2002-2003 Edition
Texas A&M University Undergraduate CatalogTexas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Contents
Academic Calendar
Board of Regents and System Administrative Officers
TAMU Administrative Officers
General Information
International Programs for Students
University Honors Program
Environmental Program
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Architecture
Lowry Mays College and Graduate School of Business
College of Education
Dwight Look College of Engineering
College of Geosciences
College of Liberal Arts
College of Science
College of Veterinary Medicine
General Academic Programs
School of Military Sciences
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Graduate Studies
Course Descriptions
Faculty
Appendices
Section ContentsPrevious PageNext Page
 

 

Administrative Officers

Dean
-
 Jerry R. Strawser, B.B.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Executive Associate Dean
-
 Ricky W. Griffin, B.B.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.
Associate Dean
-
 John J. Dinkel, B.A., Ph.D.
Associate Dean
-
 Clair J. Nixon, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Program
-
 Peter Drysdale, B.B.A., M.S.

General Statement

A goal of Mays Business School is to help develop students to become effective managers, concerned citizens and life-long learners. Through challenging academic and enrichment programs, the business school provides students with numerous opportunities for intellectual, leadership and personal development.

In support of this student development goal, the curriculum in business has a dual emphasis--a broad-based education in the foundation disciplines of the liberal arts and the sciences, and a focused development of business knowledge and behavioral skills.

The program of study in business provides students a background in the basic academic areas--mathematics; humanities; natural, social and behavioral sciences; and, rhetoric and composition. Students simultaneously pursue introductory course work in accounting, economics, business computing systems and the legal environment of business. This broad educational foundation provides an enriching dimension to the university experience that cannot be attained in a more limited course of study.

Upon successful completion of this broad-based course work, the student will begin to focus on a major field of study and a full range of business courses. The major field--chosen from the fields of accounting, finance, information and operations management, management, marketing and agribusiness--is designed to prepare students for an entry-level organizational position as well as subsequent career development. Each major has a set of required courses, as well as electives, from which students may gain additional depth in the chosen area.

This combination of a broad educational foundation and more specialized study produces graduates uniquely qualified to deal with the rapidly changing and diverse global economy.

Requirements for Graduation

Requirements for graduation are listed in the Texas A&M University Student Rules and this catalog.

With the exception of physical activity and general elective requirements, courses taken to satisfy degree requirements must be taken for letter grades.

In addition, students in Mays Business School must have a GPR of 2.0 in the courses included in the Common Body of Knowledge.

Transfer of Credits

Acceptance of transfer of credit for business courses will generally be limited to those courses taught in the freshman and sophomore years at this institution.

Junior- and senior-level business courses completed at another institution must be validated if they are to be used to fulfill degree requirements in Mays Business School. Courses are ordinarily validated from an examination of course materials and may require a validation examination. Validation examinations are free of charge and are typically given during the first week of classes of each long semester. Students should contact the Undergraduate Program Office (Room 209, Wehner Building) for the validation policy and, if applicable, the examination schedule for transfer courses submitted for meeting upper-division business requirements.

Credit by Examination

Undergraduate students may receive credit for certain courses required in undergraduate business curricula by successfully completing a departmental examination. Students should contact the Undergraduate Program Office (Room 209, Wehner Building) for this information. A fee is charged for such an examination.

Students may not receive credit by examination for courses in which they are enrolled, which they have previously failed, or which are prerequisite to courses for which they already have credit. Credit by examination is not acceptable to meet the technical writing requirement.

Bachelor's Degrees and Departments of Instruction

The academic program of Mays Business School is organized in the following departments: Accounting, Finance, Information and Operations Management, Management and Marketing. Bachelor of Business Administration degrees are offered in each of these five majors.

In conjunction with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mays Business School also offers a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. Different requirements exist for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree than for the Bachelor of Science--Agribusiness degree.

Bachelor of Business Administration

The degree of Bachelor of Business Administration is offered in five fields of study. These are the basic business functions of accounting, finance, information and operations management, management and marketing. Each requires a minimum of 128 semester credit hours of study. The student elects one of these as a "major," but is also required to study fundamental theory and procedure in each of the other four. In addition, the student takes courses essential to a general liberal education.

