School of Business and Technology

Accounting | Business and Technology Studies Major | Computer Science /Computer Information Systems | Economics | Finance| Management | Marketing Program | Organizational Behavior

The School of Business and Technology combines an academic emphasis on liberal arts with experiential learning to create global leaders with strong professional skills who act with integrity and a strong sense of social responsibility. The School offers a variety of programs including: accounting, applied economics, computer science/computer information systems, finance, organizational behavior, management and marketing.

Mission statement

We develop leaders who embody the values of the School of Business and Technology and consistently demonstrate the highest levels of ethical decision-making, social responsibility, global awareness, and professional excellence.

Values of the School of Business and Technology

Respect: Value the dignity and worth of all people, and utilize all resources responsibly.
Fairness: Treat all justly and equitably.
Courage: Act in accordance with one's beliefs.
Love of Learning: Investigate and integrate the broad spectrum of human experience to enrich life.
Innovation: Create and implement new ideas.
Community: Share responsibility and develop a sense of unity while valuing the uniqueness of the individual.
Dean: Kurt Linberg, Ph.D.

Accounting

Accounting B.A. major

The purpose of the major is to prepare students for careers in accounting and to provide exceptionally strong preparation for the CPA and CMA exams.
Required courses: ACC 2210, 2220, 3300, 3310, 3320, 3400, 4420, 4430, 4450; ECN 2230, 2280; MGT 2120, 3130, 3150, 4160; FIN 3420; CIS 2105; MTH 1111; PSY 3331.
Minimum 2.4 cumulative grade point average in the required courses.
Coordinator: Paul W. Khoury, M.B.A., C.P.A.

Accounting major outcomes

The student completing the Accounting major will be able to:
1. Prepare, analyze, interpret and use accounting information in the process of business decision-making.
2. Be employed in an entry-level accounting position.
3. Demonstrate the interdisciplinary skills needed for success in the accounting profession.
4. Articulate a set of values and apply it to business decision-making.

Accounting minor

A minor in Accounting is offered for students who want to develop accounting skills while majoring in areas such as, but not limited to, Management, Computer Information Systems, Health Information Management or Math. The minor requires 20 credits of accounting courses. Required courses include ACC 2210, 2220, and three additional accounting courses at 3000 level or higher. The minor should be designed with an accounting faculty member. Some of the courses have prerequisites that must be completed prior to enrollment.
150-credit hour Accounting Program:
Designed for students who wish to pursue a career in public accounting in states that require 150 semester hours of college-level education to become certified as a CPA. This is a program of study that leads to the B.A. degree with a major in accounting and students may choose to take additional courses at the undergraduate level or enroll in the Master of Arts in Management Program.

Business and Technology Studies B.A. major

This major provides students an opportunity to explore a wide range of topics drawn from the disciplines of management and computer informational technology or to arrange an individualized course of study in fields represented by the majors offered within the School of Business and Technology.
Whereas a degree in Business and Technology Studies may prepare a student for entry-level employment, students should be aware that this school major may not provide sufficient depth of preparation for admission to a graduate program or specialization in one of the management or computer information disciplines. Students who wish to earn this school major should meet with the Undergradaute Chair of the School of Business and Technology in the fall semester of the sophomore year to evaluate the appropriateness of the degree for their career goals.
The school major is generally intended for students who are not seeking a baccalaureate degree in any other program with in the School of Business and Technology. Therefore, the school major is not offered as a second major.
The school major in Business and Technology Studies requires a minimum of 36 credits in courses which carry a ACC, CIS, ECN, FIN, MGT or MKT prefix. Of the 36 credits, 20 must be earned in one disciplinary area and 16 credits must be chosen from courses at the 3000-level or higher. The balance of credits needed for graduation should be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor and the Undergraduate Chair to ensure that the student's individual educational and career objectives can be attained.
Application:
A student seeking to earn a B.A. in Business and Technology Studies should first schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Chair of the School of Business and Technology or a designated advisor to discuss the appropriateness of the school major and a proposed course of study. Students submit the application to major form and an essay to the dean. The essay should explain how earning a B.A. in Business and Technology Studies advances the educational and career goals of the student.
Coordinator: Thomas E. Gibbons, Ph.D.

