Cox School of Business

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General Information

Vision Statement

The mission of the Edwin L. Cox School of Business is to improve the school’s academic programs and reputation as a top-tier business school by providing a high-quality business education to students and the business community, conducting research that contributes to the understanding of business and management, and participating in the service activities of the University and professional organizations.

History

From its beginning as the Department of Commerce for Southern Methodist University, the Edwin L. Cox School of Business has been educating the country’s business leaders for more than 90 years.

Named in 1978 in honor of Dallas businessman Edwin L. Cox, the Cox School has a rich heritage that began in 1920 when the SMU Board of Trustees established a Department of Commerce at the request of the Dallas business community. In 1921 the Department of Commerce was renamed the School of Commerce, and in 1941 the Board of Trustees established the School of Commerce as a separate entity within the University. At this point, the School of Commerce became the School of Business Administration, and the Bachelor of Business Administration degree was approved by the trustees.

The graduate program at the School of Business Administration began in 1949 with the authorization of a Master of Business Administration program. Both the undergraduate and the graduate degree programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The Cox School also grants a minor in business administration and a minor in business to undergraduates. The graduate program at the School of Business Administration began in 1949 with the authorization of a Master of Business Administration program. Both the undergraduate and the graduate degree programs are fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The graduate program offers M.B.A; M.S.; M.A./M.B.A.; J.D./M.B.A.; and M.S./M.B.A. degrees, including degrees offered in joint and dual programs with the other SMU schools. Also, the Cox school offers custom and open enrollment Executive Education certificate programs.

In 1965, the SMU Foundation for Business Administration was established. This group of advisers has helped guide the Cox School throughout the years and today is known as the Executive Board. Also instrumental in supporting the Cox School are members of its two successful mentoring programs: the Associate Board for M.B.A. students and the BBA Mentoring Alliance. These two boards involve more than 350 area business leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to students who want to start making business connections for the future.

Cox School Complex

In 1952, ground was broken for the Joseph Wylie Fincher Memorial Building for the School of Business Administration. In 1987, two buildings were added to the Cox School complex: the Cary M. Maguire Building and the Trammell Crow Building. In 2005, the Cox School opened the James M. Collins Executive Education Center.

Today, the Fincher Building houses administrative and faculty offices as well as conference and meeting rooms, while the Maguire and Crow buildings primarily house classrooms and study rooms. The Collins Center is home to the region’s premier resources for working professionals and executives and houses the Cox School’s Executive Education programs, Executive M.B.A. program and M.B.A. Global Leadership Program Office (supported by The Norman E. Brinker Global Leadership Endowment Fund), as well as the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking.

Hailed as one of the most technologically advanced business learning facilities in the country, the Cox School complex has as its hub the Business Library, which combines many of the features of a traditional university library with the latest in online databases, search tools and presentation facilities. Through the Business Library, Cox School students, faculty and staff have access to instruction and research assistance from dedicated business librarians to enhance their use of current business news and financial, industry and market data from premier providers. In addition, the library contains a group presentation room, multimedia studio, personal computers, printers and scanners for student use. The Kitt Investing and Trading Center, added to the Business Library in 2011, is a state-of-the-art instructional and research facility designed to integrate financial data and technology into the finance curriculum, enhance innovative faculty research and teach students practical finance and investment applications. The BBA Library Research Program ensures that students are experienced in finding answers to complex questions and can present their research in an ethical and professional manner. All students that graduate from the Cox School of Business will have substantial research experience in the areas of subject major, senior capstone project and career preparation.

Centers and Institutes

Edwin L. Cox Business Leadership Institute

Paula Hill Strasser, Director

The Edwin L. Cox Business Leadership Institute (BLI) offers undergraduate courses designed to develop and enhance B.B.A. students’ fundamental business communication and leader-applied skills. The BLI provides students with essential knowledge and experience through lectures, corporate presenters, class discussions, self-assessments, simulations and comprehensive team projects. In addition, students sharpen their career management skills by perfecting their résumés and cover letters, and researching future career choices. The BLI helps students understand channels of communication and appropriate mediums within organizations, and also understand how global cultural diversity affects business communication and leaders. Students use course textbook, experiential learning, hands-on assignments and individual coaching to develop demonstrable written/oral communication skills and a portfolio essential for initiating a business career.

