D. Abbott Turner College of Business

Undergraduate Program
Graduate Program

Columbus State University is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Accreditation by AACSB, recognized as the premier accrediting agency of business schools, is the hallmark of excellence in management education.

Mission Statement
Turner College of Business
Columbus State University

The mission of the Turner College of Business is to prepare students to add value to their communities, and to local and regional firms, our students' primary employers.

As a teaching institution serving a highly diverse student population primarily from west central Georgia, the Turner College of Business is committed to:

emphasizing undergraduate management education;
offering a small evening MBA program for working professionals;
attracting and retaining an academically qualified faculty who are committed to student learning and continuous improvement;
supporting quality teaching, applied research, instructional development, professional service, and business community outreach;
creating a collegial learning community that promotes the individual growth, ethical development, and global awareness of our students, faculty, and staff.

Undergraduate Program

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

With a BBA degree, many jobs are open to graduates. Through post-baccalaureate and graduate coursework, accounting students are able to sit for the CPA exams. Our graduates find jobs in public accounting, financial planning, corporate finance, banking operations, government administration, military contracting and the IRS. The region is home to Fortune 500 financial services firms. In 2007 in Georgia, there were over 65,000 jobs in accounting and finance with average annual salaries between $34,000-76,000. There were over 2 million accounting and finance jobs nationally.

Management, marketing and business administration (general business) were recently identified by CareerBuilder.com as among the most popular majors for college students. Additionally, their report indicates that US average starting salaries in these fields are in the $50,000 to $60,000 range. According to the US Department of Labor, employment growth in these fields is generally expected to be at or above average. Management Information System majors often go into careers in network and systems analysis, data communication and database administration. The November 2007 Monthly Labor Review identified the above-mentioned MIS jobs plus several jobs in Finance as among the fastest growing occupations in the United States. The salaries in both groups were categorized as either "very high" or "high". See the Turner College of Business website for more detailed information on careers in these areas.

The Turner College of Business is located in the Center for Commerce and Technology.

Expected Outcomes

BBA Student Learning Goals: All students receiving a BBA degree from the D. Abbott Turner College of Business should be prepared to demonstrate:

Proficiency in critical thinking;
Knowledge of important concepts in key business disciplines;
An understanding of ethical issues;
An understanding of global and diversity issues;
Proficiency in communication;
Proficiency in information technology; and
Knowledge in a major field of specialization.

General BBA Degree Program Notes

At least one-half of the 72 business credit hours required for the BBA must be earned in the COB.
At least one-half of the Area H major hours required must be satisfactorily completed in the COB.
Courses taught at the 1000 or 2000 level at any institution may not be substituted for 3000 or 4000 level courses taught by the COB.
The recommended math sequence for COB business students is MATH 1111 (College Algebra) which is normally taken in Area A and MATH 1135 (Applied Calculus) which is normally taken in Area D. Since BUSA 3115 (Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions) has MATH 1125 as the prerequisite, students who did not take MATH 1125 in either Area A or Area D must take MATH 1125 as an Area J elective
Completion of Areas A and F with grades of "C" or better are prerequisites for five of the eight courses in Area G. Students may be granted entry to courses in Area G if they simultaneously enroll in the course(s) they are lacking in Area F with the following exceptions: FINC 3105 may not be attempted without having successfully completed ACCT 2102, and MKTG 3115 may not be attempted without having successfully completed ECON 2106.

Assessment of Student Learning in the Turner College of Business

Using different but complementary direct measures of student performance in the Turner College of Business provides a robust set of performance data. Reviewed by individual faculty, discipline groups, the College’s Assurance of Learning Committee, and administrators, results of these measures are used to make program improvements. In addition to course grades, direct measures of student performance in the Turner College of Business include:

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) Major Fields Test in Business. This test, conducted nationwide, assesses what students have learned primarily in courses common to all business majors (Areas F & G). Results are compared with those of other business students enrolled at selected peer institutions, as well as nationally, who have taken the exam that year. In the Turner College of Business the Major Fields Test is given to students in the BUSA 4185 capstone course in their senior year. The Turner College of Business also gives the graduate ETS Exam to students in the MBA program at the end of their course work.
Major-Specific Exams. Created by the Turner College faculty in each major, these exams supplement the results generated by the ETS Major Fields Test by focusing specifically on what students have learned in their major courses (Area H). The Major-Specific Exams are administered in the BUSA 4185 capstone course.
Course-Embedded Measures. Often beginning as course assignments such as exams, papers, presentations, or projects, course-embedded measures can be modified to reveal student performance data in ways that course grades might not. Faculty in the MBA program also use course-embedded measures for program assessment.

