhochschule Bielefeld (Germany). Recently, a study abroad experience has been established with universities in China.

[8] COB Technology Services

COB Technology Services provides support for the instructional, research, and technological needs of the faculty, staff, and students in the College of Business. The office maintains networked computer labs for instructional and student use.

Visit the COB website at uca.edu/business/ to view a listing of other services and facilities that are available in the college.

[9] Co-op Internships

The College of Business Administration is an active participant in the university’s Career Services Programs which include career guidance, aptitude testing, individual instruction, seminars and a non-credit and credit co-ops. Co-op internships provide students with the skills, experience, and knowledge that give them an advantage in the job market. Many co-op students return to their co-op employer for a full-time career-track job. For further information, contact the Office of Cooperative Education (318 Bernard Hall).

To receive academic credit for internships, students must participate in a COB Approved Internship. The College seeks to provide students with a number of competitive specialized disciplinary experiences to reinforce the content and theory of their major field of study. COB approved internships require an ongoing business mentor who is committed to partner with college faculty members in adding realism, practice and guidance to our students’ understanding of their professions. Students should contact the COB Internship Director, and the Chair of their major field, for more information. No more than 6 hours of internship credits may be counted toward a BBA major.

[10] Criminal Justice Institute

The University of Central Arkansas, in partnership with the Criminal Justice Institute of the University of Arkansas, offers the following certificates and degree plans: Associate of Applied Science degree in Crime Scene Investigation, a Technical Certificate in Crime Scene Investigation, a Certificate of Proficiency in Crime Scene Investigation, an Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement Administration, a Technical Certificate in Law Enforcement Administration, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Law Enforcement Administration. Students must be sworn law enforcement officers and currently employed by a law enforcement agency to participate in the certificate and degree programs outlined above.

It is the responsibility of the student to request credit for the Criminal Justice Institute courses and submit the proper documentation prior to, or during, the student’s first enrollment at UCA.