Website: www.washburn.edu/business
Faculty
- David L. Sollars, PhD, Dean of the School of Business and Professor
- Danny Funk, MBA, Director
- Barbara Scofield, PhD, Professor and MAcc Director
- Robert Hull, PhD, Professor and C.W. King Chair of Finance
- Norma Juma, PhD, Professor and Brenneman Professor of Business Strategy
- James Martin, MProf/Acc, Senior Lecturer, Snyder Distinguished Lecturer in Business
- Louella Moore, PhD, Professor and Mosso Professor of Accounting
- Pamela Schmidt, PhD, Associate Professor and Dibble Professor of Accounting
- Michael Stoica, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Marketing
- Jennifer Ball, PhD, Professor and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Robert Boncella, PhD, Professor
- Paul Byrne, PhD, Professor
- Liviu Florea, PhD, Professor
- Thomas Hickman, PhD, Professor
- Sungkyu Kwak, PhD, Professor
- Dmitri Nizovtsev, PhD, Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Business
- Rosemary Walker, PhD, Professor
- Gail Hoover King, EdD, Visiting Professor
- David Price, PhD, Associate Professor
- Sunita Rao, PhD, Associate Professor
- Shane Van Dalsem, PhD, Associate Professor
- Akhadian Harnowo, PhD, Assistant Professor
- Manaf Sellak, PhD, Assistant Professor
- Jayme Burdiek, MBA, Lecturer
- Richard LeJuerrne, JD, Lecturer
Kansas Small Business Development Center at Washburn University:
- Karl Klein, Director, Lecturer
- Mary Ann Riederer, Consultant
- Nadia Arbelo, MACC Outreach Center Advisor
Mission
We provide knowledge and personalized experiences to engage students who will enhance the economic vitality of businesses in the region and beyond.
The School:
- Uses flexible delivery and small interactive classes to prepare students for challenges of a dynamic collaborative environment;
- Provides students with distinctive opportunities for personal growth through transformative activities and engagement with local and global stakeholders;
- Produces research that enhances our classroom teaching, assists practitioners, and advances knowledge in business disciplines;
- Stimulates economic development of the region through our Small Business Development Center and other collaborative partnerships;
- Fosters integrity, inclusiveness, mutual respect, and ethical behavior as requisites to business practice.
The Washburn University School of Business and its Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Accountancy, and Master of Business Administration degree programs are accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
School of Business Values Statement
Stakeholders of the Washburn School of Business including, but not limited to, faculty, students, and administrators, should expect their interactions with other stakeholders and stakeholder groups to be guided by principles, including, but not limited to, honesty, trust, fairness, respect, integrity, and responsibility.
Honesty - Honesty is the cornerstone of the other fundamental program values. There can be no trust, fairness, respect, integrity, or responsibility without honesty. Honesty creates the possibility for quality teaching, learning, academic research and communication between individuals.
Trust - Trust results from a culture of honesty. Trust provides the foundation for an environment that nourishes creativity and risk-taking in teaching, learning, and scholarship, and is essential to Washburn University’s pursuit of quality human development and “learning for a lifetime.”
Fairness - A sense of fairness emerges when standards, policies, and procedures are equitable, clear, and in the best interest of all stakeholders. Without fair processes, the learning environment cannot sustain trust and honesty. Fairness ensures that all stakeholders have the opportunity to succeed, and provides a foundation for mutual respect among stakeholders.
Respect - A university environment focused on the creation and transmission of knowledge requires interaction and participation by all stakeholders. Quality interaction is facilitated when stakeholders display respect for one another. When stakeholders are treated fairly and honestly, they are better able to trust one another, which leads to a culture of mutual respect.
Integrity - Stakeholders of the Washburn School of Business conduct themselves with integrity when teaching, learning, research, communication, and other interactions area conducted in accordance with the principles of honesty, trust, fairness and respect.
Faculty act responsibly when they:
- Maintain currency in their field.
- Freely share their knowledge with students.
- Develop coursework that is focused, relevant, and coherent and adds value to students’ career skills and ambitions.
