- Department Chair: Stephen W. Kleisath
- Office: 619 Pioneer Tower
- Phone: 608-342-1460
- E-mail: kleisath@uwplatt.edu
- Professors:
- John C. Borke
- Robert C. Conway
- Robert A. Fidrych
- Roxane Gunser
- Margaret F. Karsten
- Stephen W. Kleisath
- Louis Nzegwu
- Scott A. White
- Associate Professors:
- Susan L. Hansen
- Bernard W. Harris
- Donna J. Perkins
- Assistant Professors:
- John Hammermeister
- Syed M. Moiz
- Patrick J. Montgomery
- Thomas Steinback
- Wendy Brooke
- Lecturers:
- Thomas J. Pavick
- James J. Jarrard
About the Department and Major
The Department of Business and Accounting educates undergraduates for productive careers in a diverse, global business environment. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or in Accounting, the two majors that the department offers, may begin learning about business-related subjects in their first year of college. Students are urged to participate in the department’s active student organizations. For students interested in Accounting, there is Beta Alpha. For those interested in business, there is the Pioneer Investment Club, and student chapters of the Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and Phi Beta Lambda (PBL). Go to http://www.uwplatt.edu/busacctng/org for more information on these organizations.
The Accounting major is designed to prepare students for careers in public accounting, industry or governmental agencies. Students completing the requirements of the major are qualified to take the certified management accountant (CMA) examination and, after completion of 150 hours of college credit, the certified public accountant (CPA) examination.
Internships that have the prior approval of either the department internship coordinator or chairperson are required for Business Administration majors and are strongly encouraged for Accounting majors.
Because they will interact with people worldwide during their careers, Business and Accounting students are urged to increase their exposure to and awareness of various nations and cultures. The university provides many ways in which they can do this including exchange programs and an acclaimed study abroad program. For those who are uncomfortable with going overseas but wish to have an experience away from UW-Platteville, we have a domestic exchange. In this program the student can spend a semester studying at over 500 schools in the United States and Canada.
Statement of Mission - Department of Business and Accounting
The Department of Business and Accounting educates students for productive careers in a global business environment. We:
- provide excellent academic advising;
- develop students’ critical thinking skills through experiential learning activities, including internships;
- integrate the use of technology into our courses;
- cultivate a learning environment that encourages teamwork and enhances students’ leadership skills;
- enhance in our students a sense of ethics, a global perspective to business, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a sensitivity to workplace and societal diversity;
- offer a variety of opportunities for participation in student organizations;
- extend our Business Administration degree to students worldwide via distance education;
- pursue scholarly and professional activities that enhance our teaching and students’ learning; and
- provide service in our areas of expertise to businesses and nonprofit organizations in the local community, region and state and involve our students in such endeavors.
Desired Student Outcomes - Business Administration
Students who earn a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville should:
- have a basic knowledge of accounting, economics, marketing, management, computer applications, finance, human resource management and legal, social and international issues affecting business;
- communicate effectively verbally and in writing;
- develop effective interpersonal skills that will enable them to work with other individuals and within teams as either leaders or participants;
- know how to gather, use, and critically evaluate electronic and other information;
- enhance their understanding of and sensitivity to diversity in the workplace;
- develop a knowledge and appreciation of ethical principles as applied to business;
- use critical thinking skills to solve real or hypothetical business problems; and
- have had experiences that cultivate or enhance an entrepreneurial spirit.
Desired Student Outcomes - Accounting
Students who earn a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville should:
- possess the technical knowledge in financial accounting, management accounting, tax and auditing that is necessary to be successful in their careers;
- possess the broad understanding of the related subject matter (economics, marketing, management, computer applications, finance, human resource management, business law, business ethics) needed to be successful in the business world;
- possess effective interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing;
- possess enough familiarity with computer applications to be able to learn quickly the specific accounting applications which they may encounter in their careers;
- be able to obtain and retain accounting positions upon graduation and be successful in those positions.
Distance Education Degree Program in Business Administration
Toll-free phone in U.S.: 1-800-362-5460
Website: http://www.uwplatt.edu/disted
The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at a distance. The program allows adults to balance work and personal commitments with their educational goals. The degree delivered at a distance is the same degree that students earn on campus. Students may choose to take online or print courses, and no campus attendance is required. Courses are taught by experienced faculty who guide their work.
Online courses are offered in the fall, spring and summer semesters (for rotation schedules, please visit the website) and they emphasize student interaction. Print courses feature self-paced study, and students may register for print courses any working day of the year. For further information go to http://www.uwplatt.edu/disted/degrees/bsad/index.html or call our toll free number 1-800-362-5460.
