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Areas of Emphasis

Accounting
Accounting focuses on analyzing and measuring business activity, processing that data into reports, and communicating the information to decision makers. The successful accounting professional needs to acquire the education and skills necessary to fulfill these roles in whatever area of accounting he or she enters. Excellent skills in mathematics are necessary to analyze the quantitative, financial and operating data that decision makers use in marketing, finance, personnel administration, and other business activities. Because accounting is part of an information system, the ability to communicate financial results to managers, clients and others who need the information is a vitally important skill for professional accountants.

Mission: To foster excellence in accountancy by: 1) providing a rigorous educational experience as a framework for lifelong learning to individuals of diverse academic backgrounds; 2) creating, expanding and disseminating knowledge through scholarly activities; 3) serving the academic, professional and business communities.

Since November 1995, the accounting degree programs at University of Missouri - St. Louis are separately accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). This unique accreditation is not currently shared by any other St. Louis college or university.

1. Required Core Courses:
ACCTNG 2400 Financial Accounting
ACCTNG 2410 Managerial Accounting

2. A student must complete at least 5 courses (15 credit hours) from the following:

A) Four courses:
ACCTNG 3401 Financial Accounting & Reporting I
ACCTNG 3402 Financial Accounting & Reporting II
ACCTNG 3411 Cost Accounting
ACCTNG 3441 Income Taxes

B) One from:
ACCTNG 3421 Accounting Information Systems and Spreadsheet Applications
INFSYS 3810 Information Systems Analysis

3. Non-Business Courses:

Two courses required:
A)One from:
Comm 1030 Interpersonal Communication
Comm 1040 Introduction to Public Speaking
BUS AD 3100 Contemporary Business Communication

B) One from:
PHIL 1130 Approaches to Ethics
PHIL 2254 Business Ethics

Eligibility to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination requires completion of 150 credit hours, to include minimum hours in business and accounting, and a course in auditing.

Additional undergraduate accounting courses not required in the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program:
ACCTNG 3451 Accounting for Governmental and Not-For-Profit Entities
ACCTNG 3490 Internship in Accounting
ACCTNG 3495 Business Administration Problems - Accounting
ACCTNG 3498 Business Administration Seminar - Accounting
ACCTNG 4401 Financial Accounting and Reporting III
ACCTNG 4402 Financial Accounting and Reporting IV
ACCTNG 4405 Professional Accounting Research
ACCTNG 4435 Auditing
ACCTNG 4441 Business Income Taxation

See the Accounting Area website for additional information.

 

International Business
National markets are becoming increasingly integrated. The study of international business focuses on understanding the forces behind this globalization of markets and production.

In addition to all College of Business Administration and campus degree requirements, an emphasis in International Business requires completion of 12 credit hours of international business coursework (see 1 & 2, below) and completion of 13 credit hours of a foreign language of international commerce. (A list of international foreign languages of commerce is available from the College of Business Administration Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising). An international experience is also required for all persons in the program.

1. The 12 credit hours in international business must include a minimum of two of the following three courses:

FINANCE 3580 International Corporate Finance
MGMT 3682 Managing the Global Workforce
MKTG 3780 International Marketing


2. Select two courses in international business from the list below (or one course if all three courses in part 1, are taken).

BUS AD 3980 The Law of International Business Transaction
BUS AD 3x98 Business Administration Problems (Sections related to International Business)
FINANCE 3581 Business in China
FINANCE 3582 International Investments
LOG OM 4381 International Logistics and Operations Management
MGMT 3680 International Management
MGMT 3689 Internatinoal Business & Society
MGMT 3684 The Japanese Management System
MGMT 3685 Role of the Global Corporation
MGMT 4689 International Strategic Management

See the International Business website for additional information.

Finance
Finance is a multi-disciplinary field that combines various concepts from management, economics and accounting with financial techniques to make sound business decisions and solve problems. There are many business situations in both large and small companies that require knowledge of the latest financial practices and tools. Generally, these applications involve investing (using funds) or financing (raising funds). As a result, the field is comprised of a number of areas including corporate finance, investments, financial institutions and services (banking, insurance, real estate) and personal financial planning.

