School of Business Administration

Dean: Clarence H. Barnes
Associate Dean:  Kenneth Anderson

John L. Aram Chair of Business Ethics: B. Steverson
Erwin Graue Professor of Economics: R. Bennett
Kinsey M. Robinson Professor of Business Administration: P. Buller
Pigott Professor of Entrepreneurship:  T. Finkle

Professors:  K. Anderson, C. Barnes, J. Beck, E. Birrer, S. Bozman, K. Carnes (Emerita), C. Chen, T. Chuang, D. Elloy, J. Helgeson, K. Hickman, J. Monks (Emeritus), M. Shrader, W. Teets, W. Terpening

Associate Professors:  M. Beqiri, N. Chase, K. Henrickson, L. Kurpis, D. Law, P. Loroz, S. Melendy, M. McPherson, V. Patil, M. Pepper, D. Stewart, G. Weber, D. Xu

Assistant Professors: G. Barone, R. Bull Schaefer, D. Hackney, S. Hedin, R. Herzog, E. Johnson, D. Lawson, C. Stevens, A. Thatte, A. Voy

Lecturers:  M. Joy, C. Lipsker

The School of Business was established in 1921 and is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. As stated in its Mission, the School “strives to develop professionally competent graduates who exemplify the humanistic, ethical, and moral values of a Jesuit institution. A personal learning environment, quality students, and a faculty dedicated to teaching and advising, scholarship, and service will mark our excellence. As part of a dynamic business environment, we will strengthen relationships with the regional, national, international and scholarly communities.” To support the mission of the School of Business, the learning objectives of the programs prepare students to:

  • - apply fundamental business theories and practices to any organization;
  • - analyze challenges and opportunities critically and arrive at a best solution;
  • - understand diverse perspectives and the global reach of business decisions;
  • - communicate ideas and information effectively;
  • - approach decision-making ethically and with a commitment to the common good; and
  • - adapt readily to the changing demands of a high-technology market.


Required courses in literature, fine arts, religious studies, philosophy, mathematics, history, and natural and social sciences are an integral part of the business curriculum. These courses foster the development of critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills that are vital to the education of future leaders.

Admission Requirements

School of Business courses numbered 300 and above may be taken by students who have: a) attained junior standing, and b) achieved a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in the following lower division business core courses: ACCT 260-ACCT 261 (Principles of Accounting I and II), BUSN 230, or MATH 121 or MATH 321 (Statistics), BMIS 235 (Management Information Systems), and ECON 201-ECON 202 (Microeconomics and Macroeconomics) with a grade no lower than C in any of these classes. Third-year transfer students who have not completed all the lower division business core courses listed above should consult the business school's transfer advisor.

Degree Requirements of the School of Business Administration

In addition to the general degree requirements of the University, the Bachelor of Business Administration degree requires the following:

  1. 1) Completion of the core curriculum of the School of Business.
  2. 2) Completion of the requirements for a major course of study in the School of Business.
  3. 3) Earn a minimum 2.00 grade point average in all course work taken in the major field.
  4. 4) Complete at least 50 percent of all business courses (core and major requirements) at Gonzaga.
Except for internships, courses that fulfill business core, major, concentration, and minor requirements, may not be taken on a satisfactory/non-satisfactory basis.

The Core Curriculum of the School of Business Administration

School of Business majors are required to complete the University core curriculum  (I-V) and the School of Business Administration core, which consists of 53 credits (VI-XXI). Additionally, upper division requirements from the specific business major must be completed. General electives complete the 128 semester credit hour degree requirement.

University and business school core courses at the 100- and 200-level should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

I. Thought & Expression (7 credits): ENGL 101, SPCO 101, and PHIL 101 (preferably taken in the same semester)
II. Philosophy (9 credits): PHIL 201, PHIL 301, and PHIL 400- level elective
III. Religious Studies (9 credits): RELI 100, 200, and 300 levels: one course from each level
IV. Mathematics (3-4 credits): MATH 114, MATH 148, or MATH 157
V. English Literature (3 credits): ENGL 102, ENGL 103H, ENGL 105, or ENGL 106
VI. Business Computing (2 credits): BUSN 111
VII. Fine Arts (3 credits): any VART, MUSC, or THEA
VIII. History (3 credits): HIST 101, HIST 102 or HIST 112
IX.  Science (3 credits): any BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS
X. Social Sciences (3 credits): any CRIM, HIST, POLS, PSYC, or SOCI
XI. Accounting (6 credits): ACCT 260 and ACCT 261
XII. Economics (6 credits): ECON 201 and ECON 202
XIII. Business Statistics (3 credits): BUSN 230 or MATH 121 or MATH 321
XIV. Information Systems (3 credits): BMIS 235
XV. Business Law (3 credits): BUSN 283
XVI. Finance (3 credits): BFIN 320
XVII. Management (3 credits): MGMT 350
XVIII. Marketing (3 credits): MKTG 310
XIX. Operations Management (3 credits): OPER 340
XX.  Business Ethics (3 credits):  BUSN 480 and BUSN 485
XXI. Strategy (3 credits) BUSN 481


Students admitted with more than 45 semester credits may receive a waiver of one of the following School of Business core requirements: HIST 101, 102, or 112; or social science elective; or science elective; or fine arts elective.