The following is a representation of the curriculum requirements by area:

 
Accounting
Finance
Information and
Operations Management
Management
Marketing
 
Common Body of Knowledge
36 hours
36 hours
36 hours
36 hours
36 hours
 
Courses required in major, not included in core
18
18
18
15
21
 
Electives
16
13
22
19
13
 
Other required courses:
   Accounting
--
9
--
--
--
   Behavioral    sciences
3
3
3
3*
3*
   Business law
3
--
--
--
--
   Natural    sciences
8
8
8
8
8
   U.S. history    and political    science
12
12
12
12
12
   Humanities
3
3
3
3
3
   Visual and    performing    arts
3
3
3
3
3
   International
6**
6**
6**
6**
6**
   English and    speech
9
9
9
9
9
   Mathematics
6
6
6
6
6
   Information    and    operations    management
--
--
--
3
3
   Economics
3
--
--
3
3
   Physical    activity
2
2
2
2
2
 
----
----
----
----
----
Total
128
128
128
128
128
* Management and Marketing majors must take PSYC 107, Introduction to Psychology.
** Three hours may be taken outside Mays Business School. Management majors must take MGMT 450, International Environment of Business.
 
B.B.A. Common Body of Knowledge
Required Courses
Credit
ACCT 229 Introductory Accounting
3
ACCT 230 Introductory Accounting
3
ECON 202 Principles of Economics-Microeconomics
3
ECON 203 Principles of Economics-Macroeconomics
3
FINC 341 Business Finance
3
INFO 210 Fundamentals of Information Systems
3
INFO 303 Statistical Methods
3
INFO 364 Operations Management
3
MGMT 211 Legal and Social Environment of Business
3
MGMT 363 The Management Process
3
MGMT 466 Management Policy
3
MKTG 321 Marketing
3
 
36
 
Upper-Level Entry into
Accounting, Finance, Information and Operations Management,
Management and Marketing (B.B.A.)

Students who meet the University and college entrance requirements enter Mays Business School in the BUAD (lower-level business) classification. Enrollment of Mays Business School students in junior- and senior-level business courses is limited to those who have been admitted to upper level in one of the six majors (B.B.A.: accounting, finance, information and operations management, management, marketing or B.S.: agribusiness) in the college.

All GEST (General Studies) students will be treated as BUAD students for consideration when pre-registering in upper-level business courses. GEST students must be admitted to Mays Business School prior to the first day of the semester for which they have pre-registered in upper-level business courses that are designated for business majors only.

Note: The degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is offered in Agribusiness. B.S. (agribusiness) degree requirements and upper-level entry requirements are different than those for the B.B.A. and are found beginning on page 276.

The B.B.A. (accounting, finance, information and operations management, management and marketing) upper-level entry requirements and application procedures are as follows:

  1. To be admitted to an upper-level major, a student must be admitted to Mays Business School and must have:

    a. Satisfactorily completed at least 60 semester credit hours.

    b. Satisfactorily completed the following eight courses:

    ACCT 229 Introductory Accounting--Financial
    ACCT 230 Introductory Accounting--Managerial
    ECON 202 Principles of Economics--Microeconomics
    ECON 203 Principles of Economics--Macroeconomics
    INFO 210 Fundamentals of Information Systems
    MATH 141 Business Mathematics I
    MATH 142 Business Mathematics II
    MGMT 211 Legal and Social Environment of Business

c. BUAD students apply for upper level in the semester before they expect to enter upper level, using the University's BONFIRE system. Application deadlines are:

April 15 for June (summer semester) entry*

July 15 for September (fall semester) entry

November 15 for January (spring semester) entry

* To enter upper level in the summer, all requirements must be completed by the beginning of the first summer session.

d. Admission to an upper-level major may be restricted by the availability of instructional resources.

e. Students are encouraged to complete the freshman and sophomore sequence of courses as listed under Curriculum in Business. BUAD and GEST students may pre-register for upper-level courses for the semester for which they have applied for upper level. However, BUAD and GEST students failing to complete upper-level requirements prior to the start of the semester shall not be permitted to remain enrolled in upper-level classes.
  1. Transfer students:
    Transfer students admitted to Mays Business School will be classified as BUAD (lower-level Business) students until they complete all requirements listed previously in item 1, at which time they may apply for admission to an upper-level major field of study in the business school. Transfer students may immediately apply for upper level when admitted to Mays Business School if, and only if, they meet all upper-level requirements at that time.
  1. Change of curriculum students:
    Texas A&M students who change curriculum into Mays Business School from another college or department at the University will be classified as BUAD (lower-level Business) students until they complete all requirements listed previously in item 1. Change of curriculum students who, when admitted to the business school, qualify to apply for admission to the upper level may do so.
  1. Preference for available seats in junior- and senior-level business courses will be given to students who have been admitted to a degree granting major in Mays Business School. GEST students will be treated as BUAD students and thus are not eligible for enrollment in upper-level business courses. All ineligible students who pre-register for upper-level business classes are subject to cancellation of their enrollment in these courses.