Computer Science /Computer Information Systems

Computer Science/Computer Information Systems at St. Scholastica is an innovative alternative to the computer science programs offered at many colleges and universities. Students in the program learn current and emerging computer technologies and the means to apply these system technologies in solving organizational problems. In addition to the core computer concepts, students select a specific application concentration in business management, healthcare, Web development, math, or software engineering. Students may also seek departmental approval for a custom designed concentration.
Graduates find work in a variety of large and small organizations as Web developers, software engineers, application programmers, database specialists, and business/system analysts. Some graduates are working for computer consulting firms or working as entrepreneurs, while others are managing the information systems of large and small organizations.
Coordinator: Thomas E. Gibbons, Ph.D.

Computer Science/Computer Information Systems B.A. or B.S. major:

CS/CIS majors must complete the following required courses and at least one of the concentrations below. The concentration choice determines whether the student receives a B.A. or B.S. degree.
Required courses: CIS 1004, CIS 1007, CIS 2011, CIS 2085, CIS 2087, CIS 3105 or CIS 3089, CIS 3107, CIS 3108, CIS 4109, CIS 4555, and 10 additional CIS elective credits in courses numbered 3000 or higher; one of the following analytical courses: MTH 2211 Short Calculus, MTH 2221 Calculus I, MTH 2401 Discrete Mathematics I, PHL 1105 Logic, PSY 3331 Statistics.

Concentrations for CS/CIS major:

Economics Concentration (B.A.)

ECN 2230 Microeconomics, ECN 2280 Macroeconomics, 12 credits of upper-level ECN courses including either ECN 3330 Managerial Economics or ECN 3380 Money and Banking.

Healthcare Concentration (B.S.)

HIM 2112 Fundamentals of HIM, HIM 3132 Medicolegal Issues, HIM 4231 Clinical Quality Management (2 cr.), HSC 2203 U.S. Health Care Systems, HSC 2209 Medical Terminology (2 cr.) , HSC/TRS 3311 Religious Perspectives on Health Care Ethics.

Management Concentration (B.A.)

Four of the following courses plus four additional upper level credits in MGT/ACC/ECN. ACC 2210: Financial Accounting I, ACC 2220: Managerial Accounting, MGT 2120: Prin. of Management, MKT 2320: Intro. to Marketing , MGT 3130: Quantitative Methods, MGT 3240: Human Resources, MKT 3320: Mkt. on the Internet, MKT 3340: Market Promotions, ECN 2230: Microeconomics, ECN 2280: Macroeconomics.

Mathematics Concentration (B.S.)

MTH 2221 Calculus I, MTH 2222 Calculus II, MTH 3322 Linear Algebra, MTH 4411 Probability and Statistics I or PSY 3331 Statistics, and 4 additional credits of upper-level MTH coursework. Courses in this concentration do not count toward the analytical requirement for the CS/CIS major. CIS 3089 Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis is recommended for this concentration over CIS 3105 MIS.

Software Engineering Concentration (B.S.)

CIS 3044/45 Visual Basic Programming or CIS 3048/49 C# .Net Programming, CIS 3285 Software Design, CIS 3287: Software Quality, CIS 4032: Telecommunications and Networking (2 cr.), CIS 4034: Server-Side Web Development, CIS 4042: Computer Security (2 cr.). CIS courses in this concentration do not count toward the required 10 CIS elective credits for the major. CIS 3089 Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis is recommended for this concentration over CIS 3105 MIS.

Web Development Concentration (B.A.)

ART/CIS/CTA 2041 Computer Visual Design, CIS 3034 Client-Side Web Development (2 cr.), CIS 4034 Server-Side Web Development, MGT 3140 E-Commerce or MKT 3320 Marketing on the Internet, CIS/CTA 4041 Web Design. One of the following two-credit courses: CIS 3044 Visual Basic Programming, CIS 3046 C# .NET Programming, CIS 4032 Telecommunications and Networking, CIS 4042 Computer Security. CIS courses in this concentration do not count toward the required 10 CIS elective credits for the major.

Custom-Designed Concentration

A 20-credit concentration in other departments approved by the CIS department chair.

CS/CIS Program outcomes:

The student completing the CS/CIS major will be able to:

1. Analyze, design, and construct solutions to simple and complex problems.
2. Evaluate, select and apply methods and software tools to meet organizational needs.
3. Communicate ideas through oral presentations, written documents, and software documentation.
4. Effectively work as a member of a team to complete a project under project management direction.
5. Articulate and apply her/his own personal and organizational values within the context of professional codes of ethics.
6. Research and demonstrate an ability to learn and apply new technologies and/or methodologies.

CS/CIS minor

A minor in CS/CIS requires 20 credits: Four credits from CIS 1004, CIS 1007, CIS 1008, and CIS 2105; CIS 2085, CIS 3107, and 8 additional credits of CIS courses numbered 2000 or above.

Economics

Economists like to say that everything in the world can be explained by economics. While perhaps that is a slight exaggeration, the fact is that economists study issues as small as how people decide what to do during a day and as large as global warming. Economics is a field that students will be able to use throughout their lives.
If a student desires a major that will provide a challenge; qualify him/her for virtually any management position; allow the opportunity to double major; and give insight on many of the opportunities that will be presented in everyday life, a major in Applied Economics would be an appropriate choice. With the Applied Economics major the student will focus on classes that are interesting and provide information that will be useful throughout his/her whole life. The Applied Economics major also lets the student broaden his/her horizons by taking classes outside of the major. This helps graduating Applied Economics majors to have a wide-ranging education that will be helpful in virtually every job market.
Coordinator: Robert Hoffman, Ph.D.
Required courses: ECN 2230, 2280, 3330, 3380, plus 16 credits of additional economics electives; PSY 3331 or equivalent, CIS 2000 or higher; and ACC 2210. A student chooses one of two tracks: the Information Systems Track (A CIS elective at the level of 2040 or above, CIS 3105; and MGT 3130) or Financial Sector Track (MGT 3420, FIN 3440 and ACC 3400 or FIN 4460).
Minimum 2.4 cumulative grade point average in the required courses.

Economics major outcomes

The student completing the Applied Economics major will be able to:

1. Understand the basic terms, fundamental concepts, and the key economic theories of macroeconomics and microeconomics.
2. Exhibit professional skills and will be responsible members of the community.
3. Access information, assess the validity and reliability of information, and be able to interpret the information obtained.
4. Display a command of existing knowledge and be able to use economics to analyze policy disputes.
5. Use economics to analyze issues that arise in other academic disciplines.
6. Present the results of their economic analysis, orally and in writing, to people outside the field of economics.

Economics, applied minor

A minor in Applied Economics is offered to students who would like to complement their major with courses grounded in economic methodology. Applying economic thinking to another field of study has repeatedly generated new insights for the student. The minor requires 20 credits of Economics courses.
Required courses include: ECN 2230, 2280, and either ECN 3330 or 3380, plus two additional upper-level economics courses; and CIS 2000 or higher.

Finance

Finance can be divided into three areas:

1.  Financial Management is the study of how managers obtain funds, manage working capital, and allocate funds to long-term investments. Every firm, no matter how small, needs someone to manage funds. A manager also uses financial information to assess the strategies of the firm and to assess whether the firm is achieving its objectives.
2.  Financial Markets and Institutions is the study of money markets (short-term debt) and capital markets (long-term debt and equity). Attention is given to how financial traders behave in a global market, the role played in the financial market by different financial institutions (commercial banks, credit unions, investment banks), and the effects upon the financial system of national and international policymakers.
3.  Investment is the study of how individuals manage portfolios and provide financial planning.

Coordinator: Robert Hoffman, Ph.D.

