Tilden Curry, Ph.D., Dean
Avon Williams Campus
www.cob.tnstate.edu
GENERAL STATEMENT
Vision
Our vision is to be broadly recognized for the high quality of our academic program, graduates that compete successfully in the global marketplace, a strong teaching and research faculty, and important outreach services to the Nashville area business community.
Mission
Our mission is to educate business professionals of the future through a complementary combination of teaching, research, and service focused on contemporary business operations, entrepreneurship, and urban economic development.
[The mission of the College of Business is guided by an appreciation of the institutional history of Tennessee State University and the obligations of a state university located in the heart of a vibrant metropolitan area with a diversified economy. This calls for the College of Business to prepare qualified students from a broad spectrum of society, to offer an appropriate array of sound baccalaureate and graduate degree programs, and to develop as one of the engines of economic development for its urban region containing local, national, and international businesses.]
Guiding Principles and Core Values
• Academic Integrity
• Collegiality
• Continuous Improvement
• Courtesy
• Diversity
• Ethical Conduct
• Global Perspective
• Mutual Respect
• Professionalism
• Scholarship
• Service
• Teamwork
Instruction
The strong credentials of the full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty are exemplified by the fact that 100% hold a doctoral degree and the majority have practical business experience. Instruction is further strengthened by average class sizes of approximately thirty students. The instructional program is designed to provide both traditional and innovative teaching approaches and the integration of business ethics, international business, and computer applications throughout the curriculum.
Research
The College of Business has a strong overall record in research productivity. Each faculty member remains current in his or her academic field and contributes to its advancement. Support for mission related research is provided through the College’s Office of Business and Economic Research. Additionally, the College has two approved Chairs of Excellence. The Frist Chair of Excellence in Business provides impetus for entrepreneurial research, activities and alliances in the community. The TSU Chair of Excellence in Banking and Financial Services is designed to serve as a catalyst for enhancing the College’s research as well as curriculum in the area of banking and financial services.
Public Service
Public Service is a strength of the College of Business . Services to the business community are provided through the:
Management Development Institute – Provides relevant programs of high quality to managers in the Nashville area. The Institute was created through an endowment from Aladdin Industries.
Nashville Business Incubation Center – Entrepreneurs are provided below market rental rates within the Incubation Center for up to five years, as well as managerial and administrative support. The Center is the result of collaborative efforts between TVA, EDA, TSU, and Growth Enterprises Nashville, Inc.
Office of Business and Economic Research – The office supports the overall mission of the College of Business by providing data and analyses of economic, demographic, and business trends for Tennessee’s private and public sector organizations. This office focuses on urban business and economic development issues and conducts applied research on a wide variety of topics related to urban development, small and minority businesses, and entrepreneurship through the combined expertise of faculty, staff, and students from the College of Business .
Office of International Business Programs – Strengthens the international dimension of the College of Business through establishing linkages with foreign institutions, international lecture series, student internships and study abroad opportunities, as well as curricula enhancements. Currently linkages with L’viv Institute of Management in the Ukraine and the Malawi Institute of Management, together with the Windows onto the World Lecture Series, are particularly noteworthy.
Small Business Development Center – Provides one-on-one business counseling, as well as workshops and seminars for several hundred small business clients each year. An extensive small business resource center, formerly known as the Small Business Resource Center of the Bank of America in Nashville , is an operational unit of the SBDC.
Women’s Institute for Successful Entrepreneurship – Especially addresses the needs of women who have started and grown their firms to a significant level of success and desire to acquire skills and knowledge to further advance their businesses.
Additionally, business majors share their growing knowledge of the business world by providing community service through:
Junior Achievement – Through hands-on activities, TSU students, faculty and staff help elementary school children better understand the relationship between what they learn in school and their successful participation in our economy.
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) – Involves the community in the free enterprise system through public awareness campaigns and classroom activities with school-age children.
Student Small Business Consulting Services – Senior and junior level students enrolled in MG 324 and 325 form teams to provide in-depth research and insight pertaining to the specific concerns of small business owners.
