2024-2025 Undergraduate Course Catalog 
    
    Nov 01, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Course Catalog

Martin J. Whitman School of Management


 

Alexander McKelvie, Interim Dean
721 University Avenue Suite 415
whitman.syr.edu

About the School

Welcome to the Whitman School of Management, a top-ranked business school with a diverse faculty and strong focus on leadership building and community engagement. At the Whitman School, students develop a strong business sense across all aspects of management, providing them with the skills, opportunities, and motivation necessary to compete in a global environment.

The Whitman School is a state-of-the-art business school in both programming and facility, reflecting both Syracuse University’s commitment and history of innovative business education and the Whitman School’s role as a cutting-edge, experiential learning environment. The Whitman School continues to expand its technological resources to provide services exclusive to our students, in the form of equipment loans, device repair services, discounted printing, discounted and/or free software, remote access to specially licensed software, and lab environments that are updated regularly to reflect the technology that supports the Whitman curriculum. In addition, Whitman is a certified Certiport/Microsoft testing facility and encourages its students to become Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Certified. Students enrolled at Whitman get the best of both worlds, enjoying the intimate and interconnected community of the Whitman School with all the resources and opportunities of a world-class research university.

The Whitman School of Management continues to be ranked among the nation’s top business programs. