College of Business Administration
Administrative Officers
| Dean | Mitchell J. Muehsam, Ph.D. mmuehsam@shsu.edu; (936) 294-1254 |
| Associate Dean | Kurt Jesswein, Ph.D. jesswein@shsu.edu; 936) 294-4582; |
| Associate Dean | Valerie P. Muehsam, Ph.D. pepper@shsu.edu; (936) 294-3712 |
| Department of Accounting | Philip W. Morris, Ph.D., CPA, Chair morris@shsu.edu; (936) 294-1258 |
| Department of Economics and International Business | M. Douglas Berg, Ph.D., Interim Chair dberg@shsu.edu; (936) 294-1265 |
| Department of General Business and Finance | Joey Robertson, Ph.D., Chair tjr004@shsu.edu; (936) 294-1287 |
| Department of Management and Marketing | Gerald Kohers, Ph.D., Chair kohers@shsu.edu; (936) 294-1256 |
Vision
Sam Houston State University’s College of Business Administration aspires to be among the best regional colleges of business administration in the nation.
Mission
The mission of the College of Business Administration (COBA) is to prepare students for careers through a quality education. COBA provides a student-focused learning environment that actively engages students, faculty, and the business community in the promotion of knowledge and skills relevant for professional success. The educational environment is complemented by encouraging quality faculty scholarship in applied, pedagogical, and discipline-based research.
Core Values
The faculty and staff of the College of Business Administration embrace the following core values in pursuit of the mission.
Quality - COBA faculty and staff will provide a quality educational environment, maintaining a relevant curriculum and teaching pedagogy that nurtures intellectual development.
Responsibility - COBA faculty and staff will be responsible and dependable, take personal initiative and accept accountability.
Respect - COBA faculty and staff will engage in a spirit of cooperation and collegiality that promotes trust, collaboration and respect of others.
Individuality - COBA faculty and staff, recognizing the value of diversity, will respect individual goals and objectives, and celebrate faculty, staff and student success.
Honesty - COBA faculty and staff will be ethical in their behavior, will act with integrity and will be honest, open and fair with all stakeholders.
Academic Programs
| Majors | Degrees |
| Accounting | B.B.A. |
| Banking and Financial Institutions | B.B.A. |
| Economics | B.B.A. |
| Entrepreneurship | B.B.A. |
| Finance | B.B.A. |
| General Business Administration | B.B.A. |
| Human Resource Management | B.B.A. |
| International Business | B.B.A. |
| Management | B.B.A. |
| Management Information Systems | B.B.A. |
| Marketing | B.B.A. |
Note: This listing of undergraduate degree programs is correct as of January 2016.
Business Minors
The College of Business Administration offers eleven minors: Accounting, Banking, Business Communication, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business Administration, International Business, Management, Management Information Systems and Marketing. With two exceptions, the minors are open to all students majoring in areas that allow minors. Students majoring in programs within the College of Business Administration may not minor in General Business Administration. The minor in Banking is open only to students seeking a BBA degree or those students pursuing a major in Agricultural Business. Please see the appropriate departmental section for the specific course requirements for that program's minor(s).
Highlights
The College of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB International) and has a nationally recognized chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma. In the United States only one in three business schools have earned this accreditation and worldwide approximately six percent of business programs/schools have earned this prestigious accreditation.
Sam Houston State University was accredited in March of 2005 as the 17th Professional Golfers’ Association of America PGA Golf Management university in the country and the first in the state of Texas. The Professional Golfers’ Association of America PGA Golf Management program at Sam Houston State University is designed to produce members of the PGA of America. Successful completion of the four and one-half year program will reward the student with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in General Business Administration with a minor in PGA Golf Management, resulting in Class “A” membership within the PGA of America.
The College of Business Administration offers BBA degrees in accounting, banking and financial institutions, finance, general business administration, management and marketing and the MBA at SHSU The Woodlands Center (TWC).
The College is a member of the SAP University Alliance and offers students the opportunity to earn an SAP Certificate of Completion.
The College is home to the Sower Business Technology Lab providing students hands on experience in 3D printing, RFID technology and robotics. The College also hosts the Center for Innovation and Technology.
The College hosts the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame.
