John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics

Dr. Jeff Steagall, Dean

The John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics is a leader in preparing students for careers in business. The Goddard School attracts students from across the nation and around the world who desire a quality education.

Nearly 2000 students are enrolled in undergraduate programs in accounting, business administration [with emphases in finance, management (with human resource management track), marketing, and supply chain management], economics, and information systems & technologies; and more than 240 students pursue degrees in the Master of Accounting and Master of Taxation programs, as well as the Master of Business Administration program. Students should note that the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the premier global accrediting agency in business and accounting education.

Courses are designed to reflect the rapidly changing business environment. Dedicated faculty use innovative teaching and learning methods throughout the curriculum. The consequences of the global economic environment and international competitive advantage are addressed at the onset of the curriculum and discussed throughout the program. The key issues of technology, quality management, ethics, and entrepreneurship are discussed in many contexts.

A unique feature in the curriculum is the endowed Ralph Nye Lecture Series. In this Series, business leaders visit Weber State University campus to serve as guest lecturers. A wide variety of speakers include executives who have risen to the top of corporate worlds, entrepreneurs who have nurtured an idea into a viable business, and authors and opinion leaders with special insight into the business environment. These speakers make an invaluable contribution to our educational programs.

Associate Dean: Dr. Cliff Nowell
Location: Wattis Building, Room 201
Telephone Contact: Mary Ann Boles 801-626-7307

Coordinator of Academic Advisement: Mara Sikkink 801-626-6534
Location: Wattis Building, Room 211

Coordinator of Recruitment & Career Development: Patricia Wheeler 801-626-7914
Location: Wattis Building, Room 213

Department Chairs/Directors

Graduate Program Directors

John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

To become an acknowledged leader in business education that develops professionals with the facility to analyze problems, the resolve to implement change, the capacity to lead, and the courage to act justly in all chosen endeavors.

Mission

The John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics provides quality undergraduate and graduate education for developing professionals and career-oriented students. Degree programs are grounded in the University’s liberal arts tradition and focused on synthesis of theory across disciplines, the application of theory to practice, and the enhancement of professional skills. While we are primarily a regional institution, we seek to prepare our students to succeed in the global economy.

Three principles are central to our mission:

Learning

We champion continuous learning through excellent teaching, close student-faculty interaction, small class sizes, assurance of learning processes, and faculty scholarship designed to improve effective teaching.

Research

Our portfolio of faculty intellectual contributions is diverse including application of theory to practice, advancement within and across disciplines, and utilization of research outcomes to further learning.

Community

We enhance our community through the dissemination of best practices, the provision of economic information and analysis, the engagement in professional organizations and societies, and the creation of strategic relationships which expand life-long learning opportunities for our stakeholders.

Values

We embrace a diverse student body admitted upon criteria which measure the promise for success. The students of Utah are our prime constituency, but we attract and welcome students from across the nation and abroad.

The Goddard School is founded on an environment where people are free to openly question any concept, voiced by any person, at any time. Similarly, we value and seek the informed opinions of those outside the School.

Our mission is chiefly supported through a community of teaching scholars who focus their efforts toward instructional improvement and the advancement of theory and practice through research. Faculty and staff also direct their expertise to enhance the broader community thereby advancing management practice and economic development at the national and international levels.

Accessibility to Business & Economics Courses

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Candidates for a bachelor of science degree in the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics (GSBE) must satisfy the following requirements:

Graduation Requirements

1. GPA Requirement: Candidates for GSBE minors, associate degrees, and bachelor of science degrees must complete all prerequisite and required business and economics courses with a grade of “C-” or higher. In addition, the cumulative Business Foundation GPA, the overall business and economics GPA, and the overall university GPA must be 2.5 or higher.
2. Residency Requirement: Any student wishing to attain a certificate, minor, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree from the Goddard School must satisfactorily complete 50 percent of the total required course work and 60 percent of the upper-division requirements from the Goddard School. Furthermore, any transferred credit must be approved prior to beginning the program of study.
   Any student pursuing a graduate degree from the Goddard School may apply a maximum of 6 credit hours of graduate credit taken at other AACSB International accredited institutions and completed with a grade of B- or better to the Goddard School’s graduate degree requirements. Furthermore, the transferred credit must be approved prior to beginning the program of study. All candidates for degrees must be registered at WSU at least one semester following the last commencement prior to graduation.

Admissions

All students seeking majors, minors, emphases and certificates within the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics must be formally admitted. Only completed Admission Forms are reviewed for selection consideration.

Criteria for admittance to the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics:

• Formal admission to Weber State University (WSU)
• Successful completion of ENGL 2010  and MATH 1050  (or their equivalent) with a “C” grade or higher
• Successful completion (“C-” grade or higher) of Business Foundations with a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA for the five foundation courses
• Successful completion of assessment course: BSAD 2899  or ECON 2899  (for non-business Economics majors only)
• Overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Declaration of business major, minor, emphasis or certificate

Process for admittance to the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics:

1. Register for BSAD 2899  or ECON 2899  (for non-business Economics majors only) concurrent with (same semester as) or after final required Business Foundations Course. Course objectives are:
   
   1. Complete assessment of Business Foundations
   2. Complete online application which includes:
      
      • GSBE application student information
      • Essay as described on the GSBE application
      • Accepting to abide by the GSBE Honor Code

A grade of CR (credit) for 2899 equates to being admitted to the Goddard School.