ACCREDITATION
The College of Business is accredited at both the undergraduate and graduate levels by the prestigious AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
ADVISEMENT
General advising in the College of Business is available Monday through Friday in two advisement centers, Avon Williams Campus, Suite H‑1, (615) 963‑7121 and Main Campus, Holland Hall, Room 103, (615) 963-5145. It is recommended that students visit one of these offices on a regular basis to ensure that they are informed about current requirements and procedures. Students desiring career and academic advisement should contact the department appropriate to their major for the assigned faculty advisor. A student handbook is available as a source of information on the College’s website.
The College of Business Student Development Center (SDC), located in Holland Hall on the Main Campus, is established to enhance academic achievement and career success for business majors. The Center maintains a hands-on approach with students and guides them through the matriculation process. The SDC provides easy access to information about College of Business policies, internships, career opportunities, professional development, and student organizations. The Center also produces the College of Business Student Handbook , a guide to College of Business policies and matriculation requirements.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The College of Business encourages its students to participate in extracurricular activities. To complement the total educational experience and to provide leadership opportunities, the following business student organizations are available: Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society in Business, The Accounting Club, Advertising Club, Association of Information Technology Professionals, Phi Beta Lambda, Society for Human Resource Management, The National Association of Black Accountants, The Finance Investment Club, Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, and Students in Free Enterprise. For information on these professional organizations, contact the Student Development Center at (615) 963-5145 in the College of Business located on the Main Campus in Holland Hall, Room 103.
SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited number of scholarships and academic awards are available for College of Business majors. The awards are based on academic excellence, civic achievements, course of study or other specific criteria developed by the sponsor. The scholarships and awards are sponsored by business, industry, individuals and professional organizations. For more information and/or applications, contact the College of Business Office of Public Service on the Avon Williams Campus at (615) 963-7137.
RESOURCES
In a broad sense, the entire business community of Nashville offers an ideal laboratory for student development. The College of Business is situated in the heart of downtown Nashville where faculty and students alike have ready access to sources of business and government information and relationships.
Special resources of the College of Business of particular interest to students are:
Accounting Tutorial
Office of Business and Economic Research
Microcomputer Labs
Frist Chair of Excellence in Business
Networking Lab
Chair of Excellence in Banking and Financial Services
Database Lab
Hassan Adamu Distinguished Professorship
Small Business Development Center
Student Development Center
Statistical Tutorial
Nashville Business Incubation Center
Office of International Business Programs
TEACHING LICENSURE
Business majors who wish to become certified to teach business and data processing courses in grades 7 through 12 may pursue their BBA degree with a Business Information Systems Education concentration. Certification requirements are taken in addition to BBA requirements. Admission and retention procedures for teacher education appear under the Department of Business Information Systems and under the College of Education sections of this catalog.
MAJORS IN BUSINESS
Four undergraduate majors are offered in the College of Business . The curriculum for each of these majors (see below) is presented under the section describing each of the four academic departments of the College of Business .
Departments Majors Degrees
Accounting &
Business Law Accounting BBA
Business Administration Business Administration* BBA
Business Information Business Information BBA
Systems Systems**
Economics and Finance Economics and Finance BBA
*Within the major of Business Administration, a student may concentrate in any one of the five following areas: General Business, Management, Marketing, Real Estate and Urban Development, or e-Business and Supply Chain Management.
**Within the major of Business Information Systems, a student may follow the Industry, e-Business Technology or Teacher Education concentration.
MINORS IN BUSINESS
The minor affords a traditional, well‑accepted way to recognize that a student has completed a significant body of work outside the major field. Students may wish to follow up on long time personal interests, satisfy intellectual curiosity generated by introductory courses, enrich their undergraduate experience, differentiate their individual program of study from those of fellow students, or enhance their opportunities for employment or for admission to graduate or professional schools.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration degree are encouraged to obtain minors in fields such as Psychology and Computer Science. Students outside the College of Business may apply for a minor in Business Administration or other minors offered by the College.
