The concept of general business describes a wide range of career opportunities available in the business world. Some students prefer to specialize in a particular field of business while others prepare themselves more broadly. Specialization may be an advantage in gaining an entry-level position in some fields, such as accounting and computer information systems, where managers expect new employees to become productive soon after employment. On the other hand, some employers may prefer to hire students with a broad preparation and then provide specific training within the company. Therefore, when comparing a general preparation with a specialization, we cannot say that one is always better than the other. We can say that the business world is looking for people who have demonstrated their willingness to discipline themselves in loyal service to an employer in return for appropriate recognition.

All persons majoring in a degree program offered within the College of Business Administration (COBA) – Accounting, Finance, Computer Information Systems, Management, Marketing – take a common core of courses that includes one or more classes in accounting, business law, communications, computer information systems, economics, finance, management, marketing and statistics. Also, to encourage students to broaden their academic preparation, COBA recommends all its majors complete at least 63 hours outside COBA of the 125 hours necessary for a degree.

After choosing a Business program, a student meets requirements for a selected major. For the General Business major, the student’s program continues on a broad path without specialization – an elective communications course, an additional business law course, and an introductory insurance course. Finally, the student completes 24 semester hours of business courses selected from a list that must include classes from at least five of the degree program areas offered in COBA. Students may select minors from several areas of study. All Business majors must have a 2.50 or higher GPA at the time of graduation for all upper division COBA courses attempted at Missouri State.

Admission to COBA is limited to a total of 2,000 majors at the combined junior and senior levels. Admission decisions will be determined by each applicant’s combined GPA (Missouri State plus transfer). However, all applicants whose combined GPA is 2.50 or higher will be admitted to COBA. (See the Missouri State Catalog.)

Students majoring in General Business will choose from the following courses. Please consult the Missouri State Catalog online at www.missouristate.edu/catalog for specific course descriptions.

• BUS 135: Introduction to Business
• BUS 200: Topics in General Business
• BUS 305: Service Learning in Business
• BUS 307: Business in the Community
• BUS 394: Cooperative Education in FGB
• BUS 397: Topics in Business
• BUS 494: Internship
• FIN 150: Personal Finance
• FIN 380: Financial Management
• FIN 381: Personal Financial Planning
• FIN 384: Financial Markets and Intermediaries
• FIN 386: Financial Analysis
• FIN 390: Intermediate Financial Management
• FIN 480: Financial Decision Making
• FIN 484: Management of Banking
• FIN 485: Investments I
• FIN 487: Investments II
• FIN 496: Readings in Finance 
• FIN 595: Financial Markets Study Tour
• FIN 510: E-Business and Online Entrepreneurship
• FIN 581: Professional Financial Planning
• FIN 582: International Financial Management
• FIN 596: Research Issues and Problems: Finance
• FIN 599: Directed Study for CFA Level I Exam

Real Estate, Insurance and Law

• BUS/LAW 550: Negotiation, Mediation, and Arbitration in Business
• FIN 266: Principles of Real Estate
• FIN 367: Principles of Real Estate Appraisal
• FIN/LAW 368: Real Estate Law
• FIN 369: Real Estate Development
• FIN/INS 538: Introduction to Estate Planning
• INS 211: Insurance
• INS 312: Life Insurance
• INS 313: Property and Liability Insurance
• INS 314: Employee Benefits and Social Insurance
• INS 397: Insurance Topics
• INS 415: Risk Management
• LAW 231: Legal Environment of Business
• LAW 332: Debtor and Creditor Rights and Remedies
• LAW 335: Business Enterprises, Rights/Liabilities
• LAW 341: Legal Research and Writing
• LAW 531: Labor Law and Employment Discrimination
• LAW 537: Environmental Regulation  

Because of the various options available to General Business majors, the classes for General Business majors are taught by several of the more than 120-member faculty within COBA. The FGB faculty bring diverse industry and educational experiences to the classroom. Several have received special recognition for their teaching, research and service activities. Students majoring in General Business are assigned advisors in the Business Advisement Center who have expertise in the students’ particular areas of interest.

The Department of Finance and General Business is housed in Glass Hall, the university’s state-of-the-art business facility.

 Students are invited to become members of the local student chapter of the Financial Management Association - a program unrestricted in membership for those who would like closer contact with the business world while developing their social and leadership abilities. Students also find the projects and competitions of the local chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) rewarding and enjoyable.