Vision and Mission
The vision of the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s College of Business is to build on the quality tradition of the Block M by being a thoughtful leader, known for creating positive impact on the communities we serve, and for promoting a global perspective through active learning, relevant teaching, and influential research.
The mission of the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s College of Business is to offer a challenging and engaging business education that broadens our students' intellectual perspectives and career opportunities in an inclusive environment through a balanced emphasis on active learning, and rigorous and relevant teaching and research. Our mission is supported by:
- A faculty committed to teaching that supports student development and preparation for a wide range of business opportunities.
- Collaborative research that has sustained impact on the thoughts and activities of our academic and professional colleagues.
- Service by faculty and staff that supports an evolving curriculum and the needs of our students, personnel, community, and external partners.
Since 1959, the College of Business at the University of Michigan-Dearborn has been committed to providing practice-oriented business programs that address the needs of business, industry, and government. Our undergraduate and graduate students are taught by faculty who have close ties with the business community as well as expertise from participating in the business, professional, and academic realms.
The exceptional performance of our faculty has provided that the College of Business is one of more than 900 schools worldwide to be accredited by AACSB International. This accreditation not only speaks to the quality of the faculty but also to the relevancy and practical nature of the courses offered in the College.
When students graduate from the College of Business, they take with them the skills and knowledge to lead in a rapidly-changing business environment, both regionally and nationally. Whether it is through their participation in our internship program or their experiences in iLabs, the College’s Center for Innovation Research, our students gain real experience and are positioned to immediately contribute to their employers’ success and advance their career.
Bachelor of Business Administration Program
The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program is a professionally oriented program that develops the diversified competencies called for in the management of a modern business enterprise. The program also is designed to impart the relevant knowledge, competencies, and skills demanded to manage and lead modern public and private organizations. It also provides a rigorous preparation for graduate study in business administration, law, and related areas.
BBA Program Learning Goals
The following Learning Goals have been developed by the faculty in the College of Business. These goals describe what we want all of our students to know and be able to accomplish upon graduation.
- Students will be knowledgeable about the business disciplines.
- Students will be effective communicators.
- Students will be effective team members.
- Students will be competent in the application of technology.
- Students are able to understand and integrate knowledge across diverse disciplines, cultures, and context.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills to solve business problems.
BBA Program Planning for UM-Dearborn Pre-business Students
Programs of undergraduate study in business administration leading to a bachelor's degree involve approximately four years of college study, the first two years of which can be considered pre-professional preparation in foundation courses covering fundamental subject matter. The third and fourth years constitute the more specialized professional phase of the degree program. It is in the offering of this professional phase that the faculty of the College of Business has principal responsibility.
Students seeking the BBA degree who are admitted to UM-Dearborn as freshmen enter the pre-business program of the College of Business. The pre-business program is designed to provide students with a liberal arts foundation. Pre-business students declare their major in the BBA program during the term in which they complete their sophomore year and the specific course requirements. Students not enrolled in the BBA program cannot elect more than 30 credit hours in coursework offered by the College of Business.
Admission
Admission to the BBA program is competitive and requires that the student has high promise as evidenced by the record compiled in the first two years of study. A student must have completed at least 55 credit hours to be considered for admission to the BBA program. These credit hours must include necessary prerequisites for admission to the BBA program.
Courses required for admission to the BBA Program, including those courses that are prerequisite to the required courses, in which a grade of C- or below has been received, must be repeated during the student’s next academic term. Prerequisite courses are COMP 105, COMP 280, ECON 201, ECON 202, MATH 104 or MATH 105, BA 100, ISM 120, ACC 298, ACC 299, and DS 301. In addition, students must complete a minimum of 9 credits from the BBA core and/or any additional upper-level business courses taken at UM-Dearborn. A minimum overall 2.80 GPA is required in DS 301 and all other BBA core and/or upper-level business courses for admission to the BBA program.
Appropriate and timely sequencing of the required math courses is critical for the successful admission to the BBA program. Students entering as freshmen are required to have completed math through college algebra or pre-calculus (MATH 104 or MATH 105) by the end of their sophomore year. Freshmen are required to take the math placement exam prior to their first term of enrollment and begin their math courses in their first term of enrollment.
