John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics

Dr. Matthew Mouritsen, Interim 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, finance, business administration [with an emphasis in human resource management], marketing, economics, supply chain management, and management information systems; 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 Goddard School 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.

Interim Dean: Dr. Matthew Mouritsen
Location: Wattis Building, Room 201
Telephone Contact: Mary Ann Boles 801-626-7307

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

Academic Advisors: Karen Hicks, Alex Muller
Telephone: 801-626-6534
Location: Wattis Building, Room 211

Director of Career Services: Brett Merrell 801-626-7914
Location: Wattis Building, Room 213

Department Chairs/Directors

Graduate Program Directors

Goddard Business Centers Directors

John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics Mission Statement

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.

Vision

We will be a leader among our peer institutions in providing undergraduate and masters level business and economics education. Through the educational experiences we create, our students will be able to transform themselves into leaders who grow their communities and positively impact the world. We will be known for our scholarship, our commitment to the communities we serve, and our ability to prepare capable graduates.

Accessibility to Business & Economics Courses

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

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

Graduation Requirements

1. GPA Requirement: Candidates for Goddard School 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 Foundations GPA, Goddard School (major) 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

Students intending to pursue a Bachelor of Science, Associate of Science, or minors in Accounting or Economics from the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics must be formally admitted.

Criteria for admittance to the Goddard School:

• 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 six 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 Goddard School:

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:
      • Goddard School application student information
      • Essay as described on the Goddard School application
      • Accepting to abide by the Goddard School 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 Goddard School Admissions Committee

Advisement

John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics 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, admission into the Goddard School, major selection, major requirements, minors, second degrees, and certificates is provided by the Goddard School Director of Advising, Anne Hagopian, WB 211C, (801) 626-6534 and the Goddard School Academic Advisors, Alex Muller, WB 211A, (801) 626-6534 and Eric Hunter, WB 211B, (801) 626-6534;
• major declaration is provided by the Goddard School Advising Center, WB 211 A, B,or C or (801) 626-6534;
• major selection, employment preparation, including internships and resumes, and business etiquette is provided by the Goddard School Career Center, Brett Merrell, WB 213, (801) 626-7914.

Credit Policy

1. Obsolete Credit: John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics credits and certain MATH courses (MATH 1050 , 1080 , or 1210 ) 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 the appropriate academic department chair.
2. Waiver Requests: Any exceptions to the printed Goddard School 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 Advisement Center. The Advising Center 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 Advising Center 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 Goddard School.
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 Goddard School Advising Center or major department chair.   

Jerry & Vickie Moyes Center for Supply Chain Excellence

The Jerry & Vickie Moyes Center for Supply Chain Excellence provides outstanding educational and professional development opportunities for the Weber State Community. For instance, the Center sponsors a broad range of experiential learning activities including case competitions, international study abroad tours, field consulting studies, and mentored-student-led research. The Center also works closely with the business community to advance supply chain thinking and practice, offering development seminars on the “Whole-Brain Supply Chain”. Finally, the Center funds research in the areas of supply chain collaboration, process improvement, risk, and sustainability. The Center is located in room 205 of the E.O. Wattis Business Building.

Center for Tax Education & Research

The primary mission of the Center for Tax Education & Research is to provide high quality tax education to WSU students, interested members of the community and business professionals. The Center also actively supports tax research efforts by tax faculty, works with employers to supply jobs to Master of Taxation graduates, fosters relationships with alumni, and supports student recruiting efforts. Additionally, the Center offers continuing education programs to tax professionals and engages in other tax-related activities such as providing tax return preparation assistance to qualifying members of the public at no cost through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, hosting student tax competitions, and organizing seminars to discuss contemporary issues in taxation.

Center for Leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility

The Center for Leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility is an action-research center within John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics. We work closely with academia, business, partner organizations, and students to understand and promote socially responsible decision-making and research across the 3Ps (People, Planet, Profit). The Center will inspire students and leaders to engage fully with all of the dimensions of socially responsible decision-making in the workplace.

Hall Global Entrepreneurship Center

The Hall Global Entrepreneurship Center offers a wide-range of opportunities to motivate, inspire, and provide unique resources to help students achieve their dream of starting a business, or increase their creativity and develop an entrepreneurial mindset, which is highly sought after by today’s employers. Entrepreneurship students can qualify for up to $15,000 in seed funding to help launch a new business. Each year, our center also offers several full-tuition scholarships and nearly $40,000 in prize money from our various business competitions. Students can also attend our lecture series each semester and learn first-hand about the unique challenges and successes from inspirational, local entrepreneurs.

Bill Child Start-Up Center

The Bill Child Start-Up Center provides entrepreneurship students with a comfortable, collaborative space in which to work on their fledgling businesses.  The Center also hosts activities for student clubs, such as the Weber Entrepreneurs Association (WEA), and the Young Subaru Entrepreneurship Lecture Series.  Each week, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence hold office hours so that students can talk about their start-ups with entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, startup lawyers and other key professionals.  The Center is located in room 203 of the E.O. Wattis Building.

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.

• The John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics regularly offers study abroad programs to Asia and Europe.

• The Goddard School has signed cooperative agreements with the University of Applied Science - Hof, Germany, the European Business School in Paris, France, Shanghai Normal University, China, and University of Seoul, Korea.  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 partner institutions are located in:

  • China and Korea

  • Austria, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom

• The Goddard School has become a member of the TransAtlantic Business School Alliance (TABSA).  TABSA unites four U.S. and four European Universities that are working to share cultural and educational experiences with students across geographic boundaries.  Under the terms of the agreements, our students can study abroad at one of four European Universities for two years, after completing two years at the Goddard School, to achieve double Bachelor degrees from both WSU and the selected European University.

• The Goddard School offers an International Certificate which may be awarded with a baccalaureate degree offered by the School. This program description can be found under Institutional Certificate in the Degrees and/or Major Minor list.

Departments and Programs

Programs

• International Business & Economics Certificate of Proficiency
• International Business & Economics Certificate of Proficiency Language Emphasis