- Critically assess students’ work in a constructive and rigorous manner.
- Challenge students to grow intellectually and professionally.
- Create an environment that is conductive to learning.
- Assist students in understanding the requirements and expectations of their degree programs.
Students act responsibly when they:
- Properly prioritize their commitments to the program.
- Manage their work and family responsibilities so they may attend class and be fully engaged in other program activities and requirements.
- Understand the requirements and expectations of their degree programs and plan their class schedules consistent with these expectations.
- Accept criticism in a professional manner and with the understanding that such feedback is designed to improve their business skills and critical thinking.
- Arrive at each class session prepared.
- Contribute substantively to the classroom dialogue.
- Approach the course material thoughtfully.
At the time of declaration of a major in the School of Business and at the time of application for admissions to the School of Business, students are asked to affirm that they have read and understand the Washburn School of Business Values Statement and agree to practice and abide by these values while they are stakeholders of the School.
Washburn University Academic Misconduct Policy
All students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and ethically in their academic work. Inappropriate or unethical behavior includes (but is not limited to) giving or receiving unauthorized aid on examinations or in the preparation of papers or other assignments, knowingly misrepresenting the source of academic work. Washburn University’s Academic Impropriety Policy describes academically unethical behavior in greater detail and explains the actions that may be taken when such behavior occurs.
For guidelines regarding protection of copyright, consult www.washburn.edu/copyright. For Academic Impropriety Policy, go online to: www.washburn.edu/academic-impropriety. For Student Conduct and Disciplinary Code, go online to: www.washburn.edu/student-conduct.
Undergraduate Program Core Competencies
To implement the mission of the School, the faculty has adopted the following undergraduate program core competencies as broad instructional goals of the BBA program:
Business Knowledge: Students will be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge of business constructs across all the basic, functional areas of business and economics.
Written and Oral Communication Abilities: Students will be able to write with clarity, verbalize concisely, and clearly present ideas.
Problem-Solving Abilities: Students will be able to define and analyze diverse problems; and organize and interpret information in order to draw and support conclusions.
Ethical Decision-Making Abilities: Students will be able to differentiate between ethical and unethical behavior and integrate ethical understanding and societal responsibility into decision-making.
Global Awareness: Students will understand the impact of participation in the global economy on business conduct and performance as well as the effects of business actions on that economy.
Technology Abilities: Students will be able to apply technology in order to solve business problems and explain how technology supports the strategic goals of organizations.
Degree, Minor, and Certificate Programs
The School of Business was established on July 1, 1973, by action of the Board of Regents. In 1946, the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree was created. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree was implemented in 1982 and the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) began in 2013. Undergraduate students may earn the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree with a major in Accounting, Business Data Analytics, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, and General Business, the Minor in Business Data Analytics, the Minor in International Business, the Minor in Economics, the Certificate in Entrepreneurship, and the Kansas Insurance Certificate. Undergraduate students outside of the School of Business may earn the Minor in Business, the Minor in Business Data Analytics, the Minor in Economics, the Minor in International Business, the Certificate in Entrepreneurship, and the Kansas Insurance Certificate. Students pursuing the BBA are not eligible for the Minor in Business.
Law Early Admission Program (LEAP) Partnership
Beginning in the fall 2022 the Washburn University School of Law (Washburn Law) and the Washburn University School of Business (SUSOBU) offer the Washburn University Law Early Admissions Program (LEAP) to academically talented and highly motivated undergraduates at WUSOBU. This program allows WUSOBU's outstanding undergraduates early entry into law school by matriculating into Washburn Law after completing at least 91 credit hours of undergraduate study. The affiliation is structured to assist these students with their preparation for law school by exposing them to the skills necessary for the study of law, the qualities, and the programming and curriculum available at Washburn Law. By pairing students early with law-faculty and attorney mentors, students will be prepared to serve their communities in a variety of roles in law firms, prosecutors' offices, corporations, not-for-profit enterprises, and other professional legal environments. For further information, contact the WUSOBU Prelaw Coordinator through the School of Business Office at 785-670-1308.