Undergraduate Program Philosophy
Over the last two decades, the field of finance has become increasingly technical and specialized. Employers recruiting for financial positions not only require candidates to have an undergraduate or graduate degree in finance, but they also want new employees to exhibit skills and experience beyond those typically found in a traditional academic environment. As a result, professional licensing or certification has become one of the most widely recognized means of demonstrating core competency. Consequently, the finance program at UM - St. Louis carefully integrates finance tracks into the curriculum to enable students to complete their academic degrees while at the same time providing the in-depth knowledge necessary for taking professional certification exams. Our program is designed to accelerate professional development and provide students with superior credentials to qualify them for skilled positions in a highly competitive job market. Details for each of the tracks are discussed below.

General Finance Emphasis
For students who desire to obtain a general knowledge of finance or custom tailor their own individual program, this option allows students to take any of the finance course electives in any sequence. By affording maximum flexibility, students can explore the many different areas within finance before deciding which career path they may want to embark on. Student must take a minimum of fifteen credit hours of the following courses:
 

1. Required Core Course:

FINANCE 3500 Financial Management

2. All students must complete 5 courses (15 hours) from the following:

FINANCE 3501 Financial Policies
FINANCE 3502 Treasury Management
FINANCE 3503 Computer Applications in Finance
FINANCE 3520 Investments
FINANCE 3521 Financial Risk Management
FINANCE 3522 Security Analysis
FINANCE 3525 Practicum in Investments
FINANCE 3540 Financial Services Industry and Services
FINANCE 3541 Commercial Bank Management
FINANCE 3542 Principles of Real Estate
FINANCE 3560 Practice of Personal Financial Planning
FINANCE 3561 Principles of Insurance
FINANCE 3562 Life Insurance
FINANCE 3563 Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
FINANCE 3564 Estate Planning and Trust
FINANCE 3580 International Finance
FINANCE 3582 International Investment

Track Certification
All students completing one of the specialized tracks at University of Missouri - St. Louis discussed below will receive a "Certificate of Completion" for that track. This document will be in addition to any degree the student may receive and is intended to provide additional evidence of attaining a specific body of knowledge. To receive the certificate, students must fill out an application for certification in their last semester. The application can be obtained from the Undergraduate Advisors in the College of Business Administration, 487 Social Science Building.

Corporate Finance Track
The Corporate Finance Track trains students to make business financial decisions to maximize the value of the firm. In addition to raising and investing capital, firm mangers must deal with a number of stakeholders including stockholders, lenders, customers, and regulators. While the major focus is on the financial problems of large corporations, many of the analytical tools and techniques also apply to small business enterprises. Students completing FINANCE 3502, Treasury Management, are eligible under a special agreement with the Treasury Management Association to sit for the Certified Cash Manager (CCM) exam. After completion of two years of related experience, the CCM designation qualifies students to work in the Treasury Departments of many leading companies or service providers like banks. Recommended courses include:
 
ACCTNG 3401 Financial Accounting and Reporting I
ACCTNG 3402 Financial Accounting and Reporting II
FINANCE 3501 Financial Policies
FINANCE 3502 Treasury Management
FINANCE 3503 Computer Applications in Finance
FINANCE 3520 Investments
FINANCE 3521 Financial Risk Management
FINANCE 3540 Financial Serivces/Industry & Instruments
FINANCE 3580 International Finance

Financial Institutions and Services Track
Financial institutions design and deliver financial services to businesses, government and individuals. It is also one of the fastest growing segments of the economy. This track is intended for students with a desire to work in a bank, insurance company, real estate firm, or other service provider. Beginning career opportunities include becoming a loan officer for a bank, a securities broker, a mortgage broker, or property manager. Additionally, the Principles of Real Estate course (FINANCE 3542) provides students with the educational foundation to sit for the Missouri Real Estate Salespersons’ Exam to become licensed to sell residential property under the direction of a broker. Recommended courses include:
 
FINANCE 3503 Computer Applications in Finance
FINANCE 3520 Investments
FINANCE 3540 Financial Services Industry and Services
FINANCE 3541 Commercial Bank Management
FINANCE 3542 Principles of Real Estate
FINANCE 3561 Principles of Insurance

Investment and Portfolio Management Track
There are billions of dollars flowing into retirement plans and mutual funds each year. These monies are invested in security markets around the world to provide the owners with the best returns available for a given level of risk. Professional portfolio managers have the responsibility of meeting investor goals while subject to rapidly changing market conditions. This path of study is intended to prepare students for a challenging career in money management. The program provides students with the critical knowledge to sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. This professional designation is highly regarded by the investment industry and requires the passing of a series of three exams. Students must also gain three years of related work experience before being certified. Recommended courses include:
 
