SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Dean S. Phillips
Senior Associate Dean P.K. Bagchi
Associate Deans M. Tarimcilar, L.G. Singleton, K.R. Kumar

Organized as the School of Government in 1928, the School of Business has been responsible for over half a century for the professional development of individuals assuming leadership roles in society. The School comprises nine departments—Accountancy, Decision Sciences, Finance, Information Systems and Technology Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. The use of a multidisciplinary approach in educational programming helps prepare both the generalist and specialist for professional careers in today’s complex, organizational society.

The School of Business is a member of AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and its undergraduate and graduate programs are accredited by the Association.

Vision—To be a preeminent business school recognized for scholarly research, teaching excellence, and innovative curricula focused on the responsible management of organizations in the global environment.

Mission—To deliver an outstanding education, advance knowledge, and provide practical experience in diverse organizational settings, leveraging the unique advantages of our location in the Washington, D.C., area, in order to enhance the capacities of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the business community to be productive and principled members of society.

Values—Integrity: demanding transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior; leadership: encouraging problem solving, commitment, and entrepreneurship; scholarship: emphasizing discovery, learning, and innovation; service: responding to the needs of students, academic professions, and the community; relationships: fostering communication, collaboration, and collegiality.

The School offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Accountancy and Bachelor of Business Administration. The programs include foundation knowledge for business in accounting, behavioral science, economics, mathematics, and statistics. Curricula are designed to provide perspectives on ethical and global issues, the influence of political, social, legal and regulatory, environmental, and technological issues, and the impact of demographic diversity on organizations. A Bachelor of Business Administration student selects a field of concentration from among business economics and public policy; finance; information systems; international business; marketing; sport, event, and hospitality management; or, with faculty approval, may structure an individualized field of concentration reflecting a specific interests in management.

Residence

Of the 120 credit hours required for graduation, at least 60 credits must be completed at GW and at least 30 credits, including 27 credits in required business or accountancy courses, must be completed while registered in the School of Business. This requirement applies to students transferring within the University as well as to students transferring from other institutions. Unless special permission is granted by the director of the Advising Center to pursue work elsewhere, the work of the senior or final year must be completed in the School of Business. Students who have successfully completed 60 credit hours at GW may not take courses at a community college.

Assignment of Credit for Transfer Students

Certain business courses taken at a two-year college (one per area up to a maximum of three courses) comparable to this School’s courses numbered 101—200 may be accepted for credit only after BAdm 197 is successfully completed with a grade of C or better in the senior year.

A course completed with a grade of D or better may not be repeated for the purpose of earning degree credit with the exception of writing courses, Math 31 or 51, and accountancy courses; students earning a D in such courses at another institution may be required to repeat the courses at this University.

An international student who is required to take the English for Academic Purposes writing course (EAP 15) will be required to complete the course successfully, and assignment of credit for any previously completed courses at another institution will be held pending completion of this requirement.

Students wishing to transfer from another division of the University must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.8 or above at the time of transfer.

Earning Credit or Waiving Requirements by Examination

A student may earn credit up to a maximum of 24 credit hours toward the required total for the degree or waive curricular requirements by performing satisfactorily on the following tests.

Advanced Placement Tests—See Admissions.

Special Departmental Examinations—A student may request any department of Columbian College to offer a special examination covering the subject matter of any specific course. The student must offer evidence of sufficient background to have a reasonable command of the subject matter. Departments reserve the right to deny such requests. Credit by special departmental examination is not permitted for the first two years of college-level courses in a native language other than English. A student who has previously taken examinations to waive course requirements may not subsequently take examinations for credit in the same courses. Assigning credit (or waiving a requirement) by special departmental examinations will depend on the department’s evaluation of the examination paper. These examinations will normally be of at least three hours’ duration. A fee for each course examination is charged for preparation, administration, and grading of the examination. A petition must be submitted to the director of the Advising Center prior to taking the examination.