Scholarships
In recognition of the quality of School of Business programs, many alumni, individuals, and organizations have given generously to support worthy students with financial aid. For information and applications, please contact the Director of Financial Aid or the Office of the Dean, School of Business, Washburn University. To be considered for the scholarships administered by the School of Business, either as new or continuing recipients, students must make direct application to the School of Business each year; the normal deadline is February 15.
School of Business Honors
Candidates for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree may qualify for School of Business Honors provided the following criteria are met:
- Accumulate a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.50 in all accounting, business, and economics courses applied to the BBA degree; and
- Demonstrate superior research and/or independent study skills while enrolled in Business 405; and
- Be approved for honors designation by a two-thirds vote of the School of Business faculty.
In fulfilling conditions (2) and (3), the student will be expected to provide any academic data requested and to provide the School with an extra copy of written work prepared for credit in Business 405. Written notice of intent to graduate with honors must be submitted by the student to the Office of the Dean, School of Business early in the semester in which the student expects to graduate. This written notice is separate from any reporting requirements in place when Business 405 is taken as part of the Washburn Transformational Experience (WTE) program.
School of Business Scholars
Students graduating with the Bachelor of Business Administration degree will be awarded the designation of School of Business Scholar provided they have accumulated a GPA of at least 3.50 in all accounting, business, business data analytics, and economics courses and rank in the upper quartile of the Washburn University graduating class. Students graduating with the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in economics will be awarded the designation of School of Business Scholar provided they have accumulated a GPA of at least 3.50 in the economics coursework used to meet the requirements of the major and also in all upper-division coursework used to meet the requirements of the degree.
Dean’s and President’s Honor Rolls for Undergraduates
In order to be included on the Dean’s Honor Roll, School of Business, a student must:
- Have been admitted to, and be in good standing with, the School of Business, and
- Have completed at least twelve graded semester hours with a GPA of at least 3.40 during the immediately preceding semester.
Students who have completed at least 12 graded semester hours with a GPA of 4.00 during the immediately preceding semester will be included on the President’s Honor Roll.
Internships
The School of Business has developed an internship program that is constantly in demand by successful area businesses. School of Business students have the opportunity to select from internships in many industries. Starting in their junior year, students may earn credit toward their degree and also acquire job market skills for employment. Both the student intern and the employer are required to file progress reports with the internship coordinator on a regular basis. Internship credit hours are graded on a pass/fail basis only and do not count as electives to meet requirements for the majors. For further information, interested students should consult with the Director of Student Affairs in the School of Business. Descriptions of the programs are provided in the course listings of this catalog under AC 499 Internship In Accounting, BU 499 Internship in Business, and EC 499 Internship in Economics. The total number of credits for a School of Business internship may not exceed three (3) semester hours.
Study Abroad
Juniors or seniors may satisfy part of their degree requirements while spending one or two semesters in approved study abroad programs that place special emphasis on international business and economics. Washburn participates in the Magellan Exchange, a business school oriented program with about ten universities in Western Europe, and in the Consortium of North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC), a consortium of almost 50 schools in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Washburn also has a number of other international partnerships, including exchange agreements with:
- Denmark International Studies (DIS), Copenhagen
- Fukuoka University, Japan
- Lower Danube University, Romania
- Orebro University, Sweden
- SNSPA, Romania
- Tongji University, Shanghai
- University of Claremont-Ferrand, France
- University of Cambridge, England
- University of Klagenfurt, Austria
- Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
Programs of study in many other countries can be arranged. For further information contact the Office of the Dean, School of Business or the Study Abroad Advisor, Washburn University.
Student Organizations
The School of Business feels that in order for our students to succeed they must develop communication and networking skills. To cultivate these skills the School of Business supports several student organizations that students can join for both camaraderie and learning. For a full listing, description, and contact information, please consult the School’s web site at www.washburn.edu/business.
Kansas Small Business Development Center at Washburn University and BRITE Center
The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Washburn University (KSBDCWU) provides free, confidential, one-on-one counseling for small business owners or potential owners in the Northeast Kansas counties of Brown, Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Jackson, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, and Washington. The KSBDCWU also offers low-cost seminars and training programs.
