Chair: Kurt Jesswein (936) 294-1278 jesswein@shsu.edu
Faculty: Leroy Ashorn, Jim Bexley, Jonathan Breazeale, Martin Griffin, Joey Guittierrez, Kathy Hill, Harold Hurry, Geraldine Hynes, Joe James, Keith Jenkins, Kurt Jesswein, Steve Johnson, Marguerite Joyce, Hadley Leavell, Bala Maniam, Robert Matthews, Steve Nenninger, Lucia Sigmar, Robert Stretcher, Laura Sullivan
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, 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.
Academic Programs
- BBA in Banking and Financial Institutions
- BBA in Finance
- BBA in General Business Administration
The Banking and Financial Institutions (BFI) degree program is designed to prepare students for officer-level positions in banks and other financial institutions. The Finance (FIN) degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge of the problems and opportunities that confront entities in the field of finance. The General Business Administration (GBA) degree program provides a solid foundation in business and sufficient electives to customize a degree plan for directed career paths.
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 minor in Professional Golf Management (PGM). The department also hosts the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Suggested Minors
Both the Banking and the Finance degree majors have limited electives available; therefore no minor is required. Students in these two areas may elect to declare a minor; however, the additional courses will add to the length of their programs.
An entrepreneurship minor would be very beneficial to students anticipating starting or running their own businesses.
General Business Administration majors should consider a minor in one of the approved business minors to provide depth of knowledge in at least one business field.
- Accounting
- Banking
- Business Communication (Pending Approval)
- Business Education
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- International Business
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
Career Opportunities
The Banking and Financial Institutions, Finance, and General Business Administration 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
Beta Alpha Psi
Banking and Finance Club
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 as well as internships for students interested in other business environments are also now available.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available on a competitive basis for Banking, 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:
- American Bank Endowed Scholarship
- James B. and Elsie M. Bexley Scholarship
- Laurence L. Corley Scholarship
- Juanita Eikner Scholarship
- First Victoria Bank Scholarship
- General Business and Finance Departmental Scholarships
- International Association of Administrative Professional-Houston Chapter/Dr. Rita B, Huff and Dr. Ronald D. Johnson Endowed Scholarship
- John Klein/Amegy Bank Scholarships
- Bala and Santhi Maniam Finance Scholarship
- Frank and Mary McAdams Payne Banking 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 1 – Communications (ENG 164 and 165) <ENGL 1301 and 1302>, Component Area 2 – Mathematics (MTH 199 <MATH 1324> for business majors), and four hours from Component Area 3 (Natural Science) before being allowed to register for upper-division (300- and 400-level) <3000- and 4000-level> courses.
College-Specific Requirements
General Requirements
General requirements for all majors pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration degree are as follows:
| English 164,
165 <ENGL 1301, 1302> |
6 hours |
| Mathematics 199 <MATH 1324> |
3 hours |
| Laboratory Science | 8 hours |
| Visual and Performing Arts Elective | 3 hours |
| 3 hours from ENG 265, 266, PHL 261,
263 <ENGL 2331, 2342>, <PHIL 2361, 2306> |
3 hours |
| Cultural Studies Elective | 3 hours |
| History 163, 164 <HIST 1301, 1302> |
6 hours |
| Political Science 261 and 200-level
Political Science course <POLS 2301 and 2000-level Political Science> |
6 hours |
| ECO 233 <ECON 2302> |
3 hours |
| GBA 180 or CTE 133 <BUAD 1305> or <CSTE 1330> |
3 hours |
| Kinesiology 215 <KINE 2115> |
1 hour |
COM 282 <COMS 2382> or GBA 261 <BUAD 2321> are required for all business majors except for Banking & Financial Institutions and Finance.
Foundation Knowledge for Business
Each program of study pursuant to the Bachelor of Business Administration degree includes the following Core Courses for the Foundation Knowledge for Business. Additional course requirements are outlined by specific departments.
Core Courses (45 semester hours)
| Accounting | ACC 231,
232 <ACCT 2301, 2302> |
6 hours |
| Economics | ECO 233, 234, and one advanced course in ECO <ECON 2302, 2301, and one advanced course in ECON> |
9 hours |
| Business Legal Environment | GBA 281 <BUAD 2301> |
3 hours |
| Business Statistics | BAN 232, 363 <BANA 2372, 3363> |
6 hours |
| Business Finance | FIN 367 <FINC 3320> |
3 hours |
| Marketing | MKT 371 <MKTG 3310> |
3 hours |
| Management | MGT 380, 475, 476 <MGMT 3310, 4370, 4390> |
9 hours |
| Business Communications | GBA 389 <BUAD 3335> |
3 hours |
| Managment Information Systems | MIS 388 <MGIS 3310> |
3 hours |
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)
Some business departments/majors may require higher, more specific grade requirements. Review the department/major sections in this catalog for those requirements.
