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Belmont University Graduate Catalog 2016-17


The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business


J. Patrick Raines , Dean, College of Business Administration
Joe F. Alexander, Associate Dean

Brad Childs, Richard Churchman, Howard Cochran, Jacqueline Conard, Jeff Cornwall, Don Cusic, Delwyn DeVries, Jane Dillard-Eggers, Greg Faulk, John Gonas, Jane Finley, Gary Garrison, Joshua Johnson, Robert Lambert, John Maslyn, Jeff Overby, Pat Raines, Clyde Rolston, Mark Schenkel, Joe Smolira, Susan Taylor, Jennie Carter Thomas, Charles Wainright, Lee Warren, Jennifer Wilgus, Susan Williams, Beth Woodard, Thomas Wooten, Sehyun Yoo, Grady York, Marilyn Young.
*Part-time

Mission

The mission of the College of Business Administration is to be an innovative learning community that educates entrepreneurial, ethical and socially responsible future business leaders for the dynamic global economy.

We are committed to:

  • relevant, interactive and experiential academic programs.
  • continually improving our intellectual capital primarily through contributions to applied and pedagogical research.
  • serving the needs of the community through educational and professional partnerships.

Innovative. With respect to all aspects of our school, from programs to curriculum to teaching methods, we continually seek to generate, assess and implement new ideas. Critical to this is the nurturing of creativity through organizational processes that anticipate needs of key stakeholders.

Interactive Learning Programs. Our focus is on learning in an environment in which student and teacher are actively engaged in coordination, collaboration, and facilitation. In such a setting, every participant is responsible for exploring divergent points of view and is accountable for results.

Excellent Teaching. Our teaching is focused on processes and outcomes, challenging our students to think critically, analytically, and creatively. Our faculty are academically and professionally qualified and adept at conveying knowledge in a stimulating and effective manner.

Improving Intellectual Capital. We are involved in continual discovery in how to use current business theory to solve real-world problems and how to better communicate that knowledge. Our primary emphasis, therefore, is on practical applications of theory through applied research; secondary emphasis is on instructional development, with limited emphasis on basic research.

Responding to the Needs of the Business Community. We are partners with the business community, proactively seeking its input and developing programs to meet educational needs. We provide graduates who will make significant contributions to the success of the organizations for which they work.

Academically Challenging and Relevant Business Curriculum. Our curriculum is academically rigorous, focusing on how to apply current thinking to business issues, both local and global. Curriculum development is an on-going, systematic process involving all key stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement. We have a systems approach to our instructional and administrative processes, and are involved in continuous self-examination to improve the level of service to our customers. Continuous development of faculty involves participation in professional, business, and community activities.

Moral and Ethical Values. The College of Business Administration seeks to practice and promote the basic values of self-discipline, integrity, honesty, respect for each person, and individual responsibility for self and the community as evidenced in the life and teachings of Christ. We believe success is measured not only in results but also in the moral, ethical, and spiritual climate in which decisions are made.

Overview of Programs

Historical Overview

The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business Administration, also known as The Massey School, was organized in the fall of 1986 as an "after six" graduate program for working adults. The Massey School is the direct result of the vision of the late Jack C. Massey, one of the world's most creative and successful entrepreneurs. Mr. Massey believed in helping others succeed in business through a graduate business program characterized by practicality as well as quality.

Mr. Massey began his entrepreneurial career as a retail druggist in 1930 after having graduated with a degree in pharmacy from the University of Florida. His business expanded into a multi-city wholesale surgical supply operation, which was purchased by the A.S. Aloe Division of the Brunswick Corporation in 1961. He was a founder of the Hospital Corporation of America and served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Massey was well-known as the principal who purchased Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation and directed its growth to one of the world's largest commercial marketers of prepared foods. He was also a founder of Winner's Corporation. Mr. Massey became the first person in the history of the New York Stock Exchange to list three companies on the Big Board. His interest extended into many areas. He served on the boards of several corporations and was actively involved in civic affairs. Mr. Massey provided both vision and financial support for the graduate program in business at Belmont. He made a substantial gift to Belmont in order to help build "a business school of national reputation."  In 1986, the Board of Trustees fittingly named the graduate school of business in his honor. His generosity to Belmont University is evidenced in many ways, including Massey Performing Arts Center which also bears his name.

Overview of Programs

Belmont University grants two graduate business degrees, the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and the Master of Accountancy (M.ACC.). The M.B.A. is offered in two delivery formats: (1) MBA-Professional and (2) MBA-Accelerated.

