2015-2016 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Business Administration - Program Description
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the Seidman College of Business section in this catalog.
Website: www.gvsu.edu/business
Undergraduate Business Program
The undergraduate program provides students with business education that blends liberal arts and professional courses with practical application. The programs are designed to prepare students for careers in various business areas as well as for admission into graduate and professional schools.
Admission
Refer to Seidman College of Business in the Colleges section of this catalog.
Academic Review
In order to graduate, admitted upper-division business students must achieve a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA and a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA in all Seidman business and economics courses. If the cumulative GPA falls below 2.5, students will be considered on probation with Seidman College. Students will not be permitted to take additional 300- and 400-level business and economics courses. However, such students may repeat 300- and 400-level Seidman business and economics courses for which they received a low grade. Students are advised to contact the Seidman Undergraduate Programs Office for assistance. Once students reestablish themselves in good standing with Seidman College by improving their grade point average to a 2.50 or higher, they can be reassigned to their Seidman major.
Students may repeat up to three different business and economics courses in their undergraduate career, but no single business or economics course can be repeated more than once. Exceptions are made only with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Business Programs.
It is the policy of the Seidman College of Business that no credit shall be earned for any course if, at any time, it is found that the student has not met the prerequisites as determined by the head of the unit offering the course.
Academic Advising
All routine advising for program requirements and scheduling for undergraduate students is provided by the Seidman Undergraduate Programs Office, 1041 SCB, L. William Seidman Center. Appointments are available at either the Seidman Center or in Allendale by calling 331-7500. It is the student's responsibility to contact the office for program planning. Freshman and sophomore business students are encouraged to contact any faculty member or the Seidman Undergraduate Programs Office concerning business career opportunities and advice. A faculty advisor will be assigned when a student is admitted to the upper-division program.
Internship Opportunities
Undergraduate business students are encouraged to become involved in, and receive academic credit for, a work experience directly related to their major. Junior and senior students who wish to apply must have completed at least nine hours of the core program requirements and should have an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible. Internship application forms are available at the Seidman Undergraduate Programs Office. Students selected will intern for a varied number of hours each week depending on the number of credits of the internship. Coordination of each internship is provided by the Seidman Internship Supervisor. Students may apply up to six hours of internship and independent research credit, in any combination, toward their degree requirements.
Transfer Students
Transfer students may receive transfer credit for basic courses in accounting, business law, computing, economics, management, marketing, mathematics, and statistics completed at their junior or community college. Credit may be given for Intermediate Accounting I if the student is able to pass a validation exam.
In all cases, transfer students may apply a maximum of 24 hours of transfer credit for business courses toward their Seidman College of Business degree and must complete a minimum of five of the twelve business core courses and four of the six business major courses required for the degree at the Seidman College of Business. It is extremely important that transfer students meet with an advisor in the Seidman Undergraduate Programs Office before registering for classes.
Graduate Business Program
The graduate business programs are open to qualified individuals with bachelor's degrees from accredited colleges and universities.
Graduate Admissions
No particular undergraduate major is necessary for students selecting the traditional part-time or full-time M.B.A. programs, the M.S.A., or the M.S.T., although candidates may be required to complete background coursework in business subjects before attempting advanced work. It is recommended that M.S.T. students have a background in accounting or law.
Candidates are admitted to the master's degree programs in business administration, accounting, or taxation based on criteria that have been shown to predict success in graduate business programs, including performance on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), previous undergraduate and graduate academic performance, and evidence of other competencies related to academic program and work place success. A TOEFL score of at least 80 (IBT) is also required of applicants whose first language is not English.
The Graduate Admissions Committee considers a scholastic index for graduate business program applicants, computed as follows: (GPA for last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework x 200) + GMAT score. For example, an applicant with a 3.0 GPA and 500 GMAT has a scholastic index of 1100. Further consideration is given to the quantitative, qualitative, and writing scores of the GMAT and grades earned in courses determined to be relevant to the graduate curriculum. Using the scholastic index and other information, the committee implements the policies and practices described below.
An applicant for the traditional part time M.B.A., with a scholastic index of 1100, including a GMAT score of at least 500, is generally admitted without further committee review. Applications with scholastic indexes of 1100, including GMAT scores between 450 and 490 are examined by the committee for evidence predictive of success. The committee's analysis may result in the applicant being required to score higher on the GMAT or to upgrade his or her undergraduate record by completing background coursework with acceptable performance prior to the academic decision. Recognizing that both test scores and previous academic achievement are indicators of performance in the graduate programs, acceptable performance in background courses does not compensate for an unacceptable GMAT score. Although work experience is not required, it is preferred and may be a deciding factor.
The Full-Time Integrated M.B.A. (FIMBA) program is highly competitive and designed for students with no, or limited, work experience. Applicants are held to the same GPA, test score, and scholastic index standards as for the part-time program. Finalists will also submit a writing sample and will be interviewed for other competencies related to academic program and fellowship placement. Admission will be contingent on acceptance as a business fellow.
An applicant for the M.S.A. or M.S.T. program with a scholastic index of 1100, including a GMAT score of at least 500, is generally admitted without further committee review. Applications with scholastic indexes of 1100, including GMAT scores between 450 and 490 are examined by the committee for evidence predictive of success. The committee's analysis may result in the applicant being required to score higher on the GMAT or to upgrade his or her undergraduate record by completing background coursework with acceptable performance prior to the admission decision. Recognizing that both test scores and previous academic achievement are indicators of performance in the graduate programs, acceptable performance in background courses does not compensate for unacceptable GMAT score. Work experience is not required.
Applicants for the M.S.A., are not required to submit a GMAT score if they have an M.B.A. or M.S.T. from an AACSB-accredited school, or a J.D. with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicants for the M.S.A. may request a GMAT waiver if they have earned a B.B.A., in accounting from an AACSB-accredited school with superior grades in select accounting courses. Inquiries should be made of the graduate programs director.
Applicants for the M.S.T. are not required to submit a GMAT score if they have an M.B.A. or M.S.A. from an AACSB-accredited school, or a J.D. with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicants for the M.S.T. may request a GMAT waiver if they have earned a B.B.A., in accounting from an AACSB-accredited school with superior grades in select accounting courses. Inquiries should be made of the graduate programs director.
Applicants will be given an admission decision for any academic semester for which they apply, provided their applications are complete at least one month before the semester begins. The exception is the FIMBA program for which applications are due by February 15 for the summer semester that follows.
Individuals not yet admitted to the traditional M.B.A., M.S.A., or M.S.T. programs may enroll in 500 level background courses with permission of the graduate business programs director. Enrollment in 600 level courses is generally restricted to students admitted to the respective program who have also completed the appropriate prerequisite courses. The exception to this policy is Seidman College students with senior standing who meet all other admissions criteria. With permission of the graduate programs director, such students may enroll for as many as five 600 level business courses that will be applied toward a graduate degree once they are admitted. FIMBA courses may not be taken by any student not admitted to that program.
Participating Programs
B.B.A./J.D.
The Seidman College of Business and Michigan State University College of Law (MSU Law) have partnered to offer a "3+3" program (Legal Education Admission Program - LEAP) that gives Grand Valley business students the opportunity to earn a B.B.A. and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in approximately six years.
Interested students complete a minimum of 96 credits comprised of the required undergraduate courses in their first three years of study at Grand Valley. This includes all university-level requirements as well as the requirements for the specific business major. Upon admission to the law school, Seidman students complete their undergraduate electives with law school courses. Up to 24 credits of MSU Law work in which the student earned a 2.0 or above will be accepted. MSU Law courses may be applied to the four upper-division elective courses (12 credits) required for the B.B.A. The B.B.A. will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the number of credits and requirements necessary for the undergraduate program.
Students may apply any time during their junior year for admission to LEAP. GVSU students interested in LEAP must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.60, and a score of 156 or higher on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is highly recommended. A Joint Committee comprised of faculty from both institutions will admit students to the LEAP program on the basis of undergraduate record, ACT scores, and other information deemed relevant. Additionally, applicants to the program must obtain letters of recommendation from the GVSU LEAP advisor and a second recommendation from another GVSU faculty member, with both recommenders commenting on the applicant's preparedness for this accelerated program.
Honors Organizations
Beta Alpha Psi - Kappa Beta Chapter
Beta Alpha Psi is a national scholastic and professional honors society. The primary objective of the society is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the field of accounting, finance and information systems. Grand Valley State University's chapter of Beta Alpha Psi is dedicated to enhancing career opportunities and providing a social environment for persons of similar life goals. The chapter has regular meetings, sponsors speakers, participates in outreach programs such as the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program, and holds numerous social events. Members have the opportunity to attend regional and national meetings held in different cities each year. Membership allows students to learn first-hand about elements of a successful accounting career and ensures multiple network opportunities with practicing professional accountants.
Membership is open to any part- or full-time student majoring in accounting and finance at Grand Valley State University with an upper level cumulative GPA in declared area of concentration of at least a 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) and a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.0 (or an overall GPA of 3.25 for the last 35 credits).
Beta Gamma Sigma
The Grand Valley State University chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, a national honor society in business administration, promotes high scholarship in business education by recognizing and rewarding scholastic attainment in business subjects.
Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is awarded once each year to undergraduate and graduate students who are in the top 7 percent of the junior class, the top 10 percent of the senior class, and the top 20 percent of graduating master's students. Induction occurs annually near the end of the winter semester.
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Grand Valley State University is home to Omicron Delta Epsilon's Rho Chapter of Michigan. Omicron Delta Epsilon is the international honor society for economics and is one of the world's largest academic honor societies. The objectives of Omicron Delta Epsilon include recognition of scholastic attainment, the honoring of outstanding achievement in economics and the establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics within colleges and universities, and among colleges and universities.
Membership is open primarily to economics majors (although non-majors who have a significant interest in economics will also be considered) who have completed at least 12 credit hours of economics courses, have at least an overall "B" average at Grand Valley State University and a minimum 3.0 GPA in their economics courses, and be ranked in the top third of their class. Induction occurs annually near the end of the winter semester.
The following programs are available:
Bachelor of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
Combined Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor