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Iowa State University Iowa State University College of Business Iowa State University College of Business
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The College of Business Overview

The College of Business is committed to a tradition of excellence in preparing men and women as professional managers and specialists for modern business.  Our college has seen over 18,000 students receive undergraduate degrees, some 350 of whom are either presidents, chief executive officers, executive vice presidents, or partners of companies throughout the world.

Providing a Solid Base

During the first two years of academic study, pre-business students receive a solid liberal arts education, essential for their professional development.  Course work in computer science, economics, math, psychology, statistics, and written/oral communication is required.

Undergraduate Programs

Students in the College of Business will earn a Bachelor of Science Degree.  Students begin their program of study as pre-business students until they meet admission requirements to enter the professional program in one of the following seven majors:  Accounting; Finance; Logistics Supply Chain Management (formerly Transportation and Logistics); Management; Management Information Systems; Marketing; and Operations Supply Chain Management (formerly POM).

Accounting – The Iowa State Accounting major prepares students to analyze, synthesize and report data so others can use it to make informed decisions.  Possible career paths include auditing, consulting, public accounting, budgeting, and forecasting.

 Finance – Finance students are prepared to become leaders with a solid background in economic theory and practice, a strong understanding of global market forces, as well as provide a financial management analytical experience.  Student can pursue diverse careers in banking, investing, security analysis, insurance, government, real estate and all types of financial management.

Logistics Supply Chain Management (LSCM)– Logistics Supply Chain Management (LSCM) is a discipline concerned with the efficient flow of materials through our industrial and economic system. Transportation management deals with the modes of transportation in today’s rapidly changing economic environment.  Logistics management assumes the systems approach to the management of a wide variety of activities such as inventory control, warehousing, traffic management, location analysis, packaging, materials handling, and customer service.  The study of transportation and logistics serves as a specialized program for those students who plan careers in transportation or logistics with shippers, carriers, and government agencies.  It is a broad-based educational program that emphasizes the managerial and conceptual aspects of transportation and logistics systems.

 Management – Management is a broadly defined discipline which is not industry or function specific but the concepts, theories, techniques, and skills are applicable to all business functional areas and are essential components for successful organizations.  Management requires sound conceptual, technical, and human skills for the effective utilization of organizational resources.  Career opportunities include human resource management and entrepreneurship.

 Management Information Systems (MIS) – The Management Information Systems (MIS) program is designed to provide students with a strong educational foundation preparing them as information system (IS) professionals. MIS consists of a specially designed curriculum which emphasizes conceptual, analytical, technical and interpersonal skills.  The MIS program provides comprehensive training in the application, use, and management of information systems preparing students to provide effective information services and support

 Marketing – Marketing decisions are made in every area of a company and include such issues as identification of market segments and decisions dealing with product design, pricing, promotion (including personal selling and marketing communications), and distribution.  The marketing degree from Iowa State prepares students for careers in selling and sales management, marketing research, marketing management, retail management, marketing communications, promotion management, and/or international marketing.

 Operations Supply Chain Management (OSCM) – Operations management principles apply to manufacturing, service industries, and government sectors.  The Iowa State OSCM major focuses on the application of these principles in manufacturing systems. Students learn how to manage labor, equipment, materials, and the information systems infrastructure required to deliver products efficiently and satisfy customer needs. It is a broad-based educational program that emphasizes the understanding of manufacturing planning and control systems, continuous process improvement techniques, lean manufacturing methods, and strategic quality management systems.  

Graduate Studies

Iowa State University offers the following graduate degrees in business:

Accounting (MAcc) –  This Masters level program has been designed to meet the needs of accountants in public or private accounting and will allow students to comply with Iowa Standards for Certification upon passing the Uniform Certified Public Accounting examination.

 Human Computer Interaction (MS or PhD) - The Human Computer interaction graduate major reflects a broad recognition both in academia and industry that the need exists to specifically train researchers in this burgeoning area, to meet the challenges faced by this rapidly evolving area of technological progress.  This interdepartmental Masters and Ph.D. degree was created to train researchers and practitioners to understand how humans and computers interact in a business environment.

Information Assurance (MS) – This program prepares highly-qualified engineers, computer science experts, and information systems professionals for information security careers in government, the private sector, and academia.

 Information Systems (MS) – This degree is designed to provide students with a strong set of technical skills in addition to a broad background in business to enable them to develop/manage IT projects.

 MBA –  Master of Business Administration:  Iowa State MBA candidates may pursue either a generalist degree or a specialization in Accounting, Agribusiness, Family Financial Planning, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management.

Accounting: The Accounting specialization is designed to equip the accounting professional with the necessary skills to work effectively within our technology-driven economy and information era.  Issues and challenges facing the accounting profession today are explored.

Agribusiness:  Today's consumer-focused and globally competitive food and agriculture sector requires managers to be well grounded in general business management and understand the distinctive characteristics of the industry.  Our agribusiness specialization prepares students for management positions in this increasingly complex field.

 Family Financial Planning:  This web-based specialization allows students to work toward meeting the educational requirements to sit for the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) Certification Examination.

 Finance:  The finance specialization provides a solid understanding of the practical and theoretical aspects of corporate financial management and investments for positions with corporations, institutions, and securities firms.

Information Systems:  The information systems specialization provides students with the technical and conceptual skills to design and develop systems within a corporate setting.  This discipline emphasizes analyzing business processes, identifying improvements, assessing information requirements, leveraging information to develop software applications and manage more effectively in a technology-rich environment.

 International Business:  Today’s business manager needs special skills and experience to succeed within the global business environment.  The international business specialization within the MBA offers in-depth understanding of and appreciation for the dynamic and varied social, political, cultural, financial, and economic conditions facing managers operating within world markets. The unique feature of the international business specialization is that it incorporates a required study abroad component.

 Marketing:  The marketing specialization helps students acquire skill in analyzing and using existing data to make effective marketing decisions.  Marketing coursework provides an understanding of various marketing concepts, models, and tools to examine how consumers behave and markets function.

 Supply Chain Management:  Supply chain management (SCM) is one of the fastest growing areas in business today.  Increased globalization and rapidly advancing information technology tools are prime factors affecting the movement of parts, management of inventory flow, fulfillment of customer orders, and whether dealer requirements and deadlines are met in a timely manner. SCM integrates global information and processes across all business functions including supply management, operations, information systems, and logistics.

Combined Degree Programs:

 Engineering BS/MBA:  The Engineering/MBA concurrent degree program offers students the opportunity to integrate study in engineering and business management. Both the Bachelor of Science and the MBA are awarded to successful candidates of the concurrent degree program.

 MBA/MS-Information Systems:  The College of Business offers the MBA/Master of Science Information Systems (MSIS) double degree program. This program has been developed for IT professionals who are seeking knowledge about the latest technologies and who want a broad understanding of the interconnected business operations and processes.

 We encourage you to contact Mark Peterson, Director of Graduate Career Services (ph. 515-294-5133, e-mail markp@iastate.edu), to learn more about how graduates of our HCI, MBA, MACC, MS, or combined degree programs can contribute to your organization’s future.
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