Waiving Introductory Courses by Examination—Some departments in Columbian College offer periodic waiver examinations for introductory courses. Such examinations may be attempted at the option of the student. Specific departments should be consulted for further details. Passing a waiver examination does not entitle a student to any credit toward the degree.

Scholarship Requirements

A student must have the following to graduate: (1) a minimum of 120 credit hours; (2) an overall grade-point average of at least 2.0; and (3) a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in all required 100-level B.B.A. or B.Accy. courses and field-of-instruction—related courses (the major field grade-point average). All courses taken at GW are included in the overall grade-point average calculation. Elective courses in or out of the School of Business cannot be used as substitutes for required courses in the calculation of the major field grade-point average.

Probation—A student whose grade-point average (either overall or in the major field) falls below 2.0 after completing a minimum of 12 credit hours will be placed on probation. Probation by overall grade-point average normally extends over the period in which the student attempts another 12 credit hours, which may include remedial studies as prescribed. In those cases in which a student chooses to take a lighter load during the probationary semester, performance will be reviewed at the end of the semester and the student may be suspended at that time. Incompletes are not allowed during the probation period. Probation by major field normally extends over the period in which the student attempts 6 credit hours in major field course work.

Suspension—A student whose grade-point average (either overall or in the major field) is 1.5 or below in any semester or remains below 2.0 at the end of the probationary period will be suspended. Any outstanding Incomplete at the time of suspension must be completed or will become an administrative F, affecting the GPA. A student suspended for poor scholarship may apply for readmission after the end of the fall or spring semester following the term of suspension. To be considered for readmission, the student must submit acceptable evidence of remedial activity performed during the suspension period and of renewed potential ability to do college-level work. No advanced standing will be assigned for academic work completed while the student is suspended, but the student may petition the director of the Advising Center for consideration of advanced standing after completing a minimum of 12 credit hours of course work here and achieving a cumulative and major field GPA of at least 2.0.

A student readmitted after suspension is on probation and must maintain a current grade-point average determined by the director of the Advising Center until the cumulative and major field grade-point averages are at least 2.0. In no case will the overall probationary period after readmission exceed 24 credit hours or the major field probationary period exceed 12 credit hours. A student suspended twice for poor scholarship will not be readmitted.

Mid-Semester Warning—If a professor files an evaluation showing that a student is doing unsatisfactory work (C- or below), the director of the Advising Center will inform the student in writing of his or her status. This notice constitutes an official direction to consult with the professor and advisor immediately.

Semester Warning—Any student whose overall or major grade-point average falls between 2.0 and 2.2 will be placed on warning. Though the student’s courses will not be restricted, progress during the semester will be monitored. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with an assigned advisor during the semester.

General School of Business Policies

Academic Work Load—Full-time students in good standing (2.0 overall grade-point average or higher) may register for a maximum of 17 credit hours each semester and 6 credits each summer session. A student employed more than 20 hours a week, who is in good standing, may not take more than 9 credits each semester and 3 credits each summer session. A full-time student on probation may take no more than 13 credit hours of course work; it is strongly recommended that a student on probation not be employed. Full-time students whose overall grade-point average is 3.0 or higher may take up to 18 credits each semester. A student employed more than 20 hours a week, whose grade-point average is 3.0 or higher, may take up to 12 credits.

Pass/No Pass Option—A junior or senior student who has a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or better may, with the approval of the advisor and the director of the Advising Center, take one upper-level non-business or unrestricted elective a semester and receive a grade of P, Pass, or NP, No Pass, which will be recorded on the student’s transcript but will not be reflected in the grade-point average. No student will be allowed to take more than four pass/no pass courses,with a limit of one per semester. Under no circumstances may a student change from pass/no pass status to graded status, or vice versa, after the last date to withdraw from a course (except in the case of a prerequisite to Math 51 and exercise and sport activity or applied music courses). Required courses may not be taken on the pass/no pass basis, with the exception of BAdm 1 and 2. A transfer student may not choose this option until the second semester of enrollment in the University.

