Business

Overview

Associate Dean: Jane Kuenz
Coordinator of Internships and Field Placements: Meghan Bradley
Chair (Accounting, Finance, and Risk Management and Insurance): Stephen Hansen
Chair (Business Administration): Hirotoshi Takeda
Professors: Arend, Smoluk
Associate Professors: Hansen, Heiser, Kerr, Kohli, Li, Parker, Suleiman, Takeda, Williams
Assistant Professors: Amendah, DiBartolomeo, Kumthekar, Mansouri, Ndu, Newell, Tharp, Unal
Lecturers: Biloedeau, Dunbar, Ladd, Palin

Mission Statement

Preparing lifelong, entrepreneurial thinkers fluent in business technologies

Programs

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Majors:

Accounting
Business Analytics (available on-line)
Finance
Management
Marketing (available on-line)
Sport Management*

Minors:

Advanced Accounting
Entrepreneurship
International Business
Operations and Supply Chain Management
Professional Selling
Risk Management and Insurance
Sustainable Business

*Note: Some required courses in the Sport Management major may not be offered during the evening (5:30 p.m. or later).

The undergraduate program is designed to develop the student’s abilities to assume the responsibilities of general and financial management, and to cope successfully with the changing problems of managers in the years ahead. Entering students begin by acquiring broad preparation in the arts and sciences as a foundation for the study of business. All students also complete the pre-business core, business core, and thematic core covering major functional areas common to business operations. Lastly, students acquire a deeper knowledge in their selected major.

Double majors are possible as long as no more than one course (3 credit hours) applied toward one major is applied toward the second major.

School of Business majors may count up to two specified (see minor requirements) business core courses (6 credits) in both the Business Core and a Business minor. In the advanced accounting minor, accounting majors may count up to two specified upper division accounting classes in both the Accounting major and the Advanced Accounting minor. The remaining minor courses (9 credits) cannot double count in the minor and the business major courses or between two business minors. School of Business majors are allowed to declare more than one business minor.

Non school of Business students can only have one business minor.

Students may also apply to the accelerated graduate program in Business Administration to compete both undergraduate (USM) and graduate (U.Maine) degrees in about five years.

Certificate programs of undergraduate study:

Accounting
Risk Management and Insurance

Accelerated Undergraduate-Graduate Pathways in Business Administration:

Bachelor’s degree and MBA (University of Maine)

Accreditation

The School of Business is accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International assures quality and promotes excellence and continuous improvement in undergraduate and graduate education for business administration and accounting.

Undergraduate Course Enrollment Policies

Students Accepted or Enrolled in a USM School of Business Major:

Only USM School of Business majors are allowed to take more than 30 credit hours in business courses.
USM School of Business majors can take up to 12 credits of 300- or 400-level business classes before they must successfully complete the entire pre-business core.

Students not enrolled or accepted into a USM School of Business Major:

Students not enrolled or accepted into a USM School of Business major may pursue only one minor offered by the School of Business.
Students not enrolled or accepted into a USM School of Business major may take all 100 and 200 level pre-Business core courses and up to 12 credits of 300 level or higher business courses. All course-specific prerequisites still apply.
Business majors from other universities who want to take more than 12 credits of upper level business courses, should contact the School of Business to appeal.
Non-matriculated students and community members who wish to take a business course must submit a transcript that shows successful completion of prerequisite(s) for the course. If you would like to use work experience as a substitution in lieu of a course prerequisite, please contact the Faculty member and the Department Chair directly to appeal.

Repeated courses:

Any student wishing to take the same School of Business course a third time or more must first submit a Course Condition Form (available on the registrar’s website) to the Associate Dean for approval. Failure to do so may result in course credit disqualification.

According to Federal Financial Aid policy, a student can use financial aid to pay for ONE repeat of a course already passed with a D- or higher. Subsequent repetitions are ineligible for financial aid. Please see the USM Financial Services website for more information.