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.
Entry to Upper Division Courses
Admission to undergraduate upper division courses, i.e., 300- and 400-level <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. Students seeking a BBA must complete ACC 231 <ACCT 2301>, ACC 232 <ACCT 2302>, BAN 232 <BANA 2372>, ECO 233 <ECON 2302>, ECO 234 <ECON 2301>, and MTH 199 <MATH 1324> with a minimum GPA of 2.0 prior to taking 300- or 400-level <3000- or 4000-level> business courses.
Program Specific Requirements
Minimum Grades in Finance Courses
A minimum grade of “C” in finance courses taken (prefix FIN) <FINC> is required for students to graduate with a BBA in Finance.
Curriculum
Major In Banking and Financial Institutions1
Bachelor of Business Administration
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
| ENG 164, 165 <ENGL 1301, 1302> |
6 | ENG 265, 266; PHL 261, 263 <ENGL 2331, 2342; PHIL 2361, 2306> |
3 |
| HIS 163, 164 <HIST 1301, 1302> |
6 | ACC 231, 232 <ACCT 2301, 2302> |
6 |
| MTH 199 <MATH 1324> |
3 | ECO 233, 234 <ECON 2302, 2301> |
6 |
| Laboratory Science2 | 8 | POL 261, 200-level Political Science <POLS 2301, 2000-level Political Science> |
6 |
| GBA 180 or CTE 133 <BUAD 1305> or <CSTE 1330> |
3 | BAN 232, GBA 281 <BANA 2372>, <BUAD 2301> |
6 |
| KIN 215 <KINE 2115> |
1 | Cultural Studies Electives4 | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts Elective3 | 3 | 30 | |
| 30 | |||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| FIN 334, 367 <FINC 3310, 3320> |
6 | MGT 474 or 475, 476 <MGMT 4365 or 4370>, <MGMT 4390> |
6 |
| GBA 389, 362 <BUAD 3335, 3355> |
6 | FIN 432, 468, 472, 486 <FINC 4335, 4320, 4330, 4345> |
12 |
| BAN 363, MKT 371 <BANA 3363, MKTG 3310> |
6 | FIN Electives (300- or 400-level5) <FINC Electives 3000- or 4000-level> |
6 |
| ACC 365, MGT 380 <ACCT 3313, MGMT 3310> |
6 | ECO Elective (300- or 400-level) <ECON Elective 3000- or 4000-level> |
3 |
| FIN 460 <FINC 4325> |
3 | Electives | 3 |
| MIS 388 <MGIS 3310> |
3 | 30 | |
| 30 |
1 Transfer students must take at least 50% of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree in residence at Sam Houston State University.
2 Two four-hour laboratory science courses from: Biology, Chemistry, Geography/Geology (the only geography courses that satisfy a laboratory science requirement are GEO 131/111 <GEOG 1301/1101> and GEO 146 <GEOG 1436>, or Physics.
3 Select from AGR 299 <AGRI 2399>, ART 160, 161, 163, 260 <ARTS 1301, 1311, 1316, 1303>, DNC 172, 176 <DANC 1372, 1301>, FCS 160 <FACS 1360>, MUS 138, 161, 264, 265 <MUSI 2338, 1301, 1306>, or THR 160, 164, 166, 230, 231 <THEA 1330, 1364, 1366, 2330, 2336>. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see the Core Curriculum section of this catalog).
4 Select from BSL 236 <BESL 2301>, Foreign Languages 263, 264, GEO 265, 266 <GEOG
2355, 2356>, HIS 265, 266 <HIST
2311, 2312>, or SOC 168 <SOCI 2319>. Satisfies the Cultural Studies
requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see the Core Curriculum
section of this catalog).
5 FIN 439 <FINC 4365> is typically offered only in the fall semester and FIN 465 and 487 <FINC 4315 and 4355> are typically offered only in the spring semester.
Minor in Banking
Minor in Banking: A minor in Banking (18 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs in the College of Business Administration. The minor in Banking requires FIN 334, 468, 432, 472 <FINC 3310, 4320, 4335, 4330>; 6 additional semester hours selected from FIN 499 <FINC 4389> - Bank Internship (no more than 3 semester hours per semester with a maximum of 6 hours), FIN 465 <FINC 4315>, FIN 471 <FINC 4340>, or FIN 486 <FINC 4345> with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. The minor in Banking is also available to Ag Business majors. In addition to the courses listed here for COBA majors, the following additional courses will be required for Ag Business majors to obtain the banking minor: ACC 231 <ACCT 2301>, ACC 232 <ACCT 2302>, and FIN 367 <FINC 3320>. Furthermore, degree candidates for a minor in banking must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the banking minor or not.
