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SFA Home / Bulletin / College of Business

Department of General Business

Debbie D. DuFrene, Chair

McGee 229
(936) 468-3103
Fax: (936) 468-1515
www.cob.sfasu.edu/gbu

Faculty

Professors
Marsha L. Bayless, Timothy W. Clipson, Debbie D. DuFrene, Betty S. Johnson, Marlin C. Young

Associate Professors
J. Keaton Grubbs, Florence E. Elliott-Howard, Susan E. Jennings

Assistant Professor
S. Ann Wilson

Lecturers
Judith L. Biss, Elizabeth R. Brice

Areas of Study & Degrees

B.B.A. General Business
Minors:

Objectives

The General Business major is ideally suited for those students who know exactly what career paths they are going to pursue after graduation and who wish to select courses that directly apply to that specific career. This major also allows students to obtain a broad-based B.B.A. degree without emphasizing any one of the functional areas of business.

Definition of Major

In addition to the foundation courses that are required for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, the major in general business consists of:

  1. six hours selected from ECO 331, FIN 357, 361, GBU 321, and MGT 373
  2. six hours representing two of the following areas -
    law: BLW 366, 437, 456, 468, and 478
    communication: BCM 347, 447, and 450
    technology: GBU 310, 440, 461, and CSC 340
  3. nine advanced hours within the College of Business.

Definition of Minors

To further meet the specialized needs of students, the department offers minors in administrative law, business communication, general business and general business technology applications. At least nine hours of any minor (six of which must be advanced) must be completed at SFA.

A minor in administrative law consists of BLW 335, 437 and PSC 344, plus six semester hours selected from BLW 456, 468 and 478, and three semester hours selected from the following courses: PSC 301, 302, 402, 447, 448 or CJS 305. Total 18 hours with at least a 2.0 grade point average.

A minor in business communication consists of BCM 247, 347, 447, and 450, plus six semester hours selected from the following courses: COM 170, 380, MKT 352, 353, ENG 273, and 473. Total 18 hours with at least a 2.0 grade point average.

A minor in general business consists of ACC 101 or 231; GBU 147 or FIN 269; BCM 247 or BLW 330; ECO 231; and nine advanced hours from the College of Business with no more than six advanced hours from any one of the following areas: accounting, business communication, business law, computer science, economics, finance, general business, management, and marketing. No more than three hours from BLW 330 and BLW 335 will apply to the general business minor. Total 21 hours with at least a 2.0 grade point average. Students earning the B.B.A. degree are not eligible to earn the general business minor.

A minor in general business technology applications consists of BCM 347, GBU 310, 321, 440, and 461 plus six hours from CSC 102, 202, 211, 340 and 350. Total 21 hours with at least a 2.0 grade point average.

Teacher Education Programs

Students who obtain a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and also complete the courses that are necessary to teach business education in the secondary schools of Texas have a certain amount of flexibility in job choice. The business teaching certification requires the B.B.A. foundation courses and a general business major incorporating the following courses: GBU 310, 321, 440, BCM 447, BLW 437. FIN 269 also is required.

The Technology Applications certification requirements can also be met through the general business major. The requirement for this certification include the B.B.A. foundation courses plus the following hours: BCM 347; CSC 340, 350; GBU 310, 321, 440 and 461.

These programs also require that students complete the Professional Development courses that are specified by the James I. Perkins College of Education for teaching certification (see the Perkins College of Education section).

Bachelor of Business Administration

Suggested Program for General Business Majors1

1    A minimum of 130 hours is required for graduation.
2    For undecided business majors, GBU 147 is recommended as an elective.
3    See information at the beginning of the College of Business section regarding eligibility for upper-level business course.

Course Credit

Unless otherwise indicated, courses are three semester hours credit. Enrollment in courses numbered 300 or above requires junior standing.

Courses in Business Communication (BCM)

247.   

Business Communication (BUSI 2304) – Application to business of logical and psychological communication principles through letters, memos, reports, and oral presentations. Prerequisites: six hours from English 131, 132, 133H, or 235 and keyboarding skills of 30 wpm.

347.