Internship Program

Because employment in a professional setting provides opportunities to apply classroom learning, develop work-related skills, and explore careers, School of Business majors are encouraged to participate in an internship to experience on-the-job learning. Employment in a professional setting provides opportunities to apply classroom learning, develop work-related skills, and explore careers. Credit may be received for paid or non-paid positions with new employers, or for new responsibilities with current employers. Credit is not granted for past work experience. Students obtain internship positions by applying for them on USM Job & Internship Board, an online job and internship board; by contacting the School of Business internship coordinator; or by contacting employers to develop positions. Students are also welcome to discuss internship availability with faculty members and Department Chairs. An intern must be advised by a faculty sponsor during the internship. Under the supervision of a faculty sponsor, the student must prepare a written learning contract that contains a job description, the student’s learning goals, self-directed learning activities, and an evaluation process. Please see the website for the minimum hours required for each internship. Grading is pass/fail, except 378 and 397, which are graded. Refer to the course descriptions for ACC 295 , ACC 395 , ACC 396 , BUS 295 , BUS 378 , BUS 391 -BUS 397 , FIN 295 , FIN 395 , FIN 396 , RMI 295 , and RMI 395 for prerequisites and restrictions. Undergraduate majors are limited to a maximum of nine internship credit hours. Undergraduate minors are limited to a maximum of three internship credit hours. For further information, contact the School of Business Internship Office at (207) 780-4020.

Centers

Center for Entrepreneurship

Founded in 1996, the Center for Entrepreneurship is part of the School of Business within the College of Management and Human Service. The Center develops courses that respond to the needs of entrepreneurs and startup businesses throughout Maine. The Center for Entrepreneurship, part of the Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Innovation program, supports students and faculty in their business development , launch, and growth efforts. The Center supports the mission of the School of Business (“We prepare lifelong, entrepreneurial thinkers fluent in business technologies”) through the creation of courses, workshops, and events in the areas of opportunity analysis, new product development, venture creation and launch, growth strategies, creativity, sustainability, design thinking, and innovation management. More information can be found on the Center’s website at http://usm.maine.edu/cesb or by contacting Richard Bilodeau, Lead Faculty, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Innovation at (207) 780-4302.

Maine Center for Business and Economic Research

Program Director: Ryan Wallace

Originally formed in 1974, the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research (MCBER) is Maine’s designated US Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center whose mission is to assist and promote economic development. The Center serves as a conduit for aligning the expertise and skills of faculty and staff from the School of Business, the Muskie School, and other academic units at USM and within the UMaine System to address the challenges and opportunities facing the public and private sectors in Maine.

Supported by both public and private sources, the Center offers applied research and technical assistance services to Economic Development Districts, profit and nonprofit organizations, and individuals. These services include: business analytics, survey-based research, economic impact analysis, forecasting, data mining, statistical analysis, strategic planning, feasibility studies, market research, financial/economic modeling, and other forms of customized business/economic analysis. For additional information, contact the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104-9300, (207) 780-5859, www.mainecber.com

Maine Small Business Development Centers

State Director: Mark Delisle

Associate State Director: Carol Papciak

Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) provide comprehensive business management assistance, training, resource, and information services to Maine’s micro, small, and technology-based business communities. Professional certified counselors, who meet rigorous education and business experience standards, provide business assistance at no cost to Maine’s existing and prospective business owners.

Maine SBDC is a partnership program of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in association with the SBA/OSBDC, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (Maine DECD), the University of Southern Maine, and leading economic and/or community development hosting organizations, with support from other contractors, allies, and stakeholders. Accredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) and administered by USM’s School of Business for over 30 years, Maine SBDC operates a network of nine service centers and numerous outreach offices located conveniently throughout the state.

Maine SBDC’s mission is to engage itself and others in development activities that contribute to the improvement of the economic climate for and the success of micro, small, and technology-based businesses in the state of Maine. Its focus is to assist in the creation, growth, and maintenance of viable small businesses and the jobs these businesses provide. Maine SBDC serves those seeking assistance who are willing and able to build, sustain, and/or expand their business. More information about the Maine SBDC can be found at http://www.mainesbdc.org or by calling (207) 780-4420. Maine SBDC state administrative offices are at 501 Forest Avenue, Portland. Mailing address: P.O. Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104-9300.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Certificate