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 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.
The Finance (FIN) degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge of the problems and opportunities that confront entities in the specific field of finance. The General Business Administration (GBA) degree program provides an opportunity to customize student-selected electives for a broad base in business, to specialize within an industry, or to develop a minor either inside or outside the College of Business Administration.
Both the Finance and General Business Administration degrees 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 an MBA or other professional programs; or to be combined with a sequence of professional education courses and other requirements by the College of Education and Applied Science to earn a certificate to teach in secondary schools.
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 164, 165 | 6 | ENG 265, 266, or 267 | 3 |
| HIS 163, 164 | 6 | SCM 282 | 3 |
| MTH 199 | 3 | ECO 233, 234 | 6 |
| Laboratory Science2 | 8 | POL 261, 285 | 6 |
| MIS 188, CS 133, 143, 138, or LS 130 | 3 | ACC 231, 232 | 6 |
| Visual and Performing Arts Elective3 | 3 | BAN 232 | 3 |
| KIN 215 | 1 | GBA 281 | 3 |
| 30 | Cultural Studies Electives4 | 3 | |
| 33 | |||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| FIN 334, 367 | 6 | MGT 475 | 3 |
| GBA 362, 389 | 6 | MGT 476 | 3 |
| BAN 363, MKT 371 | 6 | ECO elective (300- or 400-level) | 3 |
| MGT 380 | 3 | Business Elective | 6 |
| MIS 388 | 3 | Electives (3 hrs. 300- or 400-level) | 17 |
| Business Electives (300- or 400-level)6 | 9 | 32 | |
| 33 | |||
A minor in General Business Administration (21 hours) is available to all non-business bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in General Business Administration requires ACC 231, 232; ECO 230; MKT 371; MGT 380; FIN 334 or 367; and 3 additional hours of business electives at any level.
Minor in Entrepreneurship: A minor in Entrepreneurship (27 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in Entrepreneurship requires ACC 231, 232, and 233; FIN 367; GBA 362, 366, and 464; and two courses from FIN 465, MGT 334, or MKT 371.
The required minor for someone wishing to use business as a second teaching field in Texas high schools requires ACC 231, 232; ECO 233, 234; GBA 260, 362, and 389; FIN 171; and MGT 380.
1 No more than 50% (excluding nine hours of ECO and six hours of statistics, BAN 232, 363, and 364) of the required curriculum may come from the College of Business Administration. Transfer students must take at least 50% of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree in residence at Sam Houston University.
2 Two four-hour laboratory science courses must be taken from two different departments: Biology (including ESC 147), Chemistry, Geography/Geology (only GEO 141 is acceptable from the Department of Geography), or Physics.
3 Select from ART 160, 161, 163, 260, DNC 131, 176, MUS 161, 264, 265, or THR 160, 164, 166, 230, 231. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see General Information section of this catalogue).
4 Select from BSL 236, Foreign Languages 263, 264, GEO 265, 266, HIS 265, 266, or SOC 168. Satisfies the Cultural Studies requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see General Information section of this catalogue).
5 FIN 373, 439, and 471 are typically offered only in the fall semester and FIN 377, 465, and 487 are typically offered only in the spring semester.
6 GBA 363 and 470 are typically offered only in the fall semester and GBA 466 is typically offered only in the spring semester.
GBA 163 ELEMENTARY KEYBOARDING. [OFAD 1302] This course is designed for those students who have had NO previous instruction in keyboarding or typewriting. Keyboard mastery is emphasized, simple business letters, and simple manuscripts are stressed. Not open to students who have credit for GBA 164. Credit 3.
GBA 164 PRODUCTION KEYBOARDING. Students who have had previous instruction in keyboarding or typewriting should enroll in this course. The primary objective of this course is to develop efficiency. Credit 3.
GBA 181 BUSINESS PRINCIPLES IN AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. [BUSI 1301] A survey course of all the major business disciplines with an emphasis on helping define career objectives and supporting academic interest areas. An overview of what is involved in accounting, marketing, management, legal aspects of business, economics and finance. An ideal choice for non-business majors wanting to learn of opportunities in business and how to pursue them. Credit 3.