Transcripts need not be submitted unless the student is notified by the Goddard School.

2. Await Notification Letter from GSBE Admissions Committee

Advisement

GSBE majors are strongly encouraged to pursue advising opportunities in the Goddard School. Receiving timely advisement at critical junctures in an academic program will assist students in choosing the appropriate classes, in the appropriate sequence, and in preparing for employment opportunities. Advising for:

• transfer credits, general education, business foundation courses, and admission into the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics is provided by the GSBE Coordinator of Academic Advisement, Mara Sikkink, WB 211, (801) 626-6534;
• major selection, major declaration, major requirements, minors, second degrees, and certificates is provided by the GSBE major department;
• employment preparation, including internships and resumes, and business etiquette is provided by the GBSE Coordinator of Recruitment & Career Development, Patricia Wheeler, WB 213, (801) 626-7914.

Credit Policy

1. Obsolete Credit: John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics credit earned more than ten (10) years earlier than the proposed date of graduation will not be accepted toward University or major requirements unless validated through a challenge examination or approved by appropriate academic department chair.
2. Waiver Requests: Any exceptions to the printed John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics graduation requirements must be approved by the appropriate academic department chair prior to waiving, substituting, or taking the course(s) in question.

Transfer Credit Policy

1. Transfer students should submit transcripts from all institutions of higher education to the Weber State University Admissions office. Student Recruitment at (801) 626-6050 will consult with Admissions to determine which general education credits will be accepted by Weber State. Most courses with a grade of “C-” or higher are eligible for credit. However, some courses, such as the General Education MATH and ENGL Core requirements, may require a higher grade.
2. Students should establish transfer of general education work prior to meeting with the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics’ Coordinator of Academic Advisement. The Coordinator will consult with Goddard School academic departments to determine credit toward specific Goddard School requirements and address further transfer issues.
3. The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) Transfer Credit Guide has been established to indicate articulation of equivalent courses between the in-state public colleges and universities. Credits from business courses transferred from institutions not covered by the USHE Transfer Credit Guide are accepted only if approved by the appropriate Goddard School academic departments. Documentation which allows the Coordinator and department chairs to assess the content of courses taken may be required. This documentation may include: catalogs or bulletins; course outlines or syllabi; and transcripts. In the majority of cases, course credit which is not obsolete (see above) taken at institutions accredited by AACSB International will be accepted and applied to the Goddard School’s graduation requirements.
4. The Goddard School may require validation for courses taken at other institutions before credit is applied to Goddard School requirements. This validation may consist of either: passing a challenge exam; or completing the next course in a related sequence with a grade of “C” or better. Validation may be required where upper division credit is sought for lower division course work taken at another institution.
5. Students are reminded that the Weber State catalog states, “Acceptance of credit should not be confused with its application. Transfer credit may or may not apply to Weber State’s graduation requirements, regardless of the number of credits transferred. Credit other than that intended wholly to meet general education requirements, will be applied to Weber State’s specific degree program requirements upon the recommendation of the appropriate department chair.” This means credit that is accepted by Weber State may, or may not, apply to specific requirements within the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics.
6. Students transferring credits from institutions outside the U.S. should follow the guidelines for International Students. Transfer credits should appear on the student’s WSU transcript before meeting with the GSBE Coordinator of Academic Advisement or major department chair.   

Center for Business & Economic Development

Director: Ms. Beverly King
Location: Wattis Business Building, Room 218
Telephone: 801-626-7232

The Center for Business and Economic Development fosters a broad and continuing partnership between businesses, government agencies, and the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics. The Center encourages and facilitates professional development opportunities for faculty and students, promotes business and economic development in the community, and serves as a community resource for entrepreneurship and small business management. As a service organization, the Center provides business and technical assistance, training and education, and information to businesses and government agencies. Specific programs and services of the Center are listed below.

Small Business Development Center

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a partnership between Weber State University, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The SBDC provides a wide variety of seminars, workshops and courses in small business and entrepreneurship, as well as management assistance to small and emerging businesses in Northern Utah. Areas of consultation include business assessment and planning, marketing research and strategy, financial analysis and planning, debt and equity funding development, information technology, and human resource management.

Small Business Institute

The Small Business Institute (SBI) uses teams of senior-level or graduate students to provide management consulting and technical assistance to small business concerns. Students participating in the program receive university credit and the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. Participating businesses receive management assistance at no charge.

Child Center for Entrepreneurship

The William H. Child Center for Entrepreneurship supports the education of students in the creation of new business organizations, whether start-up firms, joint ventures or new subsidiaries of existing companies. Specific programs sponsored by the Center include the Utah Collegiate Entrepreneur Award program, an annual student business plan competition, outreach entrepreneurship education programs in area high schools, and student organizations, such as the Weber Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

International Programs

The John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics offers a number of curricular programs and study opportunities designed to enhance the global expertise of our students.

• Study abroad programs to China, Hong Kong, South-east Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe are regularly offered through the WSU Foreign Language Department, WSU Asian Studies Alliance and other academic departments on campus.

• The John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics has signed cooperative agreements with Fachhochschule Hof of the Federal Republic of Germany, the European Business School in Paris, France and Blaise Pascal University in Vichy, France Under the terms of these agreements, our students can enroll at these partner institutions without any additional tuition charge. The same privilege is extended to students from partner institutions who enroll at WSU.

• The School offers an International Certificate which may be awarded with a baccalaureate degree offered by the School. This program is described below.

Departments and Programs