The M.B.A. is a flexible, rigorous program which arises from the school's mission. The program provides each student with both a broad generalist view of essential business functions while allowing the student, if desired, to study one business function in depth. Each student takes certain key business core courses which provide the student with a solid foundation in business theory and reality. Each student has the opportunity to either continue in a generalist program or to take a series of elective courses in a particular focus. Students may direct their focus into such functions as accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, health care, marketing, music business*, or continue with a general management focus by taking elective courses that are of interest or importance to their career tracks. (*See the the Music Business Elective Specialization option link at the top of this page for additional information).

The MBA-Professional program is a part-time evening M.B.A. designed specifically for working professionals. A minimum of two years of full-time business work experience is required in order to be eligible for admission. The MBA-Accelerated program is a full-time evening M.B.A. program designed for individuals with little or no full-time business work experience. Individuals admitted to the MBA-Accelerated program begin course work in the fall term and complete their studies in the following summer - a total program length of 12 months from start to finish.

The M.ACC. program fulfills educational requirements needed to sit for the CPA exam in the State of Tennessee. The state of Tennessee, as well as many other states that adhere to the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA), requires 150 hours of postsecondary coursework for candidates to qualify for the CPA examination. Students must select at least 16 hours, but no more than 20 hours, from accounting courses. The remaining courses are selected from the M.B.A. catalog.

The integrated M.ACC. and B.B.A. degree program is designed to allow Belmont University accounting students to complete both degrees within a five-year time period. Acceptance into this program is based on an application process during the student's fourth year of study and will allow the student to earn both degrees in four fewer hours than if earned separately.

An additional program is the intense Summer Accounting Institute (S.A.I.). The S.A.I. is a fast-track program for non-accounting undergraduate degree holders to complete the accounting prerequisites for entry into the M.ACC. program. Successful completion of the S.A.I. allows the student to begin M.ACC. courses in the fall semester and complete the M.ACC. degree in as little as one year. S.A.I. classes are held only in the summer.

Private enterprise, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership are central themes to The Massey School program. Communication and analytical skills are stressed throughout the curriculum of both degree programs. A key strength of the program is that it provides ongoing relevant learning experiences that transfer well to the daily work environment.

Accreditation

Belmont University College of Business Administration is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools, worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management education.

AACSB International accreditation assures stakeholders that business schools:

  • Manage resources to achieve a vibrant and relevant mission.
  • Advance business and management knowledge through faculty scholarship.
  • Provide high-caliber teaching of quality and current curricula.
  • Cultivate meaningful interaction between students and a qualified faculty.
  • Produce graduates who have achieved specified learning goals.

College of Business Administration Ethical Behavior Pledge

As a Belmont College of Business Administration student, I pledge:

  • To commit to the enthusiastic pursuit of learning that will enable me to be ethically responsible and to become my best self;
  • To apply principles of personal integrity and academic honesty in all my decisions and behavior;
  • To make self-control central to my intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional and physical development, and to accept responsibility for all of my behavior;
  • To honor the dignity and worth of each individual I meet;
  • To pursue critical and independent thinking in my academic and professional life;
  • To make mutual respect and collaboration a goal in all my relationships;
  • To reflect community responsibility and accountability in my activities at Belmont and beyond so that I may honor the rights, laws, and property that promote responsible citizenship;
  • To join others at Belmont to practice committed stewardship in my treatment of the environment and natural resources, so that together we can facilitate the health and welfare of future generations.

As a College of Business Administration student, I will also abide by Belmont University's Honor Pledge, which states:

I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and the letter of the Honor Pledge.

In pursuit of my education in the College of Business Administration, I commit to uphold this ethics statement to the best of my ability, so that I may become a better person and help Belmont be increasingly effective in improving human life throughout all of society.

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  Academic Policies

Standards for Admission

In keeping with the standards of the AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, indicators of high promise from the following three categories are employed in the admissions process:
  1. Testing – Candidate's performance on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT),
  2. Previous Education – Candidate's overall or upper division undergraduate grade point average prior to master's admission, or other relevant measure of scholastic performance,
  3. Work Experience – A minimum of two years' work experience beyond baccalaureate degree. Work experience requirement is waived for students applying for admission to the MACC or the MBA-Accelerated programs.

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

The Massey School requires that applicants must (1) have the required relevant work experience after completion of their bachelors degree before applying, (2) hold a baccalaureate degree from a "regional or equivalent" academically accredited college or university, (3) meet current standards for both undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score, and (4) demonstrate the desire and ability to assume leadership positions.