BBA Program Planning for Transfer Students
Programs of undergraduate study in business administration leading to a bachelor's degree involve approximately four years of college study, the first two years of which can be considered pre-professional preparation in foundation courses covering fundamental subject matter. The third and fourth years constitute the more specialized professional phase of the degree program. It is in the offering of this professional phase that the faculty of the College of Business has principal responsibility.
Admission
A transfer student seeking the BBA degree enters the College of Business as a Pre-business student. The transfer student will complete junior standing and the required courses for admission to the BBA Program. Prerequisite courses are UM-Dearborn's COMP 105; COMP 106, 270, or 280; ECON 201 and 202; MATH 104 or 105; BA 100; ISM 120, CIS 112, or CIS 123; ACC 298 and 299; and DS 301. In addition, students must complete a minimum of 9 credits from the BBA core and/or any additional upper-level business courses taken at UM-Dearborn. A minimum overall 2.80 GPA is required in DS 301 and all other BBA core and/or upper-level business courses for admission to the BBA program.
The UM-Dearborn Undergraduate Admissions Office provides local community colleges with equivalency tables. These tables should be consulted when planning course scheduling. Transfer students with credit for DS 301 from an AASCB accredited school will be required to complete BE 401 or FIN 401 as a substitution for DS 301 towards the upper-level business credits for admission to the BBA Program. Students who transfer into the College of Business with credit for IMSE 317 will be required to complete BE 401 or FIN 401 as a substitution for DS 301 towards the upper-level business credits for admission to the BBA Program.
Admission is based on the quality and content of both the high school and the college academic records, and standards of evaluation are designed to ensure that each student who is admitted has the intellectual capacity and the preparation to pursue advanced undergraduate work successfully. Admission criteria are applied to all students without regard to race, color, sex, creed or national origin.
Students who plan to transfer to the BBA program at UM-Dearborn after completing two academic years of course work should plan to complete most of the General Education requirements (Dearborn Discovery Core) prior to transfer. Please refer to the University’s DDC website for complete information regarding general education requirements.
Appropriate and timely sequencing of the required math courses is critical for the successful admission to the BBA program. Pre-business students are encouraged to take the math placement exam prior to their first term of enrollment. Transfer students must progress with math every term of their enrollment until they complete the math requirement.
Transfer of Credit
Full credit will be given for all acceptable courses in which a student has earned at least a C grade at an accredited college. A maximum of 62 credits from a community college and a maximum of 75 credits from a non-UM university or college may be applicable towards degree requirements; the total maximum number of non-UM credits applied not to exceed 75. A maximum of 90 applicable credits from another UM unit may be applicable towards degree requirements. The minimum number of hours at UM and in the College of Business as stated in the section on BBA Degree Requirements must also be earned.
Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA)
Refer to this topic under Admissions in the General Information section of this Catalog.
Articulation Agreements
The College of Business has articulation agreements with Henry Ford College, Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, and Schoolcraft College. Please refer to the University's website for information.
The BBA degree will be granted to those students who meet the following requirements:
Satisfactory completion of at least 120 hours of college-level work distributed as follows:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| 29 |
| 1 | 13-46 |
| 3 |
| 37-38 |
| 18-21 |
Electives to meet the minimum 120 credits for graduation will vary student to student. Courses may count for more than one area requirement. Satisfactory completion of 48-58 hours at UM-Dearborn is required. A minimum of 27 hours of the BBA Core and a minimum of 15 hours in the major (12 hours for General Business) must be completed in the College of Business at UM-Dearborn. A student may elect no more than the equivalent of two courses within their last 36 credits at another higher education institution. A minimum of 30 credits must be completed as a student in the BBA Program. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor regularly to ensure a timely graduation.
Achievement of a minimum 2.0 grade point in all UM-Dearborn coursework, in all courses offered by the College of Business, and in the major is required to earn a BBA degree.