To assist clients the KSBDCWU utilizes a wide variety of resources including online and Internet databases to help small businesses obtain the timely, detailed, and relevant information necessary to make sound business decisions. The services of the KSBDCWU are available to all start-up or existing small businesses.
KSBDC at Washburn University and BRITE Center
719 S. Kansas Avenue
5th Floor, Suite 100
Topeka, KS 66603
785-215-8375
KSBDC at Washburn University (co-located with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce)
501 Poyntz Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502
785-587-9917
KSBDC at Washburn University Glacial Hills Outreach Center
334 2nd Street
Wetmore, KS 66550
785-276-9246
The web site is www.washburnsmallbusiness.com.
Application for Degree
Early in the semester of graduation, students planning to graduate must file an Application for Degree form in the Office of the University Registrar in order to initiate a graduation check. The form should be filed in September for the Fall semester and in February for the Spring semester and the Summer term. A student is not a Candidate for Degree until the University Registrar’s Office has the form on file and the candidacy has been approved. Students applying for graduation should process a degree audit upon enrollment for the final semester and again at the beginning of final semester to ensure that all degree requirements will be met. All questions, uncertainties, and potential anomalies should be brought to the attention of an advisor in the School of Business. Students should process a degree audit after enrollment for the intended final semester, but before the final semester begins, to ensure that all degree requirements will be met.
Advising
It is important that any student who intends to work toward the Bachelor of Business Administration degree be advised by a member of the School of Business faculty or by an academic advisor in the School of Business. Faculty will assist students in selecting a major and in planning their academic schedules. Freshman, sophomore, and transfer students will need to consult initially with an academic advisor in the School of Business office, especially with regard to transfer credit. The School of Business reserves the right to evaluate any credit hours offered for transfer relative to the current standards before accepting or rejecting such hours. Once established in the program, these students should pursue advising from School of Business faculty.
Students should have reviewed their academic transcript and processed a degree audit through MyWashburn before visiting with their advisor. The purpose of the degree audit is to identify for students the remaining requirements necessary to complete their degree program. While the degree audits are unofficial, they should be an accurate reflection of the student’s academic progress. If the student believes his or her audit or transcript is incorrect, the question should be brought promptly to the attention of an advisor in the Dean’s office. All transfer courses should be evaluated no later than the first semester of enrollment at Washburn.
The School of Business provides advising literature and materials explaining program requirements and requires the student to consult with an advisor during the enrollment process. The student, however, has the ultimate responsibility for understanding the requirements of his/her degree program and for ensuring that the program requirements, including course prerequisites, are met in order and on a timely basis. Program and advising information is available through this catalog, the School’s web site, and separate information sheets.
Prerequisite Policy for Students in School of Business Courses
It is the responsibility of all students, including degree-seeking, visiting, and non-degree-seeking students, enrolled in School of Business courses, regardless of major or degree program, to observe the published prerequisites for the course. Visiting students including exchange students, or their sponsoring organizations, will need to present official documentation that prerequisites have been met. Students not majoring in one of the majors in the BBA degree may request permission in the Dean’s Office to enroll in 400-level accounting (AC) and (BU) courses if they have achieved standing in their own programs comparable to admission to the School of Business. For a prerequisite requirement to be met, the prerequisite course must be successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better. If subsequent to enrollment a student no longer meets the course prerequisite requirements, the student is required to withdraw from the course without delay; if not, the student is subject to administrative withdrawal from the course at any time. Any questions should be directed to an advisor in the School of Business office. Note: The prerequisites of a course include the prerequisites of its prerequisite courses.
Repetition of Courses
Undergraduate courses may be repeated. The transcript will contain a complete record of all courses taken and grades earned. Courses for which grades of Ds and Fs are recorded can be retaken without departmental approval; courses for which a grade of C, or pass, or higher are recorded will require departmental approval from the department or school offering the course. Approval is required before enrollment. The transcript will contain a complete record of all courses taken and grades earned. The repeated and not the original grade will be included in determining the cumulative grade point average. However, after a student has repeated the same course three times, or has repeated three different courses, that student must have the permission of his/her academic dean before repeating any course. In the School of Business, requests to repeat courses under these policies should be directed to the associate dean. In cases where an excessive repeat (ER) hold has been put in place, the student should expect to be advised by the associate dean until all relevant courses have been successfully completed. Enrollment before the completion of the previous semester is at the discretion of the associate dean.
