2020-2021 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG–FOR INFORMATION ONLY]
Department of Economics, Marketing, and Analytics
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 Return to: Department of Economics, Marketing, and Analytics
Overview of Programs
Economics
Economics is a science that examines how individuals and firms make choices and how their decisions affect markets, the economy, and society. Students of economics develop a unique set of analytical skills that have application in almost every facet of life from health care to criminal conduct. Studying economics also develops general skills in logical thinking and problem-solving that are very useful in personal, business, and public-policy settings.
Economics prepares students for a wide variety of professional careers in fields such as general business management, business analytics, financial services, government, and consulting. Many economics majors get advanced degrees in economics or business disciplines such as finance or marketing. In addition, economics is often regarded as the premiere undergraduate degree to prepare for M.B.A. and law programs.
Marketing
The marketing program fosters an educational culture that helps students to excel at developing, implementing, and controlling strategies and tactics. These fall into the areas of markets, products and services, distribution, promotion, and pricing. Students gain experience in achieving their goals and meeting the needs and wants of employers, customers, and society.
Analytics
The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program at SUU trains students to use data, statistical analysis, and mathematical models to solve business problems, improve business processes, and make better business decisions. The program aims to achieve the optimal balance between technical expertise and real-world applications, to produce graduates who can apply sophisticated methodologies in practical ways. In addition, the program provides a well-rounded education by giving students experience with both Data Analytics, the science of transforming data into insights, and Operations Research, the application of quantitative methods to problems involving complex systems. By acquiring a strong foundation in these areas, our graduates are prepared to make a significant impact on organizational performance.
The MSBA program at the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.
Mission
Economics
The primary mission of the economics program at Southern Utah University is to offer students high-quality courses, programs, and other educational opportunities that impart valuable life skills and excellent preparation for professional careers or graduate school. Highly effective teaching-focused on student learning-is the hallmark of the department. By providing outstanding training in economics and finance, the department serves its own majors, the School of Business, and the general education program of the University.
In addition, the faculty strives to make meaningful intellectual contributions by conducting and disseminating the results of quality research and related scholarly endeavors, which activity complements and supports teaching. The faculty also provides worthwhile service to the University, the profession, the local community, and society in general.
Marketing
The mission of the marketing program is to develop and deliver quality marketing programs and to foster an educational culture that helps students to excel at developing, implementing, and controlling strategies and tactics. These fall into the areas of markets, products and services, distribution, promotion, and pricing. Students should thus be capable of achieving their goals and meeting the needs and wants of employers, customers, and society.
A secondary role, pertaining to the marketing faculty, is to provide marketing information, advice, and efforts to the University and other groups where their knowledge and abilities can provide value.
Analytics
The MSBA program at Southern Utah University’s Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business develops proficient business analysts who understand and can apply key analytical methods and technologies to solve business problems, improve business processes, and make better business decisions.
Department/Program Learning Outcomes
Economics
In fulfilling the mission of the program, economics graduates will:
- Have effective written and verbal communication skills;
- Have strong analytical and critical thinking skills;
- Understand microeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply them to the analysis of individual, firm, and market behavior;
- Understand macroeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply standard models to contemporary policy questions and problems;
- Understand basic probability and statistical inference and be able to apply these concepts in data analysis and decision making;
- Be able to conduct basic econometric analysis; appreciate the major issues involved in estimating, using, interpreting and evaluating econometric models; and
- Be able to model and solve a wide range of optimization problems in economics and related fields.
Marketing
The marketing program fully supports each of the learning objectives of the School for undergraduate programs. In pursuit of the mission stated above, the additional learning objectives of the marketing program are as follows:
- Effectively teach all students basic marketing knowledge, frameworks and processes.
- Enable students to apply and integrate their knowledge and skills in marketing to specific situations through case studies, appropriate readings and practical projects.
- All graduating students will have a working knowledge of the concepts of pricing, product design, promotion, and distribution channels.
- All graduating students will be familiar with the major marketing trends affecting small and large business, international business and e-commerce.
- All graduating students will be able to synthesize the fundamental elements of finance, accounting, business law, marketing, economics, and management in a manner which enables them to make effective decisions at the corporate level.