Table of Credits For Degree Majors and Minors

B.B.A. Majors

* Specific course requirements for each concentration are listed in the appropriate sections in the following pages.

Minors for Non-Business Majors
Advertising *
*(available to Communications majors only)		 27 credits
Analytical Finance 27-28 credits
General Business 24 credits
Management Information Systems 17 credits
Promotion 18 credits

Major Programs of Study in Business

The degree of Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) is offered with a major in accounting or a major in business administration.

The accounting major requires completion of 21 credits, as described in the accounting section of this catalogue.

The business administration major requires completion of 18 upper division credits including:

  1. 1) Twelve to fifteen credits from a designated concentration. Requirements of concentrations in economics, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance, human resource management, management information systems, marketing, and operations and supply chain management are described in the respective sections of this catalogue. Also offered are interdisciplinary concentrations in international business, and law and public policy. Students may also design an interdisciplinary individualized concentration with the approval of a faculty advisor. A second concentration in the School of Business may be earned by completing 12 to 15 credits required in the area. Only one course may be double-counted between two concentrations in all but the international business concentration, where no double counting is allowed.  International business is only available as a second concentration.
  2. 2) Students with a single concentration requiring only 12 credits must complete six (6) credits of integrative, international, or experiential courses.  Students with a concentration requiring 15 credits or with more than one concentration need to only complete three (3) credits.  These courses can be identified in Zagweb or by contacting your advisor.  
    1. a) Integrative courses
    2. b) International courses (not more than three (3) credits)
    3. c) Experiential courses (not more than three (3) credits)


Students in the School of Business may also earn minors from other areas of the University. No more than six (6) credits of courses taken to satisfy requirements of minors may be double-counted to satisfy the requirements of majors and concentrations in the School of Business.

The B.B.A. is also offered with an Honors designation. Interested students should contact the director of the Honors Program.

Student Internships

An internship program is available to eligible juniors and seniors in the School of Business. This program for academic credit provides work experience in a field directly related to the student’s major or area of concentration. Internships must be approved by the student’s advisor, and participating firms are expected to provide the resources for adequate exposure to business practices in the area of the student’s major or concentration. Internship guidelines are available from the School of Business internship director or on our website.

Economics Programs Offered by the College of Arts and Sciences

All economics courses offered in the university are taught by faculty of the School of Business, but are open to students from throughout the university. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may obtain a B.A. or a B.S. degree with a major in economics. A minor in economics is also available.  These degrees offer the opportunity for more extensive study of economics than the economics concentration in business but without the broad background of the business core. The College of Arts and Sciences also offers a minor in economics for students receiving a degree from any college or school of the University. Interested students should refer to the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalogue for specific requirements.

Pre-Law Students

Students who intend to pursue the study of law are encouraged to enroll in business courses that will provide a solid understanding of the integral relationship between law and business.

Core courses such as Principles of Accounting I and II (ACCT 260 and ACCT 261), Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (ECON 201 and ECON 202), are recommended for pre-law students with majors outside the School of Business. Accounting provides basic skills to prepare and analyze financial statements and to complete case analysis; economics gives an understanding of how economics affects government fiscal policies, international trade, labor and other resource markets, political decisions, etc.

In addition, a pre-law student in the School of Business will benefit from courses in the law and public policy concentration. This concentration includes various courses which address legal issues such as corporate taxation, regulation of securities trading, business ethics, mergers and acquisitions, and antitrust policy and regulation. All of these courses provide pre-law students a unique insight into how business functions within the framework of the legal system.

Validation of Transfer Courses

Transfer students who took lower division business courses at another school or university that are equivalent to required upper division business courses at Gonzaga, or who took upper division business courses as a freshman or sophomore at another university, must have these courses validated for transfer.

Validation must be completed during the student’s first year at Gonzaga. Validation of lower division courses may be completed by taking one of the following:

  1. 1) An advanced course, if available, in the same discipline to demonstrate competence. A minimum grade of “C” must be earned in the advanced course.
  2. 2) An equivalent CLEP exam or a departmental exam, if available, and earning a passing score. No credits are given for these validation exams.

The business school's transfer advisor is to be consulted to begin the validation process.


