School of Business Administration

School of Business Administration Faculty (Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, and Marketing):
Dean - Gary F. Linn
Assistant Dean - Paul T. McGurr

Professors - William B. Dodds, Paul J. Herz, Kenneth A. Hunt, Gary F. Linn, and Frederick H. Mull
Associate Professors - Richard Gore, Eric L. Huggins, Douglas W. Lyon, Paul T. McGurr, Stephanie J. Owings, Robert J. Sonora, Deborah L. Walker, Simon G. Walls, and Suzanne L. Wilhelm
Assistant Professors - Steven M. Crowley, Nancy Higginson, Elaine Labach, and Luke T. Miller
Visiting Professor - Charles J. Yoos, II
Visiting Instructors - John Gadbois, Chris Lyon, Stephen Stovall, and Terrence Tannehill

School of Business Administration Mission

The School of Business Administration (SOBA) works as a team to create student-focused learning experiences that prepare graduates for a dynamic global 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 understanding of the principles of modern business and organizational practices (Learning as Inquiry);
Become skilled in the use of analytical tools and techniques for decision making in the business world (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving);
Acquire the communication and group interaction skills necessary for a business career (Communication);
Apply academic learning in preparation for a business career in a dynamic global environment (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). 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.

Non-Business Students

Students who are not working toward a baccalaureate degree in business are prohibited from taking business content that will exceed 25 percent of their total program. This provision is in accordance with the accreditation standards of the School of Business Administration.

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. The schedule provides for two five-week sessions with at least two courses offered during each session. Generally, the course offerings include at least one junior-level core business course, other business electives, and an Education for Global Citizenship (EGC) general education 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. Details for any given year regarding location, cost, climate, travel arrangements, etc., may be obtained from the JTA program faculty.

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 , Business Administration, Computer Science Information Systems (CSIS) , Economics , or Marketing . Within the Business Administration major, options are offered in Agricultural Business, Business Administration, Engineering Management, Finance, Information Management, International Business, Management, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. Within the CSIS major, options are offered in Computer Science and in Information Systems. Within the Economics major, options are offered in Business Economics and Economics. Students may select only ONE (1) option within the Business Administration, CSIS, and Economics majors. Students may elect a double or triple major by combining two or more of these five majors.

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 majors in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, and Marketing, a minimum 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. It is the responsibility of the student to know and complete all graduation requirements.

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

Prerequisite Statement: It is important that entering Freshmen complete MA1 and CO1 requirements their freshman year. These requirements are highly recommended for many of the 200-level business courses. In addition, ACC 225, ACC 226, BA 253, BA 260, Econ 262, and Econ 272 are prerequisites for 300- and 400-level courses offered by the School of Business Administration. Students with majors offered by the School of Business Administration should complete these courses BEFORE the start of the junior year or substantial delay in graduation may result.

Business Administration Degree Program

The Business Administration degree program, which includes its eight options, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). The Business Administration degree program is one of the five degree programs offered in the School of Business Administration.

Accounting

Coordinator - Paul J. Herz
See Business Administration faculty listing at the top of this page.

The Accounting degree program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), and is one of the five degree programs offered in the School of Business Administration (SOBA) (see Business Administration, above, for mission, values, and other information about the School).

The Accounting major prepares students to embark immediately upon careers as public, industrial or governmental accountants and provides a foundation in accounting and business administration that will enable them to pursue graduate study. Graduates can expect to work in such areas as management advisory services, income tax, auditing, budgeting, cost accounting, and general accounting.

Computer Science Information Systems (CSIS)

Coordinator - Aaron Gordon

Professors - Evans J. Adams and Aaron Gordon
Assistant Professor - Brian Hanks
Visiting Professor - Greg Butler

The Computer Science Information System (CSIS) degree program is one of the five degree programs in the School of Business Administration (SOBA) (see Business Administration, above, for mission, values, and other information about the school). The CSIS degree program, while administered by SOBA, is not accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).

The interdisciplinary major leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science Information Systems (CSIS) combines the fields of computer science (the science of creating computer software) and information systems (the application of computer software). The program emphasizes breadth of knowledge and the development of written and oral communication skills, which are trademarks of a liberal arts education, combined with professional competence in computer science and/or information systems. The student specializes in one of these fields by choosing the Computer Science option or the Information Systems option described below.

The primary objectives of the curriculum are to ensure that every graduate is thoroughly familiar with the fundamental principles of modern computer science and information systems; understands how these principles relate to software, hardware, and system design; and is familiar with at least one significant area of applications of computers. Other major objectives include providing graduates with the ability to understand a variety of problem-solving algorithms; familiarity with several programming languages for implementing these algorithms; understanding of hardware and/or software systems; the ability to make informed choices of software and hardware for a variety of problems; and an understanding of the role that human factors play in implementing computer-based systems.

Computer Science generally refers to the application of scientific and engineering principles to the development of software products. Students choosing the Computer Science option will receive training far beyond the ability to write programs that work. Software engineers must construct program systems that work efficiently and are comprehensible so that modification can be performed effectively when required. Software maintenance is as much a part of software engineering as the creation of new software.

Selection of the Information Systems option generally leads to a career as a systems analyst, information system manager, or software project manager. These positions are responsible for choosing the right hardware and software for a particular information technology problem and for organizing the database in a suitable form. A significant portion of the courses for this option will also address the concepts of software engineering and software project management as they apply to the development of large-scale software systems. A growing number of systems analysts also design and maintain computer networks.

Economics

Coordinator: Stephanie J. Owings
See Business Administration faculty listing at the top of this page.

The Economics degree program is one of the five degree programs offered in the School of Business Administration (SOBA) (see Business Administration, above, for mission, values, and other information about the school).

The School of Business Administration offers two degree options for students pursuing studies in Economics. Both Economics options prepare students for graduate studies in economics as well as employment in business and finance. The study of economics also provides a good background for students who want to prepare for a career in law. These programs lead to a degree option in either Business Economics or Economics. Students may major in only one of the Economics options.

The Economics - Business Economics option degree program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).

The Economics major - Business Economics option is designed to provide students with an understanding of economic principles underlying the business world. The option shows the relationships between the study of economics and basic business decision-making both from the standpoint of the individual firm and from the standpoint of a business operating in the national and global economy. Students majoring in Business Economics will be prepared to continue graduate study in economics and for employment in government and business.

The Economics major - Economics option focuses primarily on economic principles and is designed to provide students with an understanding of the present economic system and how economics relates to other disciplines and fields of study. The major is designed for students who desire to study economics but do not wish to take all of the common requirement courses prescribed for Business Administration majors. Students majoring in Economics will have the flexibility to pursue minors in other areas as well as preparing for teaching certification. The Economics option is excluded from the AACSB International School of Business Administration accredited degree programs.

Marketing

Coordinator: Kenneth A. Hunt
See Business Administration faculty listing at the top of this page.

The Marketing degree program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and is one of the five degree programs offered in the School of Business Administration (SOBA) (see Business Administration, above, for mission, values, and other information about the School).

The Marketing Major emphasizes the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and distribute goods and services to satisfy consumer needs and wants. The study of marketing recognizes the large proportion of the consumer dollar allocated to marketing, thus creating vast opportunities for graduates in this field.

Careers in marketing may be pursued in industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations, in such areas as purchasing, marketing research, sales, advertising, retailing, sales promotion, product management, public relations, physical distribution, and consumer affairs.