Program in Business Administration

Professors:
Giri Kumar Tayi, Ph.D., Carnage Mellon University
William Wales, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Associate Professors:
Lisa Baranik, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Suraj Commuri, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Mathew Crayne, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Ioannis Kareklas, Ph.D., University of Connecticut
Aleksandra Kovacheva, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Jungwon Kuem, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Eliot Rich, Ph.D., University at Albany
Hillary Wiener, Ph.D., Duke University

Assistant Professors:
Sukwoong Choi, Ph.D., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Abhishek Ghosh, Ph.D., Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Zhoujun Gu, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
Blane Horton, Ph.D., Columbia University
Yeasung Jeong, Ph.D., Auburn University
Sreya Kolay, Ph.D., University of Rochester
Kyle Schirmann, Ph.D., Harvard Business School

Visiting Assistant Professors:
Elvis Avdić, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Yingge Li, Ph.D., Florida State University

Lecturers:
Robert Downey, M.B.A., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Nim Dvir, Ph.D., University at Albany
Ethan Sprissler, M.S., University at Albany

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Application and Admission:

The following guidelines have been developed as a means of selecting the best-qualified students to study accounting or business administration.

Initial Admission of Freshmen to the Massry School of Business

All students admitted to the University whose basis of admission is “FRESHMAN” can be admitted to the Massry School of Business as Accounting or Business Administration majors by declaring their major as “School of Business.” To remain a Business major during the freshman and sophomore years, each student must meet the retention standards set by the School. These standards require students to maintain a 3.00 overall average at the University at Albany and at least a 3.00 average for the designated admission core courses taken at the University.

To remain a Massry School of Business major in Accounting or Business Administration, students must also have satisfactorily completed all seven of the admission core courses by the end of four semesters at the University. (Note: all core courses must be taken on an A–E basis.) These core courses are: (1) BACC 211 (2) BITM 215 (3) AMAT 108 or AECO 320 (4) BFOR 200 (5) BLAW 220 (6) APSY 101 and (7) BBUS 100. In addition, students must have completed a total of at least 56 degree applicable credits by the end of four semesters at the University to remain a School of Business major.

Students’ records will be evaluated after their third and fourth semesters to determine that all of the above retention standards have been met.

Students not meeting these standards by the end of their fourth semester at the University at Albany are not guaranteed admission to the Massry School of Business.

Students in the Massry School of Business who have attained junior standing (i.e., 56 degree applicable credits) and who have met all the retention standards shall be eligible to enroll in the upper division School courses. 

Direct Admission as Freshmen

A select group of freshmen will be offered admission to the Massry School of Business Accounting or Business Administration majors without any additional conditions beyond those for continuing enrollment at the University. Such admission will be based on a review of the student’s performance in high school as reflected in grade point average (HSGPA), performance on school-based tests such as Regents exams, scores on the SAT or ACT national exams, competitive rank in class, and similar metrics.

Students must complete the same set of business core courses during their first two years that are required of all students in order to begin the upper division sequence of business courses in the junior year. The business core courses must be completed with an average grade of at least C (2.00).

Direct admission as freshmen to the Massry School of Business represents an act of confidence in a cadre of well-prepared students, and it is expected that these students will perform at the highest academic levels at the University at Albany. Students must meet University at Albany requirements for good academic standing to retain their enrollment in the Massry School of Business.

Direct Admission students who are academically dismissed by the University prior to declaring the Business Administration or Accounting major relinquish their direct admit status. If granted readmission by the University’s Committee on Academic Standing, the student will need to seek an alternate major or apply to the Massry School of Business at the end of the semester in which they complete the business core courses and obtain junior standing (at least 56 credits).    

Initial Admission of Transfers with Sophomore Standing or above to the Massry School of Business

All students whose basis of admission is “TRANSFER” can be admitted to the Massry School of Business by declaring their major as either Accounting or Business Administration at the time of their application to the University as long as they will have met the following criteria:

Students must have completed a total of at least 32 degree applicable credits by the end of the spring semester preceding their summer or fall admission to the University, or by the end of the fall semester preceding their spring admission to the University. They must also have a final cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and have completed elsewhere a minimum of three of the designated admission core courses with at least a 3.00 average prior to matriculation.

To remain a Massry School of Business major, students must achieve a minimum overall GPA at the University at Albany of at least a 2.50 by the end of their first semester. They must also complete all remaining core courses with a minimum 3.00 average by the end of their second semester at this University. (Note: all core courses must be taken on an A–E graded basis.) Additionally, they must have achieved 56 degree applicable credits by the end of two semesters at the University.

