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Abbott Turner College of Business - Columbus State University

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Academics

Abbott Turner College of Business

Undergraduate Program

Graduate Program

Undergraduate Program

Supporting the University's statement of purpose, the mission of the Abbott Turner College of Business (ATCOB) is to prepare our undergraduate and graduate students with business knowledge, management skills, and technological competence so that they may become business professionals who add value to the marketplace. Positioned in a diverse, dynamic, and globally oriented business community, we achieve our mission in the following ways:

  • Our students receive personalized instruction.
  • We select, support, and develop highly qualified faculty who continuously strive to achieve teaching excellence.
  • Our faculty engage in instructional and applied scholarly activities that reinforce and enhance innovative teaching and student learning.
  • We provide a rigorous and practical curriculum responsive to the needs of our stakeholders.
  • To promote linkages with our culturally diverse service area, we continue to develop greater cultural and international awareness.
  • We examine the ethical and social responsibilities of business.
  • We demonstrate the interdependence of commerce and technology.
  • Through partnerships with community and business leaders and analysis of business issues, we apply the concepts we teach to further our stakeholders' interests.

By adhering to our mission we intend the Abbott Turner College of Business to be an integral component of economic development in our service area.

The Abbott Turner College of Business offers the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). The major areas of specialization are

The Abbott Turner College of Business is located in Jordan Hall. The dean's office is located in room 332B; the associate dean is located in room 303.

Expected Outcomes

The outcomes expected for the BBA are:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the functional areas of business (courses required in Areas F and G).
  • Demonstrate knowledge in a major field of specialization (courses required in Area H).
  • Demonstrate oral and written communication skill proficiency.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making skills.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of ethical, international and diversity issues.
  • Assessment of these outcomes for each student is accomplished by:
  • Satisfactory classroom performance as determined by the course instructor for classes taken at the ATCOB.
  • Individual student performance during the senior year of study using the faculty approved assessment instruments that test business core and major area knowledge.

General BBA Degree Program Notes

  • At least one-half of the 69 business credit hours required for the BBA must be earned in the ATCOB.
  • At least one-half of the Area H major hours required must be satisfactorily completed in the ATCOB.
  • Courses taught at the 1000 or 2000 level at any institution may not be substituted for 3000 or 4000 level courses taught by the ATCOB unless validated by the ATCOB Dean's office.

Non-Business Majors

Non-business majors may take a limited number of business courses provided they have satisfied the specific course prerequisites. Non-business majors may obtain no more than 25% of their total degree hours in business courses.

Minors

Students may take additional courses to achieve a minor concentration in a field outside of their major. For BBA majors, the "Area I" electives may be utilized to complete a minor in another business discipline. The department chair for each discipline area has an approved list of courses required to complete a minor. The two non-business electives in Area I may be used toward the completion of a non-business minor. (For minors outside the ATCOB, see the "Undergraduate Minors" section of this catalog.) Courses applied to a minor must be in addition to the BBA core and major core course requirements.

University System Business Transfer Credit

The following courses satisfy the Area F business core for University System of Georgia transfer credit to other member institutions:

  • ACCT 2101 and ACCT 2102, Principles of Accounting 1 & 2
  • BUSA 2106, The Environment of Business
  • CISM 2105, Introduction to Computer Information Systems
  • ECON 2105 and ECON 2106, Principles of Economics 1 & 2

Transfer Students

The Office of the Dean of the Abbott Turner College of Business determines the specific credit for work completed at other institutions that will apply toward the BBA. Transfer students should go to the ATCOB Student Services Center to have credits evaluated to determine which credits will be accepted for the BBA. Allowance of transfer credit by the Office of the Registrar does not mean that all credit will be accepted toward a BBA degree.

Students Holding a Baccalaureate Degree

Students who wish to work towards a BBA degree and have previously earned a bachelor's degree in a non-business discipline should contact the ATCOB Student Services Center (302 Jordan Hall) to determine individual requirements.

Graduate Program

Purpose and Philosophy

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a general-purpose management degree that prepares individuals for administrative positions in business, industry, or government. The program accommodates students who have business and non-business baccalaureate degrees. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides the student with a broad understanding of management and its role in a global society. Emphasis is placed upon economics, human behavior, organizations, accounting, communication skills, operations, marketing, finance, management information systems, and their impacts on managerial decision-making. The program focuses on the practical application of these tools, techniques, and concepts. Teamwork, the international context of business, and the ethical dimensions of managerial decisions are stressed throughout the program.

Admission

An applicant seeking admission to the MBA program must submit the following:

  • An application for the MBA program,
  • An official baccalaureate degree transcript from an accredited institution,
  • Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) results,
  • Three letters of recommendation,
  • A current resume.

Only scores from the GMAT taken within the past five years are accepted. A minimum score of 430 on the GMAT is required before an application will be considered. Students must also meet one of the following guidelines for regular admission to the MBA program:

  • (200 x Overall Undergraduate Grade Point Average) + GMAT score >= 1000
  • (200 x Grade point average for last two years of undergraduate credit) + GMAT score >= 1050
  • (Note: The grade point average used in this admissions formula is based on a 4-point scale.)

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit evidence of English language proficiency from the TOEFL exam.

MBA students are admitted to the program in either the regular or provisional classification. Regular students have satisfied all program admission requirements but may have to remove background deficiencies (typically by completion of all or part of the Basic Core courses listed below). Students who are not admitted to the regular classification may be admitted on a provisional basis. The Graduate Committee will review all materials submitted by the student to determine if provisional status will be granted. Only a limited number of provisional students will be admitted to the program and must show high promise of success in graduate studies. Provisional students must complete the first nine semester hours of graduate study earning a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to continue in the program.

Curriculum

The MBA is a professional degree and therefore has no language or thesis requirement; however, case studies, field studies, research projects, and formal papers are required in specific courses. The curriculum is segmented into two cores: the Basic Core (prerequisite courses) and the Advanced Core (MBA). Individuals with a business baccalaureate degree normally can obtain the MBA by completing the Advanced Core. Students not possessing baccalaureate degrees in business will be required to take the Advanced Core plus any prerequisites listed in the Basic Core but not satisfied in the applicant's undergraduate program of study. Students enrolled in other graduate programs may be allowed to enroll in MBA courses provided that they have met the prerequisites or their equivalents and have been approved by the director of the MBA program in consultation with the Graduate Committee.

Basic Core - courses provide an adequate background for students who have earned non-business baccalaureate degrees. At the time of entry, the College of Business' MBA Committee will determine the courses, if any, the student must complete.

Students in the MBA program are expected to have a working knowledge of computer skills and computer applications as well as math skills to include a first course in calculus. Students having background deficiencies in these areas are expected to remove them by taking the appropriate undergraduate courses. Students should meet with the Director of the MBA program or Chair of the Graduate Committee to review their preparation in these areas.

Advanced Core - required of all MBA students and designed to provide the student with the analytical techniques and managerial concepts to assume positions of administrative responsibility. These are exclusively graduate courses and are open only to MBA students.

Upon completion of the Basic Core, full-time students are able to complete the program in one year (three semesters). Most graduate students will require at least five semesters to complete the Advanced Core. The MBA program is a year-round program. All MBA students will be expected to take courses in at least one summer term (possibly including the May session) to complete the Advanced Core.

Transfer Credit - A maximum of nine hours with a minimum grade of B in each course may be accepted for transfer. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Graduate Committee. Transfer credit will not be utilized in computing the student's grade point average.

Application for Graduation

Approval of an application for the MBA degree is contingent upon the successful completion of an approved program with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all MBA courses. All courses used to remove background deficiencies must be completed satisfactorily with a grade of C or better. Applications for degree conferral must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar one semester prior to completion of degree requirements. Students have a maximum of six years from the first term of enrollment to complete all MBA degree requirements.

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