REASONS FOR PROPOSED ACTION
The Smith School of Business Undergraduate Program is requesting two changes to its core curriculum.
First, it would like to change the level and content of its introductory information technology course. The current
information systems requirement (BMGT 201 Introduction to Business Computing) is inadequate for educating BMGT
students on the state-of-art information systems that they need to know in the new digital economy. BMGT 201 simply
teaches students how to use Microsoft Office, something that most students entering the Smith School of Business already
know. The proposed course, BMGT 301 Introduction to Information Systems is a comprehensive overview of information
systems (IS) which examines the strategic and tactical nature of IS, basic concepts in analyzing and designing information
systems for business applications, and also introduces data management tools such as databases, data warehousing, data
analysis, and data mining. In addition, the students will learn about the basics of web page and web site design, and also
about modern information systems infrastructure such as telecommunications, networks, and information systems security.
All of these topics are essential for business students who expect to be future “Leaders for a Digital Economy.” The learning
includes applications of information systems (IS) and technology to solve business problems in a variety of fields including
accounting, finance, logistics, marketing, operations, and supply chain management.
Upon completion of this course, students will have a much deeper understanding of the use of IS in business, and will
• Become versatile in the use of tools such as Excel, Access, Dreamweaver and Visio for solving business problems.
• Obtain an in-depth knowledge of the process of designing information systems to analyze business applications.
• Understand the current status and potential evolution of modern information systems infrastructure used in business.
• Analyze investment in information systems and technology.
Second, the program would like to add COMM200 Critical Thinking and Speaking as an additional public speaking course
option to its lower level business core requirement. COMM200 has also been approved as a CORE Humanities (code HO)
general education requirement. Because COMM200 will also satisfy a CORE Humanities requirement, it will provide an
additional 3 credits of electives that students can use to pursue coursework in programs like study abroad, minors, honors
programs, or 2nd majors. The Department of Communication, which offers COMM200, supports this change.
DESCRIPTION OF CURRICULUM CHANGE
All bachelor of science graduates of the Robert H. Smith School of Business must complete common core requirements in
addition to their major specific requirements (see below for more detail regarding the structure of the program). Currently
students must complete BMGT201 Introduction to Business Computing or an equivalent. BMGT201 can also be satisfied by
CMSC 102, 103 or an advanced computer programming course or by demonstrating proficiency in Microsoft Office
applications. As more students enter the University with these Microsoft Office skills, the content of this course is
inappropriate for the majority of our students. As a result, BMGT201 will be replaced with BMGT301 Introduction to
Information Systems. As mentioned above, BMGT 301 is a comprehensive overview of information systems (IS), which
examines the strategic and tactical nature of IS, basic concepts in analyzing and designing information systems for business
applications, and also introduces students to data management tools. In addition, students will be exposed to web site design
methodology and modern information systems infrastructure. The prerequisite for this course will be knowledge of Excel or
a similar spreadsheet tool. For students who have not obtained this background in high school, this experience can be
obtained through many options including BMGT201 (which will remain as an elective option), CMSC 102 Introduction to
Information Technology, or various software tutorial packages that are widely available.
There will be not change to the total number of business core requirements that an undergraduate student must complete
because students will still need to accumulate a total of 58 upper level hours and 120 total credits to graduate. This change
will only effect the number of upper and lower level electives that are available. See below for more details.
BMGT301 would be phased in as the primary course offering in place of BMGT201 over the next few years, so current
students who have BMGT201 as a requirement will have the opportunity to complete BMGT201 for their degree. These
students will also be given the option to complete BMGT301 instead of BMGT201 for their degree. Specifically, here is the
phase-in plan.
Fall 2005 – Only BMGT 201 is offered since a majority of current Smith School students will have BMGT201 as the
computer requirement.
Spring 2006 – Only BMGT201 is offered since a majority of current Smith School students will have BMGT201 as the
computer requirement. We will offer BMGT 301 at SG for 2nd semester juniors since a majority of these students are
external transfers.
Fall 2006 – Offer both BMGT201 and 301. Students who had BMGT201 as a requirement will be given the option of
completing BMGT301.
Spring 2007 - Offer both BMGT201 and 301. Students who had BMGT201 as a requirement will be given the option of
completing BMGT301.