ACCTNG 3401 Financial Accounting and Reporting I
ACCTNG 3402 Financial Accounting and Reporting II
FINANCE 3503 Computer Applications in Finance
FINANCE 3520 Investments
FINANCE 3521 Financial Risk Management
FINANCE 3525 Practicum in Investments
FINANCE 3540 Financial Services Industry and Services
FINANCE 3582 International Investments
CFA Review Courses (one for each level) noncredit through Continuing Education

Financial Planning Track
The Financial Planning Track is designed to prepare students to counsel individuals on personal financial matters that impact the family. This curriculum is a registered program with Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., enabling students who successfully complete it so sit for their certification examination. The registered curriculum includes:

ACCTNG 3441 Income Taxes
FINANCE 3503 Computer Applications in Finance
FINANCE 3520 Investments
FINANCE 3560 Practice of Personal Financial Planning
FINANCE 3561 Principles of Insurance
FINANCE 3563 Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
FINANCE 3564 Estate Planning and Trusts
FINANCE 3590 Practicum in Finance

Insurance Track
This track is intended for the development of professionals for all aspects of the insurance industry. Insurance plays a special role in risk management for individuals and businesses. Areas emphasized include life and property/casualty risk exposures and the administration of pension and employee benefit plans. Students are prepared for careers as analytical staff members of major insurance companies, consultants, insurance agents or brokers, employee benefit specialists, and risk managers. The program is a cooperative partnership with the insurance industry including the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and the local chapter of the American Society. By special arrangement, students are entitled to apply three approved University of Missouri - St. Louis courses toward professional certification without further examination provided the courses are passed with a "c" grade or higher. The professional certifications include the widely recognized Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Transfer of these courses to the American College for certification does not require any additional tuition but only a one-time registration fee of $60. Further courses can be used to satisfy the knowledge content for certification but will necessitate the taking of a standard national exam required of all candidates on the material. Both the CLU and ChFC require the passing of 10 courses not all of which are offered by University of Missouri - St. Louis but are available through the American College. In the future, it may also be possible to take actuarial courses offered in the Math Department as part of this track. See the Finance Department Chair for more information on these issues. Recommended courses include:

ACCTNG 3441 Income Taxes
FINANCE 3561 Principles of Insurance
FINANCE 3562 Life Insurance
FINANCE 3520 Investments
FINANCE 3560 Practice of Personal Financial Planning
FINANCE 3563 Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
FINANCE 3564 Estate Planning and Trust
FINANCE 3503 Computer Applications in Finance

Management
The study of management and organizational behavior focuses on the behavior of individuals and groups in an organizational setting. The business environment today demands graduates with skills who can effectively make decisions involving working with and leading people.

The management and organizational behavior emphasis stresses the qualitative approaches to business. The major areas of focus are: the theory and functions of management; the management of human resources; the development of strategic policies in an organization; organizational design and conflict resolution; entrepreneurship; and international management. In covering these topics, both classic and current perspectives are provided.

1. Required Core Course:
MGMT 3600 Management & Organizational Behavior

2. A student must complete 6 courses (18 hours) from the following:

A) One Course
MGMT 3611 Advanced Management & Organizational Behavior

B) Five from:
MGMT 3612 Professional Skills Development
MGMT 3621 Human Resource Management
MGMT 3622 Industrial & Labor Relations
MGMT 3623 PSYCH 3318 Industrial & Organizational Psychology
MGMT 3624 Employee Training & Development
MGMT 3680 International Management
*MGMT 3690 Internship In Management
*MGMT 3699 Independent Study In Management
MGMT 4614 Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management

* Only one of 3690 and 3699 can be taken for MGMT emphasis area credit.

Marketing
Marketing is an important part of any business or organization and can enhance growth, increase profits, and help achieve the organization's goals. Furthermore, marketing plays an important role in our society by enhancing our quality of life. Equally important, marketing offers varied and interesting career opportunities.

Marketing involves the activities needed to facilitate an exchange. This covers selling products, services or ideas to both consumers and business buyers. Many non-profit institutions are now enthusiastic users of marketing concepts; thus marketing majors find such untraditional areas as hospitals, churches, museums, universities and retirement homes often offer excellent entry level opportunities, in addition to such traditional firms as manufacturing and retailing concerns.

