General Business & Finance | Graduate Catalog 2013-15

Department of General Business and Finance

About

Chair
Kurt Jesswein

Faculty
Leroy Ashorn, Traci Austin, Jim Bexley, Jonathan Breazeale, Mary Funck, Martin Griffin, Jose Guitierrez, Kathy Hill, Harold Hurry, Geraldine Hynes, Keith Jenkins, Kurt Jesswein, Steve Johnson, Hadley Leavell, Bala Maniam, Robert Matthews, Katie O'Neill, Steve Nenninger, Joey Robertson, Lucia Sigmar, Robert Stretcher, Laura Sullivan, Brad Wesner

Mission
The mission of the Department of General Business and Finance is to assist in fulfilling the mission of the University and the College of Business Administration by providing students at the undergraduate and master’s levels with an academic foundation to become productive citizens, to develop successful careers, and to provide interested students with the background to pursue graduate or professional studies. The academic foundation leading to a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Banking and Financial Institutions, Entrepreneurship, Finance, or General Business Administration is designed to arouse intellectual curiosity, develop analytical reason, and provide historical and current information relative to the global environment.

Contact Information
936.294.1278

Website
/~gba_www/

Academic Programs

Business Administration, MBA
Business Administration - Banking and Financial Institutions, EMBA

Highlights

The Department of General Business and Finance, through the Smith-Hutson Chair of Banking, provides the leadership for the Executive MBA in Banking. In addition, the College of Business Administration participates in the certified Professional Golf Association of America’s PGA/PGM program with participating students receiving the BBA degree in General Business Administration with a concentration in Professional Golf Management (PGM). The department also hosts the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Career Opportunities

The Banking and Financial Institutions, Entrepreneurship, Finance, and General Business Administration baccalaureate, degree programs are designed to prepare students for careers in business, government, or not-for-profit entities; to include the core business courses required for admission to master’s or other professional programs; or to be combined with a sequence of professional education courses and other requirements by the College of Education to earn a certificate to teach in secondary schools.

Student Organizations and Activities

Beta Alpha Psi
Banking and Finance Club

Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization
A club providing networking, information, and academic augmentation of the programs in Finance and Banking/Financial Institutions areas. Activities include Federal Reserve tours, seminars with executives, and social gatherings

Internships

The department has historically been very successful in offering internships in the financial institutions area. This program has been expanded to include internship opportunities specifically designed to meet the PGA/PGM’s program requirements. Internships for students interested in other business environments are also becoming increasingly available.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a competitive basis for Banking, Entrepreneurship, Finance, and General Business Administration majors. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships using the ScholarX program on the Financial Aid website. The ScholarX program is a single application that will allow the student to apply for most scholarships available on campus whether at the departmental, college, or university-level. The deadline for applying for Department of General Business and Finance scholarships is February 15. Department of General Business and Finance scholarship recipients are announced in April for the following academic year. The specific scholarships that are available through the department vary from year to year and may include: