School of Management

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Undergraduate Programs

Binghamton University’s School of Management (SOM) is one of four professional schools on campus. Its programs allow students to appreciate the complexity of modern organizations, the intricate relationships that exist between organizations and the social frameworks of which they are a part, and the challenges of administration at its broadest levels. The curriculum offerings are diverse, and they prepare students for professional careers as well as for undertaking advanced academic work.

The undergraduate programs of the school have a pre-professional orientation and stress breadth of knowledge while allowing limited specialization. They provide students with a comprehensive management education aimed at developing and expanding their capacity for dealing with an increasingly complex business environment, on both a national and international level, and they familiarize students with the computer and its applications to the functional areas of management. As part of their graduation requirements, students take a course in management policy and strategy, which acts as a capstone experience.

The undergraduate management curriculum provides students with a strong liberal arts background; a sound foundation in the basic disciplines and functional areas of management; and an awareness of the legal, environmental and societal factors that affect decision making in organizations. In addition, the undergraduate management student has the opportunity to develop depth in one or more functional areas by electing concentrations in those areas.

The undergraduate accounting curriculum option provides strong pre-professional training in the theory and practice of accounting, within the context of a sound general education that exposes the student both to the liberal and to the management arts. The program serves students interested in careers in public and corporate accounting, as well as students who intend to pursue advanced studies in various graduate and professional schools.

School of Management also offers honors programs in accounting and management. Information on these programs is provided later in this section.

Admission

The procedure for candidates applying for admission is essentially the same as for other students applying for admission to the University. Specific information may be found in the general section on Admissions in this publication.

Academic Policies

Students in SOM are subject to all general regulations listed in the Academic Policies section of this publication. In addition, the following policies also apply to management students.

Courses Taken in Other Schools

Cross-disciplinary study is urged, and students are required to take at least one-half of the coursework for their degrees in the arts and sciences departments in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, Decker School of Nursing, School of Education and Human Development or Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. Students enrolled in the accounting curriculum must have a minimum of 60 credits of liberal arts coursework to qualify to take the CPA examination.    

Grading System

The following are valid grades in SOM undergraduate courses: A, A–, B+, B, B–, C+, C, C–, D, F, W, WF and I. The grade of P (Pass) may be given only in internship, teaching practicum, independent study or readings and research coursework. This grading option is available only with consent of both the instructor and the school’s advising office.

Students matriculated in SOM must adhere to this grading system in all courses taken in SOM.

When taking courses in other schools, SOM students are permitted to take the grading option of those schools if they wish. They may also petition to be graded according to the SOM system, if the instructor is willing and if the school offering the course permits such petitions.

Grades earned in other schools by SOM students are entered into the student’s record and printed on transcripts as they are given.

Undergraduate students from other schools who register for SOM courses may petition the respective instructors to be graded by the system existing in the school in which they are enrolled.

All graduate students taking an undergraduate course in SOM are graded according to the grading policies of the Graduate School.

Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing, students must demonstrate that they are passing courses at a satisfactory rate, and with satisfactory grades, to earn a bachelor’s degree in the usual period of time. To remain in good academic standing, students are required to maintain a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 in all courses taken for credit, as well as for courses taken in SOM. The standard as applied to SOM coursework is not invoked until a student has attempted at least 12 hours of SOM coursework. Students who fail to meet these minimum criteria are placed on probation and are expected to raise their averages to a 2.0 level or better within a reasonable amount of time. Academic probation does not necessarily preclude a student from registering or from receiving financial aid; standards for financial aid eligibility are described in the Financial Information section of this publication. Students who fail to raise their averages may be subject to dismissal.

While students may carry an overall grade-point average slightly below 2.0 and be allowed to continue their studies “on probation,” those who fall considerably below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 are dismissed. These decisions are made in accordance with the following guidelines.

Academic Dismissal Indexes

Hours Completed

 

(including advanced

 Cumulative

minimum standing)

GPA

1- 34

1.440

35- 51

1.625

52- 68

1.715

69- 85

1.800

86-102

1.875

103-119

1.950

120+

2.000

At the very least, students are expected to carry the cumulative GPA indicated for their respective levels of progress. Failure to meet the minimum GPA specified above results in the student’s dismissal.