The Executive Education Center

Frank R. Lloyd, Associate Dean of Executive Education

The Executive Education Center is located in the Collins Center. The center is Dallas’ best resource for advanced leadership and business training, offering numerous open-enrollment certificate programs to managers and working professionals in the business community. The center also offers custom programs tailored to the specific needs of individual organizations and designed to improve organizational performance. In addition to offering general leadership and business topics, the center offers specialties in leadership skills for the energy industry and Latino leadership development. A distinctive offering is the Summer Business Institute, a four-week business certificate for current nonbusiness students and recent graduates. The institute provides a solid foundation in accounting, marketing, finance and other key business topics, along with in-depth career guidance. This program, open to SMU and non-SMU students, provides a valuable credential in a competitive job market as it sets participants apart from other nonbusiness undergraduates.

The Center for Marketing Management Studies

Raj Sethuraman, Executive Director

The Center for Marketing Management Studies serves as a focal point for interaction among faculty, practitioners and students who share a common interest in applied marketing management research and education. The center sponsors research and educational programs in marketing management. Since 1989, the center has sponsored the Graduate Marketing Certificate Program, designed to provide current and aspiring business professionals with the latest in marketing thought and practice. The program is held at the Dallas campus and at the SMU-in-Plano campus, one night each week throughout the school year.

The Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship

Jerry F. White, The Linda A. and Kenneth R. Morris Endowed Director

Founded in August 1970 and one of the earliest entrepreneurship centers, the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship has continuously developed innovative courses and programs to help individuals keep pace with the dynamic, rapidly changing field of entrepreneurship. The institute currently offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional development courses to give students the skills and knowledge necessary to launch and manage successful entrepreneurial ventures. In addition to its academic courses, the institute sponsors entrepreneurship clubs, a business plan competition and an MBA Venture Fund, and has created a number of unique programs that enable students to experience and better understand starting and building entrepreneurial ventures. Programs include the Southwest Venture Forum, where entrepreneurs, investors and the professionals who serve them can meet, and the Dallas 100™ Awards – an annual event that identifies and honors the 100 fastest-growing privately held companies in the Dallas area.

The Robert and Margaret Folsom Institute for Real Estate

Joseph D. Cahoon, Director

The Robert and Margaret Folsom Institute for Real Estate was established in 1984. The institute is engaged in a number of initiatives to support both undergraduate and graduate programs. It serves as a conduit among the commercial real estate industry, Folsom Institute Advisory Board members, alumni and SMU students to support and foster industry knowledge, training, internships, networking and community outreach. The institute cultivates tomorrow’s innovative real estate leaders not only with monetary support but also by its dedication to academic excellence, real world applications, technical training, leadership coaching and career placements.

Maguire Energy Institute

W. Bruce Bullock, Director

The Maguire Energy Institute promotes the study of policy, marketing and management issues that affect oil, natural gas and electricity. Founded by Cary M. Maguire, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Maguire Oil Company, the institute is a leading-edge resource for energy industry information and facilitates the exchange of ideas among students, businesses, the media and government officials.

Students can participate in courses, workshops and seminars. The institute also conducts research and analysis, publishes a quarterly newsletter on important policy issues and focuses on exploring innovative ways to improve management of the world’s oil and gas resources.

JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence

Edward J. Fox, Executive Director

The JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence was endowed in 1999 through a gift from the J.C. Penney Company Inc. in order to promote, develop and integrate retail education and practice. Today, the center has become a leading source of academic expertise on consumer shopping behavior and the impact of marketing and merchandising decisions on retailer performance. Among its activities, the center fosters cutting-edge retail research, facilitates SMU’s undergraduate Retailing Club to stimulate interest in retail careers and cosponsors a retail speaker series with the Dallas/Fort Worth Retail Executives Association.

The EnCap Investments & LCM Group Alternative Asset Management Center

William F. Maxwell, Director

Made possible by gifts from EnCap Investments and LCM Group, the EnCap
Investments & LCM Group Alternative Asset Management Center is designed to meet the increasing demand for investment professionals in the growing field of alternative assets, including hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, real estate, and oil and gas. The center offers courses leading to a specialization within the finance major at the undergraduate level. Selected course offerings are also open to M.B.A. and M.S. in Finance students. Undergraduate students interested in earning a specialization in alternative asset management apply for admission to the program during their junior year, and complete two courses under the direction of the EnCap Investments & LCM Group Alternative Asset Management Center.

