Michael E. Stephens College of Business

 

William Rupp, Dean
Morgan Hall 201, Station 6540
telephone: (205) 665-6540
fax: (205) 665-6560
e-mail: ruppwt@montevallo.edu

Professors Bell, Martin, Mechitov, Rupp (Dean), Williams; Associate Professors Hamilton, MacPherson, Moshkovich, Motii, Narz, Rovelstad; Assistant Professors Bunn, Connell, McMinn, Sanders.

Mission

The mission of the Stephens College of Business is to develop future business leaders.

To achieve this mission we value:

• quality education through personalized teaching and advising;
• A commitment to the importance of ethical behavior in a diverse world;
• the liberal arts as a basis for life-long learning; and
• responsible citizenship leading to meaningful and relevant careers.

Programs

The College offers the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with majors in Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing. Building upon the mission and goals of the College, the programs are designed to develop and equip students for the workplace. To accomplish this, the programs are built upon the understanding of the natural sciences, mathematics, the arts, and human behavior found in the study of the liberal arts. Students choosing business programs are required to express ideas convincingly and clearly in writing and presentation. Students are required to work in — and lead — teams, and have an ability to conduct business meetings in a technological and global environment while demonstrating a commitment to diversity and ethical integrity.

Accreditation

Michael E. Stephens College of Business degree programs are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. It is devoted to the promotion and improvement of higher education in business administration and management.

This accreditation places the Michael E. Stephens College of Business as one of the top business programs in the country.

Accreditation means that Stephens College of Business students are assured of being prepared for the workplace of the 21st century through curricula that blend theory and practice and are delivered by faculty members with strong academic credentials and professional experience.

Its programs reflect currency and relevancy in knowledge and practices while satisfying criteria established and accepted by the international management education community.

Its students are assured that the Stephens College mission is achieved through demonstrated high-quality teaching and research leading to student learning.

Accreditation also means employers recognize the value of a Stephens College business degree.

Curriculum

The Michael E. Stephens College of Business offers the Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree with majors in Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing. Each degree program requires completion of the General Education Core, the Business Core, and a Major.

Admission Policy

Freshmen admitted with either an American College Testing Program (ACT) composite score of less than 18 or a Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) combined score of less than 800 must successfully complete ENG 101 and 102 and MATH 144, 147, or higher to be eligible for enrollment in the Michael E. Stephens College of Business. Current University students changing to a business major, transfer students, and non-Stephens College of Business students being readmitted to the University must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 based on a 4.0 scale in order to be eligible for admission to the Stephens College of Business.

Academic regulations

• Before a student enrolls in junior-level business courses, 60 semester hours must have been completed.
• Business majors must schedule freshman English and mathematics each semester until course requirements are successfully completed.
• To graduate, a Business major must:
  1. attain a minimum 2.0 GPA on all business courses attempted in the basic business core and a 2.0 GPA on all business courses attempted in the major,
  2. complete the last 39 semester hours at the University, and
  3. complete the last 18 semester hours in the basic business core and the last 15 semester hours in the major at Montevallo.
• Transfer students should follow the program of study outlined for B.B.A. candidates at the University during the freshman and sophomore years at other institutions.
  1. The dean of the College determines eligible transfer credit that applies toward business degrees.
  2. Transfer students must schedule freshman and sophomore course deficiencies each semester until successfully completed.

General Education Core

Students seeking an undergraduate degree at UM must complete a 53-semester-hour General Education curriculum that includes courses in English, history, mathematics, the natural sciences, social sciences, fine arts, oral and written communication, computer applications, and health and kinesiology.

The minimum requirements are included in the Academic Programs and Policies chapter of this Bulletin, under the degree requirements section.

All Business majors must take EC 231 and 232, which fulfill 6 hours of the History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences component of the General Education curriculum.

Courses in the general education core and business core curriculum satisfy the computer applications and writing reinforcement requirements of the General Education program.

