UH Hilo Catalog
 
 

Business Administration

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Department Chair: Harry W. Hennessey, Jr., Ph.D., SPHR (hhenness@hawaii.edu)
College of Business and Economics Office: Kanakaʻole Hall 270, (808) 974-7400
Web Sites: www.uhh.hawaii.edu/academics/busadmin/ AND business.uhh.hawaii.edu

Professors:
Jerry M. Calton, Ph.D., Management
Emmeline dePillis, Ph.D., Management
Harry W. Hennessey, Jr., Ph.D., SPHR, Management
Stephen C. Hora, D.B.A., Management Science and Statistics
Terrance J. Jalbert, Ph.D., Finance
Marcia Y. Sakai, Ph.D. (Dean, College of Business and Economics)

Associate Professors:
Kelly Burke, Ph.D., Management Science, Management Information Systems
Barbara Leonard, Ph.D., CMA, Accounting
Drew Martin, Ph.D., Marketing

Assistant Professors:
Thomas S. DeWitt, Ph.D., Marketing
Kimberly Furumo, Ph.D., Management Science, Management Information Systems
Gene Johnson, Ph.D., Accounting
Roberta Barra, Ph.D., Accounting

The Department of Business Administration offers students the opportunity to receive a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree that is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The program offers majors in General Management and in Accounting. The program is divided into three components: General Education, the Pre-Business program, and the Professional Business program. Each of these is described in detail below. Some General Education requirements may be satisfied with courses from the Pre-Business program, but no more than 60 of the degree’s total of 121 credit hours may be in business topics. The University also places several graduation requirements on all baccalaureate degree programs, and these must be satisfied by candidates for the B.B.A. (Please see the chapter entitled Baccalaureate Degree Requirements of this Catalog.)

All B.B.A. students are required to complete the Pre-Business Program, which is composed of courses in accounting, economics, business communications, business law, mathematics, and quantitative business analysis. Following satisfactory completion of this program, students are admitted to the upper-division Business program where they complete advanced courses in selected fields of study such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, management information systems, and quantitative methods.

Students wishing to make timely progress toward graduation are urged to pay careful attention to all degree requirements. In addition, when planning a schedule of courses, it is imperative to be aware of course prerequisites and the frequency with which courses are offered, information that is available for each course in the listing at the back of this Catalog. To ensure progress toward graduation, students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor each semester before registering.

Goals for Student Learning in the Major

Upon graduating, our students should possess a common core of knowledge and skills that enables them to:

  • Demonstrate comprehension of the fundamental principles of essential business functions.
  • Demonstrate comprehension of the relationship of business to individuals, government, society, and other organizations.
  • Express ideas clearly, logically, and persuasively in oral and written communication.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of working effectively with other people in a diverse environment.
  • Demonstrate comprehension of how ethical issues and responsibilities affect decisions and actions.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze information critically, regardless of form.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex, unstructured qualitative and quantitative problems, using appropriate tools and technology.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the role of community service in their future professional careers.

Career Prospects for Students

Students earning the B.B.A. in General Management are prepared to become entry-level managers in a wide variety of private and public sector organizations. The B.B.A. program is also a good choice for students interested in starting their own business upon graduation, since a primary focus is on smaller organizations and entrepreneurship in many of the courses at UH Hilo. Students may focus their elective coursework in specific areas such as finance, marketing, or information technology if they intend to specialize or seek certification in one of those fields upon graduation. The B.B.A. is also an excellent preparation for advanced study in business.

The B.B.A in Accounting prepares students for professional careers in accounting and auditing, and satisfies the content-specific educational requirements for the C.P.A designation. The demand for graduates in accounting has continued to grow, and is forecast to remain strong throughout the next decade. This career offers excellent job and earning opportunities.

Special Aspects of the Program

Internships with local businesses and organizations are available to qualified students.

The College of Business and Economics sponsors the Lambda Psi chapter of the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, which is a professional fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity, and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce; and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community. In addition, the College sponsors the Accounting Club, which serves to provide a professional development and community outreach forum for students with interest in accounting as a professional career. Members gain the opportunity to meet and interact with members of the accounting profession from the State and local areas, and to gain first-hand exposure to career possibilities in the area.

The College also sponsors an active chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the premier honorary society for students of business, which inducts outstanding students from each year’s graduating class.