William J. O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom

W. Michael Cox, Director

The O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom was established by William J. “Bill” O’Neil (BBA, ‘55) and his wife Fay C. O’Neil. The O’Neil Center’s focus is the study of the impact of competitive market forces on freedom and prosperity in the global economy: why some economies grow and others fail. The center conducts economic research on the nature of causes and consequences of economic freedom and other topics related to global prosperity, and provides economic education to students and the public on the principles of an open, competitive and free economy. More information is available at www.oneilcenter.org.

Admission

The Cox School of Business offers three undergraduate programs. All Cox classes, unless otherwise noted in the course descriptions, are open only to students in the Bachelor of Business Administration or Minor in Business Administration programs. Students in the minor in business may enroll only in the classes listed in this minor’s curriculum (Minor Requirements section). Note: Detailed information regarding SMU’s admission requirements, regulations and procedures is found in the Admission to the University section of this catalog.

• The B.B.A. program offers seven academic majors within business. Admission is available to entering SMU students through the BBA Scholars Program, the Business Direct Program, or to continuing and transfer students through the process described in Admission of SMU Students to a Business Major or Admission of External Transfer Students to a Business Major below.
• The minor in business administration provides a comprehensive introduction to business for SMU students who have majors outside the Cox School. Courses in this minor are a subset of the B.B.A. core courses and are offered throughout the academic year. Admission to the minor in business administration follows the same requirements outlined in Admission of SMU Students to a Business Major or Admission of External Transfer Students to a Business Major below.
• The minor in business offers non-Cox students a foundation in business concepts to complement their primary areas of academic interest. Courses in this program are offered during summer and intersession terms at the three SMU campuses (Dallas and Plano in Texas and Taos, New Mexico). These courses are open to all non-Cox majors or students not enrolled in the minor in business administration. Cox majors and minors in business administration may take BUSE 3310  as free elective credit only; they may not take other minor in business courses.

Guidelines for In-class Requirement and Use of Electronic Devices

All B.B.A. majors and minors in business administration and all prebusiness students enrolled in ITOM 2308 , ITOM 3306  and ACCT 4307 /ITOM 4307  are required to have laptop computers and bring them to each class session. Windows-based PCs are highly preferred, particularly for finance majors. Note: Students must have Windows AND the current version of Office for Windows installed on their laptops.

All instructors have the right and responsibility to set course policy, which should be included in the syllabus. Students are bound by the instructor’s policy regardless of what other instructors or courses may accept and/or require. This policy may include (but is not restricted to) the following alternatives.

• The use of laptop computers is limited to one of the following levels:
  • Laptop use is restricted to course-related (and possibly session-related) content and applications only.
  • If there is no course-related content that students can reasonably be expected to need during class sessions, laptop use can be restricted to note-taking use only.
  • If in-class tests are provided in electronic form, students may be allowed to take the test on their laptops.
  • If none of the above uses is desired, the use of laptops can be prohibited during class sessions.
• Use of chat services during class sessions is prohibited.
• Unless there are course-related applications of mobile phones, PDAs and smart-phones, the use of such equipment during class sessions is prohibited. Mobile phones must be shut off or set to silent mode during class sessions, and answering telephone calls and text messages during class is prohibited.
• Use of cameras and video cameras on mobile phones and laptops during class sessions may be prohibited or allowed. For example, instructors may allow students to take photos of the whiteboard and/or projected materials in the session.

Admission of SMU Students to a Business Major/B.B.A. Degree Program

Admission to the Cox undergraduate program may be earned by current SMU students via the admission requirements below, or at the time a student is admitted to SMU via the BBA Scholars Program or the Business Direct Program (under Applying for Admission as a First-Year Applicant). Regular admission to any B.B.A. major requires

1. Completion of a minimum of 39 credit hours.
2. A minimum all-college cumulative GPA of 3.500.
3. Successful completion of the business subset courses:
   ACCT 2301 
   DISC 1312  or DISC 2305 ; DISC 1313  or DISC 2306 
   ECO 1311 , ECO 1312 
   ITOM 2305 , or STAT 2331 , or EMIS 3340 , or CSE 4340 /STAT 4340 
   MATH 1309  or MATH 1337  or MATH 1340  

