School of Business Administration

School of Business Administration Faculty (Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Science Information Systems, Economics, and Marketing):

Dean - Doug Lyon
Assistant Dean - TBA

Professors - William B. Dodds, Paul J. Herz, Kenneth A. Hunt, Douglas W. Lyon, Frederick H. Mull, and Stephanie J. Owings
Associate Professors - Richard Gore, Eric L. Huggins, Paul T. McGurr, Robert J. Sonora, Deborah L. Walker, Simon G. Walls, and Suzanne L. Wilhelm
Assistant Professors - Mika Kusar and Elaine Labach
Visiting Professor - Charles J. Yoos, II
Visiting Instructors - John Gadbois, Chris Lyon, and Stephen Stovall

School of Business Administration Mission

The School of Business Administration (SOBA) prepares students for positions in our complex and dynamic economy by creating diverse learning experiences in a student-centered environment.

Values and Learning Outcomes

The School of Business Administration provides high quality undergraduate programs with a commitment to developing a liberally educated and professionally competent student. SOBA’s success depends upon maintaining a quality faculty dedicated to teaching and a broad spectrum of discipline based scholarship, contributions to practice, learning and pedagogical research, and current professional experience.

To support the SOBA’s mission, faculty members are committed to developing and maintaining a curriculum that is responsive to society’s needs and to increasing learning inside and outside the classroom. The School of Business Administration degree programs are designed to provide a balanced combination of the arts and sciences and professional business education. The learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Arts degree programs offered by the School of Business Administration are designed so that students will:

Acquire a general knowledge and comprehension of modern business principles and organizational practices (Learning as Inquiry);
Become proficient at using problem-solving skills and analytical tools for decision making in the business world (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving);
Become effective communicators of information and become skilled team players (Communication);
Be capable of applying academic learning to real world business problems in a complex and dynamic economy (Real World Application).

Visibility and Reputation

The Fort Lewis College School of Business Administration degree programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics (Business Economics option), and Marketing are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). Due to the nature of the program, the Economics-Economics Option is excluded from AACSB accreditation. AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review process that ensures faculty scholarship to advance or apply management knowledge, sufficient resources to support a vibrant and relevant mission, high-caliber teaching and current curricula, graduates that have achieved specified learning outcomes, and meaningful interaction between students and faculty. The Business Club, American Indian Business Leaders, Beta Alpha Psi financial information student honorary society, Beta Gamma Sigma international business student honorary society, Junior Trimester Abroad, Innovative Month, community-based learning and research internships, and class projects are examples of clubs and programs that promote such interactions.

Acceptance of Transfer Credits

It is recommended that students planning to transfer into the Fort Lewis College School of Business Administration do so by the end of their sophomore year. Students must complete their final 30 credits in residence at Fort Lewis College.

Students taking their first two years of work at a junior or community college or at another four-year institution are recommended to take at their institution only those business courses that are taught at the freshman or sophomore (100/200) level at Fort Lewis College. Business courses with an upper division level (300/400) at Fort Lewis College must be taken at Fort Lewis College or an an accredited institution that also offers the courses at the upper division level.

Study Abroad Opportunities

The Junior Trimester Abroad (JTA) program offers courses taught by a Fort Lewis College Business School faculty member outside the United States during the winter term. Generally, the course offerings include at least one junior-level core business course, other business electives, and an Education for Global Citizenship (EGC) course. The dates of the trimester vary, but are scheduled to allow about three weeks of independent travel for those who wish to take advantage of that opportunity.

Costs of this program are kept low through the use of Fort Lewis College faculty and the minimal cost of facilities at partner institutions. Details for any given year regarding location, cost, climate, travel arrangements, etc., may be obtained from the JTA program faculty. Currently the JTA program alternates between La Rochelle, France and Regensburg, Germany.

In addition to the Junior Trimester Abroad program, SOBA faculty provide a number of Innovative Month courses during the summer terms in various international locations. These courses are advertised on the Foreign Studies information board in the Education and Business Hall. In recent years Innovative Months were held in China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ireland. Peru, and Southeast Asia.

The Curricula

The curricula offered by SOBA lead to the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in:

Accounting
Accounting Major

Business Administration:
Business Administration Option
Engineering Management Option
Finance Option
International Business Option
Management Option
Tourism and Hospitality Management Option

Economics
Business Economics Option
Economics Option

Marketing
Marketing Major

Students may select only ONE (1) option within the Business Administration, and Economics majors. Students may elect to double or triple major by completing all requirements of two or more of these four majors with a minimum of 27 discrete hours in each major.

These majors provide excellent education in business within the broad context of a liberal arts curriculum. The degree programs offer a cross section of a “Common Requirement” of courses, and at least 15 credits within an option. The degree programs are designed to meet the needs of students wishing to continue their education in graduate school or to work in their chosen professional area.

Each candidate for graduation must complete a minimum of 120 credits, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for those courses accepted to meet the requirements for the major course of study. In addition, a candidate for graduation must complete a minimum of forty-five (45) credits of 300- and 400-level classes that can include both business and non-business courses. For all SOBA majors, a minimum grade of C- must be earned in 300- and 400-level Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Science Information Systems, Economics, and Marketing courses to count toward graduation requirements in the majors.

Specific requirements are listed on the appropriate pages under each major or option.

The School of Business Administration degree program and options are very structured. Certain courses in the Liberal Arts Core are prerequisites for SOBA required 200-level courses. Many of the 200-level courses are prerequisites for the 300 and 400-level courses in the majors and options. Failure to take the courses in the proper sequence may result in substantial delay in graduation.

It is the responsibility of the student to know and complete all graduation requirements.