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. (For minors outside the COB, see the "Undergraduate Minors" section of this catalog.) Courses applied to a minor must be in addition to Area H major core course requirements.

The following minors are currently available to business majors in the Turner College of Business:

Accounting: 18 semester hours to include ACCT 2101, ACCT 2102, ACCT 3111, ACCT 3112, ACCT 3125, and ACCT 4141.
Economics: 18 semester hours to include ECON 2105, ECON 2106, ECON 3136, ECON 3145, ECON 3147, and ECON 3165.
Finance: 15 semester hours to include FINC 3105, FINC 3115, FINC 3125, FINC 4135, and one other FINC elective.
Management: 15 semester hours to include MGMT 3115, MGMT 3135, MGMT 4115, and two other MGMT electives.
Management Information Systems: 18 semester hours to include MISM 2115, MISM 3115, MISM 3125, MISM 4135, MISM 4145, and one other MISM elective.
Marketing: 15 semester hours to include MKTG 3115, MKTG 3135, MKTG 3136, MKTG 4135 or MKTG 4185, and one other MKTG elective.
International Business: 15 semester hours to include BUSA 3135, MGMT 4116, MKTG 4145, FINC 3156, and choose one other from the following list: BUSA 3555, MISM 3118, ECON 3165, or POLS 4166.

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
MISM 2115, Technological Applications in Business Decision Making
ECON 2105 and ECON 2106, Principles of Economics 1 & 2

Transfer Students

The Office of the Dean of the 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 COB 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. Transfer credit will be accepted from AACSB accredited schools and senior institutions in the Georgia BOR system. Any exceptions must be approved by the discipline coordinator and the appropriate department chair. The following courses will not be awarded transfer credit: BUSA 4185, CISM 4185, FINC 4185, MKTG 4185.

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 or non-degree seeking students should contact the COB Student Services Center to determine individual requirements.

Internships

Internship opportunities may be available to business students who meet the prerequisites. Placement in internships is restricted and cannot include an individual’s current employment assignment. Approval of the Department Chair and a substantial written proposal are required. An average of nine hours work per week is required. Credit for internships may be applied only as a business elective (Marketing, Management, Finance, MISM, and General Business students see the BUSA 4698 course description; Accounting students see the ACCT 4698 course description).

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.

MBA Program Goals and Objectives

Students will develop skill in using the basic analytical tools required by managers, including the fundamental concepts and principles from the various functional areas, in an imaginative, problem-solving capacity.
Students will develop the ability to make and carry out decisions.
Students will develop skill in dealing effectively with others, both in oral and written communication, and in a team environment.
Students will gain an awareness of international, multicultural, ethical, and diversity issues.
Students will develop an understanding of today's economic, political, and social environments.

Admission

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

An application for the MBA program (available online);
An official baccalaureate degree transcript from an accredited institution;
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) results;
At least two, with no more than three letters of recommendation from professional sources such as current or former employers, faculty, and business associates. Please use the recommendation form provided at http://mba.colstate.edu; and
A current resume.

Students must demonstrate, through their undergraduate preparation, the following skill sets:

Computer skills to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet analysis, presentation software, and the use of internet;
Mathematics to include algebra, statistics, and basic calculus, and;
Oral and written communication skills.

Applicants are required to have earned an overall grade point average of no less than 2.5 (on a 4-point scale) in their undergraduate studies for consideration for regular admission to the program.

Columbus State University's GMAT registration code is R64-XW-20.

Only scores from the GMAT taken within the past five years are accepted. A minimum score of 450 on the GMAT is required before an application will be considered for regular admission. 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. Students who are not admitted to the regular classification may be admitted on a provisional basis. Applicants with a minimum GMAT score of 430 or other professional/graduate degrees may be considered for provisional admission. The Graduate Program 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 with 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 Prerequisite Core and the MBA Core. Individuals with a business baccalaureate degree normally can obtain the MBA by completing the MBA Core. A student not possessing a baccalaureate degree in business will be required to take the MBA Core plus any prerequisites listed in the Prerequisite Core that haven’t been 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 Program Committee.

Prerequisite Core. These courses provide an adequate background for students who have earned non-business baccalaureate degrees. At the time of entry, the College of Business' Graduate Program Committee will determine which Prerequisite Core 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. 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 to review their preparation in these areas.

MBA 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 Prerequisite 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 MBA Core. The MBA program is a year-round program which includes summer term.

Transfer Credit. A maximum of six 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 Program Committee. Transfer credit will not be used 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.