Incompletes—Conditions under which the notation of I (Incomplete) is assigned are described under University Regulations. The I must be changed by a date agreed on by the instructor and the student but no later than the last day of the examination period for the fall or spring semester immediately following the semester or summer session in which the I is assigned. An Incomplete that is not changed within this period automatically becomes an IF. In cases of well-documented extenuating circumstances, an instructor and a student may jointly petition the director of the Advising Center for additional time in which to complete the work of the course. Such petitions should be submitted within the same period. The I cannot be changed by reregistering for the course here or by taking its equivalent elsewhere. The I notation remains on the student’s permanent record even after the course has been successfully completed.

Dean’s Honor List—The names of students who achieve a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher are placed on the Dean’s Honor List for that semester. Appearance on the list is limited to (1) full-time students registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours (provided that the 12 credits are taken for a grade) and (2) part-time students registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours over a period of two consecutive semesters, which may include a summer term.

Independent Research Plan—A junior or senior of demonstrated capacity, with a special interest in the subject matter of a course, may be permitted to undertake study under the personal direction of a regular, full-time member of the faculty, in accordance with the rules of the appropriate department. Credit under this plan is limited to the specific credit hours normally allowed when a course is taken on a class basis. A petition outlining the student’s specific study plan must be submitted to the director of the Advising Center prior to beginning any independent study. Generally, a maximum of two independent studies in two separate semesters is permitted.

Secondary Fields of Study—A secondary field of study in business administration is available in the School of Business; School of Business students may pursue a secondary field in other GW schools. See the brochure "Secondary Fields of Study," available in the Advising Center.

Students from Other Schools Within the University—Degree candidates from other schools of the University cannot register for more than 21 credits in courses from the B.B.A. program. Typically, a maximum of 6 credits is permitted in courses from the B.Accy. program, unless an advisor recommends an additional 3 credits.

The Bachelor of Accountancy and The Bachelor of Business Administration

Curriculum for the First Two Years for All B.Accy. and B.B.A. Students

Freshman Year—BAdm 1—2, 66; UW 20; Econ 11—12; Math 31—32 or 51—52; a two-course sequence chosen from Astr 1—2, BiSc 3—4 or 11—12, Chem 3—4 or 11—12, Geol 1—2, Phys 11—12; one approved elective focusing on a culture or political system other than one’s own; one 3-credit restricted elective chosen in consultation with the advisor.

Sophomore Year—Accy 51, 52; BAdm 53, 64, 145; Stat 51 or 53; one elective selected with advisor approval to improve communication skills; one course on moral reasoning selected with advisor approval; three 3-credit restricted electives chosen in consultation with the advisor, at least one of which is in the humanities.

Note: CSci 10, 35, Math 7, 9, 10, 20 (without 21), Educ 180, and ExSA courses may not be used for credit toward the B.Accy. or the B.B.A. If the student places in the first semester of a language previously studied in high school, credit toward the degree will not be granted; however, the second semester of a first-year language course that was studied in high school may be taken as the cultural and political diversity elective. For B.Accy. students, a minimum grade-point average of 2.5 is required at the start of the junior year. For B.B.A. students, the field of concentration must be selected no later than the second semester of the sophomore year.

Curriculum for the Second Two Years for All B.Accy. Students

Junior Year—Accy 121, 122, 151, 161, 192; BAdm 110, 115; three approved 3-credit electives. None of the electives may be accountancy courses except Accy 152; two of the electives must be outside of the School of Business.

Senior Year—Accy 171, 181, 193, 196; BAdm 150, 197 (BAdm 197 must be taken at GW); four approved 3-credit 100-level electives, of which one must be in the Department of International Business and two must be outside of the School of Business.

Students who intend to take the C.P.A. examination should be aware that the course work required for admission to the examination varies from state to state. Students are advised to consult the Board of Accountancy for the state in which they plan to take the examination and choose courses that meet that state’s requirements.

