Business Analytics (Accelerated MBA), B.S.

Department Contact:

Chair: Dr. Angela Seidel, aseidel@francis.edu, 814-472-3076

Coordinator: Dr. John Miko, jmiko@francis.edu, 814-472-3071

Program Description:

The Business Analytics/Accelerated MBA, B.S. program not only prepares students in the field of business analytics but also provides special academic programming and the ability to accelerate the completion of the MBA program through a 6-credit waiver of MBA course work and by earning 9 credits in partial completion of the undergraduate degree that will fulfill requirements in the MBA program.  Upon successful completion of all undergraduate degree requirements, and if all progression standards are met, students will be automatically accepted into the MBA program and will not be required to complete the GMAT exam. Beyond preparing students for enrollment in the graduate MBA program, the program prepares students to apply models, methods, and tools to data to produce insights that lead to informed business decisions. Business is becoming increasingly data-driven and requires business professionals to understand how analyzing data can be utilized to produce an organizational competitive advantage.   Along with completing coursework in the traditional foundational domains of business including management, marketing, accounting, economics, and finance, business analytics students will develop competencies in the art and science of data analytics. Specifically, students in this program will complete courses to build skills and expertise in the areas of programming, statistics, data management, and data transformation and visualization.

Accreditation Statement:

This program has not yet received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). The department plans on applying after its first graduating class.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The Shields School of Business will graduate students who have the knowledge, skills, love of learning, confidence, drive, and ethical and moral values needed to be spiritually fulfilled in life and successful in professional careers. Upon completion of this program, students are able to:

• Demonstrate, in the Spirit of Saint Francis in the Marketplace, knowledge of the ethical value choices and responsibilities of businesses and business leaders;
• Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles in business in the functional areas of accounting, information systems, finance, management, and marketing;
• Demonstrate knowledge of the legal, social, economic environments of business;
• Demonstrate knowledge of the global dimension of business;
• Integrate the functional areas of business in the process of decision making;
• Demonstrate the ability to professionally communicate.

Admission Criteria for High School and First-Semester College Students:

In addition to common University admission requirements, the program requires the following:

• SAT score of 1150 or higher in critical reading and math or an ACT composite score of 22 or higher;
• High School GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.

Admission Criteria for Transfer Students:

Students requesting transfer from within the university or other institutions will be reviewed for acceptance and must meet the following minimum requirements:

• At least 30 but no more than 64 credits earned with an overall GPA of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited institute of higher education.

Admission Deadline:

The program has rolling admission.

Estimated Completion Time:

Typically 4 years of full-time study for the B.S.

Progression and/or Retention Criteria:

All students in the accelerated Business Analytics BS/MBA program must meet the following academic requirements in order to have guaranteed admission to the MBA program upon completion of the undergraduate degree requirements.  Failure to meet the progression standards will result in dismissal from the major but not the university.  This includes all accelerated majors leading to the MBA or MHRM program approved by the University.

1. At any time after earning 30 credits but before earning 60 credits, the student must have achieved a minimum overall cumulative QPA of 2.750.  Failure to have achieved this QPA will result in Department Academic Warning. 
2. At any time after earning 60 credits but before earning 90 credits, the student must have achieved a minimum overall cumulative QPA of 3.000. Failure to achieve this QPA will result in dismissal from the major.
3. At any time after earning 90 credits and upon graduation from the undergraduate program, the student must have achieved a minimum overall cumulative QPA of 3.200.  Failure to achieve this QPA will result in dismissal from the major.

Students dismissed from the Business Analytics /Accelerated MBA major should contact their academic advisor to select another major.  Dismissed students can still apply for admission to the MBA program upon completion of their undergraduate degree however, there is no acceleration option and acceptance is not guaranteed.

Graduation Requirements:

Undergraduate:

A candidate for graduation must satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete all requirements for an approved program of study;
• Complete the minimum number of credits (128 for a bachelor’s degree; 64 for an associate’s degree);
• Repeat for an acceptable passing grade any course required for the major in which the grade of “F” has been received;
• Complete the last 30 credits for the degree at SFU;
• Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better in all courses taken at SFU;
• Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better in all major or collateral requirements;
• Satisfy the requirements of the General Education core curriculum;
• Satisfy the capstone requirement as specified by the major department(s);
• Submit a completed Application for Degree form at least one semester prior to graduation date; and
• Satisfy financial obligations to the University.

Graduate:

A candidate for graduation must satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete all requirements for an approved program of study;
• Complete the minimum number of credits as specified in this publication;
• Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better
• Submit a completed Application for Degree form at least one semester prior to graduation date; and
• Satisfy financial obligations to the University.

Capstone Requirement:

All students complete the three-credit course MGMT401, Strategic Management, which serves as the capstone for all undergraduate business programs. Among other learning experiences, this course includes a simulation that requires students to synthesize and apply learning from across the business domains of accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, and information systems.

Total Credits Required:

128 credits minimum

Note:

Students in this accelerated program may take up to 9 credits of graduate MBA courses that can be utilized to fulfill both free electives in the undergraduate program and requirements in the MBA program.