Subsequent Admission to the Massry School of Business

Students who did not declare their major as “School of Business” by the deadlines stated above but whose basis of admission is “FRESHMAN” or whose basis of admission is “TRANSFER” with fewer than 32 degree-applicable credits may directly apply (or reapply) for admission to the Massry School of Business Accounting or Business Administration major once they have attained junior standing (i.e., 56 degree applicable credits) and have satisfactorily completed all seven of the admission core courses. These courses are: (1) BACC 211 (2) BITM 215 (3) AMAT 108 or AECO 320 (4) BFOR 200 (5) BLAW 220 (6) APSY 101 and (7) BBUS 100.

(Note: all core courses must be taken on an A–E graded basis.)

Other “TRANSFER” students who were admitted with 32 or more degree-applicable credits but who were not initially admitted to the Massry School of Business may still be considered for admission within the following guidelines:

  1. Students who can demonstrate that their previous transfer record would have qualified them for admission had they applied initially to the Massry School of Business will be admitted under the conditions and criteria described above for other sophomore or junior transfers.
  2. Students who do not initially qualify for admission as a transfer student to the Massry School of Business may apply directly to the Massry School of Business in the semester in which they will have completed 56 credits and all seven core courses. Applications are available in the Office of Student Services in BB 201 on May 1st, June 1st, or December 1stand are due in that same office prior to the end of final exams for a fall, spring, and summer session.

Appeals

Special Admissions: Students not admissible by any of the established criteria but who believe they have extenuating circumstances may write a letter of appeal to the School. Contact the Massry School of Business Office of Student Services, BB 201, for the procedure.

Degree Requirements for the B.S. in Business Administration

Required Economics and Mathematics Courses

  • AECO 110 Principles of Economics I: Microeconomics (3)
  • AECO 111 Principles of Economics II: Macroeconomics (3)
  • AECO at 300 level or above where AECO 110 and AECO 111 are prerequisites excluding AECO 320, 496, and 497 (3)
  • Select One of the Following Options:
    • AMAT 106 Survey of Calculus (3)
    • AMAT 112 Calculus I (4)
    • AMAT 118 Honors Calculus I (4)
    • or equivalent Calculus (3-4)
  • Select One of the Following Options:
    • AMAT 108 Elementary Statistics (3)
    • AECO 320 Economic Statistics (3)*
  • APSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3)* 

Required Business Courses:

  • BACC 211 Financial Accounting (3)*
  • BACC 222 Cost Accounting Systems for Managerial Decisions (3)
  • BBUS 100 Survey of Business (1)*
  • BBUS 310 Business Communication (1)
  • BFIN 300 Financial Management (3)
  • BFOR 200 Information Security for Business (3)*
  • BITM 215 Information Technologies for Business (3)*
  • BITM 330 Improving Business Performance with Information Technologies (3)
  • BLAW 220 Business Law (3)*
  • BMKT 310 Marketing Principles (3)
  • BMGT 341 Behavioral Foundations of Management (3)
  • BMGT 481W Strategic Management (3)

*Seven Admission Core Course Requirements

Approved Concentrations:

Entrepreneurship/Finance Concentration (18 credits): 

  • BFIN 301 Corporate Financial Policy and Strategy (3)
  • BFIN 333 Investment Management (3)
  • BFIN 375 Money and Capital Markets (3)
  • BFIN 404 Entrepreneurial Finance (3)
  • BMGT 400 Introduction to Entrepreneurship (3)
  • BMGT 460 Social Entrepreneurship (3)

Entrepreneurship/Information Systems and Business Analytics Concentration (21 credits): 

  • BFIN 301 Corporate Financial Policy and Strategy (3)
  • BFIN 404 Entrepreneurial Finance (3)
  • BITM 322 Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions (3)
  • BITM 331 Business Systems Analysis and Design (3)
  • BITM 415Data Analytics in Business (3)
  • BMGT 400 Introduction to Entrepreneurship (3)
  • BMGT 460 Social Entrepreneurship (3)

Entrepreneurship/Marketing Concentration (21 credits): 

  • BFIN 301 Corporate Financial Policy and Strategy (3)
  • BFIN 404 Entrepreneurial Finance (3)
  • BMGT 400 Introduction to Entrepreneurship (3)
  • BMGT 460 Social Entrepreneurship (3)
  • BMKT 351 Consumer behavior (3)
  • 3 credits BMKT 300-level or 400-level elective
  • 3 credits BMKT 400-level elective

Finance/Information Systems and Business Analytics Concentration (18 credits): 

  • BFIN 301 Corporate Financial Policy and Strategy (3)
  • BFIN 333 Investment Management (3)
  • BFIN 375 Money and Capital Markets (3)
  • BITM 322 Quantitative Analysis for business Decisions (3)
  • BITM 331 Business Systems Analysis and Design (3)
  • BITM 415 Data Analytics in Business (3)

Financial Planning Concentration (21 credits):

