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College of Business

About the College of Business

College of Business Data Snapshot

Academic Units

Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics

The Accounting Program

The Accounting Program was established to meet the growing demand for highly qualified professionals in the many specialized areas of accountancy.  The program provides a professional education to prepare students for careers in public accounting, corporate accounting, financial management, and a variety of careers that demand a high level of proficiency in accounting.

Through a traditional four-year curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, the program encourages scholarly professional research that contributes to the advancement of accounting theory and practice. Additionally, it provides students with the foundation for passing    professional certification examinations such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examinations.

In addition to students in the College of Business, the program offers accounting courses that serve the needs of the University-wide constituency and offers various educational services to the professional and business communities. Graduates also gain the necessary foundation to pursue advanced degrees in business and related areas.

Accounting majors are required to complete 124 semester hours of which 27 credit hours must be in the field of accounting (above the principles level). A grade of “C” or better must be attained in all accounting courses presented to fulfill the requirements in the major. Accounting electives in specialized areas are available to advanced students.

While the traditional four-year program fulfills the educational requirements for certain areas of accounting, Louisiana requires a baccalaureate degree and no less than 150 hours of University course credit to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. A number of other states have similar requirements and prospective candidates are advised to contact the respective State Boards of Accountancy. Individuals desiring to meet these requirements can do so by completing a minimum of 30 additional hours beyond the hours required for the baccalaureate degree. It is recommend that students consider the Master of Business Administration Program in the College of Business to satisfy this requirement.

The Finance Program

The Finance Program offers courses designed to provide students with basic information and current knowledge of the operation of the American economy and financial system. The department emphasizes innovative teaching, research, and professional service activities. It offers a four-year curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, with the opportunity for a concentration in Economics.

The Finance program provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of financial theories and the ability to apply analysis of financial markets and operation of financial institutions. Additionally, students are provided with experience designed to equip them with the theoretical tools of investigation and promote critical thinking and analytical skills in business and finance.

Such knowledge will enable students to obtain the necessary skills for career opportunities in one of the following areas:

  • Financial institutions including banks, insurance companies, real estate firms and financial regulatory agencies.
  • Corporate finance and the work ranges from making decisions regarding plant expansions to choosing what types of securities to issue when financing those expansions.
  • Careers in investments includes working for brokerage houses such as Merrill Lynch, as sales or security analyst; banks, mutual funds, or insurance companies as portfolio analyst; financial consulting firms advising individual investors or pension funds; or financial planner helping individuals develop long-term financial goals.

Finance majors are required to complete 124 credit hours, of which 24 credit hours must be in the field of finance. A grade of “C” or better must be attained in all finance courses presented to fulfill the credit hour requirement in the major. Finance electives in specialized areas are available to advanced students.

The Finance program has concentrations in Risk Management and Insurance and Business Economics. The Risk Management and Insurance concentration consists of four Risk/Insurance courses (12 credit hours) that can be used to satisfy the four elective courses required for the Finance degree curriculum. The Business Economics concentration also consists of four economics course (12 credit hours) that can be used to substitute the four elective courses required for the Finance degree program. Students should consult with the Chair of the Department for the specific course requirements necessary to obtain the concentrations. Those students currently enrolled in the Economics Degree program as of the 2010-2011 academic year will be allowed to complete their degrees in Economics as specified in this catalog or the relevant catalog at the time of their entry into the program.

Department of Management and Marketing

The Department of Management and Marketing offers a wide variety of courses in several business areas including management, production, business law, quantitative methods, information systems, and marketing. These courses are designed to lead to degrees in management or marketing.

The department offers a management curriculum and a marketing curriculum designed to provide students with knowledge of management and marketing theory and practice, preparing them for a variety of careers.

Management majors are required to complete 124 credit hours of which 24 hours beyond management courses required of all business majors must be in the field of management. A grade of “C” or better must be attained in all management courses presented to fulfill the credit hour requirements in the major.

Marketing majors are required to complete 124 credit hours of which 24 credit hours must be in the field of marketing. A grade of “C” or better must be attained in all marketing courses presented to fulfill the credit hour requirement in the major. Management and Marketing electives in specific areas are available to advanced students.

College of Business Admission Requirements:
Admission to the College of Business is open to students who have successfully completed the following requirements:

1. Attained at least a 2.0 grade point average on a minimum of 30 semester hours of college credit courses, which must include the following:

a. Freshman Composition (ENGL110 and ENGL111), 6 hours
b. College Algebra (Math135) and Calculus for Business and Social Sciences (MATH203) with a grade of "C" or better, 6 hours
c. Computer Science (CMPS291) with a grade of "C" or better, 3 hours
d. Natural Sciences, 6 hours

Students transferring should pursue the degree program for one of the following curricula:  Accounting, Finance, Management, or Marketing.

**The Economics degree program is no longer available to students as of May 2011.  As of Fall 2011, no new students will be admitted to the program.

Transfer from Other Areas at the University:
Transfer credits are acceptable for degree programs to the extent they represent course requirements in the appropriate curriculum.

Transfer from Other Colleges or Universities:
Students transferring from other approved colleges or universities must meet the general University requirements and the requirements of students transferring from other areas of the University.

The College of Business may decline to accept transfer credits for any course when the grade earned is lower than "C" or for business courses completed at the lower-division level, when the course is offered at the junior or senior level in this college. Transfer credit will be granted for courses taken at an in-state institution based on state transfer and articulation criteria. Transfers from all other institutions will be reviewed on a case by case basis for academic equivalency only when the courses involved and the level of the transfer applicant's achievement in them permit the student to complete satisfactorily remaining upper division professional work.