The GPA used for academic standards purpose is also used in the determination of graduation honors and reflects all coursework attempted. It is calculated by assigning the following point values to the respective grades:

 

A

=4.0

C

=2.0

A–

=3.7

C–

=1.7

B+

=3.3

D

=1.0

B

=3.0

F

=0.0

B–

=2.7

WF

=0.0

C+

=2.3

 

 

P, W and similar grades generate no grade points and are not included in the GPA calculation.

A student who has been dismissed for academic reasons for the first time may apply for immediate readmission. In some instances, this may be granted. In other cases the school may stipulate that the student must wait for a semester or two before being readmitted. A student may be readmitted only by formal petition to the Office of the Dean of SOM. The student must explain any extenuating circumstances that contributed to the poor record.

If readmitted, students are given an
“academic contract,” the provisions of which they must fulfill. Such a contract normally requires them to complete specified amounts of coursework in a specified period of time at a specified level of performance. The object of this contract is to raise the student above the minimum acceptable grade-point average for the state of degree completion, as indicated on the preceding academic dismissal chart. Failure to satisfy the conditions of this academic contract usually results in the student being dropped for a second and final time.

Incomplete Policy

A notation of Incomplete, rather than a grade, may be reported by the instructor when a student has made substantial progress but has not been able to complete a course. The student must have a valid reason, because of illness or other justifiable circumstances, for requesting an Incomplete. The issues of substantial progress, potential to pass the course and the reason for the request are decided by the instructor. When giving an Incomplete, the instructor must:

An Incomplete grade becomes an “F” 72 hours after the last scheduled final in the next regular semester following the issuance of the Incomplete, unless a change of grade is submitted by the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain that the coursework has been completed according to the contract and a new grade submitted. An extension of this deadline must be approved by the instructor and the Dean’s Office and is approved only in highly unusual circumstances. Contracts and other required forms may be obtained from the SOM Advising Office.

Withdrawal Regulations

If they wish their records to indicate good standing, students who withdraw from the University must follow a formal withdrawal procedure. Mere absence from class does not constitute due notice of withdrawal. Withdrawal applications may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. When students withdraw entirely from SOM, and also simultaneously withdraw from all courses for which they are registered, there is no academic penalty associated with the withdrawal from courses. A grade of W is assigned to each course, and a notation indicating withdrawal from the University is placed on the transcript.

Formal readmission is necessary for any student who has not been in attendance for one or more semesters. Students who officially withdraw during the regular academic year are eligible to register for the next academic semester.

The following regulations govern withdrawals from individual SOM courses:

Transcript Policy

The Registrar’s Office maintains a single transcript for SOM students, which serves both internal and external purposes. As an external transcript, it is the official record of the student’s performance and is forwarded to prospective employers and graduate schools. As an internal transcript, in conjunction with a degree audit report, it is used by the University and SOM for their administrative and academic advising purposes. The following reflects SOM policy on transcripts:

All grades are recorded on the student’s transcript as they are received in courses.

Independent Study, Teaching Practica and Internships

While independent study is useful and important adjunct to a student’s academic preparation, no student is allowed to present more than eight credit hours of independent study, internship and/or practica in college teaching coursework in fulfillment of SOM degree requirements. Independent study, internships and practica in college teaching generally are taken on a Pass/Fail basis.

Writing Requirement

The writing requirement consists of completion of two composition (C) courses from within Harpur College or equivalent courses transferred from other colleges or universities.

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Academic Honors

Graduation Honors

Undergraduate students with outstanding academic records are awarded graduation honors at Commencement. Determinations are made in accordance with the following guidelines:

Students who fail to satisfy any of the above criteria are not considered for graduation honors unless an exception is granted through the Dean’s Office.

Dean’s List

At the end of each regular semester, SOM students who have earned exceptional grades during that semester are accorded Dean’s List recognition. Such recognition is limited to those students having the highest semester grade-point averages while completing at least 16 credit hours for letter grades. A minimum grade-point average of 3.75 is required.

Awards

See “Awards and Honors” in the Academic Policies section of this publication.

