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College of Business at NMU
The goal of the College of Business
is to offer degree programs which foster intellectual curiosity,
leadership, ethical behavior, and global awareness as well as to
provide quality program content knowledge and develop problem
solving, decision making, and communication skills. Students are
encouraged to work together on class projects, to pursue
internship opportunities, and to participate in college and
university study abroad experiences.
College of Business Programs
Programs of study offered include
nine baccalaureate majors, eight minors, five associate degrees,
and one certificate program. Each provides the student with a
concentration of knowledge and skills in one of the many aspects
of the business world.
Baccalaureate
Programs
Accounting
This program provides students with
basic competency in the functional areas of accounting and
provides students with the minimum requirements to sit for
professional examinations such as the CPA and CMA examinations.
Individuals trained in accounting with strong communication and
computer skills will find a wide range of career opportunities.
Positions include job titles such as certified public accountant
(CPA), cost analyst, controller, financial analyst, senior
accountant, vice president for finance and accounting. Entry level
salaries, dependent upon geographic location, work experience and
industry, may range from $28,000 to $40,000. Partners in large CPA
firms can have salaries over $300,000.
Accounting/Computer
Information Systems
This major provides students with
basic competency in the functional areas of accounting and
computer information systems and provides students with the
minimum requirements to obtain employment and to sit for
professional examinations. Students with expertise in both
accounting and computer information systems are in high demand. An
ability to tackle the many and varied accounting and information
needs of business will lead to positions such as controller, cost
analyst, director of information systems, computer programmer, and
systems analyst, to name but a few. Entry level salaries,
dependent upon geographic location and industry, range from
$30,000 to $44,000.
Business Secondary
Education
This program provides the student
with the educational experiences which lead to becoming a
certified business education teacher. Career opportunities are
available in business education in public and private schools as
well as in business and industry. Entry level salaries, dependent
upon geographic location and relevant work experience, will range
from $23,000 to $28,000. Two years of relevant and recent work
experience in an office environment qualifies graduates for
vocational certification which is required by many school
districts.
Computer Information
Systems
This program's objectives are to
apply computer theory to business applications and to provide a
strong dual knowledge foundation in technical and problem-solving
skills. Students select an area of emphasis from end user
support/help desk, marketing, networking, systems analysis or
software development. People-oriented career paths lead to
positions as computer consultants, analysts, trainers, and high
tech marketers. Alternate careers as software programmers,
database managers, and network administrators tie the technical
skills to the support and use of computer systems. The combined
technical/business degree, favored by employers, prepares a
student for their career advancement. Forecasts to the year 2005
show the occupations with the highest growth rate are in the
computing fields. Entry level salaries, dependent upon geographic
location, relevant work experience, and industry range from
$30,000 to $45,000.
Entrepreneurship
The entrepreneurship program is
designed for individuals who have a desire to develop their own
businesses. Students will gain a comprehensive knowledge of
accounting, finance, management, marketing, and computer
information systems as these areas relate to entrepreneurial
business. This will include an understanding of how to develop a
business plan, to conduct marketing research to determine the
feasibility of a new business, to obtain capital resources for a
new business enterprise, to manage the case flow of a new
business, and to understand the legal issues related to
entrepreneurial endeavors. The market potential of the
entrepreneurship graduate is almost infinite. As corporate America
downsizes, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial type firms are
replacing it. One's success depends on ingenuity, creativity, hard
work, drive, and the acceptance of risk. Income is based on the
success of the entrepreneurial venture.
Financial Management
The financial management major
provides students with basic competency in the functional areas of
finance and provides students with the education foundation that
is needed to prepare them for professional exams such as the
Series 7, CFP and CFA. Students select one of two areas: financial
management or personal financial planning. Both areas combine the
applications of analytical skills to the problems facing financial
managers, financial institutions and individual investors while
developing an understanding of today’s financial markets. The
program leads to careers in business financial management,
banking, securities and commodity brokerage, consulting,
insurance, financial planning and small business entrepreneurship.