Analytics
Graduates of this program will:
- Be able to apply basic mathematical programming methods to solve realistic business problems involving the optimization of plans, processes, and systems.
- Be able to apply Monte Carlo simulation techniques and basic probability analysis to realistic business problems involving risk and uncertainty.
- Understand the essentials of database design and management.
- Be proficient in programming for data management and analysis.
- Have outstanding skills in conducting business analysis and modeling in Excel.
- Be able to manage, visualize, and prepare big data sets for analysis.
- Be proficient in the key methods of data analytics, including classification, association/segmentation, and prediction.
- Be able to apply the tools of business analytics to optimize business performance.
Undergraduate Admission and Graduation Information
To major in a business field (Accounting, Finance, Management, or Marketing) in the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business, students must meet certain requirements and apply for admission to the School as outlined below.
Standard Admission Requirements
The standard requirements for full admission to business programs in the School of Business are the following:
- Complete all five (5) pre-business foundation courses (see below) with a grade of “C-” (1.7) or better in each course;
- Achieve a GPA of 2.5 or higher in all pre-business foundation courses; and
- Complete at least 36 college credit hours with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Students who met these requirements are assured admission.
Pre-Business Foundation Courses
The following courses constitute the Pre-Business Foundation, which must be completed before full admission to business programs in the School of Business:
Alternative Paths to Admission
Students may apply for admission after completing all pre-business foundation courses OR during the semester in which they will complete their pre-business foundation courses, which would normally be the first or second semester of the sophomore year. Students meeting the conditions listed below will be conditionally admitted. To maintain admission, the Standard Admission Requirements must be fully met upon completion of the five (5) pre-business foundation courses.
Conditional Admission
- Complete at least three (3) of the pre-business foundation courses with a grade of “C-” (1.7) or better in each course;
- Be enrolled in the remaining pre-business courses;
- Achieve a GPA of 2.5 or better in all pre-business courses completed; and
- Complete at least 24 college credit hours with a total GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Students who do not meet the conditions for automatic or conditional admission but do meet the conditions specified below may apply for admission by committee review. The School Admission Committee will evaluate applications and grant or reject admission on a case-by-case basis.
Admission by Committee Review
- Complete all five (5) pre-business foundation courses with a grade of “C-” (1.7) or better in each course; and
- Complete at least 36 college credit hours with a total GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Along with the regular application materials, students seeking admission by committee review must submit an essay, of no more than 1,000 words, describing why they want to major in business and why they believe they can be successful.
Required Application Materials
- Complete application form
- Complete admission questionnaire
- Resume
- Application essay (for applicants requesting admission by committee review)
Repeating Failed Business or Pre-Business Courses
Economics
Students will be allowed to repeat a failed course only once. If a passing grade is not received after the second attempt, the student will not be allowed to graduate with a major or minor degree in economics.
Marketing
Students will be allowed to repeat a failed course only once. If the course is not passed with a minimum grade after the second attempt, that student will not be admitted into advanced standing or allowed to graduate with a composite degree in any of the other business majors. The required GPA for the upper division major core is a 2.5. Every student must meet the minimum GPA standard to graduate with any business major.
Transfer Students
Economics
Transfer students, either from another college within the University, or from another institution, must meet with a business advisor before enrolling in any upper-division courses to determine the extent to which the pre-requisite core has been fulfilled. For transfer information or equivalents, refer to the following web site: www.suu.edu/business/transfer.html.
Marketing
Transfer students, either from another college within the university or from another institution, must meet with a business advisor before enrolling in any upper-division courses to determine the extent to which the pre-business core has been fulfilled. No more than 9 credit hours in upper-division major courses will be allowed prior to achieving Advanced Standing status. For transfer information or equivalents, refer to the following web site: www.suu.edu/business/transfer.html.
Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
Economics
To graduate with a major in Economics from SUU, the student must:
- Successfully complete the courses required for the major, as listed in the catalog, with a GPA of 2.5 or better.
- Meet the other requirements for graduation as defined by the University.