Notes

• For admission purposes to the Cox B.B.A. program, the all-college cumulative GPA is recorded at the end of the term the student completes the business subset courses AND has at least 39 cumulative credit hours. The all-college cumulative GPA includes all SMU coursework and courses completed at all other colleges if these courses have content-based equivalents at SMU. If credit is nontransferable because the grade earned is below C-, but the course is equivalent in content to an SMU course, the grade will count toward the all-college cumulative GPA.
• Once a student enrolls at SMU, all remaining subset courses must be completed through enrollment at SMU.
• All subset courses must be taken for a grade (not taken pass/fail), with the exception of those courses in which the student has test credit.
• Students must have passing grades in all subset courses before entering the Cox School.
• Current University grading policy, as summarized under Academic Forgiveness in the General Policies section of this catalog, permits forgiveness of academic work taken 10 or more years prior to the term of admission. Academic work forgiven under this policy will not be included in the all-college cumulative GPA.

Admission via the Extended Subset

Students who do not achieve a 3.500 all-college cumulative GPA and/or 39 credit hours completed may seek admission to Cox through the extended subset option by adding the first graded attempt of ACCT 2302  to the original subset. Students who have completed at least 39 credit hours and who earn a minimum 3.500 all-college cumulative GPA as of the term in which the extended subset is completed will be admitted to the Cox B.B.A. degree program. Once a student enrolls at SMU, ACCT 2302  must be completed through enrollment at SMU.

Applying for Admission as a First-Year Applicant

First-year applicants submit an application for admission to the SMU Division of Enrollment Services and follow the University requirements for admission (under the Admission to the University section in this catalog). Applicants who are admitted to SMU and who indicate business as their primary academic interest on the application for admission are automatically reviewed for admission to the Cox BBA Scholars Program or the Business Direct Program. More information is available in the BBA Scholars and Business Direct programs sections.

Admission to the Cox BBA Scholars Program and to the Business Direct Program is by invitation only to students entering SMU directly from high school. Transfer students are not considered for admission in either the BBA Scholars Program or the Business Direct Program. First-year students invited to join either program must accept their invitation no later than the University’s deposit deadline (typically May 1) prior to SMU matriculation in the following fall. Students who accept admission to the Cox BBA Scholars Program may enter Cox during their first year at SMU. Students who accept admission to the Business Direct Program may enter Cox after completion of the subset courses with good academic standing.

Declaring a Business Major as a Current SMU Student

Students who meet the Cox admission requirements should complete a Change of Degree Program form at the records office of their current school. This form will be forwarded with the student’s academic record to the Cox School. Business majors normally enter Cox after three terms of full-time enrollment; students who take longer to complete the admission requirements may need additional time to complete degree requirements.

Admission of External Transfer Students to a Business Major/B.B.A. Degree Program

Admission of external transfer students to a B.B.A. major requires

1. Admission to SMU.
2. Completion of a minimum of 39 credit hours of transferable college credit.
3. Minimum all-college cumulative GPA of 3.500.
4. Successful completion of the business subset courses:
   ENGL 1301  or DISC 1311 ; ENGL 1302  or DISC 1312 ; DISC 1313  (if required)
   ECO 1311 , ECO 1312 
   MATH 1309  or MATH 1337  or MATH 1340 
   ACCT 2301 
   ITOM 2305 , or STAT 2331 , or EMIS 3340 , or CSE 4340 /STAT 4340  

Notes

• For admission purposes to the Cox B.B.A. program, the all-college cumulative GPA is recorded at the end of the term the student completes the business subset courses AND has at least 39 cumulative credit hours. The all-college cumulative GPA includes all SMU coursework and courses completed at all other colleges if these courses have content-based equivalents at SMU. If credit is nontransferable because the grade earned is below C-, but the course is equivalent in content to an SMU course, the grade will count toward the all-college cumulative GPA.
• Current University grading policy, as summarized under Academic Forgiveness in the General Policies section of this catalog, permits forgiveness of academic work taken 10 or more years prior to the term of admission. Academic work forgiven under this policy will not be included in the all-college cumulative GPA.
• Students must have passing grades in all subset courses before entering the Cox School.
• When evaluating courses taken at other colleges or universities, the Cox School will use the grades and credit hours designated by the school at which the courses were taken. Business Elective Transfer Credit (BETC) is used to award transfer credit for transferable courses where there is not an equivalent business course prefix. The Cox School will not recalculate grades earned at schools that use grading systems different from SMU’s nor change the number of credit hours for a course. 