Transfer Course Preapproval Requirement
Washburn business majors who wish to take classes at another institution to meet their degree requirements at Washburn must receive prior approval. Guidelines and application forms are available in the School of Business office.
Preparation for Further Study at the Graduate Level
Students considering graduate study in accounting, business, or economics are encouraged to take mathematics beyond the current minimum requirement, including MA 141 Applied Calculus I or appropriate higher level mathematics courses, such as MA 151 Calculus & Analytic Geometry I or MA 152 Calculus & Analytic Geometry II.
Outcome Assessment and Assurance of Learning
The Washburn University School of Business, as part of its continuous improvement efforts and consistent with the requirements of Washburn University, the Higher Learning Commission, and AACSB International—The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business, at intervals administers surveys and tests to its students, graduates, staff, and external constituents. We encourage all of those contacted to support our continuous improvement efforts by participating in these surveys and tests. For currently enrolled students, the tests and surveys may be required as part of coursework, or as program and degree graduation requirements separate from coursework, and are independent of the catalog under which the student intends to graduate. Tests may be administered during regularly scheduled classes, or at other times separate from class meeting times, including on Saturdays; an assessment fee may be charged.
Pass/Fail Policy
Candidates for the BBA degree in Business Administration must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required courses and may not take required courses pass/fail. These required courses include required courses offered by the School of Business, courses offered by the School of Business used to meet School of Business requirements, and courses offered outside of the School of Business required as correlate courses for the BBA degree including CN 150 Public Speaking, MA 116 College Algebra, MA 140 Statistics, AN 112 Cultural Anthropology, PY 100 Basic Concepts in Psychology, and SO 100 Introduction to Sociology, as well as classes used to meet the English elective requirement. In the event a student has pass/fail credit in a required course before admission to the School, the student may be required, as a condition of admission, to take an alternative course or courses for regular credit to fulfill such requirements. Similarly, alternative courses might be required if a required course is taken pass/fail after admission to the School.
Second Bachelor Degrees and Second Concentrations
Students who have already completed a BBA degree from Washburn University may earn an additional major within the BBA. However, they must satisfy the specific BBA degree requirements under a catalog that is still in effect at the time the additional major is awarded (which may not be their original catalog). This includes all correlate, core, and major-specific courses listed under specific degree requirements. Students seeking an additional major within the Washburn BBA should seek advice about course scheduling and sequencing and develop an appropriate graduation plan. Students who have a Washburn bachelor degree in an area other than business and are seeking the BBA as an additional Washburn degree must also present a minimum of a total of 150 hours of credit and will need to satisfy all the specific business degree requirements. Similarly, they should seek advice about course scheduling and sequencing and develop an appropriate graduation plan.
If the student has completed a bachelor degree in business outside of Washburn University, then the student must also satisfy the School’s residency requirement. To meet School of Business residency, at least 50 percent of the accounting, business, business data analytics, and economics hours presented for the BBA degree must be completed at Washburn University. All students will be required to complete the BU 449 Strategic Management course, the capstone of the BBA program, and the specific degree requirements including the requirement that 51 hours be completed in general education areas or coursework offered by the Computer Information Sciences Department. When the previous business degree is from an AACSB International-accredited business school, the business core requirements normally will be considered to have been met with the exception of BU 449 Strategic Management assuming appropriate grades and that prerequisites have been met for courses to be taken at Washburn. In all other cases, transfer credit will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Any candidate for a second baccalaureate degree must present a minimum of 150 hours of credit.