- Complete the General Education requirements. Transfer students can meet this requirement by the following means:
- Complete the GE requirements at one of the other four-year colleges in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), or
- Complete the associate of science or associate of arts degree from a community college within the USHE. (Transfer students from other community colleges must have the general education requirements evaluated by the Registrar.) Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must take the American Institution requirement to graduate. (This course may be taken at a junior college or at SUU; see the Academic Advisement Center or Registrar’s Office for a suitable equivalent.)
- Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours.
- Complete a minimum of 40 upper-division semester hours (course number 3000 or above from an accredited four-year college or university).
- Have an overall GPA of 2.0 or better.
Marketing
To graduate with a major in Marketing from SUU, the student must:
- Be accepted to the School of Business.
- Successfully complete the required business foundation, business core, and upper-division major classes, as listed in the catalog, with a GPA of 2.5 or better.
- Meet the other requirements for graduation as defined by the University.
- Complete the General Education requirements. Transfer students can meet this requirement by the following means:
- Complete the GE requirements at one of the other four-year colleges in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), or
- Complete the associate of science or associate of arts degree from a community college within the USHE. (Transfer students from other community colleges must have the general education requirements evaluated by the Registrar.) Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must take the American Institution requirement to graduate. (This course may be taken at a junior college or at SUU. See the Academic Advisement Center or Registrar’s Office for a suitable equivalent.)
- Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours.
- Complete a minimum of 40 upper-division semester hours (course number 300 or above from an accredited four-year college or university).
- Have an overall GPA of 2.0 or better.
Graduate Admission and Graduation Information
Requirements for Admission into the M.S.B.A.
Admission to the MSBA program requires a bachelor degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or the equivalent, and a GPA of at least 3.0 on the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework. In addition, certain prerequisites must be satisfied prior to beginning the program, as indicated in the Program Prerequisites section below.
The following materials must be submitted to apply to the program:
- A completed application form, along with a non-refundable application fee.
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation.
- An official GRE or GMAT score, attained within the last five (5) years, unless the conditions are met for a test waiver.
- A professional resume.
- A letter of intent (no more than two pages), describing the applicant’s experience, qualifications, interests, career objectives and other information relevant to the admission decision.
- International students must submit additional materials described at www.suu.edu/international/graduate-admission-requirements.html.
Students must submit all materials through the online application portal (www.suu.edu/apply) by May 31th of the year they wish to begin (generally, new students start the program each fall semester). Late applications may be considered based on applicant qualifications, timing, and space availability. As students prepare their application submission, they should plan sufficient time to complete any program prerequisites that may be required prior to registration, as described below.
The GRE/GMAT Score Requirement and Waiver Conditions
A minimum GRE/GMAT score is not specified for admission to the program. Each applicant’s entire package will be considered in the admission decision, but strong performance in quantitative courses and the quantitative section of the GRE/GMAT is essential. Generally, successful applicants have scores well above the 50th percentile on the quantitative section of the GRE/GMAT.
The GMAT/GRE requirement can be waived for prospective students who (1) obtained a bachelor degree within the last five years and (2) have an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher, both overall and in key quantitative classes.
Program Prerequisites
The MSBA program is designed for students with strong quantitative abilities and some educational background in quantitative methods and business. Prospective students with bachelor degrees in business disciplines or in fields related to Business Analytics such as Computer Science, Economics, Information Systems, Math, or Statistics are encouraged to apply. The following, or the equivalent, are the minimum program prerequisites:
In addition, prospective students must be proficient with Excel and familiar with at least one (1) programming language.
For prospective MSBA students lacking prerequisites in business, or needing more experience with Excel or programming, accelerated online courses can be taken prior to beginning the program to satisfy the background requirements in these areas. The prerequisite courses do not need to be completed prior to admission but they must be completed prior to course registration. Through the admission process, specific instructions will be provided for meeting any applicable prerequisite requirements.
Graduate Graduation Requirements
- Graduate students must complete their program within six (6) years of matriculation. Full-time students may complete this program in as little as one (1) year.
- All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the program.
- Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 to graduate. Students who fail to maintain a 3.0 GPA average may be dismissed from the program.
- Graduate courses cannot be repeated more than once.
ProgramsBachelor’s DegreeMinorMaster’s Degree
Return to: Department of Economics, Marketing, and Analytics
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