Finance B.S. major

Finance majors would be prepared to enter jobs in any of the three areas of finance.
Required courses: ACC 2210, 2220; CIS 2105; ECN 2230, 2280; FIN 3420; FIN 4500; FIN 4600; FIN 4900;; MGT 2120; MGT 4160; MTH 1111; PSY 3331; plus an additional 16 credits of upper-division elective credits, which must include a minimum of eight Finance (FIN) credits and may include up to eight upper division credits from the following disciplines: Accounting, Applied Economics, Management, Marketing, or Computer Information Systems PHL 3354 will fulfill 4 of the elective credits.
Minimum 2.4 cumulative grade point average in the required courses.

Finance major outcomes

The student completing the Finance major will be able to:

1. Assess, interpret and evaluate financial statements. Evaluation includes the use of ratio analysis.
2. Perform financial analysis and forecasting for use in all levels of decision making. Students apply finance theory (time value of money) to determine value.
3. Understand the functions and operations of financial markets and institutions.
4. Create a diversified portfolio understanding the relationship between risk and expected return.
5. Utilize various technologies in financial decision-making.
6. Have a working knowledge of Code of Ethics & Standards of Professional Conduct of financial practitioners and use them to address ethical challenges they may encounter in a professional setting.

Finance minor

Finance minor requirements: ACC 2210, FIN 3420, FIN 4900; and either two upper division finance electives or ECN 2280 and FIN 4500.

Management

The goal of the Management major is to prepare students for managerial careers in a wide range of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. The major emphasizes the human dimensions of management and teaches students how to apply theoretical concepts to the solution of real world problems. In addition to completing the required management courses, students may focus on specific areas of interest through their choice of management electives.
Coordinator: David Anstett, M.B.A.

Management B.A. major

Required courses: ACC 2210, 2220; CIS 2105; ECN 2230, 2280; MGT 2120, 3130, 3150, 3240, 4170, FIN 3420 and MKT 2320; PHL 3354; plus an additional 16 credits of upper-division elective credits, which must include a minimum of eight Management (MGT) credits and which may include up to eight upper division credits from the following disciplines: Accounting, Applied Economics, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, or Computer Information Systems.
Although a management internship may be designed to earn more than four credits, the internship will count as only one elective course.
Minimum 2.4 cumulative grade point average in the required courses.

Management major outcomes

The student completing the Management major will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to utilize accounting, finance, human resources, information technology, and marketing knowledge in order to support managerial decision-making.
2. Demonstrate problem-solving skills, by using critical thinking and quantitative methods, in creating and implementing strategic and operational plans appropriate for a business or nonprofit organization.
3. Apply required skills in developing effective group and team dynamics associated with leading, motivating and inspiring teammates to successfully complete a major project.
4. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills appropriate for a manager.
5. Understand how global issues and diversity will impact future work.
6. Apply ethical behaviors in addressing challenges encountered as managers.

Management minor

The minor in Management requires at least 20 credits of Management courses and must include: MGT 2120, 3240, MKT 2320 plus two upper-division Management courses (MGT prefix). Students may design a minor with any Management faculty member; a course plan must be approved by the department chair and filed with the Registrar.

Management 2+2 (satellite) Degree Program

This program is a consortium agreement with Itasca Community College (Grand Rapids, MN) which enables students to earn a baccalaureate degree with a Management major from The College of St. Scholastica. Students complete all degree requirements through courses offered by St. Scholastica and the local community college on the Itasca campus in Grand Rapids.

Marketing Program

The marketing major helps students develop the knowledge and abilities needed to construct marketing strategies and activities that can be applied in large corporations, small businesses, or a retail environment.
Marketing students will study topics including product design, customer relations, advertising, market research, marketing of services, marketing on the Internet, and creating strategic marketing plans.
Coordinator: David Anstett, M.B.A.