Transfer students who have not completed the business subset courses may be eligible for admission to SMU as prebusiness majors and will then follow the admission requirements outlined above for current SMU students. Those who have completed the subset courses but who do not meet Cox admission requirements may be eligible for admission to SMU via the extended subset option or for admission to SMU to pursue a nonbusiness major.

Transfer Admission via the Extended Subset

Students who do not achieve a 3.500 all-college cumulative GPA and/or 39 credit hours completed may seek admission to Cox through the extended subset option by adding the first graded attempt of ACCT 2302  to the original subset. Students who have completed at least 39 credit hours and who earn a minimum 3.500 all-college cumulative GPA as of the term in which the extended subset is completed will be admitted to the Cox B.B.A. degree program. Once a student enrolls at SMU, ACCT 2302  must be completed through enrollment at SMU.

Admission to Minors

SMU students who are NOT seeking a major in the Cox School may select from two business minors. The minor in business administration provides a comprehensive introduction to business for SMU students who have majors outside the Cox School. Students in this minor take specified B.B.A. core courses, which are offered throughout the academic year. The minor in business offers non-Cox students a foundation in business concepts to complement their primary areas of academic interest. Courses in this program are offered during summer and intersession terms at SMU’s three campuses (Dallas and Plano in Texas and Taos, New Mexico). These courses are open to all non-Cox majors or students not enrolled in the minor in business administration.

Admission to the Minor in Business Administration

The minor in business administration operates concurrently with the B.B.A. degree program and includes seven courses that can apply toward either the B.B.A. degree or the minor in business administration (Minor Requirements section). Students in this minor must meet the same admission requirements as students in the Cox B.B.A. program as described above and will be enrolled in the same sections of business courses as business majors.

Admission to the Minor in Business

The minor in business is open to all SMU students who are NOT pursuing a B.B.A. major or the minor in business administration. The minor in business does not have prerequisite courses or GPA-based admission requirements. The minor in business offers courses designed to provide a general overview of business topics to complement a variety of academic interests. Students may pursue this minor by enrolling in the appropriate courses and completing a minor declaration form with the academic adviser for their major.

Statute of Limitations

If a student is readmitted to SMU after an absence of three years or longer, the student will be readmitted under the University catalog in effect at the time of readmission and will be subject to degree and admissions requirements in that current catalog.

Acceptance of Transfer Credit Prior to Enrollment

A prospective transfer student must present to the Division of Enrollment Services official transcripts containing a full record of all previous college work attempted. Failure to provide full records of all work is grounds for dismissal from the Cox School. To avoid delay, students should forward transcripts to the SMU Division of Enrollment Services no later than July 1 for the fall term and December 1 for the spring term.

In general, transfer credit will be accepted for business major or minor credit only if the courses completed are equivalent in content to those offered at SMU and if the university’s school of business at which the courses were completed is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). In the case of transfer credit completed at a junior/community college, only those courses with equivalents at the first-year and sophomore level at SMU (1000- and 2000-level courses) will be accepted for business major or minor credit.

Prior to matriculation, the Cox School will accept transfer business credit toward the B.B.A. degree from schools accredited by AACSB International regardless of the student’s classification if there are equivalent/appropriate courses at SMU.

Courses completed with a grade of D+ or less or those completed without letter grades (pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory) will not be transferred for any degree credit. Grades earned elsewhere will be considered for admission purposes and in determining graduation with honors. When evaluating courses taken at other colleges and universities, the Cox School will use the grades designated by the school at which the courses were taken. The Cox School will not recalculate grades earned at schools that use grading systems different from SMU’s.

Transfer Credit for Current SMU Students

Students enrolled in the Cox School who are seeking to fulfill any portion of their degree requirements through transfer credit must file a petition for approval of their intentions with the B.B.A. Academic Advising and Records Office in 252 Maguire prior to enrollment for such courses. With the approval of the appropriate SMU departmental chair, SMU students may complete a maximum of 30 transfer credit hours for degree credit. Students are cautioned to check the current SMU catalog before enrolling in courses at other institutions and to verify transferability with the appropriate offices. Matriculated students must complete all required business courses through enrollment at SMU. Exceptions to this policy require concurrent approval of the associate dean for undergraduate studies, the appropriate department chair, and the director of B.B.A. academic advising and records.

