Sykes College of Business

Business education for the future relies on innovation and adaptation of curriculum programs to ensure that students are ready for a competitive world. A business school faculty must disseminate applicable research knowledge to students and the community to enable them to face the challenges of ever-changing technology and global business practices. The faculty must enable students to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to become effective, visionary leaders and decision-makers with a strong ethical foundation, a global perspective and outstanding communication skills. The College’s mission is promoted through educational programs, scholarship and community engagement.

Vision

To be recognized as the leading business school in the Southeast for preparing future world business leaders.

Mission

Preparing students to succeed in the global marketplace through educational excellence.

Values and Goals

• People First: We attract, develop and support talented students, faculty and staff.
• Teaching Excellence: We focus on teaching excellence and high quality student-centered learning by preparing participants for success in complex business environments.
• Dynamic Programs: We offer academically challenging graduate and undergraduate programs that prepare students for the dynamic local, regional and global workplace.
• Scholarship: We enhance faculty teaching effectiveness and advance business knowledge through impactful intellectual contributions and scholarship.
• Partnership: We form strong partnerships and alliances with universities, communities and businesses that impact our local and global communities by enhancing learning and engagement.

Program Description

In support of its mission, the Sykes College of Business (COB) has developed a curriculum with three interconnected parts, stressing a strong liberal arts foundation, a broad business program base and functional specialization.

The first part of the program focuses on a broad liberal arts and sciences background. Students develop an understanding of the cultural, social, political, economic, international, scientific and technological environments in which individuals and organizations exist.

The second part of the curriculum consists of the business core. These courses provide students with a solid foundation for careers as managers or business-related professionals. This part of the curriculum also provides students with an understanding of the dynamics of the firm and the economy, introducing them to the various functions generic to any organization, as well as to the basic behavioral, managerial and organizational concepts necessary to function successfully in an organization. Students see the interaction between the firm and its environment, gaining an overall view of policy-making within an organization and its function within a global marketplace.

The third component of the curriculum provides students with an opportunity to specialize in a functional area to develop business expertise and a greater mastery of business tools and technology. The curriculum is further enriched by numerous business-community interaction opportunities, e.g., guest presentations from area executives, field trips, internships and class projects focused on real business problems with area companies. It is enhanced by the special activities of the Center for Ethics, the TECO Energy Center for Leadership, the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, Florida Directors’ Institute, the Institute for Sales Excellence, and the Naimoli Institute for Business Strategy.

Students also learn the basic tools required for effective professional communication. The purpose of this aspect of the curriculum is to build a broad foundation for assuming greater leadership responsibilities over time. The sum total of this three-part curriculum prepares students for competitive careers in business and future roles as leaders in a dynamic global marketplace.

The graduate and undergraduate programs in the Sykes College of Business are accredited by AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This premier business-accrediting agency emphasizes quality and continuous improvement in curriculum, faculty resources, admissions, degree requirements, library and computer facilities, financial resources and intellectual climate as they relate to the College’s vision and mission.

The bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems is additionally accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET — the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Declaration of College of Business Major

The Sykes College of Business seeks to effectively advise, track and communicate with its students. To do this, students who intend to graduate with a major in accounting, economics, business information technology, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, finance, financial enterprise systems, international business, management, management information systems or marketing should declare a major in one or more of these areas before completing 62 credit hours. A major may be declared in the Academic Advising Office.

Advisors

Every Sykes College of Business student is assigned a business faculty advisor as soon as possible after declaring the major. Students who have not yet declared their majors but are interested in business should request College of Business faculty advisors through the Academic Advising Office. Students will be exposed to each functional area of business in BUS 101, Introduction to Global Business. In addition, students who have not decided on their majors are encouraged to explore career options through the Baccalaureate Office, the Office of Career Services and through discussions with College of Business faculty.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are imposed to ensure that students have obtained the background information necessary to receive maximum value from each class. Prerequisites for a class must be successfully completed before students may enroll in the class. Failure to meet prerequisites will result in the student being dropped from the class.

COB Residency Requirements

A student earning a degree with a major in economics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management or marketing must complete at least 26 credit hours within the Sykes College of Business. At least 15 of these hours must be in the student’s major (courses beyond the business core).

A student earning a degree with a major in accounting, business information technology, cybersecurity, financial enterprise systems, or management information systems must complete at least 30 credit hours within the Sykes College of Business. At least 15 of these hours must be in the student’s major (courses beyond the business core).

Maximum Sykes College of Business Credits

To ensure that all business students have the broad-based education necessary to succeed in the business world, they need to have a balanced exposure to both liberal arts and business concepts. To meet these needs, at least 62 credit hours must be taken outside the College of Business. ECO 204, ECO 205, QMB 210 and QMB 380 are counted in the non-business group.

For recommended computing standards, see the Campus Services section of this catalog.