In the case where the student holds an MBA degree, an additional 30 hours of undergraduate coursework must be completed beyond the hours earned to meet the requirements of the first bachelor degree and the MBA degree. Previously taken MBA foundation coursework may be used to satisfy specific BBA requirements; these hours will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. However, upper-level graduate hours may not be used to meet BBA residency, nor the 30 hours past the MBA. Because of the uniqueness of these situations, students should seek early advice and analysis of their coursework from the School of Business office.
Academic Advising and Admission Requirements
As stated in the School of Business Values Statement (above), students are expected to act responsibly in their academic programs and to “understand the requirements and expectations of their degree programs and plan their class schedules consistent with these expectations.” More concretely, students pursuing a major within the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program have the ultimate responsibility for understanding the requirements of their degree programs, including potential scheduling conflicts between majors, for monitoring their own progress in the program, and for ensuring that the program requirements, including course prerequisites, are met in order and on a timely basis. Students are expected to understand the program requirements as outlined in this catalog and in the advising materials. In planning their class schedules, students are expected to observe basic advising principles, including course prerequisites, as well as to consult with an advisor within the School of Business to clarify any doubts. Course prerequisites are considered met when the prerequisite course is complete with a grade of “C” or better. Where needed, the students should prepare transfer course petitions in accord with the procedures below. Students should process a degree audit prior to every advising session and subsequent enrollment. Other requirements are found in the Graduation Requirement section (below). Note: The prerequisites of a course include the prerequisites of its prerequisite courses.
Transfer Credit
The School of Business reserves the right to evaluate any credit hours offered for transfer relative to the current standards before accepting or rejecting such hours to meet School of Business requirements. In accord with business accreditation standards, academic work accepted from other institutions should be comparable to that in the degree programs of the School of Business. Students should be prepared to provide catalog course descriptions and course syllabi to the School of Business. Official transcripts of all coursework should be sent directly to Washburn University Registrar. To facilitate advising and schedule planning, this review of transfer courses should be completed during the first semester of enrollment. Transfer courses that might meet University degree requirements, including general education requirements, if the transfer courses are not already on the Washburn University Transfer Guides, will need to be reviewed by the department of the discipline of the course or by the University General Education Committee. Students will need to petition for approval of the course no later than the second semester of enrollment and will need to provide catalog course descriptions, syllabi, and other information as required by the “General Education Transfer Course Petition” available on the Vice President for Academic Affairs website. Petitions should be prepared by the students and submitted through the students’ academic advisors.
International Transfer Credit
International students with transfer credit from non-U.S. institutions must provide original transcripts that should have detailed addresses of the issuing school for verification. If originals cannot be submitted, attested certified copies of transcripts must be sent to Washburn by the issuing school on the school’s official envelope and stationary. All university level foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a Washburn University-recognized evaluation service (e.g. Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES)). A “course-by-course” report is required. Cost of this evaluation is borne by the student. Applications can be obtained from their respective websites (www.ece.org for ECE and www.wes.org for WES). Completed evaluations should be sent directly by the evaluation agency to the Office of International Programs at Washburn University. (https://www.washburn.edu/academics/international-programs/international-students/Transcript%20Requirements%20-%20for%20website.pdf2019)
As in the case of courses transferred from the U.S. institutions, courses in accounting, business, business data analytics, and economics not already on the transfer guides will need to be reviewed by the School of Business. In the case of courses that might meet the University degree requirements, including the general education requirements, the courses need to be reviewed by the University General Education Committee or by the chair of the department of the course. To facilitate advising and schedule planning, the School of Business review process should be completed in the first semester of enrollment at Washburn. General education courses should be petitioned for approval no later than early in the second semester of enrollment. In both cases the process starts with the posting of the results of the ECE or WES evaluation on the student’s Washburn University transcript and degree audit. For students who have completed a baccalaureate degree or associate degree with a similar duration as a domestic baccalaureate degree or associate degree from an accredited international institution, courses satisfactorily completed in the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics will be accepted for credit in the appropriate general-education area
International transfer courses completed outside of a completed degree program will need to be reviewed individually by the relevant department chair or by the University General Education Committee. The students should provide catalog course descriptions, syllabi and other information as required by the “General Education Transfer Course Petition” available on the Vice President for Academic Affairs website. Students who wish to enter School of Business programs from the Washburn University’s Intensive English program should move quickly to provide these materials, especially for courses needed for prerequisites or admission to the School of Business. Petitions should be prepared by the students and submitted through the students’ academic advisors. www.washburn.edu/academics/international-programs/international-students/gen%20ed%20transfer%20petition
Basic Advising Principle
The basic advising principle is that among courses required by the School of Business 100-level courses should be completed before 200-level courses, which should be completed before 300-level courses, which should be completed before 400-level courses. However, several general education courses should be saved until the end in order to be able to complete a class schedule when business courses are of limited availability. While the upper-division business requirement beyond the upper-division business core has room for two major areas of concentration in most cases (excluding accounting), students should not expect to complete the requirements of both in the same semester and should plan carefully to avoid class conflicts.
