Undergraduate Programs: College of Business

Administration

Dean
Christopher L. Martin

Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research
Bill McCumber

Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs
Rob Blackstock

School of Accountancy
Andrea Drake, Director

Department of Computer Information Systems
T. Selwyn Ellis, Head

Department of Economics and Finance
Otis W. Gilley, Head

Department of Management
Kirk Ring, Head

Department of Marketing and Analysis
Barry J. Babin, Head

Address

More information about the College of Business can be obtained by writing:

College of Business
P.O. Box 10318
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-4526

and visiting https://business.latech.edu/

Mission

Through market-responsive academic programs and impactful teaching and scholarship, Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business graduates business and academic leaders who are innovative, entrepreneurially-minded, and analytically and technologically skilled for a globally competitive marketplace.

Vision

The College of Business aspires to be a national leader in undergraduate, masters and doctoral business education and the recognized engine of economic growth in north Louisiana.

Values

Ethical behavior
Mutual respect
Transparency
Accountability
Engagement

We embrace the twelve Tenets of Louisiana Tech University: Confidence, Excellence, Commitment, Knowledge, Integrity, Respect, Leadership, Loyalty, Enthusiasm, Caring, Hope and Pride.

Instructional Aims

In order to act according to our core values, uphold our mission, and achieve our vision, we must provide educational opportunities that enhance our students’ continued development in:

Leading-Edge Theory and Practice in their Discipline: more specifically, ensuring our graduates are prepared for entry-level professional positions related to their academic majors.
Cognitive Skills and Social Knowledge, including the communication skills to build effective workplace relationships; the ability to critically and creatively evaluate problems and to think strategically; and the capacity to exercise judgment that includes ethical considerations in the solutions offered.
Management-Specific Skills and Knowledge in the following areas:

Financial theories, analysis, and markets
Accounting concepts
Production and distribution of goods and services
Information technologies and systems
Economic environments and organizations
Marketing functions and strategies
Managerial concepts and practices
Strategic management

Accreditation

All degree programs offered by the College of Business are accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Also, all programs offered by the School of Accountancy are separately accredited by AACSB.

Undergraduate Degrees Offered

The baccalaureate degree offered by the College is the Bachelor of Science degree. The four year curricula leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science are:

Accounting
Business Administration
Business Economics
Computer Information Systems
Finance
Management
Management - Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Marketing

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates Offered

The following program is offered to individuals holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution:

Business Foundations

History

Among the purposes listed in the original act creating the University was to give instruction in business subjects, and Tech’s first graduate, Harry Howard, graduated in 1897 in business. In 1940, the School of Business Administration was created by the Louisiana State Board of Education. In 1970, Tech was designated as a University and the School became the College of Administration and Business. In 2007, the name was changed to the College of Business.

Minors Offered

Non-Business Majors

Students pursuing an undergraduate major in a college other than Business may earn a minor in one of the following fields:

Accounting
Business Administration
Business Economics
Business Leadership
Computer Information Systems
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Management
Marketing
Sports Marketing
Sustainable Supply Chain Management

A student must earn a grade of “C” or better in each course applied toward meeting the requirements of a minor. This requirement is applicable to new undergraduate students (freshmen and transfers) whose initial enrollment was Fall Quarter 2003 or quarters thereafter. In addition, a student must complete at least 50% of the courses applied toward the minor at Louisiana Tech.

Accrediting agency standards mandate that students in other colleges pursuing a minor or taking electives in Business are limited to a maximum of 27 hours of business courses. Most 300- and 400-level business courses are open to non-business students with the proper foundation courses (prerequisites) and academic background. For further information contact the appropriate head/director of the academic unit that offers the courses.

Business Majors

Students enrolled in the College of Business may pursue a minor in another field of business. Students may apply one “principles course” in the major (Economics minors may count one principle course-ECON 202 ) to the minor, as well as 6 hours of Business Electives. The other 9 hours required for the completion of the minor will be in addition to the requirements for the major.

Undergraduate Admissions and Transfer Policies

Admissions Policies

Louisiana Tech’s College of Business seeks to assist students in determining and achieving appropriate educational objectives. Part of the College’s responsibility to current and future students, and to the general public, is to admit to the College only those who, by past educational preparation and demonstrated capability, are prepared to complete their intended curriculum at the required level of quality.

Generally, students who have an overall, attempted average of 2.0 or higher and are not on probation may be admitted. The complete current statement of may be viewed on the College’s web site or obtained upon request to the Associate Dean’s office, which makes all admissions decisions and transfers students into the College of Business at the beginning of each quarter in accordance with policies in effect at that time.

Transfer Policies

With some exceptions, the College of Business accepts for degree credit work, such as that taken by examination and at other institutions, in accordance with published policies of Louisiana Tech University as stated in the general information section of the University’s Catalog. The final determination of degree credit in any business curriculum is, however, made by the Dean’s office. Transfer evaluations will reflect all grades earned at another institution, but only grades of “C” or above will be accepted for credit.

Scholastic Standards

Students pursuing degrees in Business must make a “C” or better in all courses in their major area. For example, all finance majors are required to make a “C” or better in all finance courses.