Fall 2007 – Deliver full offering of BMGT301. BMGT201 will still be offered in on a limited basis to those who still need to
complete it for a degree requirement or for other business students who feel they need course preparation before entering
BMGT301. Also students who had BMGT201 as a requirement will be given the option of completing BMGT301.
Currently students have the option of completing COMM100 Foundations of Speech Communications or COMM 107
Speech Communication to satisfy the Smith School’s public speaking requirement. In the last few years, the Department of
Communications has expanded its offerings to include an additional public speaking course, COMM200 Critical Thinking
and Speaking. Following the Department of Communication’s recommendation, The Smith School is seeking to add
COMM200 to the list of course options to fulfill the public speaking requirement.
See below for more details on the current curriculum and the proposed changes.
Old Smith School Core Requirements
Freshmen/Sophomore Smith School Requirements
MATH 220* or 140** - Elem.Calculus I or Calculus I
3-4 cr
BMGT 201*** - Computer Applications in Business
3 cr
BMGT 220 & 221 - Principles of Accounting I & II
6 cr
BMGT 230 or 231**** - Business Statistics
3 cr
ECON 200 & 201 - Principles of Micro & Macro Economics
8 cr
COMM 100 or 107 - Foundations of Speech Communications or
3 cr
Speech Communication
Total
26-27 cr
*MATH 220 & 221 required for Operations and Quality Mgmt (managerial track) majors. (Note: Operations & Quality
Management submitted a proposal to remove the 2 nd calculus requirement).
**MATH 140 & 141 required for Information Systems and Oper. and Quality Mgmt (technical track) majors. (Note:
Operations & Quality Management has submitted a proposal to remove the 2 nd calculus requirement).
***BMGT201 also satisfied by CMSC 102, 103 or advanced computer programming course or demonstrated proficiency.
****BMGT 231 required for Information Systems and Operations and Quality Mgmt (technical track) majors. (Note:
Operations & Quality Management submitted a proposal to remove this requirement).
Juni or/Senior Smith School Requirements
BMGT 340 - Business Finance
BMGT 350 - Marketing Principles
BMGT 364 - Management and Organization
BMGT 367 - Career Search Strategies and Business
BMGT 380 - Business Law
BMGT 495 - Business Policies
Total
3 cr
3 cr
3 cr
1 cr
3 cr
3 cr
16 cr
New Smith School Core Requirements
Freshmen/Sophomore Smith School Requirements
MATH 220* or 140** - Elem.Calculus I or Calculus I
3-4 cr
BMGT 220 & 221 - Principles of Accounting I & II
6 cr
BMGT 230 or 231*** - Business Statistics
3 cr
ECON 200 & 201 - Principles of Micro & Macro Economics
8 cr
COMM 100 or 107 or 200 - Foundations of Speech Communications or
3 cr
Speech Communication or Critical Thinking and Speaking
Total
23-24 cr
*MATH 220 & 221 required for Operations and Quality Mgmt (managerial track) majors. (Note: Operations & Quality
Management submitted a proposal to remove the 2 nd calculus requirement).
**MATH 140 & 141 required for Information Systems and Oper. and Quality Mgmt (technical track) majors. (Note:
Operations & Quality Management has submitted a proposal to remove the 2 nd calculus requirement).
***BMGT 231 required for Information Systems and Operations and Quality Mgmt (technical track) majors. (Note:
Operations & Quality Management submitted a proposal to remove this requirement).
Junior/Senior Smith School Requirements
BMGT 301 – Introduction to Information Systems
BMGT 340 - Business Finance
BMGT 350 - Marketing Principles
BMGT 364 - Management and Organization
BMGT 367 - Career Search Strategies and Business
BMGT 380 - Business Law
BMGT 495 - Business Policies
Total
3 cr
3 cr
3 cr
3 cr
1 cr
3 cr
3 cr
19 cr
Additional Degree Requirements of Smith School Undergraduate
At the Smith School of Business, 120 credit hours are required to complete a Bachelor of Science degree. Besides the
business core requirements list above, a student must complete the University's CORE General Education Requirements,
between 18-24 credits of major requirements (options and # of credits depends on major), 3 -6 credits of upper level
economics courses (options and # of credits depends on major), and sufficient lower and upper level elective credit to
accumulate a total of 120 credit hours. A minimum of 58 credit hours of the required 120 hours must be in 300-400 (upper)
level courses. Additional Smith School of Business degree requirements are listed below.