Entry level salaries, dependent upon geographical location, work
experience, and industry range from $28,000 to $35,000. Students
who have completed the personal financial management track have
the option of private consulting. Becoming a Certified Financial
Planner (CFP)* is another option by electing to take a national
exam.
*CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
PLANNER® are federally registered marks of the Certified Financial
Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFB Board).
Management Program
This program's objectives are to
(1) provide students with the theoretical bases as well as the
working applications of management, (2) provide students with the
ability to critically evaluate managerial actions, and (3) provide
students with the ability to apply managerial decision-making
skills to future situations. All across business, industry, and
institutions, there is a constant and growing need for those
trained in the skills of management. Leaders having an
appreciation for the forces active in complex organization, worker
effectiveness, and operating efficiencies are a foundation to any
successful enterprise. Positions include job titles such as
management consultant, quality control manager, director of
planning, and employee relations manager. Entry salary levels,
dependent upon geographic location and industry, range from
$28,000 to $40,000.
Marketing Program
The marketing major provides
students with the theoretical bases as well as working
applications of marketing. Growing domestic and global
populations, ever-increasing demands for a wide range of products
and services in modern society, and advancements in technology and
media stress the need for marketing professionals who understand
the operations and problems associated with getting goods and
services from the producer to the user. Career paths are diverse
and include product consultant, sales representative, marketing
manager, retail store buyer, research analyst, advertising
professional. Entry salary levels, dependent upon geographic
location and industry, range from $28,000 to $42,000.
Ski Area Business
Management
This bachelors degree program is a
joint program between NMU and Gogebic Community College in
Ironwood, Michigan. At Gogebic Community College, students learn
the technical skills necessary to manage ski areas or functional
areas in ski area operations. At NMU, students gain comprehensive
business knowledge of accounting, finance, management, marketing,
and computer information systems. Graduates of the ski area
business management program are placed at resorts nationwide.
Due to course sequencing and
pre-requisite course work for admission to the NMU College of
Business, this program can take four to five academic years to
complete. To finish the program in a timely manner, students
should select one of two options: (1) Attend Gogebic Community
College for two years, complete an associate's degree in Ski Area
Management, and transfer to NMU to complete the bachelor's degree;
or (2) Attend NMU for one year, transfer to Gogebic Community
College for two years, complete an associate's degree in Ski Area
Management, and transfer to NMU to complete the bachelor's degree.
Associate
Degree Programs
Computer Information
Systems
This program provides students with
a basic foundation of knowledge in the computing area and the
ability to apply computer theory to business applications.
Graduates find employment in organizations ranging from small
firms to large corporations as computing technicians, providers of
help desk services, and software trainers. Forecasts to the year
2005 show the occupations with the highest growth rate are in the
computing fields. Entry level salaries, dependent upon geographic
location, relevant work experience, and industry range from
$22,000 to $30,000.
General Business
The General Business degree has two
goals--to provide educational experiences enabling graduates to
enter a variety of entry-level positions, and to provide students
skills and experiences which will assist them in functioning as a
consumer in today’s modern society. This program prepares students
for employment in a variety of situations in retail stores,
insurance companies/agencies, banks, and many types of small
businesses. Job titles include sales associate, assistant manager,
insurance clerk, and teller. The salary range for a graduate of
this program depends to a great extent on experience and
geographic location. Starting salaries in the local area range
from $8-$10 per hour with no experience to $10 per hour for those
with 3-4 years of experience. These salary rates often change
quickly after the initial probationary period. In the larger
cities and companies, the salary range for a person with
experience may range up to $23,000.
Health Information
Processing
This program provides graduates
with advanced skills required for employment in an office
environment and with specialized skills necessary for employment
in the medical field. The health care industry is supported by
many “behind the scenes” individuals who are employed in a variety
of administrative/support areas. General clerical/support
positions include insurance clerk, billing clerk, and medical
records clerk with pay ranging from $18,000 to $25,000 per year.
