Business Administration (BusAd)

Benjamin J. Allen, Dean
Labh S. Hira, Associate Dean

Undergraduate Study

James C. McElroy, Professor in charge, Undergraduate Programs in Business.

For undergraduate curriculum leading to the degree bachelor of science, majors in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing, production/operations management, transportation and logistics and a secondary major in international business, see College of Business, Curricula.

The department of Business Administration supports the undergraduate programs in the departments of Accounting, Finance, Logistics, Operations, and Management Information Systems, Management, and Marketing by providing specialized coursework in orientation to business, and cooperative education opportunities.

Graduate Study

James c. McElroy, Professor in Charge, Graduate Programs in Business

The College of Business offers two graduate programs in business administration: the master of business administration (MBA) and the master of science in business (M.S.), which are described below. The college also has a specialized master degree program, the master of accounting, which is described under the Department of Accounting. Finally, the College of Business is a participating member in two interdisciplinary programs, the master of science in industrial relations and the master of science in information assurance.

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

The College of Business offers a 48 credit program leading to a nonthesis master of business administration degree with a specialization in accounting, agribusiness, finance, human resource management, information systems, or marketing. The coursework is designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities for managerial success and leadership in organizations. The M.B.A. is the professional management education program for those pursuing careers in business.

Students working toward the master of business administration are required to complete a series of core courses in the basic functional areas of business (accounting, economics, statistics, finance, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, management information systems, international business, ethics and social responsibility, strategic management and business policy), and advanced elective coursework.

Courses for the M.B.A. are provided by the departments of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Logistics, Operations and Management Information Systems, Management, Marketing, and Statistics. Courses from other departments may also be chosen to meet specific student interests. Students interested in the agribusiness specialization may need to take courses in the College of Agriculture. Double degree programs are offered with architecture (M.Arch./M.B.A.), community and regional planning (M.B.A./ M.C.R.P.), and statistics (M.B.A./M.S.-Statistics).

Students may enroll in either the full-time program, the part-time Saturday program, or part-time evening program in Des Moines. The part-time M.B.A. programs are intended for those individuals who desire an M.B.A. while continuing their full-time employment.

The M.B.A. program is open to all individuals with a baccalaureate degree. Undergraduates from liberal arts, science, and technical programs are especially encouraged to apply. Academic potential and promise for a productive career in business and for managerial success and leadership in organizations are important criteria for admission. Applicants must submit Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, official transcripts of previous academic work, personal essays, resume, and three letters of reference. International students whose native language is not English and who did not graduate from a U.S. college or university are required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

Admissions offers to the MBA program are made only for fall semester entry. Although applicants will be considered after this date, applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials by May 1 (March 1 for international students).

Master of Science (M.S.) in Business

The College of Business offers graduate work leading to the master of science degree with a major in business. All the departments in the college, (Accounting, Finance, Logistics, Operations and Management Information Systems, Management, and Marketing), and the departments of Economics and Statistics cooperate in providing coursework toward this degree. The program is designed to serve those students who desire specialized study of an area within business at the master’s level. It also serves to develop their research capabilities.

The M.S. degree is best suited for students with degrees or academic backgrounds in business as they may complete the program within the 30 credit minimum. Students without business backgrounds are required to fulfill pre-requisites and common body of knowledge coursework in accounting, finance, management information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, operations management, global business, and business ethics. The program is composed of 7 credits of required courses in economics and statistics plus 3 to 6 credits of thesis and 17 to 20 credits of coursework in an area of emphasis. The student, with the help of a program of study committee, designs an educational program in specialized functional or industry areas within business.

Application deadline for the M.S. program is May 1 for fall admission and November 1 for spring admission. Applicants must submit official transcripts of previous educational coursework and degrees, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, personal essays, resume, and three letters of reference. International students whose native language is not English and who did not graduate from a U.S. college or university are required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

Courses Primarily for Undergraduate Students

BusAd 101. Orientation
(1-0) Cr. 0.5. F.S.SS. First 8 weeks. A required orientation for all College of Business students. Review of college and university requirements, transfer credits, academic planning, university policies and deadlines, and registration procedures. Includes group advising for course selection and registration. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

BusAd 101H. Orientation
(1-0) Cr. 0.5. F. 8 weeks. Prereq: Membership in the Freshman Honors Program. Designed to supplement the Freshman Honors orientation (Hon 121) with college specific information, to facilitate the development of Honors programs of study in business, and to acquaint students with university policies and procedures. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

BusAd 201. Introduction to Careers in Business
(1-0) Cr. 0.5 F.S. 8 weeks. Prereq: Sophomore classification. Introduction to career fields open to business majors. Presentations by business professionals in various areas of business. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

BusAd 291. Experiential Learning
Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: Written approval of supervising instructor and department chair on required form prior to the learning experience. Supervised travel and/or work experience in a business related discipline. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

A. Domestic Internship.

B. International Internship.

C. Domestic Travel and Study.

D. International Travel and Study.

BusAd 301. Professional Employment Preparation
(1-0) Cr. 1. Designed to provide students with the skills to develop and implement full-time or internship job search. Topics include resume writing, interviewing skills, application letters, job search skills, business etiquette, dress for success, adapting to the workplace and organizing your job search. Highlights include a dress for success "fashion show", a sit-down business etiquette dinner with professional leader and and employer panel. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

BusAd 398. Cooperative Education
Cr. R. Prereq: Permission of department. Required of all cooperative students. Students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period. May be taken with up to three credit hours maximum.

BusAd 490. Independent Study
Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: 490A: Mgmt 414, Mkt 448, Trlog 466 or Fin 452; senior classification, permission of instructor; for 490H: Admission to the Business Honors Program.

                A.International Business

                H.Honors

BusAd 491. Professional Experiential Learning
Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: Professional program, 12 credits from College of Business; written approval of supervising instructor and department chair on required form prior to the learning experience. Supervised travel and/or work experiences in a business related discipline. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

A. Domestic Internship.

B. International Internship.

C. Domestic Travel and Study.

D. International Travel and Study.

E. Other Experiential Learning Experience.

Courses Primarily for Graduate Students, open to qualified undergraduate students

BusAd 533. Economic and Business Decision Tools (Same as Econ 533.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Econ 501 or Econ 532; not for Ph.D. students in the economics program. Team taught by faculty in the Department of Economics and the College of Business, this course focuses on applied economic and business tools decision making. The topics covered include: Monte Carlo analysis with applications to option pricing and insurance mechanism design, portfolio analysis using existing standard spreadsheet software and add-ons, dynamic programming tools for inventory management and sequential decisions, discrete choice modeling and statistical bootstrapping, and financial performance evaluating using commercially available software.

BusAd 591. Professional Experiential Learning
Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: Graduate standing; written approval of supervising instructor and department chair on required form prior to the learning experience. Academically supervised travel and/or work experiences in a business related discipline. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

BusAd 599. Creative Component
Cr. 3. Prereq: Graduate classification, permission of supervisory committee chair. Preparation and writing of creative component.

                A. Accounting

                C. Finance

                E. Management

                F. Marketing

                H. Transportation and Logistics

                I. Agribusiness

                J. General Business

                K. Management Information Systems

                L. Production/Operations Management

BusAd 699. Research
Cr. 3 to 6, arranged. F.S.SS. Prereq: Graduate classification, permission of major professor. Research.