Students are responsible for taking courses in the proper order and with the appropriate prerequisites. Credit will not be given for courses taken without the appropriate prerequisites and/or foundation courses.

Students in good standing may carry a normal course load as defined by the University. However, when a student is placed on probation, he/she may schedule no more than 9 semester hours per quarter.

Each time a student is suspended, his/her total academic status is subject to a review by the College’s Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs. In addition to acting on appeals for reinstatement from a suspension, the Associate Dean may impose special conditions on a suspended student. The Associate Dean may also un-enroll a student from the College when the requirements for admission are not being met by the student.

Graduation Requirements

Each student must be admitted to and spend the senior year enrolled in a degree program in the College. In addition, 50% of the required business courses must be taken at Tech, and the six courses in each degree program that define the “major” must be taken at Louisiana Tech. The number of semester hours defined in the senior year and other graduation requirements are the same as for the University.

Business 495, the capstone course, should be taken by students in the quarter of or the quarter before their graduation. Before taking the capstone course, a student must take and pass all core business courses: Accounting 201 and 202, Business 320, Computer Information Systems 310, Economics 201 and 202, Finance 318, Management 310 and 333 (or Accounting 308), and Marketing 300.

Catalog Requirements and Changes

All official notices affecting business undergraduate students are posted on the College’s web site www.business.latech.edu. The notices placed thereon officially update the University Catalog and are binding on students pursuing programs offered by the College.

When students enroll in a degree program in the College, they are subject to all University and Business policies then in effect. Each student is responsible for meeting all Catalog requirements for graduation, including taking courses in the proper sequence as shown in each curriculum.

When course requirements are changed in the curricula, they are to improve the education of students. Such changes are not retroactive on work already taken by admitted students, but will apply on work yet to be taken, except that the total remaining hours required for graduation cannot be increased and a student is not required to take an added course not available prior to graduation or for which the specified prerequisite course(s) will not have been required.

Each time a student changes curricula or concentrations, reevaluation of all work already taken is done in terms of that particular program’s requirements. Five years following the first admission date to a four year curriculum, a reevaluation of all work previously taken may be required.

Internships

Each discipline in the College of Business has an internship course that students may apply as credit toward their academic degrees. To register for an internship course, a student should contact the department head/director for his/her major area prior to early advising to secure permission for enrolling in the internship course(s). The student will be advised as to applicable policies and requirements for receiving credit in the course. In addition, the Internship Guidelines are posted on the College’s web site.

Second Baccalaureate Degree in Business

Students outside the College planning to pursue a second baccalaureate degree in Business should see the appropriate department head/director to plan their course work and be advised as to the order in which business courses must be taken. A second bachelors degree within the COB is not possible due to the number of overlapping classes between each major.

Scholarships

All incoming freshmen students become eligible for scholarships by applying for admission to the University and submitting the requisite scholarship applications available through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The following are examples of endowed scholarships available to students pursuing a degree in the College of Business. Scholarships administered by the College are awarded by faculty scholarship committees and information may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Dean.

William Roy and Maxine R. Adams, Jr. Scholarship (Accounting)
Louis R. Brill Family Endowed Scholarship
Judge James E. Clark & Family Scholarship
Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc./Clarke M. Williams, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
O.B. Clark Endowment for Business Scholarships
Alvora Edens Scholarship
W. Rufus and Brenda Kelly Estis Endowed Scholarship
Glen Guilkey Endowed Scholarship (Marketing)
Loraine N. Howard Endowed Scholarship (CIS)
Humana Foundation/McCallister Scholarship
Lothar I. Iverson Memorial Scholarship
The William A. and Virginia Lomax Marbury Endowment for Business Scholarships
Todd McNaughton Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Travis E. Melton Scholarship (Accounting)
James R. Michael Scholarship
J. Murray Moore Scholarship
Edward L. Moyers Scholarship
Amy L. Myers Memorial Scholarship (CIS)
Lawson L. Swearingen-Commercial Union Assurance Companies Scholarship
The George Curtis and Esther Belle Taylor Endowment for Business Scholarships
Cynthia Ann Clark Thompson Memorial Scholarship (Accounting)
The Thomas A. and Lucinda Ritchie Walker Endowment Fund Scholarship

Organizations

Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honorary scholastic society for students in all fields of business. It is the scholastic society recognized by the Accreditation Council of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). A school or college of business administration must be a member of the Accreditation Council of the AACSB in order to have a chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma. Membership in the society is highly prized as a badge of merit recognized by leading business administrators everywhere.

Business Students Association

The official student body organization of the College is the Business Students Association. Dues are assessed each quarter, and the assessment is an official charge recognized by the College.
Other professional organizations for students include:

Accounting Society
American Marketing Association
Association of Information Technology Professionals
Association of Business, Engineering, and Science Entrepreneurs
Beta Alpha Psi Fraternity (accounting honor society)
Delta Sigma Pi (professional business fraternity)
Financial Management Association
Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics honor society)
Phi Beta Lambda
Society for Human Resource Management