Major In Finance1
Bachelor of Business Administration
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
| ENG 164, 165 <ENGL 1301, 1302> |
6 | ENG 265 or 266 or PHL 261 or 263 <ENGL 2331, 2342; PHIL 2361, 2306> |
3 |
| HIS 163, 164 <HIST 1301, 1302> |
6 | ACC 231, 232 <ACCT 2301, 2302> |
6 |
| MTH 199 <MATH 1324> |
3 | ECO 233, 234 <ECON 2302, 2301> |
6 |
| Laboratory Science2 | 8 | POL 261, 200-level Political Science <POLS 2301, 2000-level Political Science> |
6 |
| Visual and Performing Arts Elective3 | 3 | BAN 232, GBA 281 <BANA 2372>, <BUAD 2301> |
6 |
| GBA 180 or CTE 133 <BUAD 1305> or <CSTE 1330> |
3 | Cultural Studies Electives4 | 3 |
| KIN 215 <KINE 2115> |
1 | 30 | |
| 30 | |||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| FIN 334, 367 <FINC 3310, 3320> |
6 | MGT 474 or 475, 476 <MGMT 4365 or 4370>, <MGMT 4390> |
6 |
| GBA 389, 362 <BUAD 3335, 3355> |
6 | FIN 468, 469, 486, 432 <FINC 4320, 4390, 4345, 4335> |
12 |
| BAN 363, MKT 371 <BANA 3363, MKTG 3310> |
6 | FIN Electives (300- or 400-level5) <FINC Electives 3000- or 4000-level) |
6 |
| ACC 365, 366 <ACCT 3313, 3314> |
6 | ECO Elective (300 or 400 level) <ECON Elective 3000- or 4000-level> |
3 |
| MGT 380 <MGMT 3310> |
3 | Electives | 3 |
| MIS 388 <MGIS 3310> |
3 | 30 | |
| 30 |
1 Transfer students must take at least 50% of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree in residence at Sam Houston State University.
2 Two four-hour laboratory science courses from: Biology, Chemistry, Geography/Geology (the only geography courses that satisfy a laboratory science requirement are GEO 131/111 <GEOG 1301/1101> and GEO 146 <GEOG 1436>, or Physics.
3 Select from AGR 299 <AGRI 2399>, ART 160, 161, 163, 260 <ARTS 1301, 1311, 1316, 1303>, DNC 172, 176 <DANC 1372, 1301>, FCS 160 <FACS 1360>, MUS 138, 161, 264, 265 <MUSI 2338, 1301, 1306>, or THR 160, 164, 166, 230, 231 <THEA 1330, 1364, 1366, 2330, 2336>. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see the Core Curriculum section of this catalog).
4 Select from BSL 236 <BESL
2301>, Foreign Languages 263, 264, GEO 265, 266 <GEOG
2355, 2356>, HIS 265, 266 <HIST
2311, 2312>, or SOC 168 <SOCI 2319>. Satisfies the Cultural Studies
requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see the Core Curriculum
section of this catalog).
5 FIN 439 <FINC
4365> is typically offered only in the fall semester and FIN 465 and 487 <FINC
4315 and 4355> are typically offered only in the spring semester.
Minor in Finance
Minor in Finance: A minor in Finance (24 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in Finance requires ACC 231, 232 <ACCT 2301, 2302>; FIN 334, 367, 486 <FINC 3310, 3320, 4345>; 6 additional advanced hours in FIN <FINC> courses; and 3 additional hours of FIN <FINC> courses at any level with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. Furthermore, degree candidates for a minor in finance must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the finance minor or not.
Major in General Business Administration1
Bachelor of Business Administration
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
| ENG 164, 165 <ENGL 1301, 1302> |
6 | ENG 265 or 266 or PHL 261 or 263 <ENGL 2331, 2342; PHIL 2361, 2306> |
3 |
| HIS 163, 164 <HIST 1301, 1302> |
6 | COM 282 or GBA 261 <COMS 2382 or BUAD 2321> |
3 |
| MTH 199 <MATH 1324> |
3 | ECO 233, 234 <ECON 2302, 2301> |
6 |
| Laboratory Science2 | 8 | POL 261, 200-level Political Science <POLS 2301, 2000-level Political Science> |
6 |
| Visual and Performing Arts Elective3 | 3 | ACC 231, 232 <ACCT 2301, 2302> |
6 |
| GBA 180 or CTE 133 <BUAD 1305> or <CSTE 1330> |
3 | BAN 232 <BANA 2372> |
3 |
| KIN 215 <KINE 2115> |
1 | Cultural Studies Electives4 | 3 |
| 30 | 30 | ||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| GBA 281 <BUAD 2301> |
3 | GBA 362, 389 <BUAD 3355, 3335> |
6 |
| FIN 334, 367 <FINC 3310, 3320> |
6 | MGT 474 or 475 <MGMT 4365 or 4370> |
3 |
| BAN 363, MKT 371 <BANA 3363, MKTG 3310> |
6 | MGT 476 <MGMT 4390> |
3 |
| MGT 380 <MGMT 3310> |
3 | ECO elective (300- or 400-level) <ECON Elective 3000- or 4000-level> |
3 |
| MIS 388 <MGIS 3310> |
3 | Business Electives (300- or 400-level) <Business Electives 3000- or 4000-level> |
9 |
| Business Electives | 6 | Electives | 6 |
| Electives | 3 | ||
| 30 | 30 |
1 Transfer students must take at least 50% of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree in residence at Sam Houston State University.