BBA Prerequisite Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| BA 100 | College of Business Foundation | 1 |
| ACC 298 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 299 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ISM 120 | Bus Prob Solving w/ Comp Apps | 3 |
| COMP 105 | Writing & Rhetoric I | 3 |
| COMP 280 | Business Writing & Rhetoric | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Prin: Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Prin: Microeconomics | 3 |
| MATH 104 | College Algebra | 4 |
| or MATH 105 | Pre-Calculus |
| DS 301 | Introductory Business Statistics using Excel | 3 |
| 1 | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 38 |
Note: All incoming freshmen will take the UM-Dearborn Mathematics Placement Exam and enroll in the appropriate level of math their first term of enrollment. Transfer students without transfer credit for college algebra or pre-calculus or higher level math are required to take the exam by the sixth week of their first semester and begin math, based on their placement, by their second semester of enrollment. Excellent performance on the examination may result in the requirement for MATH 104/MATH 105 being waived. Note that demonstrating proficiency does not grant credit for courses not taken.
Dearborn Discovery Core – General Education Requirements (13-46 hrs)
Courses that satisfy the Dearborn Discovery Core may also apply towards specific BBA requirements. Please refer to the General Information section of this Catalog for requirements.
Critical Thinking Requirement
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| PHIL 233 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 |
Business Administration Core Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| BA 300 | Career Planning and Development | 1 |
| BA 320 | Project Management and Leadership Skills | 3 |
| BA 330 | Managerial Communication | 3 |
| BA 400 | Corporate Responsibility | 3 |
| BE 401 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| BPS 451 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| DS 302 | Advanced Business Statistics | 3 |
| FIN 401 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| 3-4 |
| ISM 310 | Info Systems in Management | 3 |
| Accounting Information Systems
and Accounting Info Sys Lab 1 | |
| LE 253 | Business Law | 3 |
| MKT 352 | Mktg Principles and Policies | 3 |
| OB 354 | Behavior in Organizations | 3 |
| OM 300 | Intro to Operations Management | 3 |
Major Requirements (18-21 hrs)
All BBA students must declare and fulfill the requirements for a major in Accounting, Digital Marketing, Finance, General Business, Human Resource Management, Information Systems Management, Marketing, Small Business Management, or Supply Chain Management.
Note: A minimum of 15 hours in the major (12 hours in the General Business major) must be completed in the College of Business at UM-Dearborn. Only one independent study can be applied toward the General Business, Marketing, and Human Resource Management majors. Marketing majors may do more than one if they are iLabs related.
Minor
Students pursuing any degree may wish to complement their academic program with a minor. A list of available minors and requirements are available on the website at: https://umdearborn.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/majors-minors. A minimum of 9 hours in the minor must be completed in the College of Business at UM-Dearborn.
BBA Elective Courses
Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits to earn the BBA degree. Elective credits are the non-specific credits each students needs to reach degree completion. College-level courses in any discipline which bear UM-Dearborn or transferable academic credit can apply. A maximum of 6 credits of College of Business internships (BI 350, etc.) may also apply. Additive credit courses do not carry college-level credit toward program. Courses below the 100 level are additive credit.
Administration
Frédéric Brunel, PhD, Dean
Karen Strandholm, PhD, Associate Dean
Lee Redding, PhD, Interim Associate Dean
Tim Davis, MBA, Assistant Dean
Chairs and Directors
Michael Kamen, Academic Program Director, Graduate Programs
Lee Redding, Chair, Associate Professor, Accounting and Finance
Karen Strandholm, Interim Chair, Associate Professor, Management Studies
Susan Wells, Academic Program Director, Undergraduate Programs
Tuere Wheeler, Director, Internship & Career Management Center
Professors Emeriti
Bayou, Mohamed E., PhD, Professor Emeritus of Accounting
Blatz Jr., Robert, JD, LLM, Professor Emeritus of Taxation
Bublitz, Bruce, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Accounting
Callahan, Thomas J., PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus of Organizational Behavior
Foran, Michael, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Accounting
Fricke, Cedric V., PhD, Professor Emeritus of Business Administration
Kumar, Kamalesh, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Strategic Management
