About the Eugene M. Isenberg School of Management

SOM Building

Contact: Dennis Hanno

Office: 211 SOM

Phone: 545-5610

Web site: www.som.umass.edu

Dean: Thomas O'Brien; Associate Dean for Undergraduate Matters: Dennis Hanno; Associate Dean for Faculty Development: Marc Weinberger.

The Field

The Isenberg School of Management prepares students to assume positions of responsibility in the diverse world of business. Students may pursue an education in a variety of business disciplines represented by majors in four departments: Accounting and Information Systems, Finance and Operations Management, Management, and Marketing.

The School's educational program is directed toward the broad aspects of business, encouraging high standards of ethical conduct, broad social responsibilities, and the development of competence in particular courses of the student's own interests, aptitude, and choice. In addition, the introduction to such fields as mathematics, economics, psychology, so-ciology, and government offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between business and these other disciplines.

Students enter the Isenberg School as incoming freshmen, as transfers from within the University, and as transfers from other colleges or universities. Interested high school seniors should direct their inquiries to the University Admissions Office, tel. (413) 545-0222. Students interested in transferring should refer to the sections below about off- and on-campus transfers.

Accreditation

The undergraduate program of the Isenberg School is accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.

The Undergraduate Counseling Office

The Undergraduate Counseling Office is staffed by advisers available to assist students with any questions or concerns they have as they progress through their academic life at the Isenberg School. This includes advice on course selection, assistance with academic and personal problems, and information about special opportunities available to Isenberg School students such as tutoring, scholarships, study abroad and internships. Students are encouraged to get to know their advisers early in their academic career and to take advantage of all the services available to them through the Undergraduate Counseling Office. For more information, contact Undergraduate Counseling Office, tel. (413) 545-5610.

Diversity in Management Education Services

Founded in 1987, DiMES is designed to support Isenberg School students of color throughout their time at the University. DiMES provides academic support, counseling, and a sense of community for the Isenberg School's culturally diverse student body. For more information, contact DiMES Program Director Melvin Rodriguez, tel. (413) 545-5610.

Placement Assistance for Isenberg School Students

The Isenberg School's Placement Center exists to help students find the all-important first job. Services include a large on-campus recruiting program, workshops, one-on-one sessions for help with resumes and interviews, and guidance to identify possible career choices. For more information, contact the Director of the Undergraduate Placement Center, Richard Fein, tel. (413) 545-5598.

The Majors

The first two years of study emphasize general education by providing fundamental courses in the humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. In addition, basic courses in accounting, economics, management information systems, and the legal and social environment of business prepare the student for further work in the Isenberg School of Management. The junior and senior years emphasize a greater degree of specialization in the student's major as outlined below. During the final two years, all students enroll in "core" introductory courses in finance, marketing, and management. A total of at least 120 credits is required for graduation. Each course of study leads to the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration.

Isenberg School majors apply for admission to one of the major programs during their junior year. Students will be guaranteed admission to a major program within the Isenberg School but the School cannot guarantee that students will always be accepted into their first choice of major.

Recommended Sequence of Courses for Isenberg School Freshmen and Sophomores

Freshmen

Fall

ENGLWP 112 College Writing

*ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics

Social World elective

Biological and Physical World elective

Non-business elective

Freshman Seminar: Transitions

Spring

*MATH 127 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences

*ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics Social World elective

Biological and Physical World elective Non-business elective

Sophomores

Fall

*ACCTG 221 Introduction to Accounting I

*RES EC 212 Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences

*SOM 210 Introduction to Business Information Systems

Social World elective

Non-business elective

Spring

*ACCTG 222 Introduction to Accounting II

*MGT 260 Introduction to Law

*FOMGT 250 Quantitative Tools for Management

Social World elective

Biological and Physical World elective

* Required

The Junior-Senior Years

Upon completion of the freshman-sophomore curriculum and attaining junior class standing, students "declare" a departmental major and begin a more concentrated program of study. Information about the declaration process is available in the Undergraduate Counseling Office. Students typically declare in the first semester of their junior year.

Courses and programs for the junior-senior years are listed below under the four departments of the Isenberg School.