Regardless of the number of acceptable transfer credit hours, at least 60 of the total 122 baccalaureate credit hours must be completed through enrollment at SMU. Of the required business credit hours, a minimum of 30 must be completed through enrollment at SMU or SMU-approved international programs.

Detailed information regarding University-wide policies is provided in this catalog in the Admission to the University section and the Academic Records and General and Enrollment Standards section, and topics for the latter are listed in the table of contents.

Academic Regulations

B.B.A. Degree Requirements

The Edwin L. Cox School of Business adheres to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) standards of accreditation. Students will be awarded the Bachelor of Business Administration degree upon successful completion of the following requirements:

• Admission. Detailed information regarding admission to the Cox School of Business is found in the Admission section above.
• Grade Requirements. An overall GPA of at least 2.000 on all SMU work attempted and on all SMU business coursework attempted. Students must earn at least a 2.000 GPA in all business coursework attempted within the student’s declared major to graduate with that major.
• Pass/Fail Requirements. Business students may elect the pass/fail option in business elective courses only after satisfactory completion of the previous term, all Cox core course requirements and all requirements of the student’s declared major. The exception is courses within Cox that are designated as pass/fail only.
• Minimum Credit hours and SMU Credit Requirement. University policy requires a minimum of 122 approved credit hours. Detailed information is found in the Curriculum section below. Of the 122 minimum required credit hours for a degree, at least 60 academic credit hours must be earned as SMU credit in SMU courses or SMU-approved international programs. No more than two credit hours of Wellness or PRW courses can count toward the 122 minimum credit hours. A minimum of 30 business credit hours must be completed through enrollment at SMU or SMU-approved international programs. The maximum number of business credit hours a student may take is the sum of the number of credit hours required to complete the student’s major, plus up to 12 credit hours in one concentration if the student is pursuing a concentration (under Concentrations for Majors below), plus up to six credit hours of unrestricted business electives. Students may not exceed six credit hours of unrestricted business electives. Students are not required to take courses in a concentration or unrestricted business electives. The maximum limit on business credit hours does not include business courses taken abroad, business internship courses not required for a major, business-directed studies or credit hours needed to meet the business degree requirements related to the minimum credit hours taken at or through SMU. Business majors are limited to one major within the Cox School.

Application for Graduation

In order to graduate, students must file an application for candidacy to graduate with the B.B.A. Academic Advising and Records Office of the Cox School (in 252 Maguire) before the final term of coursework. Students should consult the Official University Calendar for graduation application deadlines.

In addition to requiring students to fulfill all academic requirements, the Cox School may consider any judicial or disciplinary matters before any degree may be conferred. Students must meet all financial obligations to the University in order to receive their diploma and transcript(s).

Commencement Activities Prior to Completion of Degree Requirements

Participation in May graduation activities is allowed for students who are August graduates provided they are enrolled to complete all graduation requirements during the summer following May graduation activities.

Curriculum Requirements

The requirements summarized below must be satisfied to earn the Bachelor of Business Administration degree. In addition to the University-wide requirements, a core of required business fundamental courses has been designed by the faculty of the Cox School as specified below. Each core course must be passed for a student to be eligible for graduation. Generally, Discernment and Discourse, calculus, and economics courses should be completed in the student’s first year; accounting, managerial statistics, business communications and information systems requirements in the sophomore year; finance, legal environment and ethics, marketing, management, and operations management requirements in the junior year; and the business strategy requirement (STRA 5370  or CISB 5397 , also known as capstone courses) in the senior year. Students should be enrolled in BLI 3302  in their first semester in the Cox School.

Students are responsible for designing their own degree programs with assistance from the Cox academic advisers. Coordination with the Cox Career Center is highly advantageous for students who want to align major and course selection with their career aspirations. Close attention should be given to course and knowledge prerequisites as well as course content to maximize the value of each course and to avoid enrolling in a course for which a student has insufficient preparatory background.

Each student’s file, reflecting his or her total academic record, is located in the B.B.A. Academic Advising and Records Office, 252 Maguire. Transcripts of the student’s official record should be requested from the Office of the Registrar.