Each year the College of Business Administration conducts a career fair that offers students the opportunity to interact with approximately 50 employers from all types of business and not-for-profit organizations.
The College offers an Executive MBA in Banking and Financial Institutions. The EMBA program is a two-year cohort program involving both online and residence coursework.
Student Organizations and Activities
- Alpha Kappa Psi
- Association of IT Professionals
- Banking and Finance Club
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Beta Alpha Psi
- Business, Innovation and Technology Co-operative Organization
- COBA Ambassadors
- Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization
- International Business Society
- MBA Student Association
- National Association of Black Accountants
- National Black MBA Association
- Omicron Delta Epsilon
- Phi Chi Theta
- Society for Human Resource Management
Additional student organizations exist within specific majors and/or departments. Please see the appropriate major/department for more details.
Internships and Study Abroad
A student may earn a maximum of six hours in approved, supervised educational work experience in internships. Internship applications are available from the sponsoring academic department. In order to receive academic credit, a student must meet the eligibility conditions, obtain prior approval from the Department Chair of his/her major, and meet the guidelines established by the College of Business Administration for monitoring the quality of the learning experience.
Sam Houston State University offers the unique opportunity for students to earn college credit in other countries including China, Japan and Dubai. These classes are taught by COBA and other SHSU faculty members, and students have many opportunities to interact with the local community. Field trips to major businesses, museums, and archeological sites are often included. A limited number of scholarships are available to partially cover the cost. Interested students may contact the Dean's Office or the Office of International Programs for additional information.
Scholarships
Sam Houston State University offers academic scholarship opportunities for beginning freshmen who excel in areas of academic achievement and leadership. There are additional competitive scholarship opportunities for current SHSU and transfer undergraduate students. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships using the Scholarship4Kats program at Financial Aid . The Scholarship4Kats 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 College of Business Administration administers the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Program at Sam Houston State University. The Smith-Hutson Scholarship targets entering freshmen with demonstrated financial need and academic potential who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree from SHSU. Additionally, Smith-Hutson Scholarships are available to transfer students from a Texas community college who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree offered through the College of Business Administration at SHSU. More information about the program can be found at the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Program website .
Numerous scholarships are available on a competitive basis for currently enrolled students in the College of Business Administration. Applications are typically accepted through Scholarship4Kats between October 1 and February 15 for incoming students and between January 2 and February 15 for returning students. Deadlines may change so students are encouraged to check the website for current information. Scholarship recipients are announced in April for the following academic year.
Scholarships vary from year to year and typically include:
- Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship
- Billy and Kathy Smith COBA Scholarship
- Carol Shaw Alpha Chi Omega Scholarship
- Charles R. Carlow Endowed Scholarship
- Charles W. Jones Endowed Scholarship
- Clay and Margaret Smith Scholarship
- Douglas C. Fletcher, Sr. Scholarship
- Dr. Elliot T. Bowers Assistance Scholarships
- Ed and Genevieve Sandhop Endowed Scholarship
- Ed G. Sandhop Scholarship
- Edward James Crawford Scholarship
- Farm Credit Bank Scholarship
- Gibson D. Lewis Scholarship
- G. Scott and Mary S. McCarley Endowed Scholarship
- James E. Gilmore Endowed Scholarship
- James Gilmore COBA Excellence Scholarship
- Jean D. Neal Scholarship
- Jessica Lee Hays Memorial Scholarship
- J. N. and Vennie Crawford Business Administration Scholarship
- Joe M. “Butch” MacKenzie Scholarship
- John Patrick Singleton (Class of 1965) Memorial Scholarship
- Johnson-Brown-Perkins Scholarship
- J. Roy Wells Scholarship
- Kailas and Becky Rao Scholarship in Honor of Dr. Bobby K. Marks
- Leroy Ashorn Memorial Scholarship
- Neva and Wesley West Scholarship
- Nicholas C. Beaty Memorial Scholarship
- Rayford Lacey Hardy and Margie Crawford Hardy Endowed Scholarship
- Ray Gordon Dollar Sr. Scholarship
- Ron Mafrige Endowment for COBA Scholarship in Honor of R. Dean Lewis
- Tommy Metcalf Scholarship
- Wesley L. Oakes Scholarship
- Wood-Yager Scholarship
University-Specific Requirements
All students are required to complete the University general education requirements (common core) as described in Degree Requirements and Academic Guidelines section in this catalog. Additionally, all students are required to complete Component Area I – Communications (ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302), Component Area II – Mathematics (MATH 1324), and four hours from Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) before being allowed to register for upper-division (3000- and 4000- level) courses.