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Requirements for BS Degree

In order for students to receive a bachelor of science degree from SOM, they must have:

All petitions that request modification of academic requirements must be approved by the school’s dean or designee(s).

Elective Courses, Specializations, Concentrations

Students who wish to specialize in accounting to qualify for the CPA certificate in New York state are urged to elect the degree program in accounting and to confer with the SOM Academic Advising Office no later than their sophomore year. The baccalaureate degree program in accounting is accredited by the New York State Education Department for CPA candidates.

Students who wish a career in accounting other than with public accounting firms are also advised to elect the degree program in accounting. For further information, consult with the school’s advising office.

Students in the management baccalaureate program may elect one or more concentrations, preferably by the end of the fifth semester. A concentration consists of three courses designed to provide depth in a specialized area, in addition to the broad program provided by the core requirements. Through judicious selection of a concentration and the remaining electives, a student may tailor a program of study to meet specific needs and goals. The student’s concentrations are recorded on the official transcript at the time of graduation.

Students who intend to continue their studies in graduate school should consider the fact that many graduate programs may require knowledge of at least one foreign language, as well as additional competence in mathematics and statistics. Consequently, students with this goal may want to select as electives additional courses from these areas.

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BS IN ACCOUNTING

To be granted the bachelor of science degree in accounting from SOM, students must complete the following courses:

 

 

 

Minimum number

of four-hour courses

A.  Liberal Arts

 

 

 

 

1. Requirements

 

 

 

 

CQS 112. Statistics for Management*

1

 

 

ECON 160. Micro-economics

1

 

 

ECON 162. Macro-economics

1

 

 

MATH 221 or 220. Calculus

1

 

2. Electives

 

 

 

 

Liberal arts electives (to include two composition courses and no more than nine courses at the introductory level)**

12

B.  School of

Management

 

 

 

 

1.  Requirements

 

 

 

 

BL&S 111-112. Legal Environment of Management I and II

2

 

 

HRM 311. Organizational Behavior

1

 

 

FIN 311. Financial Management

1

 

 

MIS 311. Management Information Systems

1

 

 

MKTG 311. Introduction to Marketing

1

 

 

OPM 311. Operations Management

1

 

 

MGMT 411. Global Strategic Management

1

 

 

ACCT 211. Financial Accounting

1

 

 

ACCT 305. Cost Accounting***

1

 

 

ACCT 311. Intermediate Accounting Theory I

1

 

 

ACCT 312. Intermediate Accounting Theory II

1

 

 

ACCT 455. Advanced Accounting Theory

1

 

 

ACCT 460. Auditing

1

 

 

ACCT 375. Federal Income Taxation I

1

 

 

Finance elective

1

C. Physical education

 

 

 

 

 

(two semesters)****

1/2

 

 

TOTAL

32 1/2

*SOM recommends that students take CQS 112 as their required course in statistics. No more than one introductory statistics course may count toward the degree.

**Students must take two writing-emphasis courses (C) in liberal arts to fulfill the writing requirement. The term “introductory level” refers to those courses for which there are no prerequisites and/or courses numbered below 300. A course with no prerequisite and a number below 300, but specified as being intermediate or advanced in nature by the department teaching the course, may be used as a non-introductory elective.

***No credit is granted in the accounting curriculum for ACCT 212.

****Students must take two credits and may elect to take up to four more credits to substitute for an elective under Part I, B.

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Standard Curriculum Sequence for Accounting Option

The following represents the normal sequence of courses that SOM students are expected to follow in completing degree requirements in accounting during their four years at Binghamton University. It reflects the school’s belief that professional coursework must be preceded by a sound liberal arts background combined with coursework in necessary foundation areas. Transfer students should consult their academic advisers to determine where and how their previous work fits into this sequence.

First Semester (17 hours)

 

Second Semester (17 hours)

 

Third Semester (16 hours)

 

Fourth Semester (16 hours)

 

Fifth Semester (16 hours)

 

Sixth Semester (16 hours)

 

Seventh Semester (16 hours)

 

Eighth Semester (16 hours)

*Students must take two composition courses (C) in liberal arts to fulfill the writing requirement.

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BS IN MANAGEMENT

To be granted the bachelor of science degree in management from SOM, students must complete the following courses.