General Business Minor
For the General Business minor, students need to select at least 18 hours of business courses which meet their objectives for taking the minor. If courses selected have prerequisites, these must be satisfied. Only juniors and seniors may enroll in 3000 or 4000 level business courses. ACCT 2010, ECON 2010, and MGMT 3010 should be included in all business minors. Other suggested courses for a minor in general business are listed below:
BISI 3230 3
BISE 3150 3
MGMT 4030 3
MKTG 3010 3
Business Minor (MBA Foundation Courses)
Eighteen hours of the following courses may also be used to constitute a business minor, this particular minor is useful in preparing students for a graduate business administration degree. For more information, see the graduate catalog of the school of your choice.
Accounting Principles 6 ACCT 2010, ACCT 2020
Business Finance 3 FINA 3300
Economic Principles 6 ECON 2010, ECON 2020
Information Systems 6 BISI 2150, BISI 3230
Legal Environment 3 BLAW 3000
Mgt. & Org. Behavior 3 MGMT 3010
Marketing Principles 3 MKTG 3010
Quantitative Methods 3 ECON 2040
International Business Minor
A minor is available in International Business. It is open to both business and non-business majors. This minor is designed to provide a broad interdisciplinary background of the cultural, social, economic, political, and business environment of the world. The purpose is to prepare more globally competent men and women to function productively in the world economy. The specific curriculum requirements are listed below:
1. Required Courses
ECON 4100 International Economics 3
MGMT 4800 Internship/International 3
2. Guided Electives (Business Majors, Choose 3
Non-business Majors, Choose 4)
MGMT 4120 International Business Management 3
MKTG 4350 International Marketing 3
FINA 4700 International Finance 3
ACCT 4250 International Accounting 3
ECON 4150 Economic Development 3
3. General Electives for Business Majors (Choose 1)
POLI 3600 Intro. to Comparative Govt. & Politics 3
POLI 3930 Political Economy 3
POLI 3630 International Relations 3
4. Area Studies (Consent of Advisor Needed) 3
Total 21
5. Other Requirements
a. All students are required to complete two years of college language studies. Students proficient in a foreign language may test out of this requirement through an exam arranged by the Department of Languages, Literature and Philosophy.
b. Only students with an overall GPA of 2.5 at the end of the sophomore year, as well as in ECON 2010-ECON 2020 and ACCT 2010-2020, will be allowed to declare a minor in International Business.
c. All students are expected to meet the prerequisites for each course taken. Any exceptions, based on the background of any given student, must be approved in writing by an advisor in the Office of International Business Programs and a student’s department head.
d. Business majors may apply restricted and unrestricted business electives in the major area towards satisfying the International Business minor.
Minor in Entrepreneurship
A proposal for a business minor in Entrepreneurship is under review for approval. It is designed for students who desire a course of study in the creation and operation of small business enterprises. A major focus will be on the creation and development of new business ideas, innovation, and the management of such enterprises.
ADMISSION, RETENTION AND GRADUATION
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree must make application to the College of Business through their respective department head for admission to the Upper Division after successfully completing the Lower Division. Admission is required in order to receive degree credit for 3000 and 4000 level business courses.
1. The College’s policy is not to recognize for degree purposes credits earned in upper division (3000 and 4000 level business courses) prior to a student’s Tentative or Full Admission to the Upper Division of the College of Business . It is the student’s responsibility to have his/her status verified before registering for upper division business courses.
2. Administrative Withdrawal. A student may be administratively withdrawn from any College of Business course when the student is not eligible to be enrolled in the course. A student shall, upon request, be accorded an appropriate hearing prior to a final decision concerning his or her continued enrollment in the course at issue.
3. Transfer students should consult their department head regarding core course requirements if they are transferring in business courses or to determine the acceptability of business courses earned at other institutions.
4. Up to 12 hours of approved upper division business credits may be used for degree purposes by students classified as undergraduate special students. However, all upper division business credits earned prior to becoming a special student count towards the 12 hour maximum. These students must meet prerequisites for the courses in which they wish to enroll.
