Background

The College of Business offers an undergraduate degree program in business administration – the bachelor of business administration; three graduate degree programs: Master of Science (MS) in Accounting, Master of Business Administration (MBA) including an executive program (EMBA), and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) offered as an executive option.   

Vision Statement:

The Prairie View A&M University College of Business envisions becoming a nationally recognized business program known for its transformative impact on students through an education that empowers them to reach their full potential.

Mission Statement:

The Prairie View A&M University College of Business transforms students from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds into ethical business professionals and leaders who are entrepreneurial, productive, and prepared to succeed in the global economy.  We achieve this through our strong commitment to high-quality teaching, relevant and impactful research, and outreach to the community.

Instructional Organization

Instructional Organization

Program	Degree Offered
Accounting	BBA, MS
Business Administration for Executives	EMBA
Business Administration	DBA
Finance	BBA
General Business Administration	MBA
Management	BBA
Management Information Systems	BBA
Marketing	BBA

Accreditation

All baccalaureate and graduate degree programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

Program Learning Goals (BBA)

• Program Goal 1: Mastery of Content. Graduates will demonstrate an ability to integrate and use knowledge from multiple business disciplines and will demonstrate proficiency in their major area of business discipline.
• Program Goal 2: Ethics. Graduates will have an ethical perspective.
• Program Goal 3: Global Perspective. Graduates will have a global perspective.
• Program Goal 4: Communications. Graduates will demonstrate an ability to be effective communicators.

Transfer Credit

Prairie View A&M University has formal agreements with several area community colleges for course transfer to ensure a smooth transition for students with an associate degree to a baccalaureate degree program. The College of Business will generally accept credit for freshman and sophomore level courses from community colleges which may be applied to the student's respective degree plan.  For additional details, contact the Department Head or Dean.

Graduate Programs in Business

The College of Business offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in Accounting (MS), a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA), and an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) for working executives and professionals.

• The Master of Science in Accounting prepares students for careers in accounting; the MS in Accounting degree requires the successful completion of a minimum of 30 SCH. 
• The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is offered in Houston at the PVAMU Northwest Houston Center. MBA courses are also available online, allowing students the flexibility to manage their coursework while working.  The curriculum and program learning goals are identical to those of the courses delivered in the classroom. Some scheduling adjustments have been made to accommodate the online environment.
• An Executive MBA option is designed for experienced professionals and managers who will benefit from understanding the business principles they need to be successful in growing their own businesses or advancing with their employers. Faculty and corporate mentors provide useful skills and a framework to craft a better business strategy as well as understand key tactical and strategic business challenges in a global economy.
• The DBA program seeks to serve the educational and career development needs of executives and professionals. It differs from the traditional PhD program in a number of ways. Traditional PhD programs are designed to prepare students who want to become full-time professors, emphasizing developing new theories and conducting scholarly research. Unlike most traditional doctoral programs, the DBA is designed for working adults who cannot take time off from work and is not a fully residential program. The residential component is on weekends (Friday and Saturday) once a month. The rest of the learning takes place online.

Both the MBA and Executive MBA programs require the successful completion of a minimum of 36 semester credit hours (SCH). There is no thesis option required in the MS or the MBA programs.

Community/Junior College Transfers

Community/Junior college students who plan to transfer to the College of Business are advised to pursue courses recommended for the freshman/sophomore years as outlined in this section. Upper-division (3000/4000 level) courses taught in the College of Business should not be taken at a community/junior college. The College has formal agreements with several area community colleges for course transfer to ensure a seamless transition to a baccalaureate degree program.

Honor Societies, Professional and Service Organizations

Business students are encouraged to participate in professional organizations and honor societies. These organizations allow students to develop professional skills, e.g., teamwork, planning, organizing, leadership, and communication. The following organizations are open to business majors.  Discipline-specific professional organizations are usually open to all students at Prairie View A&M University and are discussed in the department sections of the catalog.  

American Marketing Association (AMA), is an international society for marketing professionals, is one of the largest professional associations for marketers. Members participate in regional, national and local marketing activities.

Beta Alpha Psi is an honor organization for financial information students and professionals. All chapters of BAP are AACSB and/or EQUIS accredited.  Membership is available to those who meet the eligibility criteria. 

Beta Gamma Sigma is the honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in a business program accredited by AACSB International.

Dean's Student Advisory Council is composed of the student organization presidents, one elected representative from each of the College of Business clubs/organizations and the College of Business Senator(s). The Council serves as a liaison between the Dean of the College of Business and students.

Enactus is a nonprofit organization that gives students the tools to learn the free enterprise system in a real working situation. Enactus challenges students on more than 800 college campuses nationwide to take what they’re learning in the classroom and use their knowledge to better their communities.

The Hispanic Business Student Association is a group of individuals united with a similar academic and personal interest in business, with the desire to be united in a professional association to promote group identity, to develop professionally, to encourage students to self-improve, to foster moral and ethical standards, to recognize academic and professional achievement, to cultivate a sense of professional and civic responsibility and service to promote the study of accounting, finance, management and any business-related subject.

Association for Information Systems (AIS) is the premier global organization for information systems professionals. AIS student chapter is for students planning for careers in information systems (IS) or related fields. AIS PVAMU Student Chapter allows students to network with faculty advisors and student chapters at other colleges and universities. The chapter also provides the students with opportunities to network with industry professionals and explore career opportunities in IS or related fields. 

The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) is a national organization for accountants and accounting students. NABA encourages and helps students enter the accounting profession, promotes professional development in accounting, and provides assistance in developing accounting education for members of minority groups. Membership is open to students majoring in accounting and others who intend to enter the accounting profession.

PV Finance Association/Scholars of Finance promotes the stimulation of the students’ interest in finance, the achievement of excellence among students in the field of study in the department, applying academic knowledge to practical situations, and the promotion of ethical principles.

Voices of Distinction offers students an opportunity to improve their public speaking, business communication and presentation skills.

Special Programs

Double Majors

Students enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs in the College of Business who elect to complete the requirements of two majors will be awarded the BBA degree with a double major. (See requirements for a second baccalaureate degree under the General Academic Information Graduation section of the Academic Catalog.)

Certificates

Students must consult with their academic advisor to ensure the courses for the certificate meet the requirements of the declared degree program.  If the courses do not apply to the declared degree plan, the courses for the certificate will not qualify for federal aid under Course Program of Study (CPoS) requirements.

Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

This is a special program designed to enable non-business and business majors to gain functional knowledge and skills in business to become successful entrepreneurs. Requirements for the Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship are listed in the Department of Management and Marketing section of the catalog.

Minor Fields of Study

Students are encouraged to complete a minor in a field other than their major to enhance the value of their baccalaureate degree. See the next section for details on the minors offered by the College of Business. 

Internships and Cooperative Education

Opportunities for practical experience in the business world are available through the co-op and/or internship programs. Eligibility for these structured work experiences includes, but is not limited to, sophomore or higher standing with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 as well as satisfactory completion of a few business courses as indicated by the Department Head.  Students can enroll in one of several elective courses offered to earn credit for their internship experience.