  • BFIN 210 Personal Finance (3)
  • BFIN 321 Wealth Management and Professional Conduct Principles (3)
  • BFIN 324 Investment Management and Tax Planning (3)
  • BFIN 333 Investment Management (3)
  • BFIN 426 Retirement Planning and Behavioral Aspects of Financial Planning (3)
  • BFIN 428 Risk Management and Estate Planning (3)
  • BFIN 444 Financial Plan Development (3)

Finance/Management Concentration (18 credits): 

  • BFIN 301 Corporate financial Policy and Strategy (3)
  • BFIN 333 Investment Management (3)
  • BFIN 375 Money and Capital Markets (3)
  • BMGT 430 Management of Human Resources (3)
  • 6 Credits BMGT 400-level electives 

Finance/Marketing Concentration (18 credits): 

  • BFIN 301 Corporate Financial Policy and Strategy (3)
  • BFIN 333 Investment Management (3)
  • BFIN 375 Money and Capital Markets (3)
  • BMKT 351 Consumer Behavior (3)
  • 3 credits BMKT 300-level or BMKT 400-level elective
  • 3 credits BMKT 400-level elective

Financial Analyst Honors Program Concentration (21 credits): 

  • BACC 313 Financial Accounting Theory II (3) or BACC 312 Financial Statement Analysis (3)
  • BFIN 380 Investment Valuation and Analysis (3)
  • BFIN 400 Financial Case Problems (3)
  • BFIN 410 The Fixed Income Securities Market (3)
  • BFIN 436 International Financial Management (3)
  • BFIN 485 Derivatives and Risk Management (3)
  • BFIN 490Z Financial Analysis Honors Seminar and Thesis (3)

Information Systems and Business Analytics Concentration (15 credits): 

  • BITM 322 Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions (3)
  • BITM 331Business Systems Analysis and Design (3)
  • BITM 415 Data Analytics in Business (3)
  • BITM 416 Topics in business Analytics (3)
  • BITM 434 Business Analytics Practicum (3)

Management/Information Systems and Business Analytics Concentration (18 credits): 

  • BITM 322 Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions (3)
  • BITM 331 Business Systems Analysis and Design (3)
  • BITM 415 Data Analytics in Business (3)
  • BMGT 430 Management of Human Resources (3)
  • 6 credits BMGT 400-level electives

Marketing Concentration (15 credits): 

  • BMKT 312 Marketing Research (3)
  • BMKT 351 Consumer Behavior (3)
  • 3 credits BMKT 300-level or 400-level elective
  • 6 credits BMKT 400-level electives

Marketing/Information Systems and Business Analytics Concentration (18 credits): 

  • BITM 322 Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions (3)
  • BITM 331 Business Systems Analysis and Design (3)
  • BITM 415 Data Analytics in Business (3)
  • BMKT 351 Consumer behavior (3)
  • 3 credits BMKT 300-level or BMKT 400-level elective
  • 3 credits BMKT 400-level elective

Marketing/Management Concentration (18 credits): 

  • BMGT 430 Management of Human Resources (3)
  • 6 credits BMGT 400-level electives
  • BMKT 351 Consumer Behavior (3)
  • 3 credits BMKT 300-level or 400-level elective
  • 3 credits BMKT 400-level elective

Note: In order to complete concentrations in a timely manner it is necessary to follow specific course sequencing. For more detailed information on concentrations, consult Undergraduate Student Services in the School of Business.

Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics Certificate in Business Analytics

There is growing demand for people with skills in data management and analysis. National and international companies recognize that the application of business analytics has a positive impact on their businesses. However, a shortage of business analytics professionals that have business and/or STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) backgrounds exists. The Certificate in Business Analytics program aims to provide the skills necessary to satisfy the needs of the marketplace. The program consists of the following five courses:

  1. BITM 215 Information Technologies for Business - introduces Excel spreadsheet analysis;
  2. BITM 322 Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions - focuses on statistical methods, including data collection, hypothesis testing, and multiple regression analysis;
  3. BITM 330 Improving Business Performance with Information Technologies - covers data management, database design, and structured query language (SQL);
  4. BITM 415 Data Analytics in Business - emphasizes data management and predictive analytics;
  5. BITM 416 Topics in Business Analytics - exposes students to analytical techniques that are not covered in BITM 415.

The certificate is relevant to business and STEM majors wanting to make themselves more marketable in today's world.

Admission Requirements

Admissions to the Certificate program is by application. School of Business majors apply through Massry School of Business Undergraduate Student Services. Students from other schools and non-majors should contact either their Department Advisor or the ISBA Department Chair for application details. Matriculated University at Albany students must apply for the Certificate in Business Analytics through no later than the start of their Senior year.

Acceptance into the certificate program requires a 3.25 GPA and junior standing, or an equivalent achievement in an Associate's degree. To retain eligibility for the certificate, students must achieve a B or better grade in each of the courses required for the certificate. In exceptional cases this retention requirement may be waived by the department faculty or designate.