Curriculum for the Second Two Years for All B.B.A. Students

Junior Year—BAdm 110, 115, 120, 130; one analytical tools course and one field tools course; one course in the field of concentration; three 3-credit 100-level electives chosen in consultation with the advisor (two non-business, one unrestricted).

Senior Year—BAdm 55, 135, 150, 197; three courses from the field of concentration; one field-related elective; three 3-credit 100-level electives chosen in consultation with the advisor (two non-business, one unrestricted).

Fields of Concentration

The field of concentration consists of four field courses (along with a field tools course and a field-related elective) chosen from a set of courses designated by the department. The field must be selected no later than the second semester of the sophomore year; the student should contact the Advising Center to declare a field. Students may declare two fields, but they should note that this will increase the number of credit hours required to complete the B.B.A. Fields are listed below, followed by the courses that constitute the field. In all cases, students must consult the academic advisor for an appropriate field-related elective.

Business Economics and Public Policy—Econ 101 and 102 or 158; PSc 116 or 118; and, with approval of the advisor, a course chosen from Anth 150, Econ 136 or 181, Geog 120, PubH 180, or PSc 122.

Finance—Fina 124, 126, 127, and either 125 or 132 or a designated section of 190.

Information Systems—ISTM 119, 120, 121, and either 123 or 243 or a designated section of 190.

International Business—IBus 160 and three additional 100-level IBus courses.

Marketing—Mktg 142, 143, 159, and either 148 or 150.

Sport, Event, and Hospitality Management—TStd 104, 137 or 143, 135 or 144, and 136 or 145.

Individualized Field of Concentration—A student with a minimum GPA of 2.8 and a specific interest in some field of management may design an individualized field of concentration drawing on courses across the University. Past examples of approved individualized fields include emergency response management, media management, and performing arts management. Such a concentration consists of four courses plus an analytical tools elective, a field tools elective, and a field-related elective selected with the guidance of faculty with expertise in the area of interest. All such individualized fields must be approved in advance through an individualized field review committee. Interested students should discuss their ideas with an advisor.

Five-Year Joint Programs Leading to a B.B.A. and a Master’s Degree

The School of Business offers five-year joint programs leading to both a B.B.A. and a master’s degree. Students pursue the regular B.B.A. curriculum in their first three years of study and are enrolled in courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels during the final two years. Students can apply for admission to the graduate program when they apply for admission to the University (they must meet specified GPA and other requirements to remain in the program), or they may apply after earning 75 credits. During the last two years, the student simultaneously completes requirements for the undergraduate and the graduate degree but is not considered a graduate student until the start of the fifth year of study. The two degrees are awarded concurrently; there are no exceptions. Students who choose to discontinue the program at the end of four years will be required to take additional courses to complete requirements for the B.B.A. A full description of the programs, including admission requirements, can be obtained through the Advising Center.

Bachelor of Business Administration/ Master of Science in Information Systems Technology

Application to the B.B.A./M.S.I.S.T. program requires a minimum 3.2 GPA and is available with a field of concentration in information systems development. Students take ISTM 119 and 120 among the third-year electives.

Fourth Year—BAdm 55, 135, 150, 197; two approved 100-level non-business electives; ISTM 121, 280, 282, 284; one approved graduate elective.

Fifth Year—ISTM 287, 298; four field electives chosen from other M.S.I.S.T. courses; one approved graduate elective.

Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Tourism Administration

Students in the B.B.A./M.T.A. program take TStd 104 and 143 or 137 among the third-year electives. Students are required to gain at least 500 hours of work experience in the tourism, hospitality, sport, event, or related field if they do not have equivalent previous experience.

Fourth Year—BAdm 55, 135, 150, 197; TStd 144 or 135, 145 or 136, 249, 270; two approved 100-level nonbusiness electives; and two approved graduate-level electives.

Fifth Year—12 credit hours in one of the following concentration fields: sustainable destination management, event and meeting management, sport management, or the individualized study option; plus 9 credit hours in approved electives and either TStd 283 and 297 or TStd 299 and 300.