5. A maximum of 36 total semester hours (lower division plus upper division credits) may be completed at TSU as a special student. All college course credits earned prior to becoming a special student count towards the 36 hour maximum. All course credits earned as a special student (up to the 36 hour maximum) may be counted upon becoming a degree seeking student.
Tentative and Full Admission to the College of Business
Business majors who have completed all except nine hours of the required Lower Division courses (1000 and 2000 level courses) with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and a lower division business core GPA of at least 2.00, may apply for tentative admission to the upper division of the College Business. Admission to the Upper Division is required to gain approval to take 3000 and 4000 level courses. The Lower Division business core is made up of the following courses: MGMT 1010, ECON 2040, ECON 2010, ECON 2020, ACCT 2010, and ACCT 2020. Eligible students will be granted tentative or full admission. Others will be informed in writing what requirements must be met for admission. The Rising Junior Examination is required for all baccalaureate degree seekers who entered TSU in August 1997 and after.
Tentative admission is valid only for the semester for which it is issued. While holding tentative admission, students should be enrolled in all remaining required lower division courses. If all lower division course requirements are not successfully completed the first semester of tentative admission, students must reapply for tentative admission. The maximum number of Upper Division business credits that can be approved for degree purposes while a student holds tentative admission is 24 hours.
To gain full admission to the College of Business , all Lower Division requirements must be successfully completed with a GPA of 2.00 or higher for both the Lower Division business core courses and for all lower division courses.
Credit Hours Required for Graduation
Credit hours required for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree total a minimum of 120 semester hours for all College of Business majors and concentrations.
Degree Credit for Business Internship, Independent
Study, and Practicum Courses
A maximum of six semester hours of credit earned in a business internship, independent study and practicum (combined) may be applied to degree requirements. Approval of the appropriate department head is required to enroll in College of Business internship, practicum and independent study courses. These courses are ACCT 4800, ACCT 4990, BISI 4800, BISI 4900, BISI 4990, ECON 4980, ECON 4990, MGMT 4800, MGMT 4810, MGMT 4990.
Specific College of Business Graduation Requirements
1. Business majors must maintain an overall TSU cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 (not including remedial and developmental courses), a GPA of at least 2.00 in the Lower Division business core courses, a GPA of at least 2.00 in the upper division business core, and a GPA of at least 2.00 in the ten courses (30 hrs) being used to satisfy the major field plus Upper Division business elective course requirements.
2. All business majors, except Accounting, may not have more than two D’s in the ten courses being used to satisfy the major. Accounting majors must have at least a C in all ten courses used to satisfy the major. D’s and F’s in additional (extra) elective courses beyond the 10 courses required for the major will not count toward determining whether the student is in violation of the 2‑D policy.
3. At least 50 percent of the business credit hours required for the business degree must be earned at Tennessee State University ; Business Strategy (MGMT 4500) should be taken at Tennessee State University during the final semester of enrollment.
4. The general education component of each student’s undergraduate curriculum shall comprise at least 50 percent of the student’s four‑year program.
5. Graduation applications will be received only from students who have been admitted to the upper division in the College of Business and have at least an overall 2.0 G.P.A.
6. All business majors are required to review degree requirements with the Office of Undergraduate Studies at least one full semester (before the end of the registration period) prior to the semester in which graduation is anticipated. Only students who are eligible will be permitted to remain enrolled in MGMT 4500 (Business Strategy). It is the responsibility of the student to schedule an appointment for his/her senior transcript review.
7. Business majors must complete 24 of their final 30 hours in residence at TSU.
8. Students are to participate in performance evaluation measures (taking various tests, responding to inquiries) designated by the College or University.
9. All business degree electives taken in the junior and senior years must be 3000 or 4000 level courses.
Transfer of Credit Policy
1. The specific credit for work done at other institutions which will apply toward the BBA degree is determined by the Office of Admissions and Records and the appropriate department head in the College of Business . Allowance of transfer credit by the Office of Admissions and Records does not mean necessarily that all of such credit will be applied toward the BBA degree.
2. The College of Business reserves the right to test the proficiency of any student in course work transferred from other colleges or universities and the right to disallow transfer credit in such course work if the student cannot demonstrate acceptable proficiency.