Business Core

Students seeking the B.B.A. degree must complete the 36-semester-hour business core, 18 or more hours in their majors, plus sufficient electives after consultation with their adviser to complete at least 130 hours required for graduation.

The Business Core requirements are:
 

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
AC 221, 222	Principles of Accounting I and II	6
BL 283	Legal Environment of Business	3
FI 372	Business Finance	3
MG 361	Principles of Management and Organization Theory	3
MG 405	Business Professional Development	3
MG 469	Business Policy	3
MIS 367	Management Information Systems	3
MK 351	Principles of Marketing	3
QM 235, 236	Quantitative Methods in Business I and II	6
QM 363	Operations Management	3

Majors

The College offers the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with majors in Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing.

Accounting

The Accounting major prepares students for careers in financial reporting, managerial accounting, taxation, and general business. Students obtaining accounting degrees from this institution pursue careers in public accounting, controlling, finance, sales, and general management. They are employed by public accounting firms, industrial companies, financial companies, and government agencies. Accounting students are exposed to the traditional accounting fields such as auditing, information systems, generally accepted practices, law, taxation, and cost determination. The program is designed so students can prepare for the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) Examination. The program follows the prescribed Alabama State Board of Accountancy curricular recommendations.

The following courses, totaling 30 credit hours, are required for a major in Accounting.

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
AC 324, 325, 327	Intermediate Accounting I, II, III	9
AC 326	Cost Accounting I	3
AC 421	Income Tax I	3
AC 423	Auditing I	3
BL 384	Business Law	3
	Three electives from: AC 422, 425, 426, 427, 428	9

CPA prerequisites: A student who intends to sit for the CPA in Alabama must complete:

1. all five of the Accounting electives (AC 422, 425, 426, 427, and 428);
2. sufficient additional hours to meet the 150-hours requirement of the State of Alabama accountancy law.

Finance

The Finance major develops the specialized finance knowledge, techniques, and skills necessary to students to be successful in the workplace. The program encompasses the major areas of finance including corporate finance, financial institutions and markets, and investments. This degree program offers a strong foundation in the principles of valuation, financial statement analysis, and the concepts behind sound financial decision making.

The successful finance student will possess strong analytical skills, the ability to write, and the ability to speak clearly and convincingly. Both the required and elective courses in the finance major help develop these skills. Many finance courses require the use of spreadsheets, statistical packages, presentation software, and word processing. Using these computer programs will aid in the development of the skills necessary for a degree that is very marketable.

The following courses, totaling 18 credit hours, are required for a major in Finance.
 

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
FI 401	Money and Banking	3
FI 471	The Management of Depository Institutions	3
FI 472	Advanced Business Finance	3
FI 473	Investments	3
	At least two of the following courses: FI 474, 475, 476, 477	6

Management

The Management major is a blend of theory and professional application. This dynamic curriculum is designed to respond to the needs of business. Students receive a management education that focuses on management skills and leadership. The program is designed to develop and refine interpersonal and analytical skills necessary to create centers of management excellence. Students whose accomplishments reflect strong leadership qualities and the ability to improve the efficiency or competitive position of an organization will have the best opportunities in the workplace.

The following courses, totaling 18 credit hours, are required for a major in Management.
 

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
MG 308	Business and Society	3
MG 462	Human Resource Management	3
MG 464	Leadership and Organizational Change	3
MG 467	Organizational Behavior	3
	Two of the following courses: MG 460, 465, 466, 476	6

Marketing

The Marketing major examines the marketing processes that plan and execute the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services. Students in the marketing major become proficient in developing, analyzing, and creating exchanges that satisfy individual and organization objectives. Marketing students develop a comprehensive overview of marketing theory and professional practices that lead to positions in advertising, marketing research, communications, public relations, sales management, franchising, and retailing.

The following courses, totaling 18 credit hours, are required for a major in Marketing.
 