2 Two four-hour laboratory science courses must be taken from: Biology, Chemistry, Geography/Geology (the only geography courses that satisfies a laboratory science requirement are GEO 131/111 and GEO 146), or Physics.
3 Select from AGR 299, ART 160, 161, 163, 260, DNC 172, 176, FCS 160, MUS 161, 264, 265, THR 160, 164, 166, 230, 231. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum.
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.
Major in General Business Administration with PGM Minor1
Bachelor of Business Administration
1 Transfer students must take at least 50% of the required business curriculum for the B.B.A. degree in residence at Sam Houston State University.
2 Two four-hour laboratory science courses from: Biology, Chemistry, Geography/Geology (the only geography courses that satisfy a laboratory science requirement are GEO 131/111 <GEOG 1301/1101> and GEO 146 <GEOG 1436>, or Physics.
3 Select from AGR 299 <AGRI 2399>, ART 160, 161, 163, 260 <ARTS 1301, 1311, 1316, 1303>, DNC 172, 176 <DANC 1372, 1301>, FCS 160 <FACS 1360>, MUS 138, 161, 264, 265 <MUSI 2338, 1301, 1306>, or THR 160, 164, 166, 230, 231 <THEA 1330, 1364, 1366, 2330, 2336>. Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see the Core Curriculum section of this catalog).
4 Select from BSL 236 <BESL
2301>, Foreign Languages 263, 264, GEO 265, 266 <GEOG
2355, 2356>, HIS 265, 266 <HIST
2311, 2312>, or SOC 168 <SOCI 2319>. Satisfies the Cultural Studies
requirement of Component Area 4 of the Core Curriculum (see the Core Curriculum
section of this catalog).
5 GBA 111 <BUAD 1111> is repeated each Fall and Spring of the first and second year of the program.
6 GBA 219 <BUAD 2189> is repeated during the Summer Sessions following the first and second year of the program.
7 GBA 311 <BUAD 3169> is repeated each Fall and Spring of the second and third year of the program
Minor in General Business Administration
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 <ACCT 2301, 2302>; ECO 230 or 233 or 234 <ECON 2300 or 2302 or 2301>; MKT 371 <MKTG 3310>; MGT 380 <MGMT 3310>; FIN 334 or 367 <FINC 3310 or 3320>; and 3 additional hours of business electives at any level with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. Furthermore, degree candidates for a minor in General Business Administration must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the general business administration minor or not.
Minor in Entrepreneurship
Minor in Entrepreneurship: A minor in Entrepreneurship (18 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in Entrepreneurship requires: FIN 334 <FINC 3310>; GBA 362, 366, and 464 <BUAD 3355, 3345, 4348>; and two courses from FIN 465 <FINC 4315>, MGT 434 <MGMT 4310>, or MKT 371 <MKGT 3310> with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. Furthermore, degree candidates for a minor in Entrepreneurship must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the entrepreneurship minor or not.
Minor in Business Communication
Minor in Business Communication: A minor in Business Communication (18 hours) is available to all bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. The minor in Business Communication requires GBA 180, 261, 365, 389, 471, <BUAD 1305, 2321, 3336, 3335, 4335> and ENG 330 <ENGL 3330>; and 3 additional advanced hours from GBA 363, 430, 499 <BUAD 3360, 4380, 4389> or COM 465 <COMS 4365> with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. Furthermore, degree candidates for a minor in Business Administration must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the Business Communication minor or not.
Minor in Business Education
A minor in Business Education is available to all non-business bachelor degree programs that permit a minor. This minor is designed to meet the requirements for a teaching certification in Texas and specifically for someone wishing to use business as a second teaching field in Texas high schools. The minor in Business Education requires ACC 231, 232 <ACCT 2301, 2302>; ECO 233, 234 <ECON 2302, 2301>; GBA 362 <BUAD 3355> and GBA 389 <BUAD 3335>; FIN 171 <FINC 1307>; and MGT 380 <MGMT 3310> with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. Furthermore, degree candidates for a minor in Business Education must achieve a minimum 2.0 grade point average for all hours attempted in business courses, including residence and transfer hours whether required for the business education minor or not.