Lev, Benjamin, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Operations Research
Philipich, Kirk, DBA, Associate Professor Emeritus of Accounting
Steel, Robert, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Organizational Behavior
Streeter, Victor J., PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus of Management Information Systems
Waissi, Gary, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Operations Research
Faculty
Department of Accounting and Finance
Baker, Susan, MBA, University of Michigan, Lecturer
Cai, Kelly N., PhD, University of Houston, Professor
Graybeal, Patty, PhD, Virginia Tech University, Lecturer
Green, Brian P., PhD, CPA, Kent State University, Professor
Jin, Shunyao (Cynthia), PhD, Michigan State University, Assistant Professor
Kent, Richard, PhD, University of Queensland, Assistant Professor
Killey, Michael N., PhD, Florida Atlantic University, Assistant Professor
Kobelsky, Kevin, PhD, University of California, Associate Professor
Kocher, Claudia, PhD, Michigan State University, Associate Professor
Kong, Jing, PhD, Michigan State University, Assistant Professor
Lee, Hei Wai, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Professor
Miranda, Maria (Mercedes), PhD, University of New Orleans, Lecturer
Molesky, Michael, JD, Thomas M Cooley Law School, Lecturer
Redding, Lee, PhD, Princeton University, Associate Professor
Singh, Vivek, PhD, Virginia Technological University, Professor
Tuncez, Ahmet, PhD, Texas A&M, Lecturer
Valero, Magali, PhD, Arizona State University, Associate Professor
Vlisides, Nicholas, MBA, Wayne State University, Lecturer
Xie, Alice, PhD, Syracuse University, Associate Professor
Department of Management Studies
Ahuvia, Aaron, PhD, Northwestern University, Professor
Ames, Justin, PhD, Case Western Reserve University, Assistant Professor
Balakrishnan, Nagraj (Raju), PhD, Purdue University, Professor
Birou, Laura, PhD, Michigan State University, Lecturer
Botha, Helet, PhD, University of Virginia, Assistant Professor
Cao, Yinyin, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Assistant Professor
Chandra, Charu, PhD, Arizona State University, Professor
Chen, Yi-Su, PhD, Boston College, Associate Professor
Fischer, Christine, MA, Eastern Michigan University, Lecturer
Freeman, Lee, PhD, Indiana University, Associate Professor
Fu, Wayne, PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology, Assistant Professor
Guo, Yi (Maggie), PhD, Texas A M, Associate Professor
Harris, Marcus, DBA, Lawrence Technological University, Lecturer
Hartge, Timothy, EdD, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Lecturer
He, Jun, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Associate Professor
Hong, Yeong-Hyun, PhD, University of Alabama, Assistant Professor
Izberk-Bilgin, Elif, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago, Associate Professor
Kao, Ta-Wei (Daniel), PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo, Assistant Professor
Kaufman, David, PhD, University of Michigan, Assistant Professor
Keyes, Patrick, MBA, Central Michigan University, Lecturer
Klein, Barbara D., PhD, University of Minnesota, Professor
Lee, Junghyun (Jessie), PhD, George Washington University, Associate Professor
Lee, Kyungwon, PhD, Rutgers University, Assistant Professor
Liu, Zhixin (Jason), PhD, Ohio State University, Professor
Majeske, Katherine, MBA, University of Michigan, Lecturer
McCarthy, Michael, M.S.A. Central Michigan University, Lecturer
Molloy, Janice, PhD, Ohio State University, Associate Professor
Ro, Young, PhD, University of Michigan, Professor
Samfilippo, Chris, MBA, Wayne State University, Lecturer
Scott, Crystal, PhD, Pennsylvania State University, Associate Professor
Smrt, Diana, PhD, Southern Illinois University, Lecturer
Statt, Anne-Louise, PhD, Princeton University, Lecturer
Strandholm, Karen, PhD, JD, Indiana University, Associate Professor
Su, Hung-Chung, PhD, University of Minnesota, Associate Professor
Urbaczewski, Lise, MS, Eastern Michigan University, Lecturer
Xu, Feng, PhD, Mississippi State University, Assistant Professor
Bloomberg Finance Lab
The College of Business Bloomberg Finance Lab allows students to analyze a vast amount of real-time market data and even earn their Bloomberg certification. Several courses in Finance and other fields use the Bloomberg Finance Lab as part of the course instruction. This includes especially the Investment Fund Management course, FIN 457, which allows students to manage an investment fund with real money. Students may also access the Bloomberg Finance Lab on their own during open lab hours.
Internship & Career Management Center (ICMC)
The Internship and Career Management Center (ICMC) strives to be an integral part in preparing our College of Business students for gainful employment by honing their career-ready competencies and equipping them with valuable career development tools. We coach our students through rewarding internship and experiential learning opportunities, targeted career fairs, career development workshops, mock interviews and much more.