Minors for Non-Business Majors

The School of Business offers general business, analytical finance, management information systems and promotion minors to non-business students. These minors are recommended to students who wish to pursue a degree in another school of the University but wish some background in the business field. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences, however, are reminded that they must earn 104 credits in that college. Except in the case of B.A. economics majors, non-business majors may not take more than 32 semester credits from the School of Business. Students desiring to pursue a minor should meet with a School of Business advisor early in their program to ensure development of a course sequencing plan. Students will not be allowed in classes with designated prerequisites unless that prerequisite has been satisfied.

General Business Minor: 24 credits

Completion of ACCT 260-ACCT 261 (or ACCT 263), ECON 201-ECON 202 (or ECON 200) and one three-credit course in statistics with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a grade no lower than C in any one class, must be earned to enroll in 300-level business courses required in the minor program. Applications for admission to upper division business courses are available in the School of Business and must be approved before registration for upper division business courses.

Lower Division
ACCT 263 Accounting Analysis 3 credits
or ACCT 260-ACCT 261 6 credits
ECON 200 Economic Analysis 3 credits
or ECON 201-ECON 202 6 credits
BUSN 230 Business Statistics or MATH 121 or MATH 321 3 credits
Upper Division
MKTG 310 Principles of Marketing 3 credits
BFIN 320 Principles of Finance 3 credits
MGMT 350 Principles of Management 3 credits
Electives:
BMIS 235, BUSN 283 or OPER 340		 0-6 credits

Minor in Analytical Finance: 27-28 credits

The minor in analytical finance is intended for students with a secondary interest in either general corporate finance or investments. This field of study may be particularly useful to two groups of students: 1) mathematics majors interested in actuarial science careers and 2) those interested in a more finance-oriented minor than the general business minor program offers. Completion of ACCT 260-ACCT 261, ECON 201-ECON 202,  and one three-credit course in statistics with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and no lower than a C in any one class is required to enroll in upper division courses required in the minor. Applications for admission to upper division business courses are available in the School of Business and must be approved before registration for upper division business courses.  Students will not be allowed in classes with designated prerequisites unless that prerequisite has been satisfied.

Lower Division
ACCT 260 Principles of Accounting I 3 credits
ACCT 261 Principles of Accounting II 3 credits
ECON 201 Microeconomics 3 credits
ECON 202 Macroeconomics 3 credits
One of the following two courses
    MATH 114 Mathematical Analysis for Business
    MATH 157 Calculus and Analytical Geometry		 3-4 credits
One of the following three courses:
    BUSN 230 Business Statistics
    MATH 121 Introductory Statistics
    MATH 321 Statistics for Experimentalists		 3 credits
Upper Division
BFIN 320 Principles of Finance 3 credits
BFIN 322 Intermediate Finance 3 credits
BFIN 422 Investment Analysis 3 credits

Minor in Management Information Systems: 17 credits

The world has moved into the information age. Information technology and its applications affect every walk of life by improving the productivity of individuals. As a result, social, economic, and organizational structures change rapidly. The minor in management information systems is intended for all non-business students, especially those in computer science and engineering degree programs, to have a basic understanding of how business operates and how information systems affect today’s organizations.

Lower Division
BUSN 111 Business Computing* 2 credits
BMIS 235 Management Information Systems 3 credits
Upper Division
BMIS 331 Problem-Solving and Programming Techniques 3 credits
BMIS 342 Web-Based Applications 3 credits
BMIS 441 Database Management 3 credits
BMIS 444 Information Systems Analysis and Design 3 credits

*BUSN 111 may be waived in some cases.  See the Associate Dean for more information.

Minor in Promotion: 18 credits

The minor in promotion is offered to non-business majors. The focus is how to communicate effectively and efficiently through a variety of methods with any target audience. Students must complete three required courses as well as three courses from the approved elective courses listed below.

Required Courses (9 credits)
MKTG 310 Principles of Marketing 3 credits
MKTG 315 Consumer Behavior 3 credits
MKTG 402 Marketing Communications 3 credits
Approved Elective Courses (9 credits)
PRLS 305 Writing for Public Relations 3 credits
MKTG 330 Marketing Research* 3 credits
MKTG 342 Graphic Design 3 credits
MKTG 411 Advertising 3 credits
MKTG 418 Personal Selling 3 credits
PRLS 467 Advanced Public Relations 3 credits
MKTG 490 Promotion Project*
*with marketing faculty approval		 3 credits

Students desiring to pursue this minor should meet with a School of Business advisor early in their program to ensure development of a course sequencing plan. MKTG 310 is a prerequisite for most other marketing courses. MKTG 315 is a prerequisite for MKTG 402.

*A statistics course is a prerequisite to MKTG 330.

Also note that an advertising minor is offered to Communication Arts majors through the Communication Arts department. See that section of this catalogue under the College of Arts and Sciences.