Michael E. Stephens College of Business

College and Department Information

Dr. Carolyn Garrity, Interim Chair
Stephens Hall
(205) 665-6534
cgarrity@montevallo.edu

Mission

Our mission is to produce graduates who use effective communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills to become well-rounded contributors to the global business landscape. We accomplish this mission by creating a tailored, hands-on education, combining theory and experiential learning with collaborative interdisciplinary teaching informed by the production of impactful scholarships.

Accreditation

Stephens COB BBA and MBA programs are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the premier accrediting agency for programs in business administration. AACSB International is devoted to the promotion and improvement of higher education in business administration. This accreditation places the Stephens COB with the top business programs worldwide.

AACSB accreditation means that Stephens COB students are exposed to curricula that blend theory and practice and are delivered by faculty members with strong academic credentials and professional experience, and who demonstrate high-quality teaching and research. The programs reflect currency and relevancy in knowledge and practices while satisfying criteria established and accepted by the international education community. Finally, AACSB accreditation shows employers the value of a Stephens COB business degree.

Programs

The Stephens College of Business (COB) offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Data Analytics and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree with majors in Accounting, Finance, Management and Marketing. Each degree program requires completion of the general education core, the business core (BBA only), major requirements, and set of elective courses. 

Students majoring in a business degree program are required to express ideas convincingly and clearly, both in writing and in presentation. Students are required to work in and lead teams to develop their ability to conduct business meetings in a technological and global environment while displaying a commitment to diversity and ethical integrity.

The College also offers several minors. The Business minor meets all prerequisites for the College’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, which embraces students and professionals who look to succeed in business regardless of their undergraduate major.

Bachelor of Business Administration

• Accounting   
• Finance    
• Finance, Financial Sales  
• Finance, Sustainable Finance    
• Management   
• Management, Human Resources  
• Management, International Management  
• Marketing    

Bachelor of Science

• Data Analytics    

Minors

• Accounting   
• Business    
• Data Analytics      
• Cybersecurity   
• Economics   
• Management Information Systems    
• Marketing    
• Nonprofit Studies    
• Sports Business   

General Education Core

Students seeking an undergraduate degree at UM must complete a 50-semester-hour General Education curriculum that includes courses in English, history, mathematics, the natural sciences, social sciences, fine arts, oral and written communication, and personal development.

All students seeking a BBA degree must take EC 231  and 232 , which fulfill 6 hours of the History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences component of the General Education curriculum.

MIS 161  satisfies the General Education requirement for Personal Development.

Curriculum

Academic Programs and Degree Plans for the Michael E. Stephens College of Business

Information about academic programs, as well as degree plans showing a suggested course of study for each major within this College, are available on the University’s website.

Bachelor of Business Administration

Admission Policy

Freshmen admitted with either an American College Testing Program (ACT) composite score of less than 18 or a Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) combined score of less than 800 must successfully complete ENG 101  and 102  and MATH 144 , 147 , 154 , or higher to be eligible for enrollment in the Stephens COB. Current University students changing to a business major, transfer students, and non-Stephens COB students being readmitted to the University must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 based on a 4.0 scale in order to be eligible for admission to the Stephens College of Business.

In addition to the requirements listed below, students must meet all general graduation requirements as listed in Undergraduate Academic Policies section in this Bulletin. A minimum of 120 semester hours is required for completion.

Academic Regulations

•  Business majors must schedule freshman English and mathematics each semester until course requirements are successfully completed.
•  To graduate, a Business major must:

1. attain a minimum 2.0 GPA in the basic business core and a minimum 2.0 GPA on all business courses attempted in the major and
2. complete the last 18 semester hours in the basic business core and the last 15 semester hours in the major at UM in the Stephens COB.

•  Transfer students should follow the program of study outlined for BBA candidates at the University during the freshman and sophomore years at other institutions.

1.  The dean of the College determines eligible transfer credit that applies toward business degrees.
2.  Transfer students must schedule freshman and sophomore course deficiencies each semester until successfully completed.

Students must also complete the General Education Core requirements to include any specific courses listed with the program below. Students must also complete sufficient general electives to reach 120 or more total semester hours.

Business Core

Students seeking the BBA degree must complete the 37-semester-hour business core, 18 or more hours in their majors, plus sufficient electives after consultation with their advisor to complete at least 120 hours required for graduation.

The Business Core requirements are:

• AC 221  - Principles of Accounting I 3 credit hours 
• AC 222  - Principles of Accounting II 3 credit hours 
• BL 283  - Legal Environment of Business 3 credit hours 
• FI 372   - Business Finance 3 credit hours 
• GB 101  - Survey of Business 1 credit hour 
• MG 305  - Business Professional Development 3 credit hours 
• MG 361  - Principles of Management and Organization Theory 3 credit hours 
• MG 365  - Global Leadership 3 credit hours
• MG 469  - Business Policy 3 credit hours
• MK 351  - Principles of Marketing 3 credit hours
• QM 237  - Data Analytics in Business I 3 credit hours
• QM 238  - Data Analytics in Business II 3 credit hours
• QM 363  - Operations Management 3 credit hours 

Business Elective

Some BBA programs require a certain number of upper-level (300-400) business electives. Applicable business electives come from the following prefixes: AC, EL, EC, FI, GB, MG, MIS, MK, QM. Certain NPS courses may apply when cross-listed with on e the applicable prefixes. However, no more than 3 hours of internship credit may apply. Internship courses include AC 409, AC 410, GB 409, GB 410, and NPS 409.

Some BBA programs also require a certain number of general electives. General electives may come from any discipline at any level. 

Courses in Business

• Courses of Instruction