All Isenberg School students must complete a "core" of junior- and senior-level business courses. This core is composed of FOMGT 301 Corporation Finance, MGT 301 Principles of Management, MKTG 301 Fundamentals of Marketing, SOM 310 Management Communication, and SOM 497 Business Policy and Strategy. Each major then has its unique requirements. Elective courses in major programs are selected with the aid and consent of the student's adviser.

Curriculum/Major Guidelines

Breadth of Study: Students must complete at least 60 degree credits in courses outside the Isenberg School. No more than nine credits of Economics and six credits of Statistics can count toward the 60 credits outside the Isenberg School. Any additional credits in these two areas must be counted as business course credits.

Minimum Period of Enrollment: Students must be enrolled in a departmental major in the Isenberg School for a minimum of one academic year to receive a B.B.A. Students who complete the course requirements of an Isenberg School major program but who have not been admitted to a departmental major will not receive a B.B.A. from the University.

Course Availability: Not all courses are offer-ed every semester, including some required courses. Students are urged to consult their Isenberg School advisers on a regular basis to plan completion of their Isenberg School program.

Pass/Fail Limitation: No Isenberg School core or major requirement will be fulfilled by a course for which a grade of "P" is recorded. (This includes ECON 103 and 104, MATH 127, and RES EC 212.) Students should not use the Pass/Fail grading option in any of these courses.

Internships: The Isenberg School encourages students to take advantage of the opportunity to expand their educational experience with a summer or semester internship. Only students admitted to a departmental major within the School may register for internship credits within that department. Departmental internships may be sponsored only by full-time faculty in that de-partment, and may not generally exceed three credits. Students are eligible for a departmental internship in the School only if they have completed the entire Isenberg School core, with the exception of SOM 497. More information is available from the Internship Coordinator, Kim Jones, tel. (413) 577-0418.

Graduation with Honors: Each of the departments maintains honors programs in conjunction with Commonwealth College that lead to higher graduation honors (magna cum laude and summa cum laude). Students are urged to contact the Commonwealth College office, tel. (413) 545-2483, or the Undergraduate Coun-seling Office for more information.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to consider spending one or two semesters studying abroad. This experience offers a valuable opportunity to enrich the student's perspectives on his or her chosen field of concentration. The Isenberg School has exchange agreements with a number of foreign institutions. Opportunities exist for study in Australia, England, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Spain, Denmark, Canada, and other countries. For further information, contact the International Programs Office, tel. (413) 545-2710.

Transferring from Off-campus

The Isenberg School of Management welcomes transfer applications. With the appropriate qual-ifications and/or prerequisite coursework, students may qualify for transfer of credits and be able to enter the Isenberg School directly. For more information, contact Undergraduate Admissions, Office of Transfer Affairs, tel. (413) 545-0222.

Transferring into the Isenberg School from Other Majors

Highly competitive and restricted, on-campus admissions to the Isenberg School are evaluated on the basis of the student's overall record and performance in specific, selected courses. These courses include a calculus course, two courses in economics, two courses in statistics, and two courses in accounting. While students are not required to complete all of these courses prior to application for transfer admission, students must be able to complete them prior to their senior year. In addition, students must receive a grade of C or better in these courses to be considered for admission. However, satisfactory completion of these courses does not guarantee admission to the Isenberg School. A detailed explanation of transfer requirements is available from the Undergraduate Counseling Office.

The Isenberg School Courses

These courses do not constitute a particular major or concentration within the Isenberg School of Management, but are required of all majors.

(All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise noted.)

SOM 210 Introduction to Business Information Systems (both sem)

Examines information technology from a business enterprise perspective. Topics include: the components and development of business information systems; and their use in enhancing and facilitating management practices and decision making; their impact on management decisions.

310A Management Communication
(both sem)

Focus on acquisition and practice of thinking, writing, and speaking skills necessary for effective performance in business environments. Prerequisite: junior standing.

310B Business Communication (both sem)

Available to non-native English speakers. Prerequisite: junior standing.

497 Business Policy and Strategy (both sem)

An integrative case course requiring identification and possible solution of practical problems encountered by general managers who are responsible at various organizational levels for formulating strategies and their successful implementation. Prerequisites: completion of undergraduate business core and senior standing.