GBA 260 WORD PROCESSING. A study of the design and implementation of word processing as a management support system. The course includes theory and practical exercises to develop proficiency-level skills through hands-on application. Prerequisite: GBA 164 or equivalent. Credit 3.
GBA 261 OFFICE APPLICATION SYSTEM. A study of the design and implementation of desktop publishing as a part of the management information system, with an emphasis on hands-on applications at the computer to develop proficiency level skills. Prerequisite: GBA 260 or equivalent. Credit 3.
GBA 281 BUSINESS LEGAL ENVIRONMENT. [BUSI 2301] This course covers legal environment from a Òpreventive lawÓ, practical perspective. Specific subjects include: Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Torts, Business Organizations, Real and Personal Property Law including Asset Protection-Estate Planning, and Administrative Law. The course provides an introduction to Environmental Law, Consumer Law, Securities Law, Human Resources Management Law (Labor Law), and Marketing Law (Anti-Trust). Credit 3.
GBA 362 BUSINESS LAW. The focus of this course is on areas of modern commercial law as needed by business professionals in conducting business transactions in buying and selling goods and services. Common Law Contracts and negotiation strategies are presented. An examination of the Uniform Commercial Code includes Sales Law, Leasing, Commercial Paper - Negotiable Instruments, Commercial Storage and Distribution of Goods, and Transfer of Securities. Creditor's rights and U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code are also covered. Credit 3.
GBA 363 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT LAW. Designed for those seeking management positions and human resource management specialists, this course covers employment law with particular emphasis on Federal Laws on discrimination, compensation and promotion issues, worker safety, and employment benefits. Taught from a Òpreventive lawÓ perspective, students acquire skills needed to keep abreast of the changing legal environment for employers and employees. Sexual harassment, affirmative action, workers compensation, worker safety and practical overview of employment manuals and procedures provide valuable information for future employees, managers or business owners. Credit 3. Typically offered only during fall semesters.
GBA 366 GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION. Provides an overview of theories of entrepreneurship, the process of creating wealth an public policies that encourage new venture formation and economic growth. Credit 3.
GBA 385 REAL ESTATE LAW. This course covers the legal aspects of real estate including the legal principles and legal instruments used in real estate transactions. Credit 3.
GBA 389 BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS. Communication as a management tool in business and a personal skill with emphasis on the logical and psychological development of letters and reports. Prerequisites: Ability to type. Credit 3.
GBA 430 PROBLEMS IN BUSINESS. An opportunity for the student to design a course, perhaps on a topic not offered or to more deeply investigate a subject of personal interest. A faculty member will be teamed up on a one-to-one basis to customize a project. Prerequisites: 30 hours in Business Administration and the consent of the department chair. May be taken for the Academic Distinction Program. Credit 1, 2, or 3.
GBA 461 DESIGN AND PRESENTATION OF BUSINESS PROJECTS. The focus of this course is on designing and delivering effective business presentations. Topics include planning, developing, organizing, and delivering business presentations. Students will design/develop effective visual aids which will be used in their business presentations using computer-assisted programs. Credit 3.
GBA 464 ENTREPRENEURSHIP. Designed for the aspiring entrepreneur or for those who are curious as to how wealth is created in a free market economy, this course provides a practical experience of how to evaluate business opportunities, how ventures are started with little or no capital, how wealth is realized, and how to develop innovative entrepreneurial skills and planning techniques to minimize the cost of experience. By the end of the course, students develop their own Personal Entrepreneurs Plan useful in focusing the direction of their personal careers. Credit 3.
GBA 465 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW. An overview of the international legal environment from a commercial and entrepreneurial perspective. This course examines the implications of international laws on foreign investment, intellectual property, sales contracts, money and banking, financing of enterprises, labor regulation and hiring, taxation, and dispute settlement. Credit 3.
GBA 466 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW. A study of federal, state, and local judicial regulatory systems; the regulation of business from a non-price viewpoint; and the effect of administrative actions on business. The case method of study is emphasized. Prerequisite: GBA 281. Credit 3.
GBA 470 LEGAL TOPICS. An in-depth look at various areas in the law that are of special interest to students of different majors. May be repeated as topics change. Credit 3.