Administrative Communication – Study of administrative communication skills with focus on written and visual communication. Incorporation of electronic presentation tools in document development. Prerequisites: CSC 101 or 121; and either BCM 247, ENG 273, or ENG 473.

447.

Organizational Communication – Study of the total organizational communication process within business organizations, including issues of organizational culture, diversity, power, leadership, conflict resolution, ethical issues, and international communication.

450.

Executive Communication – Study and practice in communication skills useful for today’s business executive. Specific areas covered as they apply to business include interviewing, listening, meeting planning, presentations, crisis communication, and other communication topics.

Courses in Business Law (BLW)

330.   

Personal Law – Legal rights and responsibilities of business people and consumers with respect to estate planning, wills and probate, general criminal and civil responsibilities and liabilities, family relationships, motor vehicles, real property, employment, consumer transactions, electronic media, and small business. Course may not be used to satisfy any requirements of the B.B.A. degree.

335.

Business Law – Examination of various legal relationships, which are significant in business including contracts, agency, torts, intellectual property, personal property, bailments, and related subjects. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

366.

Real Estate Law – Legal concepts of real estate, land description, real property rights, estates in land, contracts, conveyances, encumbrances, foreclosures, recording procedures, evidence of title, consumer protection, and landlord-tenant law. (Same as FIN 366).

437.

Regulation of Business by National Governments – Legal principles involved in the regulation of international business activity by the governments of the world. Prerequisite: BLW 335.

456.

Employment and Agency Law – Study of the legal principles which define the relationship between employers and employees including obligations imposed by federal and Texas statutes. Prerequisite: BLW 335 or consent of department chair.

468.

Oil and Gas Law – Examination of the legal principles involved in oil, gas, and mineral ownership, title research, curative work, and leases. Prerequisite: BLW 335 or consent of department chair.

478.

Environmental Regulatory Law – Study of environmental regulation, including that directed at business activities and that intended to define the use and protection of natural resources. Examination of both statutes and case law, providing an overview of the history and current requirements of selected environmental regulation. Prerequisite: BLW 335 or consent of department chair.

Courses in General Business (GBU)

147.   

Introduction to Business (BUSI 1301) – Overview of basic business functions, including accounting, business law, communication, computer technology, economics, finance, marketing, management, and office systems. Not open to students with junior or senior standing in the College of Business.

310.

Word Processing – Comprehensive study of word processing equipment, systems, and procedures. Emphasis on word processing applications, work measurement, and comparative product evaluation. Prerequisites: CSC 121 or equivalent; keyboarding skills of at least 30 wpm.

321.

Information Technology – Introduction to the technology and processes used within the information processing cycle and its impact on organizational and personal productivity.

325.

Business and Society – Systematic study of the various domestic and international social and political environments in which profit and non-profit business organizations must operate, with emphases on the diverse and sometimes competing considerations for numerous stakeholders and the implications for business strategies. Focus on topics, such as types of business organizations, social responsibility concepts, ethical principles, and alternate dispute resolution methods.

345.

Training and Development – Application of theories of learning and instructional development to the education and training of employees in the organizational environment.

400.

Negotiation and Alternate Dispute Resolution – Study of negotiation theories and skills applicable to internal and external business transactions. Conflict analysis in domestic, international and cross-cultural settings will be addressed. Dispute resolution methods, resolution systems, social and ethical issues, and trends will be examined.

440.

Records Management – In-depth study of records management programs for organizations. Hands-on application with an appropriate database management software program. Prerequisite: CSC 121 or equivalent.

461.

Information Management – Theories, issues, and strategies related to the management of information as a corporate asset. Emphasis on strategic information planning, information access, computer-human interaction, data security, and electronic privacy.

470.

Special Topics – In-depth study of current interest within the disciplines offered in the Department of General Business. One to three semester hours. Can be repeated for a maximum of three credit hours. Prerequisite: junior standing.

475.

Special Problems – Instruction in special topics in general business. Prerequisite: Approval of department chair.

485.

Internship in General Business – Individually supervised internship in general business. Pass/Fail. Advanced standing as a major in general business. Consent of department chair.

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