Typical 4 Year Plan
Year 1, First Term
Courses
ENGL101 (if not exempt) or elective
MATH 220 or 140 (or as placed)
ECON200
CORE class
Lower level elective
Year 1, Second Term
Credits
3
3
4
3
3
16
Year 2, First Term
Courses
BMGT220
Lower level elective (or BMGT231)
Lower level elective
lower level elective
CORE (Lab science)
Credits
4
3
3
3
3
16
Year 2, Second Term
Credits
3
3
2
3
4
15
Year 3, First Term
Courses
BMGT 301
BMGT 340
BMGT 350
Major Requirement (course depends on major)
Upper level ECON (from options)
BMGT367 (College Core)
Courses
ECON201
BMGT230 (or MATH141)
COMM 100, 107 or 200
CORE
CORE
Courses
BMGT221
CORE
Remaining electives
CORE
Credits
3
3
6
3
15
Year 3, Second Term
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
1
16
Courses
BMGT 364
Major Requirement (course depends on major)
Major Requirement (course depends on major)
Advanced Studies Core
Upper level elective (1 of 3)
BMGT367 (if still needed)
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
1
15-16
Year 4, First Term
Courses
BMGT 380
Major Requirement (course depends on major)
Upper level ECON (from options)
Upper level elective (2 or 3)
Professional Writing
Year 4, Second Term
Credits
3
3
3
3
3
15
Courses
BMBMGT 495
Major Requirement (course depends on major)
Major Requirement (course depends on major)
Upper level elective (3 of 3)
Credits
3
3
3
3
Smith School Core Requirements: Prerequiste/Course Sequencing Structure Junior/Senior Year
BMGT 301 (prerequisite: knowledge of Excel or a similar spreadsheet tool)
BMGT 340 (prereq: BMGT 221 and 230)
BMGT 350 (prerequisite: ECON 200 or ECON 205)
BMGT 364 (no course prerequisite)
BMGT 367 (no course prerequisite)
BMGT 380 (no course prerequisite)
BMGT 495 (prereq: BMGT 340, BMGT 350 and BMGT 364) – Typically taken in a students final semester
Course Descriptions
BMGT201 Introduction to Business Computing; (3) Not open to computer science students. For BMGT majors only.
Basic literacy course using common business computer-based applications. Considers the role of information technology in
the modern workplace as well as the use of computing applications in problem solving. Business students can seek an
exemption from this course via an on-line exam. Please check the Smith School website or visit 1570 VMH for further
details.
BMGT301 Introduction to Information Systems: (3) Comprehensive overview of information systems (IS), which
explores the strategic and tactical nature of IS. The basic concepts in analyzing and designing information systems for
business applications will be presented. Aspects of data management such as databases, data warehousing, data analysis, and
data mining will be analyzed, and the basics of web page and web site design will be outlined. Students will also be
introduced to modern information systems infrastructure such as telecommunications, networks, and information systems
security. The course will include a significant laboratory component that will enable the students to use concepts learned in
class in a practical setting. (new course proposal)
CMSC102 Introduction to Information Technology; (3) For non-majors only. Not open to students who have completed
CMSC106, CMSC114, CMSC132 or CMSC214. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: CMSC102, CMSC132
or CMSC214. If CMSC102 is taken before CMSC132 or CMSC214, then credit will be granted for both. An introduction to
computer terminology and concepts of computing and information technology. Hands-on experience with a variety of tools
available to access the Internet, to find information, as well as PC applications such as a word processor and a spreadsheet
package. Students will work in multiple environments (for example, both Windows and UNIX).
COMM100 Foundations of Oral Communication; (3) Prerequisite for advanced communication courses. A study of oral
communication principles, including verbal and nonverbal language, listening, group dynamics, and public speaking.
Emphasis in this course is upon the application of these principles to contemporary problems and upon the preparation of
different types of oral discourse.
COMM107 Oral Communication: Principles and Practices; (3) Credit will be granted for only one of the following:
COMM 100 or COMM 107. A study of and practice in oral communication, including principles of interviewing, group
discussion, listening, informative briefings, and persuasive speeches.
COMM200 Critical Thinking and Speaking; (3) CORE Humanities (HO) Course. Theory and practice of persuasive
discourse analysis and composition. Research techniques, logical and rhetorical conceptions of argument, and technical
principles for persuading in public venues. Attendance on the first day of classes is mandatory.
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