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Undergraduate Course Catalog 2006-2007

Whittemore School of Business and Economics

» http://wsbe.unh.edu

Dean: Steven F. Bolander
Associate Dean: Roger B. Grinde
Academic Counselor: Pamela Bishop , Tamara S. Rury
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs: Gail Stepina

Introduction

The Whittemore School of Business and Economics prepares students for future careers in management, public service, research, and education. The liberal arts are the basic foundation of the curriculum, and management of change in a global community is the major emphasis. Each department and program has its unique disciplinary tradition and the simultaneous commitment to broad educational excellence in critical thought, verbal and written communications, quantitative skills, computer literacy, and ethical reasoning. International awareness and cross-cultural understanding are essential components of the educational experience of Whittemore School students. The educational process encourages the integration of practice and theory through student interaction with business, public agencies, and faculty research.

The Whittemore School's undergraduate curricula combine a breadth of liberal education with specifics of professional education in business administration, economics, and hospitality management. Undergraduates enrolled in the Whittemore School programs take a substantial part of their coursework, normally over 50 percent, in other colleges in the University in order to fulfill the general education requirements. Beyond those requirements, students are encouraged to elect additional courses in the arts, the behavioral and social sciences, the humanities, mathematics, and the natural sciences. Thus, students who complete the Whittemore School programs in business administration, economics, and hospitality management are prepared for employment and graduate study in both these and adjacent fields.

The Whittemore School offers a minor in business administration, economics and in hospitality management. Within the limits of its resources, the Whittemore School also serves the needs of undergraduates elsewhere in the University for whom selected courses in business administration, economics, or hospitality management are desirable complements to their primary course of study. To the extent that space is available after majors have enrolled, a limited number of Whittemore School courses are open to nonmajors who have the prerequisite preparation.

A maximum of 32 credits in courses offered by the Whittemore School of Business and Economics may be taken by non-Whittemore School students.

Degree Requirements

The Whittemore School offers a bachelor of arts degree program in economics and bachelor of science degree programs in business administration, economics, and hospitality management. Students who desire a professional career in public accounting are advised to follow the five-year program leading to a bachelor of science in business administration and a master of science in accounting degree (see Accounting Program of Study for details). Application for admission to this highly selective program is made in the junior year.

Course listings for business administration are found under accounting and finance (ACFI), business administration (ADMN), decision sciences (DS), management (MGT), and marketing (MKTG). Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University general education requirements for graduation as well as the particular requirements of their individual major programs. In addition, candidates must complete a math course (400 level). Economics majors must also satisfy specific requirements associated with the bachelor of arts degree (see Degree Requirements). No Whittemore School course may be taken on a pass/fail basis by a student majoring in business administration, economics, or hospitality management.

In order to graduate, students must achieve a grade-point average of at least 2.30 (2.00 for the B.A. in economics) in the major courses and a minimum grade of C- (for ADMN 403, students must obtain credit) in each major course. Any WSBE major required course in which a grade below C- is obtained must be repeated. No more than two WSBE courses may be repeated and each course may be repeated at most one time.

Modifications tend to occur in major programs during the four-year period of a student's undergraduate career. Students are expected to conform to these changes. Students transferring into the Whittemore School from other universities must have business, economics, and hospitality management courses reviewed and approved by the faculty through the Whittemore School Undergraduate Programs Office to be considered for major requirements. Transfer credit is normally granted only for 400 and 500-level courses.

For information concerning advanced degrees, see the Graduate School Catalog.

Advising System

Undergraduate advising in the Whittemore School is carried out jointly by academic advisers and the faculty. The academic advisers are based in the Whittemore School Undergraduate Programs Office, where student academic records are kept. The advisers assist students in program planning, preregistration, understanding and meeting general academic requirements, and general academic and career decision making. In addition, the advisers coordinate study abroad and domestic exchange and honors programs. The faculty draw on their own experience, expertise, and interests in helping students with course, program, and career selection.

The peer advising system, established in 1984, was created for the purpose of introducing freshman to the college experience. Students complete a one-credit, credit/fail course each semester (ADMN 405/406, Freshman Academic Experience I/II), led by selected upper class students under the direction of faculty. The courses' goals are to familiarize students with their major, college, and University; to introduce students to the nature of academic knowledge, academic standards, and academic/personal management skills essential for success in the University; to provide discussion of a common topic or book; to support students in their personal growth; to develop personal responsibility; and to encourage freshman to use the advising services on campus.

Undergraduates are encouraged to develop an advisory relationship with one or more faculty members with whom they have mutual interests. All students are urged to seek as much assistance as they need, from whatever source, but are reminded that theirs is the ultimate responsibility for knowing and meeting the various academic requirements for a degree.

Independent Study/Internship

Juniors or seniors in the Whittemore School may elect the internship or independent study course for variable credit. For either course, the student must secure a faculty sponsor in the area of interest and submit a written proposal prior to the start of the semester in which the project is to be undertaken. Independent study normally involves research, while internships are usually undertaken with cooperation of an off-campus organization and involve a nonroutine but practical application of skills and concepts acquired in a student's program.

Independent studies and internships require considerable self-direction and self-monitoring on the part of the student, who must be in high academic standing. Careful prior review of requirements with the undergraduate adviser is necessary. Students may earn no more than 16 credits in internships, independent studies, field experience, and supervised student teaching experience.

The Washington internship, a semester of supervised work experience in Washington, D.C., is open to any major.

International and Exchange Programs

The Whittemore School encourages qualified students to participate in programs of international work and study. The Whittemore School has international exchanges including Grenoble, France, and Budapest, Hungary.

Students may also elect to take a dual major in international affairs, offered in conjunction with the program for international perspectives.

Information on all other international programs can be obtained from the sponsoring department or the Center for International Education, Hood House, Room 204.

Five-Year Programs

Four-One Program: B.S.-M.S.A.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the national association of professional accountants, has mandated that five years of university education be required for national Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification as of the year 2000. Most states have approved similar requirements for licensing/certification. The Whittemore School offers a five-year program designed for students who desire a professional accounting career. The program leads to the joint awarding of a bachelor of science in business administration and a master of science in accounting degree. Application for admission to this highly selective program is made in the junior year. Details are provided in the Programs of Study sections of this catalog and the Graduate Catalog.

Nonmajors
The Whittemore School also offers courses for nonmajors. Students interested in these courses should contact the undergraduate programs office.

Minor
The Whittemore School faculty has developed a group of courses for nonmajors that, if available and when combined with certain elective courses, can constitute a minor in business administration. A list of minor requirements is available at the Whittemore School Undergraduate Programs Office, Room 120, McConnell Hall.