            Minimum number of four-hour courses

A.        Liberal Arts

1.      Requirements

 

MATH 221 or 220. Calculus

1

 

ECON 160. Microeconomics

1

 

ECON 162. Macroeconomics

1

 

CQS 112.* Statistics for Management

1

2.      Electives

 

To include two composition courses and no more than nine courses at the introductory level**

12

B.         School of Management

1.      Requirements

 

ACCT 211-212. Financial and Managerial Accounting

2

 

BL&S 111. Legal Environment of Management

1

 

IBUS 211. World of Business

1

 

HRM 311. Organizational Behavior

1

 

FIN 311. Financial Management

1

 

MKTG 311. Introduction to Marketing

1

 

OPM 311. Operations Management

1

 

MIS 311. Information Systems and Their Applications

1

 

MGMT 411. Global Strategic Management

1

2.     Concentration     3

 

Each student in this degree program may elect one or more concentrations by the junior year by filing a Declaration of Concentration form in the SOM Advising Office. The concentrations and their requirements are:

Consulting and Leadership Concentration

HRM 351. Leadership Skills and Development

HRM 352. Team and Group Leadership

HRM 353. Organizational and Strategic Leadership

The purpose of this concentration is to prepare students for entry-level consulting positions in areas such as human resource management, management information systems or marketing. Courses in the concentration focus upon individual leadership and influence, team and shared leadership, and strategic leadership and change management. Communication technologies such as the Internet, e-mail, groupware collaborative systems and videoconferencing are used extensively. Students may combine this concentration with a second concentration in an areas such as marketing or management information systems.

Finance

Select any three undergraduate FIN electives beyond FIN 311, excluding independent studies.

Financial Engineering Concentration

Recent innovations in financial markets have led to an increased demand for analytically skilled students. Understanding pricing models in derivatives and other exotic securities requires knowledge in finance and also statistics, stochastic processes and differential equations. The financial engineering program is designed to provide students with opportunities to pursue a mathematically challenging program of study.

In addition to meeting the usual School of Management requirements, students in the financial engineering concentration complete courses in the following groups:

Prerequisites

Programming and Economics Courses

Finance Courses

The program is designed for placement of students in investment banks.  Only outstanding undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA above 3.5 will be admitted. It is in their best interest to maintain that GPA while they are in the program.

Marketing

Select any three undergraduate MKTG electives beyond MKTG 311, excluding independent studies. Students should consult with faculty or the advising office to select courses that reflect their career choices.

Global Management

Select any three undergraduate International Business (IBUS) electives, or any two IBUS electives plus one liberal arts course from an approved list of courses offered by Harpur College. The global management concentration’s purpose is to serve as a secondary concentration to broaden the school’s primary concentrations listed here.

Management Information Systems

MIS 323. Systems Analysis and Design, and two from the set of MIS electives that are offered, excluding independent study and internship.

General Management

Three undergraduate management electives above the 311 level.

C.            Electives or second concentration            3

D.            Physical education (two semesters)***            1/2

TOTAL     32 1/2

* SOM  recommends that students take CQS 112 as their required course in statistics. No more than one introductory statistics course may count toward the degree.

** Students must take two writing-emphasis courses (C) in liberal arts to fulfill the writing requirement. The term “introductory level” refers to those courses for which there are no prerequisites and/or courses numbered below 300. A course with no prerequisite and which is numbered below 300, but specified as being intermediate or advanced in nature by the department teaching the course, may be used as a non-introductory elective.

*** Students must take two credits and may elect to take up to four more credits to substitute for an elective under Part A2 or Part C.

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Standard Curriculum Sequence for Management Option

The following represents the normal sequence of courses that SOM students are expected to follow in completing degree requirements in management over their four years at Binghamton University. It reflects the school’s belief that professional coursework must be preceded by a sound liberal arts background combined with coursework in necessary foundation areas. Transfer students should consult with their academic advisers to determine where and how their previous work fits into this sequence.