Master of Accountancy (M.ACC.)

The Massey School requires that applicants must (1) hold a baccalaureate degree from a “regional or equivalent” academically accredited college or university, (2) have at least 18 hours of specific college accounting coursework and 15 hours of other business courses, including statistics, or successful completion of the Belmont SAI, (3) meet current standards for both undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score, and (4) meet certain academic requirements as specified by the AACSB International standards.

Transient and Special Student Admission

Students who are not seeking an M.B.A. or M.ACC. degree from Belmont University, but are currently enrolled in such programs at other universities may apply as special or transient students. Such students are required to complete an application and submit a letter from the Dean of the graduate business program where currently enrolled. The letter should indicate that the student is currently enrolled and is in good standing with the university as well as indicating the course(s) that the student intends to take at Belmont. The student will be limited to eight hours and must complete the hours within a twelve-month period.

Application Process for Admission

In order to be considered for admission to the M.B.A. or M.ACC. program, the applicant's file must include the following:

  1. A completed and signed copy of the application for admission.
  2. An application fee of $50.00 (non-refundable) with a check made payable to Belmont University.
  3. A written statement of professional and educational goals.
  4. Two completed recommendation forms from academic or professional sources which are sent directly to The Massey School office.
  5. An official copy of the GMAT score. The test must have been taken within the last five years.
  6. A recent resume.
  7. One official copy of transcripts from each institution attended. All colleges and universities attended must be listed on the application.
  8. Interview with a member of the Massey Admissions Committee

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Requirements for Completing a Degree

Master of Business Administration

  1. The time between enrollment in the first core course and graduation shall not exceed four calendar years.
  2. The minimum number of hours required to earn the M.B.A. degree is 34 hours of core and elective courses.
  3. All 34 hours of core and elective courses must be completed in residence at The Massey School except for the possibility of transferring up to six hours of acceptable credit from another accredited graduate school, provided that courses have been completed within the last five years.
  4. The minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation is 3.0.

Master of Accountancy

  1. The time between enrollment in the first M.ACC. course and graduation shall not exceed three calendar years.
  2. The minimum number of hours required to earn the M.ACC. degree is 30 hours.
  3. All 30 hours of M.ACC. courses must be completed in residence at The Massey School except for the possibility of transferring up to six hours of acceptable credit from another accredited graduate school, provided that courses have been completed within the last five years.
  4. The minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation is 3.0.

Probation and Suspension

Students who fail to make satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree may receive academic probation or suspension. The following actions apply:

Condition Action
GPA less than 3.0   Probation
Accumulation of more than 2 "Cs" in core or elective courses   Dismissal*
"F" in any core or elective course   Dismissal*
Failure to register for 3 consecutive sessions   Probation
Failure to register for 6 consecutive sessions   Dismissal*

*Dismissal occurs at the end of the semester in which the grade of "F" was received. A dismissed student may apply for readmission as of the end of one complete semester.

Registration

Online registration will be conducted during published periods for the upcoming semester. Priority Registration is available for returning students and regular registration for all students just before the first day of classes in each semester. A late fee of $25 will be applied if students do not meet registration deadlines. Changes in course schedule after the registration deadline are subject to a fee of $25 per course.

Financial Support

In addition to the Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, The Massey School offers a limited number of assistantships and scholarships.

Graduate Research Assistantships

Graduate research assistantships for M.B.A. and M.ACC. students are based upon need and ability. Graduate research assistants work for The Massey School on a part-time basis. Compensation takes the form of tuition waivers. Assistantships are contingent upon performance in the program and in the assigned position. Performance is reviewed at the end of each semester.

Graduate Assistants are a vital resource to the Dean, Associate Dean, Director, graduate staff and faculty to help fulfill the mission of the school. Graduate Assistants participate in student recruitment, website maintenance, publications, maintenance of course plans and other special projects.The student is expected to carry at least six hours per semester and maintain at least a 3.25 GPA. The student is responsible for purchasing all books and supplies for courses. For more details, contact The Massey School office.

Minority Scholarships

Limited funds for scholarships for minority students enrolled in the M.B.A. or M.ACC. programs are available. Qualifications include academic excellence, leadership potential, strong recommendations, high personal standards and demonstrated financial need. Students are expected to carry at least six hours per semester. Applicants must reapply each semester for this scholarship. For more details, contact The Massey School office.

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