Marketing B.A. major

The Marketing major offers students new and dynamic career choices and prepares them to work for either an independent marketing agency, an advertising agency, or within a corporate marketing department. Additional coursework is available in personal selling, retailing, or small business marketing. An advisor will help students tailor their course selections to their particular needs and interests. In addition to the core business courses, students select a specific concentration in either marketing strategy or marketing analytics.
Marketing majors must complete the following required courses and at least one of the concentrations below.
Required courses: ACC 2210 Principles Financial Accounting, ACC 2220 Principles of Managerial Accounting; ECN 2230 Principles of Microeconomics; CIS 2105 Information Systems Applications; MGT 2120 Principles of Management, MGT 3130 Quantitative Methods, MKT 2320 Principles of Marketing, MKT 3320 Marketing on the Internet, MKT 3380 Logistics & Distribution Channel; PHL 3354 Management Ethics, plus eight upper division credits from the following disciplines: Accounting, Applied Economics, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, or Computer Information Systems or CTA 3241 Graphic Design, CTA 3041 Publication Design CTA 3341 Media Production, CTA 4041 Web Design CTA 4400 Advertising, or CTA 4404 Public Relations.

Marketing Analytics concentration

ECN 2280 Principles of Macroeconomics, MKT/FIN 3320/3777 Applied Financial Management, MGT 3335 Applied Business Statistics, CIS 3205/3777 Application of Business Intelligence, MKT 4320/4777 Marketing Analysis for Decision Making. Students choosing the Marketing Analytics concentration must maintain a 3.0 GPA and apply to acceptance into the concentration in the spring of their sophomore year.

Marketing Strategy concentration

MGT 3240 Human Resource Management, MKT 3340 Market Promotion, MKT 3350 Designing Successful Products, MKT 3370 Services Marketing, MKT 4360 Marketing Strategy. Minimum 2.4 GPA is required for this concentration.

Marketing major outcomes:

The student completing the Marketing major will be able to:

1. Relate marketing theory and practice by solving marketing case problems and creating strategic marketing plans.
2. Exhibit oral & written communication skills in a marketing context through oral and written marketing plans, personal selling demonstrations and new product presentations.
3. Develop problem-solving skills by using critical thinking methods to analyze marketing case studies, create innovative solutions to consumer problems, and justify strategic market positions.
4. Demonstrate skillful use of technology through multi-media presentations, creation of marketing websites and use of social media as a marketing strategy.
5. Integrate ethical and social responsibility in marketing through meaningful research projects that show social responsibility of organizations in action.

The students completing the Marketing Strategy concentration will be able to:

1. Utilize human resources to design successful products to meet consumer needs and wants, and to develop employees to become advocates of those products.
2. Understand implication of global issues in marketing through study abroad programs and cultural diversity speakers.

The students completing the Marketing Analytics concentration will be able to:

1. Analyze marketing data and identify statistically significant information from it.
2. Using data analysis methods, evaluate the effectiveness of a marketing plan.

Marketing minor

The minor in Marketing requires at least 20 credits of Marketing courses and must include: MKT 2320, 3320, 3340, and two upper-division marketing courses. Four internship credits (MKT 4555) may be used.

Organizational Behavior B.A. major

This program of interdisciplinary study prepares students who wish to more fully understand the behaviors of people within organizations and the human aspects of management. It may be combined with elective study in management or other disciplines, and forms a foundation for students who are interested in managing organization change initiatives. This major also prepares students who wish to undertake graduate study in various areas of organization studies or management.
Required courses: SOC 1125, HIS/WGS 2231; PHL 3354; PSY 3216, 3327, 3328, 3330; MGT 3150, 3240, 3550, 3560, 4150, 4261 and 4262.
Minimum 2.4 cumulative grade point average in the required courses.
Coordinator: Robert Hartl, M.A.

Organizational Behavior minor

The minor in Organizational Behavior requires at least 20 credits of Management and Psychology courses and must include: SOC 1125 or PSY 3327; PSY 3216, 3328; and MGT 3550, 3560 and 4261. Students may design a minor with any management faculty member; a course plan must be approved by the department chair and filed with the Registrar.

Organizational Behavior major outcomes

Students completing the Management, Marketing, or Organizational Behavior major will be able to:

1. Integrate management theory and practice.
2. Demonstrate oral and written communications skills.
3. Demonstrate problem-solving skills.
4. Demonstrate skillful use of technology.
5. Integrate personal values and management style.
6. Understand the implications of global issues in the practice of management.