An early goal should be prompt admission to the School of Business. Requirements for admission are completion of 54 hours, MA 116 College Algebra, and the seven admission courses offered by the School of Business.
Each of these courses need to be taken for a grade with a grade of “C” or better. Upon admission to the School, students are permitted to take 400-level courses in accounting and business, subject to meeting the other prerequisites. No more than 30 hours of AC and BU coursework may be taken before admission to the School of Business.
Administratively, there are four steps in a student’s progress to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree, apart from the course work and the separate applications for scholarships and financial aid, which need to be initiated by the student. These steps include:
- application to Washburn University as a degree-seeking student,
- declaration of major,
- admission to the School of Business, and
- application for the degree.
At the time of the application for the degree, the student should undeclare any major no longer being pursued.
Application to Washburn University as a Degree-seeking Student
Students who first enroll at Washburn University as a visiting or non-degree-seeking student and then decide to seek a Washburn degree must then apply for admission to the University as a degree-seeking student and be admitted in order to receive the benefits of degree-seeking status.
Declaration of Major Area of Concentration/Degree/Catalog Year
Early in their program of study, all students interested in earning the Bachelor of Business Administration degree should declare their degree goal and major area of concentration. Declarations of major program are done in person at the School of Business office by filling out and turning in the “Declaration of Major Program Form.” After the declaration of major program has been approved and the faculty advisor has been assigned, the students should meet with the faculty advisor for enrollment advising and to plan their academic program. This procedure also applies to changes of major program and declarations of an additional major program. The concentrations available within the BBA degree are accounting, business data analytics, entrepreneurship and innovation, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing, and general business. Students interested in the BBA degree but who have not yet decided on a concentration initially can declare a concentration in general business and then later change their declaration to align with their final decision. Declaring a major is not the same as being admitted to the School of Business. A declaration of major is simply a statement of student intentions which also establishes an advising relationship. To be admitted to the School of Business, students must satisfy the conditions for admission detailed under Application for Admission to the School of Business below.
Application for Admission to the School of Business
Upon completion of 54 semester hours of college credit, MA 116 College Algebra, and the seven required lower-division School of Business courses, students should apply for admission to the School of Business. Each course must be taken for a grade and a grade of “C” or better must be earned in each course. The seven courses required for admission:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| MA 116 | College Algebra | 3 |
| AC 224 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| AC 225 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BU 248 | Foundations of Data Analysis | 3 |
| BU 250 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| EC 200 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| EC 201 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC 211 | Statistics for Business and Economics | 3 |
MA 346 Regression Analysis may be substituted for EC 211 Statistics for Business and Economics. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned after being admitted to the School of Business. Admission to the School of Business is a requirement for enrolling in BU 449 Strategic Management, the capstone course of the BBA degree as well as all 400-level accounting (AC) and business (BU) courses. As part of the application for admission to the School of Business and prior to each semester’s advising, students are asked to process a degree audit and to confirm that all transfer credit is correctly posted. Students should file an application for admission with the Office of the Dean of the School of Business as soon as the student becomes eligible to apply. Students are limited to no more than 30 credit hours of accounting and business courses without being admitted to the School of Business. Upon admission students should process a degree audit to determine the remaining courses and to develop a plan to graduation.