 

First Semester (17 hours)

 

Second Semester (17 hours)

 

Third Semester (16 hours)

 

Fourth Semester (16 hours)

 

Fifth Semester (16 hours)

 

Sixth Semester (16 hours)

 

Seventh Semester (16 hours)

 

Eighth Semester (16 hours)

 

*Students must take two writing-emphasis courses (C) to fulfill the writing requirement.

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PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS HONORS PROGRAM

The purpose of the PricewaterhouseCoopers honors program (PwC Honors) is to attract superior students and challenge them to reach their full academic potential. PwC Honors students augment the normal SOM curriculum with additional requirements in writing and management. PwC Honors students are provided with special opportunities to enhance both their written and oral communication skills. To facilitate oral communication skills, honors students are required to be an active member of the PwC Honors Program Toastmasters International Chapter for a minimum of six semesters. Writing skills are enhanced through an additional required composition course, and PwC students are required to complete additional coursework in their primary field of management concentration or to complete a second concentration in another management area.

The program is also designed to facilitate interaction with faculty and other honors students. Members are divided into teams. The teams read business publications and make weekly reports to the group. Completion of the honors program is noted on the student’s official transcript and through an honors certificate issued by SOM.

Admission to the program is competitive and is limited to 10 percent of the entering freshman class. Students are invited to participate in the program when they are accepted for admission to the University. However, it is also possible to apply or reapply after completion of the freshman year. In the latter case, it is the student’s responsibility to work with the SOM Advising Office in planning the first year of coursework so that it is compatible with program requirements.

Additional Composition Requirement (four credits)

The “C” designation indicates a course in which composition is emphasized. These courses are offered across the curriculum. The PwC Honors program requires students to take at least one additional C course beyond the two-course SOM requirement and serves to further enhance writing ability.

Additional SOM Requirements

SOM requirements that are unique to the PwC Honors program are designed to further enhance students’ breadth and depth of knowledge in management and their area of specialization. While it is not required, it is expected that many of the participants in the honors program will have earned college credit prior to their enrollment at Binghamton University. These credits may partially or fully offset the additional credit requirements. PwC Honors students augment their programs with the following additional requirements:

Honors students are also required to fulfill one of the following options:

Participants in the PwC Honors program are expected to successfully complete a minimum of 16 credits per semester. They are also expected to maintain and graduate with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5. If the student’s cumulative GPA is below 3.5 for two consecutive semesters, the student may not continue in the program. Because honors coursework may also be counted toward the traditional SOM degrees, discontinuation of participation in the program does not normally result in additional coursework requirements.

For more information about the program, or to apply, contact the SOM Advising Office at 607-777-2316.

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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

SOM offers opportunities to further students’ understanding of and exposure to the arena of international management.
An interdisciplinary program in East Asian and management studies has been approved by the faculties of Harpur College and School of Management. Opportunities for study in England, Australia, Italy, Scotland, Korea and other countries have provided students in accounting and in management with an opportunity to study management practices at prestigious business schools in these countries. Students interested in any of these programs should contact the school’s advising office or the respective program directors.         

Cross-Disciplinary Program in East Asian and Management Studies

The cross-disciplinary program in East Asian and management studies is designed to provide sound educational preparation for entry-level positions in multinational corporations or government. It provides a foundation for further study in professional school, law or business, or for graduate study of a specialty related to East Asia. Students may design study programs concentrating on Japan or China or ones that range across East Asia.

The program is open to Binghamton University undergraduates. Questions regarding the program should be directed to the SOM Advising Office.

Requirements for the program are as follows:

ADJUNCT MANAGEMENT OPTION

This special program responds to requests by non-SOM students for the opportunity to complete systematically a limited selection of courses in SOM while completing degree requirements in their chosen school. The adjunct management option gives a limited number of students an introduction to basic subject matter in the areas of management and accounting. It is not in any way equivalent to an academic major, but rather is a supplement to appropriate majors in another school. Adjunct option students may not take more than 24 credit hours in SOM.

To qualify, non-SOM students must:

The adjunct management option requires the completion of the following courses:

 

 

credits

HRM 311

4

ACCT 211

4

any four SOM courses for which the student has the appropriate background (normally upper division)

16

TOTAL

24

Students who successfully complete this special program option will have this fact reflected on their transcripts on graduation.