We are focused on creating collaborative partnerships among our office, other campus entities and the business community in order to provide comprehensive programming, counseling and career opportunities for our students. We offer a variety of services which are tailored to each individual student and their specific needs. Please contact our office with any questions or to make an appointment. Remember, the ICMC means business!
Internship Program
Students who are formally admitted to the College of Business, Bachelor of Business Administration degree and have secured an internship may choose the option to utilize their internship for academic credit. Eligibility is determined by reviewing your curriculum with your academic advisor to ensure that you have the appropriate credits available to utilize. Once this is determined, an intake appointment with the Internship Program Manager is required in order to complete the necessary requirements and procedures prior to enrollment. Enrollment for any BI course must be approved by a representative of the ICMC.
For a student to participate in the internship program, the following policies are required:
- Student must sign and comply with an Internship Contract.
- Student must have at least a cumulative GPA of 2.7 in order to participate.
- During the internship, the student will be required to submit periodic updates via Canvas and submit a final paper summarizing their internship experience.
- If a Business Internship course is elected, a grade of Satisfactory or E will be recorded on your transcript once the internship has been completed.
- Internship work commitments can be for one or multiple semesters and are negotiated between the student and the employer.
- Internship Certificates are awarded to students who successfully complete six hours of COB internship credit.
Students enrolled in BI 350, BI 450, or BI 470 are considered to be full-time by the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Students enrolled in these courses must get permission from the Internship office to elect up to two additional courses while on internship.
Students enrolled in BI 355, BI 455, or BI 475 are considered to be part-time by the University of Michigan-Dearborn and are expected to manage their overall course load in a manner that is consistent with the employer’s needs and the needs of the student.
For the BBA degree, up to six internship credit hours can be applied to elective courses. Internships are available in all College of Business major disciplines.
For additional information regarding ICMC programs, please visit the ICMC website.
iLabs
iLabs is the University of Michigan-Dearborn's Center for Innovation Research, an office dedicated to understanding the impact of innovation through research and promoting experiential learning and entrepreneurship on campus. Students, who can participate in the 3 credit-hour iLabs independent study as student researchers, gain valuable soft skills like time management, communication, project management, and collaboration. Similar to an internship, students can expect to manage and complete real world projects for both the University as well as external clients. Projects are conducted every semester, and both graduate and undergraduate students from all majors can apply to participate.
For additional information and to apply, visit the ICMC website.
The Mitchell Business Communication Lab at the College of Business provides Business Communication Consultation to help students further develop their written and oral presentation skills enhancing their professional presence. Business Communication consultants are available to work with students one-on-one, or with a small group, to help students develop communications for class assignments.
For additional information regarding ICMC programs, please visit the Mitchell Business Communication Lab website.
Academic Honors
Dean's List
A student is honored by inclusion in the Dean's List if he or she meets two conditions:
- has completed at least 12 credit hours in graded coursework toward a degree during the term, and
- has achieved a 3.50 or better term GPA. The Dean's List is compiled after the fall, winter, and summer terms.
Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society for business schools accredited by AACSB International. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is one of the highest scholastic honors that a student in the BBA program can achieve. It is based on outstanding scholastic achievement as measured by overall grade point average. Invitation for membership to Beta Gamma Sigma is extended to qualified BBA juniors, seniors, and graduate students in the Winter semester.
Honor Scholars
Every year, an honor scholar from each major may be selected and recognized at the Annual Honors Convocation. Selection is made by the College of Business’s Scholarship Committee based on the students’ GPA (both cumulative and major GPA) and achievement of 90 credit hours or more toward degree.
Dean's Medallion
Three Dean's Medallion awards are selected for each of the Winter and Fall semesters. The students are selected by the College of Business leadership based on their academic achievements as well as their engagement outside the classroom. The Fall awardee is selected from students who will graduate in August and those who will graduate in December. The Winter awardee is selected from students who will graduate in April/May. As with the other colleges, the three COB Dean's Medallion students are subsequently nominated for the Chancellor's Medallion.
Graduation with Distinction
Students who are degree candidates in Business and have obtained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 but less than 3.60 are recommended for graduation "With Distinction." Such distinctions are noted on the transcript and diploma.
Graduation with High Distinction
Students who are degree candidates in Business and have obtained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.60 are recommended for graduation "With High Distinction." Such distinctions are noted on the transcript and diploma.