Center for Ethics

The Center for Ethics is dedicated to educating individuals on the importance of ethics in business by providing educational and professional resources to promote the use of sound ethical analysis, high standards of ethical behavior and individual responsibility in the academic, business and civic communities. The center is supported by an advisory board of community leaders that uphold strong ethical standards in business and commit to the mission of the center. These individuals provide practical resources and professional experience in the field of business ethics. Student members of the board are selected on the basis of ethical character and personal and educational values that align with the center’s mission and campus initiatives.

The center conducts annual and bi-annual events to bring awareness to the University and Tampa Bay communities. The Tampa Bay Business Ethics Award is presented each year to an individual from the Tampa Bay community who demonstrates integrity, virtue and character within their personal and professional activities. The Student Ethics Award is presented to a Sykes College of Business undergraduate student who exemplifies high ethical standards, upholds social responsibility practices in the community and exhibits strong potential for professional success. Additionally, the Ethics Hot Seat Speaker Series presentations are dedicated to bringing outstanding speakers to campus to engage our students, faculty, alumni and the business community in thought-provoking dialogue about ethical issues. See the Center for Ethics website at http://www.ut.edu/centerforethics/.

TECO Energy Center for Leadership

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership is engaged in developing programs to prepare future world business leaders by offering a variety of programs to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as the local community. The interdisciplinary minor in Leadership Studies combines theory and practice; students have the opportunity to learn about leadership and then experience it. The Leadership Coaching program brings together MBA students with leaders in Tampa Bay. The Modern Advances in Leadership Certificate Program is designed to provide transformative and interactive learning experiences  for individuals and organizations seeking to advance their leadership skills.  Our breakthrough programs combine the latest training, coaching and experiential learning tools that significantly impact organizations and their leaders. See the TECO Energy Center for Leadership website at http://www.ut.edu/cfl/.

Florida Directors’ Institute

The Florida Directors’ Institute is the collaborative result of work between The University of Tampa and national and local professional associations and service providers to improve corporate governance practices in Florida. The Florida Directors’ Institute delivers short programs for public and large private company boards of directors and officers, supports applied research by faculty and engages UT students in an annual essay competition on corporate governance topics. See the Florida Directors' Institute website at https://www.ut.edu/floridadirectorsinstitute/.

The Institute for Sales Excellence

The Institute for Sales Excellence promotes the advancement in the field of professional selling by preparing the next generation of sales leaders. The Institute for Sales Excellence has four specific functions: prepare students for careers in professional business-to-business sales, encourage networking between students and businesses, serve as a staffing resource for regional, national and global firms, and provide learning resources for local and regional businesses. See the Institute for Sales Excellence website at http://www.ut.edu/salesexcellence/.

The Naimoli Institute for Business Strategy

The Naimoli Institute administers the Strategic Analysis Program, which is designed as a partnership in learning between UT and the business community. The program is an innovative part of the capstone courses (MGT 431 and MGT 615) for Sykes College of Business undergraduate and MBA students. Each student in the program is assigned to a team that writes a strategic analysis of an organization with a local office. Students get firsthand experience addressing strategic problems in real organizations, and the client organizations get rigorous analysis and recommendations aimed at improving their performance. The analysis reflects the students’ efforts to integrate all the areas of business that they have studied in their coursework in the Sykes College of Business. At the end of the semester, each student team presents its analysis and plan to the organization’s leaders. See the Naimoli Institute website at www.ut.edu/naimoli/. 

John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center

The Lowth Entrepreneurship Center in the Sykes College of Business is a nationally recognized center for the study of entrepreneurship. Programs provided through the Center engage the Florida business community in the learning experience and are available to any graduate or undergraduate student at The University of Tampa, regardless of major. The Center supports the entrepreneurship curriculum through extracurricular programs and events that provide students with the chance to gain skills that will help them plan successful careers and viable businesses based on their unique talents. Students learn through experiential education and exposure to entrepreneurs. Programs include the UT Entrepreneurs Club, the Spartan Accelerator, UT Alumni group, business plan competitions, speaker series programs, internships, a mentoring program and many more. See the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center website at  http://www.ut.edu/entrepreneurcenter/.

Student Organizations

The Sykes College of Business has numerous student organizations. These organizations provide students with the opportunity to meet people, gain leadership skills, network with business professionals and interact with faculty.

The Adam Smith Society is a College of Business honor society for students of both economics and economic policy. Student members are selected based on both an interest and general competence in the economic way of thinking. The charge of this faculty-mentored student organization is to expose the student members to what economists do in the real world, to introduce them to the different points of view from leagues of professional economists in the marketplace and to encourage enriched interaction between students, faculty and community leaders, all of whom share an interest in real-world economics.

Alpha Iota Mu is the honor society for information systems. The purpose of AIM is to foster academic excellence, to promote high ethical standards among information systems professionals and to encourage the growth of the profession. AIM is affiliated with the Association for Information Systems, and recognizes outstanding management information systems, cybersecurity and financial enterprise systems juniors and seniors who have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher and faculty recommendation.