3. Courses transferred from community and junior colleges may not be used to meet 3000 and 4000 level business course requirements unless they are validated either by (1) the successful completion of an acceptable CLEP or DANTES examination or (2) the successful completion of a departmental examination.
4. Transient Status: BBA students who wish to attend another institution as “transient” or “visiting” students to take upper division business courses for degree credit must get written approval in advance from their department head. Approval is not automatic. MGMT 4500 (Business Strategy) must be taken at TSU .
5. Re-enrollment after Transferring Elsewhere: BBA students who enroll at another institution as regular students (as opposed to transient or visiting status) will be considered as having transferred to that institution. If such students later re-enroll in the BBA program, regardless of the length of the absence, they will be subject to the curricular degree requirements in effect at the time of their re-enrollment. Such students are encouraged to discuss their transfer to the other institution with their department head in advance if they intend to apply this work towards the BBA degree at TSU.
6. The College of Business subscribes to the philosophy that a student’s undergraduate program below the junior year should include no advanced, professional level courses. This philosophy is based on the conviction that the value derived from these advanced courses is materially enhanced when based upon a sound foundation in the liberal arts.
Requirements for the BBA Degree
General Education
MGMT 1000 Business Orientation 1
ENGL 1010 and 1020 Freshman English 6
HIST 2010‑2020 American History 6
MATH 1110,1830 College Algebra, Basic Calculus 6
ENGL 2010-2028/Humanities 9
COMM 2200 Public Speaking 3
NAT . SCIENCE w/ LAB Natural Science 8
Social Science: ECON 2010 3
Social Science: ECON 2020 3
Social Science: ECON 2040 3
BISI 2150/Non-Business Elective* 3
Non-Business Electives 9
* Students testing out of BISI 2150 must take any 3 hour non-business elective course.
Business Core
The Business Core, which consists of 39 hours, is common to all BBA degree students. The freshman and sophomore years are common for all students majoring in Accounting, Business Administration, Business Information Systems and Economic/Finance. A four–year curriculum pattern for BISE majors appears under the Department of Business Information Systems.
Lower Division Business Core
ACCT 2010‑2020 Principles of Accounting 6
MGMT 1010 Introduction of Business & Economics 3
ECON 2010-2020 Principles of Economics I & II 6
ECON 2040 Intro. to Statistical Analysis 3
Upper Division Business Core
BISI 3230 Business Information Systems 3
BISE 3150 Business Communication 3
BLAW 3000 Legal Environment of Business 3
FINA 3300 Business Finance 3
MGMT 3010 Mgt. Organization Theory and Behavior 3
MGMT 4500* Business Strategy 3
MKTG 3010 Basic Marketing 3
* MGMT 4500 may not be taken until all other business lower division and upper division core courses have been satisfactorily completed and should be taken during the final semester of enrollment.
Major Requirements
All BBA students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of 3000/4000 level business courses to constitute their major as indicated on the following pages.
Freshman and Sophomore Years
(All Accounting, Business Information Systems*, Business Administration, and Economics/Finance Majors)
*Students following the teacher education concentration should follow the four-year curriculum frame-work for BISE teacher certification.
FRESHMAN YEAR
FALL SEMESTER SPRING SEMESTER
Courses HR Courses HR
ENGL 1010 3 ENGL 1020 3
HIST 2010 3 HIST 2020 3
MATH 1110 3 Natural Science w/Lab 4
MGMT 1000 1 MATH 1830 3
MGMT 1010 3 BISI 2150/Non-Business Elec.* 3
13 16
SOPHOMORE YEAR
FALL SEMESTER SPRING SEMESTER
Courses HR Courses HR
ACCT 2010 3 ACCT 2020 3
ECON 2010 3 ECON 2020 3
ENGL LIT 3 ECON 2040 3
Natural Science w/Lab 4 ENGL LIT/Humanities 3
COMM 2200 3 Humanities 3
16 15
* Students testing out of BISI 2150 must take any 3 hour non-business elective course.