Advising

The undergraduate program of the Cox School of Business is strongly committed to the academic advising process and believes that advising is effective only if the student actively participates in, and assumes responsibility for, the advising process. Cox academic advisers are available in 252 Maguire for student appointments. All students admitted to the Cox School are required to complete a two-part orientation session, which includes the B.B.A. Academic Advising and Records Office, the Cox Career Center and the Business Library. After the initial orientation, students are required to consult with a B.B.A. adviser prior to enrollment every term until graduation.

Prior to each advising appointment, students are expected to examine their electronic degree progress report carefully, as it is the student’s responsibility to help assure the eDPR’s accuracy. Students enroll, swap and drop courses on my.SMU. The director of B.B.A. academic advising and records will add a student to a closed class only if the student is a graduating senior and there are no other course options for completing a degree requirement.

Cox faculty members provide assistance in the areas of their professional expertise, offering guidance in selecting and sequencing courses appropriate for meeting specific academic and career goals.

Education Abroad

Cox students may take no more than six credit hours of B.B.A. business core courses (out of 33 total credit hours of business core courses) in SMU Abroad programs. Students may take no more than six credit hours of courses required for their business major in SMU Abroad programs. Students may take no more than six credit hours of business courses that do not count for the business core or for the major in SMU Abroad programs.

Career Education and Services

The undergraduate Cox Career Center fosters the development of lifelong career management skills, providing exposure to various careers and developing skills that will help students secure employment. Students learn career planning, personal marketing, resume and professional correspondence development, and interview and job search skills. Career management fundamentals are taught in the required BLI 3302 course. The career coaches meet with students one-on-one to develop individualized career plans and assist them with their internship or job search. Internships are strongly encouraged and are considered a key component of the undergraduate experience at Cox. SMU’s location in Dallas allows students to pursue part-time internships during the academic year as well as part- and/or full-time internships during the summer worldwide. In addition, the Cox Career Center provides opportunities for B.B.A. students to interact with employers at career-related events such as career fairs, workshops, panels and seminars focused on specific industries, professions or companies. Students are encouraged to start this process early and make an appointment with a career coach during the term they are accepted to Cox. Ongoing meetings with career coaches are important for students to continue polishing the professional skill sets necessary for a successful job search. The Cox Career Center is located in 254 Maguire.

BBA Mentoring Alliance

The BBA Mentoring Alliance is a professional mentoring experience that pairs business undergraduates one-on-one with executives in the Dallas-area business community. The Mentoring Alliance enhances a student’s collegiate experience by providing firsthand insights into the business world while teaching the value of effective networking. Eligibility for the mentoring program requires a declared major in business, junior or senior status, and good academic standing. B.B.A. students on academic probation are not eligible to participate. After acceptance into the program, students are matched with a mentor for an academic year.

Honors Program

The Cox B.B.A. Honors Program offers an enhanced curriculum to outstanding business students. B.B.A. students admitted to this program have the opportunity to take rigorous courses that challenge their intellectual abilities and sharpen their professional skills. These courses are taught by some of the outstanding professors at the Cox School and are similar to M.B.A. courses. Honors courses are structured to provide students with a greater understanding of current business practices and the academic theories that will help create the business practices of the future. In addition to honors courses, students in the Cox B.B.A. Honors Program have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities that complement their business education. Enrolling in the Cox B.B.A. Honors Program does not preclude participation in other honors programs at SMU.

Types of Honors Classes

The Cox School offers two types of undergraduate honors courses:

Core Courses. The B.B.A. program has 11 required core courses that introduce students to the basic disciplines in business, such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, communication, law and strategy. Honors sections of the B.B.A. core courses are open only to students in the B.B.A. Honors Program. It is expected that honors students will enroll in as many honors core courses as possible.

Electives. Business elective courses teach advanced concepts in one area of business. A number of honors sections of advanced electives are offered each year. Students in the B.B.A. Honors Program may apply to enroll in honors sections of elective courses. These sections are also open to business majors who are not in the B.B.A. Honors Program. Students in the B.B.A. Honors Program are encouraged to enroll in electives related to their major.

Admission to the B.B.A. Honors Program

Students who are accepted into the B.B.A. Honors Program must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.500 in their SMU GPA and their B.B.A. Honors Program courses to remain in the program; this GPA requirement begins once a student has at least six credit hours of honors courses. Students whose GPA falls below 3.500 have a one term grace period to meet the requirement. There are two paths to entering the Cox B.B.A. Honors Program:

Entry by Invitation. High school students who apply for admission to SMU and who indicate business as their primary academic interest are automatically reviewed for admission to the Cox B.B.A. program as BBA Scholars. Admission to the Cox BBA Scholars Program is by invitation only. Selected BBA Scholars will be invited to join the B.B.A. Honors Program at the time of admission to SMU. There are no additional admissions materials that a student needs to complete to be considered for the B.B.A. Honors Program. BBA Scholars who are not selected for the B.B.A. Honors Program at the time of admission to SMU may apply to join the B.B.A. Honors Program at the time of completion of the business subset courses.

Entry by Application. All Cox students may apply for admission into the program at the end of the term in which the business subset courses are completed. In order to apply, students must have at least a 3.500 GPA in the six-course subset and have at least a 3.500 SMU GPA. Admission approval is obtained in the B.B.A. Academic Advising and Records Office. Admission criteria for the B.B.A. Honors Program are updated periodically and are based on academic achievements and potential. Admission may not be offered to all students who apply.

The Honors Curriculum

The following is a sample schedule of honors sections for an honors student:

Additional information about the courses is in the Course Descriptions section.

Honors Notation on the Diploma

Students who are in the Cox B.B.A. Honors Program will receive an honors notation (“Honors in Business”) on their transcript and diploma if they complete at least six honors courses (18 credit hours), at least four (12 credit hours) of which must be at the junior or senior level, and have both an SMU GPA and a Cox Honors Program GPA of at least 3.500. The Cox Honors distinction is separate from the cum laude distinctions awarded at graduation.

BBA Scholars Program

The BBA Scholars Program affords numerous special opportunities, including networking with Cox faculty and the Dallas business community, invitations to special events, and tailored academic advising and career services. Participation in this program enhances students’ educational experience and helps develop the skills and connections necessary for professional success. BBA Scholars are encouraged to participate in honors-level business courses to enhance their education experience in the Cox School.

Business Direct Program

The Business Direct Program offers admission to the Cox School by invitation only based on students’ high school performance and after completion of the Cox required subset courses with good academic standing (2.000 minimum GPA). The list of subset courses is found under Admission of SMU Students to a Business Major/B.B.A. Degree Program. Business Direct students may enter the Cox Honors Program if they qualify by their subset grades and SMU GPA; additional information is found under Entry by Application.

Directed Studies

Business students may pursue independent studies, a research-based project, in a specified department under the sponsorship of a full-time Cox faculty member. This project may involve further study by the student in some aspect not covered in regularly scheduled business courses. B.B.A. students must first complete the basic required course in the field of study. Business elective or free elective credit will be granted to a maximum of six credit hours and cannot be used to fulfill major requirements. Directed studies courses may be taken pass/fail without completion of the business major. Independent studies will be exempted from the maximum credit hour limit. Students on academic probation may not register for independent studies.

Internships

Business students may take up to three credit hours of general internship courses for work experience. With the exception of students in the marketing major, students cannot use the credit hours toward the B.B.A. major or minor requirements. Internships are for pass/fail credit only.

Concurrent Degrees

B.B.A. students may simultaneously complete additional major(s) and/or minor(s) outside of business. Interested students should contact the B.B.A. Academic Advising and Records Office in the Cox School in 252 Maguire and the appropriate representative of the dean of the school in which the additional major/minor will be earned.

Programs of Study and Business Courses

The Cox School offers seven business majors, a specialization within one major, a minor in business administration and a minor in business. Declared business majors may also choose to add one of four concentrations.

Majors

Accounting  
Finance  
Financial Consulting  
General Business 
Management  
Marketing  
Real Estate Finance  

Concentrations

Energy Management  
Entrepreneurship  
Real Estate Finance  
Risk Management and Insurance  

Specialization (Finance Major)

Alternative Asset Management

All business courses have been approved by the faculty of the Edwin L. Cox School of Business. It should be noted that not all courses described in this catalog are necessarily offered in any given academic year. Students should check published course schedules to see which courses are offered. From time to time, some courses may be changed and new courses added. Students should use caution in selecting courses to avoid repetition of courses previously taken.

Concentrations for B.B.A. Students

SMU students who are declared business majors may choose to add one of four concentrations: energy management, entrepreneurship, real estate finance, or risk management and insurance. Each concentration consists of four courses (12 hours).

Courses for the concentrations will not double count toward the business core or the majors with the exception of the general business major. No courses may be substituted for concentration courses.

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