The American Marketing Association collegiate chapter promotes student interaction with marketing professionals, both nationally and through the Tampa Bay Chapter. Through active participation and involvement, members gain practical marketing, advertising, management, promotion and financial experience. This award-winning chapter has excelled in community fundraising and marketing efforts and offers to students real-world local projects, important marketing connections and interviewing opportunities.

Beta Alpha Psi is an international scholastic and professional accounting and financial information organization that recognizes academic excellence, and complements members’ formal education by providing interaction among students, faculty and professionals to foster lifelong growth, service and ethical conduct. See the Beta Alpha Psi website at http://www.utbap.com/.

The Business and Technology Club at The University of Tampa (Technology Club @UT) organizes informational and networking events related to the business uses of digital-based technology. The club is open to students from all majors at The University of Tampa. Working with Tampa areas associations and companies (e.g., Tampa Bay Tech, Microsoft, Gartner), club members meet with senior and executive members of organizations from a variety of industries to learn about the uses of technology, internship and employment opportunities, and to provide service to the Tampa Bay community.

The Cybersecurity Club is an organization whose purpose is to bring an awareness of the opportunities in cybersecurity and expand the knowledge of students in the field via meetings, workshops and other cybersecurity-related events.

The Dean’s Student Advisory Group is composed of student leaders and students who have been recommended by the faculty to advise the dean on the vision, mission and direction of the Sykes College of Business. The group also provides a forum for students to provide comments and requests to the administration of the College. These student representatives are from each of the undergraduate and graduate programs in the Sykes College of Business. Meetings are generally held two times per semester.

Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity organized to encourage the study of business among students. Members sponsor many professional and community service events each semester.

Digital Marketing Club at The University of Tampa (DMCUT) aims to provide students with learning and networking opportunities with experts in the rising fields of online marketing, digital advertising, and marketing analytics.

The Institute of Management Accounts (IMASC) is a student chapter of the worldwide association of accountants and financial professionals working in business that exposes students to the breadth of careers in accounting and finance. We sponsor talks and discussions with business leaders and alumni from all areas of business, help students with professional development and provide leadership and community service opportunities.

The Microfinance Club at The University of Tampa aims to provide students the opportunity to learn and gain real life experience in the microfinance industry. The primary objective is to provide small, low interest,  micro loans to impoverished individuals to start or maintain a small business, creating a means out of poverty for individuals without reliance on handouts.

Omicron Delta Epsilon is an international honor society in economics that recognizes superior academic achievement by both graduate and undergraduate students who have demonstrated an interest and aptitude in economics. Membership provides students an opportunity to attend and participate in ODE student sessions at regional, national and international economics conferences. Research papers from promising students may also be submitted for publication in ODE’s journal, The American Economist.

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, most selective, most prestigious, all discipline honor society. Top students are invited in their junior or senior year. 

The Student Chapter of the Financial Management Association is an organization that provides relevant information on the latest developments and opportunities in the area of finance.

The Student Environment Action Coalition exists for the betterment of the University of Tampa as a whole. It is a student and youth run national network of progressive organizations and individuals whose aim is to uproot environmental justices through action and education. We define the environment to include the physical, economic, political, and cultural conditions in which we live. By challenging the power structure which threatens these conditions, students in SEAC work to create progressive, social change on both the local and global levels.

UT Entrepreneurs is the official Tampa Bay chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneur's Organization (C.E.O). The UT Entrepreneurs aims to provide a professional environment in which any type of entrepreneurial notion can prosper. The club help students facilitate their mission of becoming entrepreneurs by providing various opportunities as well as a supportive atmosphere. Members have the opportunity to meet with successful, powerful and prosperous entrepreneurs in and around the Tampa Bay area.

Independent Study and Special Studies Courses

An independent study course is designed by the professor and student and is not to be identical to any other course offerings that term. A special studies course is designed to be a substitute for an existing course that a student is unable to take for an approved reason. Independent and special studies courses are offered on a limited basis and only in cases of hardship on the part of the student (e.g., graduating senior with schedule conflicts) or for special projects for outstanding students. In either case, the sponsoring professor, the department chair and the associate dean must approve the registration. See the course descriptions to determine if an independent study may count toward the requirements of the major. No special studies courses are allowed for courses in the Sykes College of Business core.

Internships

Internships, except for those in accounting, are coordinated by a COB internship coordinator. An accounting internship coordinator coordinates accounting internships. In order to qualify for an internship, a student must have junior or senior standing and be considered "in good standing." Additional requirements may apply to internships in each of the COB majors. To register for an internship, the student must submit a permission form to the internship coordinator, along with a job description from the employer. The internship coordinator must approve all internships. Forms are available in the associate dean’s office.

All undergraduate internships (excluding Accounting) have a GPA requirement of 2.75, or a 3.0 in COB courses, including:

• ECO
• ENT
• FIN
• IBS
• ITM
• MGT
• MKT

For Accounting: 2.25 overall and 3.0 in four upper level accounting classes.