Curriculum
College-Specific Requirements
General Requirements
The following courses are required of all students seeking a BBA degree. Students completing the courses below will have completed the University Core Curriculum as well as the degree-specific computer literacy requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General requirements for all majors pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration degree | ||
| Component Area I | 6 | |
| Composition I (satisfies Component Area I) | ||
| Composition II (satisfies Component Area I) | ||
| Component Area II | 3 | |
| Mth For Mngl Decision Making (satisfies Component Area II) | ||
| Component Area III | 8 | |
See approved list | ||
| Component Area IV | 3 | |
| Component Area V | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | United States History To 1876 (satisfies Component Area VI) | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | United States History Sn 1876 (satisfies Component Area VI) | 3 |
| POLS 2305 | American Government (satisfies Component Area VII) | 3 |
| POLS 2306 | Texas Government (satisfies Component Area VII) | 3 |
| ECON 2302 | Principles Of Microeconomics (satisfies Component Area VIII) | 3 |
| BUAD 1305 | Electronic Communications Tech | 3 |
| or CSTE 1330 | Introduction To Computers | |
| Component Area IX | 1 | |
| Select one of the following (satisfies Component Area IX): | 3 | |
| Comm. for Bus. & Professions | ||
| Dsgn/Presentation Bus.Projects | ||
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Business Core
Each program of study pursuant to the Bachelor of Business Administration degree includes the following courses for the Business Core. Additional course requirements are outlined by specific departments. There are sixteen courses in the business core (48 hours). The table below sums to 42 hours as six hours in the business core apply to the 45 hours in the University Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Business Core | ||
| ECON 2301 | Principles Of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 2302 | Principles Of Microeconomics (satisfies a University core requirement) | 3 |
| ACCT 2301 | Principles Of Financial Acc | 3 |
| ACCT 2302 | Principles Of Managerial Acc | 3 |
| BUAD 2321 | Dsgn/Presentation Bus.Projects (satisfies a University core requirement) | 3 |
| or COMS 2382 | Comm. for Bus. & Professions | |
| BANA 2372 | Business Analysis | 3 |
| BUAD 2301 | Business Legal Environment | 3 |
| ECON 3000-4000 level (specific ECON course depends on the major) | 3 | |
| MGMT 3310 | Principles Of Management | 3 |
| MKTG 3310 | Principles Of Marketing | 3 |
| MGIS 3310 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| FINC 3320 | Business Finance | 3 |
| BUAD 3335 | Business Communication | 3 |
| BANA 3363 | Inter Business Analysis | 3 |
| MGMT 3370 | Operations Management | 3 |
| MGMT 4390 | Strategic Management & Policy | 3 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Minimum GPA Requirements to Earn a BBA Degree
Students must achieve a 2.0 GPA in the following:
- SHSU GPA
- Cumulative GPA (SHSU and transfer)
- SHSU business courses
- Cumulative business courses (SHSU and transfer)
- Minor GPA (if a minor is pursued)
Some majors require a higher GPA and/or have specific grade requirements for courses within the major. Please see the respective departmental section for more details.
Fifty Percent Requirement
At least 50 percent of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree must be taken in residence at Sam Houston State University, which may include courses taken at The Woodlands Center (TWC) campus or through SHSUOnline.
Entry to Upper Division Courses
Admission to undergraduate upper division courses, i.e., 3000- and 4000-level, in the College of Business Administration, is limited to students who have completed at least 50 semester hours with a GPA of at least 2.0.
Teaching Certification
A business major may have the requirements for a teaching certificate added when a degree plan is prepared. See secondary teaching certification requirements in this catalog.
Graduate Studies
The College of Business Administration is authorized to offer the Master of Business Administration , Master of Science in Accounting , and Master of Science in Project Management degrees. The Graduate Catalog provides additional information regarding graduate studies in the College of Business Administration.