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
MK 353	Marketing Communications	3
MK 452	Strategic Marketing Management	3
MK 453	Marketing Research	3
MK 458	International Marketing	3
	Two of the following courses: MK 352, 450, 455, 476	6

Minors

Accounting

A minor in Accounting consists of 18 hours of accounting, including AC 221 and 222 and 12 additional credit hours of upper-division accounting courses.

Business

A minor in Business consists of 24 hours of required and elective business courses, including: AC 221, EC 231, FI 372, MG 361, MK 351, and 9 additional credit hours of business electives. These additional hours can be selected from any business discipline for which a student has the appropriate prerequisites, provided that no more than 6 hours of electives come from the same discipline.

Management Information Systems

A minor in Management Information Systems consists of 24 hours of required and elective business courses, including: MIS 161, 267, 350 or 370, 410, 6 credit hours of MIS electives, and 6 additional credit hours of business electives chosen from AC 221, AC 222, BL 283, MG 361 or higher, and MK 351 or higher.

Retail Merchandising

A minor in Business for retail students consists of the following classes: AC 221, EC, 231, MG 308 and 361, MK 351 and 352, and two business electives.

Courses in Business

Accounting (AC)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
221	Principles of Accounting I	3
222	Principles of Accounting II	3
324	Intermediate Accounting I	3
325	Intermediate Accounting II	3
326	Cost Accounting I	3
327	Intermediate Accounting III	3
421	Income Tax I	3
422	Advanced Accounting	3
423	Auditing I	3
425	Not-for-Profit Accounting	3
426	Cost Accounting II	3
427	Income Tax II	3
428	Auditing II	3
476	Applied Research in Accounting	3

Business Law (BL)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
283	Legal Environment of Business	3
384	Business Law	3

Economics (EC)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
231	Introduction to Macroeconomics	3
232	Introduction to Microeconomics	3
307	World Economy	3

Finance (FI)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
372	Business Finance	3
401	Money and Banking	3
471	The Management of Depository Institutions	3
472	Advanced Business Finance	3
473	Investments	3
474	Financial Planning	3
475	Special Topics	3
476	Applied Research in Finance	3
477	Corporate Liquidity	3

General Business (GB)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
100	Introduction to Business	3
270	Personal Finance	3
409	Internship in Business	3

Management (MG)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
308	Business and Society	3
361	Principles of Management and Organization Theory	3
405	Business Professional Development	3
460	Special Topics in Management	3
462	Human Resource Management	3
464	Leadership and Organizational Change	3
465	International Management	3
466	Entrepreneurial Leadership	3
467	Organizational Behavior	3
469	Business Policy	3
476	Applied Research in Management	3

Management Information Systems (MIS)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
161	Introduction to Computers	3
267	Web Design and Publishing	3
310	Computerized Data Analysis	3
330	Survey of Programming Languages	3
350	Business Programming	3
367	Management Information Systems	3
370	Internet Applications	3
410	Database Management	3
420	Telecommunications and Networking	3
430	E-Commerce	3
450	Systems Analysis and Design	3
460	Selected Topics in Management Information Systems	3
476	Applied Research in Management Information Systems	3

Marketing (MK)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
351	Principles of Marketing	3
352	Professional Selling	3
353	Marketing Communications	3
450	Services Marketing	3
452	Strategic Marketing Management	3
453	Marketing Research	3
455	Special Topics in Marketing	3
458	International Marketing	3
476	Applied Research in Marketing	3

Quantitative Methods (QM)

Course number	Course name	Credit hours
235	Quantitative Methods in Business I	3
236	Quantitative Methods in Business II	3
363	Operations Management	3

Suggested courses of study

B.B.A. in Accounting
Professor Martin, Associate Professor Narz, and Associate Professor Rovelstad, Advisers  

Freshman Year	Credit hours
ENG 101, 102	6
HIST 101, 102	6
MATH 144, 147, or higher	3
MIS 161	3
COMS 101	3
Fine arts	3
Natural sciences	8
Total credit hours	32

Sophomore Year
ENG 231, 232	6
EC 231, 232	6
AC 221, 222	6
BL 283	3
KNES 117	2
QM 235, 236	6
Humanities and fine arts	3
Total credit hours	32

Junior Year
AC 324, 325, 326	9
MK 351	3
MG 361	3
MIS 367	3
FI 372	3
QM 363	3
Humanities and fine arts	3
Major electives* (AC 425, 426)	6
Total credit hours	33

Senior Year
AC 327, 421, 423	9
BL 384	3
MG 405, 469	6
Major electives* (AC 422, 427, 428)	3
Business elective (300/400 level)	3
Kinesiology activity	1
General electives	8
Total credit hours	33

*Students wishing to sit for the CPA examination in Alabama must complete 36 hours of accounting courses beyond AC 221 and AC 222. They must also complete enough additional hours to meet the 150-hour requirement of the State of Alabama Accountancy Law.

B.B.A. in Finance
Associate Professor Motii and Assistant Professor Connell, Advisers 

Freshman Year	Credit hours
ENG 101, 102	6
HIST 101, 102	6
MATH 144, 147, or higher	3
MIS 161	3
COMS 101	3
General elective	3
Fine arts	3
Natural sciences	8
Total credit hours	35

Sophomore Year
ENG 231, 232	6
EC 231, 232	6
AC 221, 222	6
BL 283	3
KNES 117	2
QM 235, 236	6
Total credit hours	29

Junior Year
FI 372*, 401, 471	9
MK 351	3
MG 361	3
MIS 367	3
QM 363	3
Humanities and fine arts	6
Business electives (300/400 level)	6
Total credit hours	33

*FI 372 must be taken prior to taking any other Finance courses.

Senior Year
FI 472, 473	6
Major electives (FI 474, 475, 476, 477)	6
MG 405, 469	6
Business elective (300/400 level)	3
Kinesiology activity	1
General electives	11
Total credit hours	33

B.B.A. in Management
Professors Bell and Mechitov, Associate Professors Hamilton and Moshkovich, and Assistant Professors McMinn and Sanders, Advisers  

Freshman Year	Credit hours
ENG 101, 102	6
HIST 101, 102	6
MATH 144, 147, or higher	3
MIS 161	3
COMS 101	3
General elective	3
Fine arts	3
Natural sciences	8
Total credit hours	35

Sophomore Year
ENG 231, 232	6
EC 231, 232	6
AC 221, 222	6
BL 283	3
KNES 117	2
QM 235, 236	6
Total credit hours	29

Junior Year
MG 308, 361, 462	9
MK 351	3
MIS 367	3
FI 372	3
QM 363	3
Humanities and fine arts	6
Business electives (300/400 level)	6
Total credit hours	33

Senior Year
MG 405, 464, 467, 469	12
Major electives (MG 460, 465, 466, 476)	6
Business elective (300/400 level)	3
Kinesiology activity	1
General electives	11
Total credit hours	33

B.B.A. in Marketing
Associate Professor MacPherson and Assistant Professor Bunn, Advisers  

Freshman Year	Credit hours
ENG 101, 102	6
HIST 101, 102	6
MATH 144, 147, or higher	3
MIS 161	3
COMS 101	3
General elective	3
Fine arts	3
Natural sciences	8
Total credit hours	35

Sophomore Year
ENG 231, 232	6
EC 231, 232	6
AC 221, 222	6
BL 283	3
KNES 117	2
QM 235, 236	6
Total credit hours	29

Junior Year
MK 351, 353, 452	9
MG 361	3
MIS 367	3
FI 372	3
QM 363	3
Humanities and fine arts	6
Business electives (300/400 level)	6
Total credit hours	33

Senior Year
MK 453, 458	6
Major electives (MK 352, 450, 455, 476)	6
MG 405, 469	6
Business elective (300/400 level)	3
Kinesiology activity	1
General electives	11
Total credit hours	33