1.  Required Core Course:
MKTG 3700 Basic Marketing

2.  A student must complete at least 5 courses (15 hours) from the following:

A)  Four from:
MKTG 3710 Consumer Behavior                 
MKTG 3720 Management of Promotion
MKTG 3721 Internet Marketing
MKTG 3740 Marketing Research              
MKTG 3741 Quantitative Marketing Methods
MKTG 3750 Sales Management
MKTG 3760 Business to Business Marketing
MKTG 3770 Introduction to Transportation
MKTG 3771 Traffic and Transportation Management
MKTG 3780 International Marketing
MKTG 3790 Internship in Marketing
MKTG 3798 Topic: Aviation in American Life
MKTG 3798 Topic: Domestic Transportation
MKTG 3798 Topic: Economics of Transportation
MKTG 3798 Topic: Railroads in American Life
MKTG 3798 Topic: Seminar in International Marketing

B) One course:
MKTG 4700 Marketing Management (capstone)

Information Systems
Computer-based information systems are of vital importance to modern organizations. Information Systems (IS) professionals analyze, design, develop, implement and manage state-of-the-art telecommunications, multi-media and other computer-based information systems. In addition to maintaining traditional transaction processing systems, today's IS professionals are involved in exciting developments in computing systems, such as decision support and expert systems, database development and enhancement, development and use of Graphical User Interfaces (GUI), and design and management of telecommunications systems. The IS program provides students with a foundation in both the functional areas of business and in computing technologies that enables graduates to pursue both technical and managerial careers incorporating leading edge technologies in public and private organizations.

1. Required Core Course:
INFSYS 2800 Information Systems Concepts & Applications.

A student must complete 7 courses (21 hours) from the following :

A) Programming/File Structure Requirement (6 hours)
INFSYS 3806 Mgrl. Appl. of Object-Oriented Programming I
INFSYS 3816 Mgrl. Appl. of Object-Oriented Programming II

B) Three Courses (9 hours)
INFSYS 3810 Information Systems Analysis
INFSYS 3845 Database Management Systems
INFSYS 4850 Information Systems Design

C) Two courses (6 hours) from the following to include
at least one (INFSYS) course at the 3000/4000-level:
ACCTG 3421 Accounting Information Systems Spreadsheets and Applications
FINANCE 3503 Computer Applications in Finance
MKTG 3721 Marketing and the Internet
INFSYS 3807 Legacy Systems
INFSYS 3815 Object Oriented Applications in Business
INFSYS 3841 Enterprise Information Systems
INFSYS 3842 Management of Telecommunications
INFSYS 3843 Decision Support Systems
INFSYS 3844 Developing Business Applications in .NET
INFSYS 3846 E-commerce
INFSYS 3847 Web Design
INFSYS 3848 Security and Information Systems
INFSYS 3895/3898 Business Administration Problems/Seminar+
INFSYS 3899 Independent Study+
CS 2700 Computer Systems: Architecture & Organization
CS 2710 Computer Systems: Programming
CS 4300 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CS 4760 Operating Systems

Logistics & Operations Management
The mission of Logistics and Operations Management is to get the appropriate goods or services to the right place, at the right time, in the right quality and quantity, while making the greatest contribution to the organization. In a business environment, Logistics and Operations Management encompasses the design, implementation and management of systems for efficient deployment of personnel, physical facilities, raw-materials, in-process inventories, finished goods and related information or services. Logistics and Operations Management covers the whole supply chain, from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Logistics and Operations Management analysts must be proficient in the use of quantitative models and computers, and communicate effectively.

1.  Required Core Courses:
LOG OM 3300 Business Statistics
LOG OM 3320 Intro to Operations Management

2.  A student must complete at least 4 courses (12 hrs) from
       the following:
*INFSYS 3806 Managerial Appl. of Object-Oriented Prog.   
INFSYS 3843 Decision Support Systems
*INFSYS 3844 Developing Business Applications in .NET
LOG OM 4312 Business Forecasting
LOG OM 4314 Multivariate Analysis
LOG OM 4321 Production and Operations Management
LOG OM 4322 Lean Prod. in Manufacturing & Service Oper.
LOG OM 4324 Service Operations Management
LOG OM 4326 Quality Assurance in Business
LOG OM 4330 Business Logistics Systems
LOG OM 4350 Management Science Methods
LOG OM 4354 Operations Research II
LOG OM 4381 International Logistics and Operations Management.

* Only one of these programming courses may be used towards the emphasis area.