Note: Students should be aware that the adjunct management option is not related to the five-year program described later in this publication. Students who contemplate study for the MBA degree are well advised to complete their regular liberal arts degrees and to put off their professional studies until entering graduate school.

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ACCOUNTING FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM

The accounting five-year program provides an opportunity for qualified students to complete their BS and MS degrees in accounting within a five-year period. In addition, the five-year program meets the requirements for the 150-credit-hour degree that will be required for licensing in most states in the near future (the New York state 150-hour requirement is scheduled to become effective in 2009).

To be eligible for admission into this special program, students must possess academic qualifications that allow admission into the graduate programs at the end of their senior year. Interested students must begin the application procedure early in their senior year by:

Further information about the five-year program for accounting may be obtained from the SOM Advising Office.

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FAST-TRACK COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM

BS AND BA, HARPUR COLLEGE/MBA, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 

This special program accommodates the needs of a small and select group of Harpur College students. It provides an opportunity for those students to combine efficiently their undergraduate studies with graduate study in SOM; the successful completion of the program results in the award both of the bachelor’s (BA or BS) and of the MBA degree within a five-year period.

To be eligible for admission into this special program, students must possess academic qualifications that allow their conditional admission into the MBA program at the end of their junior year. This program provides a well-defined career orientation for which the particular combination of undergraduate and graduate programs represents appropriate preparation. This normally takes advantage of the student’s undergraduate specialty as well as the general management preparation of the MBA.

Careful planning at an early date is absolutely necessary for students contemplating entrance into the combined program. During the senior year, the student takes a full load of graduate coursework representing the first year of the MBA program. This means that, by the conclusion of the junior year, all departmental, divisional and Harpur College Distribution requirements necessary for the chosen undergraduate major must be completed.

While enrolled in 18 hours of MBA coursework during each semester of the senior year, the student is still officially an undergraduate fulfilling undergraduate requirements. The MBA coursework taken during that year represents “free electives” in the undergraduate program. Following successful completion of that year’s work, the BA or BS is granted, and the student becomes eligible to continue the MBA program. The second year of the MBA program is undertaken with the student’s having graduate student status. Upon completion of the second-year requirements (36 hours) and fulfillment of the MBA graduation requirements (a minimum 3.0 GPA for all MBA courses — both first year and second year), the student is awarded the MBA degree.

Interested students must begin the application procedure early in their junior year by:

The normal graduate admission process is followed, although the student, if admitted, does not gain formal entrance into the graduate program for another year. Because of the challenging nature of the program, only highly qualified students are admitted.

Further information about the combined program for Harpur College students may be obtained from the Harpur College Academic Advising Office or the SOM Advising Office.

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Combined Degree Program: BS, Watson School/MBA, School of Management

Over the past several years, the engineering industry has undergone considerable change. Economic and managerial issues that were previously addressed outside the engineer’s domain have been integrated into the engineer’s responsibilities.  In recognition of the increasing need for the integration of technology and business administration, the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Management have joined together to offer a program that combines the engineering undergraduate degree with a master’s degree in business administration. This program provides a dynamic combination, allowing students the opportunity to explore immediate interests while building a solid, long-term career foundation.   

The combined degree program provides Watson undergraduate students the opportunity to complete their BS degree and MBA degree within five years. In order to complete this program, students are required to take three core MBA courses during the junior and/or senior year. Upon completion of the fourth year, students receive their BS degree. In the fifth year, they are officially admitted to the MBA program.

Specific Program Requirements

Specific program information may be obtained through the School of Management Advising Office.

Combined Degree Programs

BS, Harpur College/MBA, School of Management

BS, SUNY Oneonta/MBA, Binghamton University School of Management

BS, SUNY Fredonia/MBA, Binghamton University School of Management

This special programmatic concept allows a limited number of highly qualified and well-motivated undergraduate students in Harpur College, State University of New York College at Oneonta or State University of New York College at Fredonia the opportunity to combine their undergraduate studies with graduate work in Binghamton University’s School of Management, whereby they may complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree within a five-year period. The combined program is more completely described elsewhere in this publication.

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Course Offerings: Undergraduate

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all undergraduate courses carry four credits and are normally offered every year.

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