Administrative/technical positions include medical
transcriptionist, medical coder, health unit coordinator, office
manager, and administrative assistant and the pay ranges from
$28,000 to $38,000 per year.
Office Information
Assistant
This program provides graduates
with advanced skills required for employment in an office
environment. Career opportunities in the office support field are
available in public and private institutions and companies for
positions such as office clerks, secretaries, information
processors, and administrative assistants. Opportunities are
available in both small and large organizations locally,
regionally, and nationally. The office support career field is
projected to have one of the highest potentials for job growth
through 2005. The salary range for a person employed in the office
support field depends on experience and geographic location.
Starting salaries in the local area range from $8-$10 per hour for
the beginning clerk with no experience to $11 plus per hour for
the secretary or administrative assistant with 3-4 years of
experience. These salary rates increase in the larger cities and
larger companies. Experienced administrative assistants in
metropolitan areas may average up to $30,000-$35,000 per year.
Certificate
Program
Office Services
This certificate program provides a
focused educational experience for office support personnel, and
provides graduates with introductory skills for employment in an
office environment. Career opportunities in the office support
field are available in public and private companies for positions
such as office clerk, transcriptionist, keyboarding specialists,
and secretaries. Both large and small organizations provide
opportunities for graduates of the certificate program. The office
support career field is projected to have one of the highest
potentials for job growth through 2005. The salary range for a
person with this certificate will vary depending on geographic
location and experience. Starting salaries in the local area begin
at $6-$7 an hour for the beginning clerk with no experience to
$10-$12 per hour for the person with 3-4 years of experience.
These salary rates increase in the larger cities and larger
companies. The experienced secretary in metropolitan areas may
average up to $22,000 per year.
College/Program Policies
Admission to the College of Business
Admission to the university does
not guarantee admission to the College of Business. All
baccalaureate majors with the exception of business education must
apply for admission.
To be eligible for admission,
applicants must:
-
Successfully complete the
following pre-admission courses: EN 111 and 211; MA 103 and 171;
ACT 230 and 240; EC 201 and 202; 4 credits of IS courses (except
CIS majors); eight semester credits in liberal studies courses;
and other credits to total 48 semester credit hours.
-
Complete the 48 semester credits
listed above with a minimum grade point average of 2.25. Current
enrollment can count toward meeting the minimum requirements.
However, formal admission will not be granted until after
successful completion of the minimum credits.
-
Successfully complete the NMU
Writing Proficiency Examination.
Note:
Petition for exception to the above requirements must be made in
writing and submitted to the Re-entry and Evaluation Office, 305
Cohodas Administrative Building. It must include reasons why an
exception should be made, and documentation of the reasons, if
applicable.
Other Policies
-
College of Business majors cannot
enroll in NMU business courses at the 300 level or above until
they have been admitted to the college and have attained junior
status (56 hours).
-
In order to receive a degree from
the Walker L. Cisler College of Business, students must complete
at least 32 credit hours (24 within the College of Business)
after admission to the college.
-
Students seeking a second
bachelor's degree must be admitted to the College of Business.
-
Students who drop enrollment from
NMU and subsequently re-enroll as a business major at a later
date (re-entry students) must reapply for admission to the
College of Business.
-
Baccalaureate degree students
must take a minimum of 62 credit hours in courses outside the
College of Business.
-
CIS majors or minors must earn a
minimum grade of C- in each CIS/IS course applying to their CIS
major or minor.
-
All CIS courses numbered 120 and
above are invalid after 7 years.
Application Deadlines
Applications must be submitted by
the following dates: For fall semester, March 1; winter semester
October 1; summer session March 1. Applications received after
these dates will not be acted upon until the following semester.
Application forms are obtained at
the College of Business office.
GPA Requirements
Baccalaureate degree students must
obtain a 2.0 GPA in all business core and major courses as well as
a 2.0 cumulative and NMU GPA. Students majoring in secondary
education business must maintain a GPA of 2.7 or greater with no
grade below a "C" in the professional education sequence, the
major and/or minor and required cognates combined.
College of Business Programs |