General Requirements
- Total for Graduation: 120 credits
- General Education: 43-56 credits
- Major Studies: 60-63 credits
Accounting Major
Professional Certifications
Upon graduation, accounting majors typically pursue professional certifications. In addition to the CPA and CMA certifications noted above, accountants also may become Certified Internal Auditors (CIAs). All professional certifications require individuals to pass a national examination and complete several years of professional practice.
Most states have changed the education standards that individuals who wish to take the CPA examination must meet. Typically, applicants must have completed 150 hours of college credit.
UW-Platteville graduates majoring in accounting have several attractive options for meeting the 150 credit hour requirement. These include:
- Earning a Business Administration major with an emphasis in an area complementary to Accounting, such as Finance, Computer Science or Management before graduation;
- Completing a Master of Science degree in Project Management from UW-Platteville online after graduation on a part or full-time basis;
- Working one-on-one with an Accounting faculty member to devise a plan specifically tailored to a particular student's interests; or
- Completing a Master of Business Administration degree after graduation as a part- or full-time student.
Required Core Courses (51 credits):
Required Accounting Courses (27 credits):
Two courses from:
Mathematics requirement:
- MATH 2630 Calculus with Applications 3 cr or above
Additional requirements:
- At least 40 percent of a student's total credits at UW-Platteville must be in areas outside of accounting and business.
- Students must have GPAs of 2.50 or better in accounting and business courses to graduate in the major.
- Satisfactory completion of an approved accounting or business internship is required.
Business Administration Major
The major includes required courses in the core and completion of an emphasis area. An internship is also required to complete the major.
Required Core Courses (45 credits):
Note: An internship may be used to fulfill an elective requirement in any emphasis area except Applied Management, Computer Science or Food Marketing.
Finance Emphasis (15 credits)
Required Courses (6 credits):
Electives (9 credits):
Food Marketing Emphasis (15 credits)
Required (9 credits):
Electives (6 credits):
One course from:
One course from:
Human Resource Management Emphasis (15 credits)
Required Courses (6 credits):
Electives (9 credits):
Management Emphasis (15 credits)
Sales and Marketing Communications Emphasis (15 credits)
Required Courses (6 credits):
OPTIONS: Select a minimum of nine credits in one of the two options. Each area has a required course. An internship in BUSADMIN 4990 may be used to satisfy elective requirements in either option A or B below.
(A) Advertising and Promotion
(B) Sales Techniques
Applied Management
Required Courses:
To complete this concentration, a second major or a minor that can be neither the business minor nor the ones designed for education majors must be completed.
Computer Science Emphasis (18 credits)
Required Courses (6 credits):
Electives (12 credits):
International Business
Required Courses (21 credits):
Either:
12-credit Study Abroad experience which includes 6 credits of preapproved business courses. (Consult with department chair.)
General Business (15 credits)
Select 15 credits from any 3000 or 4000 level Business Administration courses, not in the core, in consultation with an advisor. Courses selected must have a BUSADMIN prefix; BUSADMIN 4990 (Internship) cannot be used.
Additional Requirements:
- At least 40 percent of a student’s total credits at UW-Platteville must be in areas outside of accounting and business.
- Students must have GPAs of 2.25 in all courses required for the Business Administration major.
- Students majoring in business administration must complete BUSADMIN 4990 for 3 credits. If a student taking an internship from another department wishes it to fulfill the 3 credit internship requirement of business or accounting, it must be pre-approved by a business and accounting Internship Coordinator and signed off by the Business and Accounting Department chairperson.
Minors
Accounting Minor (24 credits)
Required Courses:
Business Administration Minor (24 Credits)
Required Courses:
Food Marketing Minor (24 credits)
Required Courses:
Electives (12 credits):
Certificates
The department offers certificates for those who wish to gain specialized expertise in an area but who do not plan to seek a degree. Certificates are primarily intended for those completing business courses at a distance.
Requirements for all certificates are:
- Student must earn a grade of “C” or better in each course required in the certificate.
- All courses must be taken under the direction of University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty. Transferred courses and course substitutions are not allowed.
- It shall be the student’s responsibility to request a certificate from the department within one year upon completion of the final course in the certificate.
Human Resource Management Certificate (9 credits)
International Business Certificate (9 credits)
Leadership and Human Performance Certificate (9 credits)
Marketing (9 credits)