For more information, please contact Margareta Knopik | (406)683-7205 | m_knopik@umwestern.edu.
The primary objective of UMW’s business and technology department is to offer a unique combination of traditional business courses and options that incorporate technology, problem-based learning, and hands-on and team-based projects designed to challenge students to acquire the practical, intellectual, technological, problem-solving, and communications skills that will prepare them for successful participation in a diverse, dynamic, and global society.
Discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Understands and applies fundamental accounting principles, skills, and processes (BUS 241 & 242)
Understands and applies management fundamentals including: planning, organizing, directing, and controlling a business organization. (BUS 325)
Understands the fundamental concepts and practices of marketing including: global marketing management,e-commerce, e-business, and e-marketing. (BUS 347)
Possesses at least a basic working knowledge of computer hardware and software tools including: word processing, spreadsheets, visual presentations, and databases. (COMS 101, 102, 104, 108, 109, 205, 232/238, 339)
Understands the principles of trade and finance in a world economy. (ECON 358)
Understands the basic legal processes and concepts associated with business. (BUS 281, 282)
Possesses real-world experience in a business setting. (BUS 400)
Communication skills (especially oral and written):
Utilizes computer software and hardware tools to present information in a clear and concise format. (COMS 101, 102, 104, 108, 109, 205, 232/238, 339, 400)
Exhibits effective oral communication skills for successful interaction in the business setting. (BUS 217, 400, 410)
Exhibits effective written communication skills for successful interaction in the business setting. (BUS 217, 400, 410)
Problem-solving skills (e.g., critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, analytical synthesis, decision making):
Has an understanding of ethical decision-making and behaviors in business, including the social and legal implications. (BUS 364)
Understands how economics impacts and drives business decisions. (ECON 252)
Understands and can differentiate between various economies and the impacts of capitalism on the development and growth of business. (ECON 358)
Understands and utilizes quantitative skills to assist with making business and management decisions, such as inventory control and forecasting. (BUS 341, 353)
Utilizes computer software and hardware tools for problem solving and decision-making. (COMS 101, 102, 104, 108, 109, 205, 232/238, 339)
Discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Business students are assessed for discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities by at least one or more of the following ways in each of the courses listed below: exams, oral presentations, research papers, simulations, case studies, portfolios, on-the-job tasks, group projects, and reports. The discipline-specific skills lay the foundation and provide the tools for application as students progress through the program.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
BUS 217, Business & Electronic Communication: papers, project, quizzes, collaborative assignments, oral presentations, portfolio
BUS 241, Financial Accounting: exams, quizzes, assignments
BUS 242, Managerial Accounting: assignments, company presentation, project, exams
BUS 281 and/or BUS 282, Business Law I and/or II: exams
BUS 325, Management & Organizational Behavior: research paper, exams, presentations
BUS 341 and/or BUS 353, Business Finance and/or Quantitative Analysis: assignments, exams
BUS 347, Principles & Practices of Marketing: case analysis, project, exams
BUS 364, Business Ethics: case study, project, papers, exams
ECON 252, Microeconomics: papers, project, exams
ECON 358, International Trade and Finance: projects, reports, exams
MATH 232, Statistics: projects, exams, assignments
COMS 101-COMS 109, Introduction, Word Processing, PowerPoint, Spreadsheets, Database: portfolio, exams, SAM trainings
COMS 205, Business Information Systems and/or COMS 232, Advanced Word Processing and COMS 238, Advanced Spreadsheets and/or COMS 229, Advanced Database Management: exams, tutorial, case problems
Communication skills (especially oral and written):
Business students’ communications skills are assessed in one or more of the following ways in each of the courses listed below: observation and assessment of students on-the-job, oral and written student presentations, research papers, case studies, exams, and group work. Internship supervisors also provide feedback on the students’ communication skills via evaluations.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
BUS 217, Business & Electronic Communications: papers, project, quizzes, assignments, portfolio
BUS 325, Management & Organizational Behavior: research paper, exams, presentations
BUS 410, Career Planning Seminar: assignments, papers, mock interview, resume development, portfolio
BUS 400, Internship: reports, presentation, portfolio
Problem-solving skills
Using the tools developed through the discipline-specific courses, business students’ problem-solving skills, including critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, analytical synthesis, and decision making, are assessed within the following courses by one or more of the following ways in each course: research papers, case studies, team-based projects, and exams.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
BUS 242, Managerial Accounting: assignments, company presentation, project, exams
MATH 232, Statistics: projects, exams, assignments
BUS 325, Management & Organizational Behavior: research paper, exams, presentations
BUS 341 and/or BUS 353, Business Finance and/or Quantitative Analysis: assignments, exams
BUS 364, Business Ethics: case study, project, papers, exams
BUS 400, Internship: reports, presentation, portfolio
Feedback from current students:
Course evaluations
Entry assessment (BUS 217)
Mid-point assessment (BUS 325)
Capstone assessment (BUS 410 and BUS 400)
UMW graduate/exit survey
Feedback from outside constituencies:
Survey feedback from graduates one year after graduation (implemented AY 2006-2007, feedback from 2004-2005 program graduates)
Survey feedback from employers of graduates after one year of employment (implemented AY 2006-2007, employer feedback of 2004-2005 program graduates)
Feedback from internship supervisors following completion of students’ internships
Evaluation of teaching:
During fall semester, the VCAA chooses the faculty member’s course to be evaluated. Each business and technology faculty member chooses a course during spring semester that he or she wants evaluated by students. Feedback is compiled and shared with the faculty member and VCAA. In addition, each faculty member also has at least one peer evaluation per year.
Curriculum Review:
The curriculum for the B.S.: Business was reviewed and revised for the implementation of block scheduling. Business and technology faculty continue to review curriculum both formally and informally in preparation for the program’s self-study.
The business and technology faculty received the results of current graduate, employer, and alumni surveys from the Career Services Office. These results will be reviewed and used to make adjustments to the degree program as necessary.
Criteria & Procedures for admission and retention of students:
Currently, criteria and procedures for admission and retention of BS: Business degree students parallel the criteria and procedures for admission to UMW.
Appraisal of Annual Program Goals & Assessment of Their Success
The B.S.: Business degree program is assessed based on graduate outcomes using the following methods: feedback from current students during entry, mid-point, and capstone classes; from internship supervisors; compiled results from the graduate/exit survey, alumni survey, and employer survey; collected exhibits and artifacts; and retention of students in the program. Once the business and technology faculty begin receiving the results of the surveys from the Career Services Office, they will review the information and make adjustments to the B.S.: Business degree as necessary.
Self-study or reports from program reviews:
As part of UMW’s systematic academic program review cycle, a self-study of the B.S.: Business degree will be prepared and completed during AY 2006-2007. The review is tentatively scheduled to be conducted by evaluators from International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
Description of program-specific curriculum development bodies & advisory groups.
All faculty teaching in the BS: Business degree program assist with program-specific curriculum development. No other program-specific curriculum development bodies exist at this time.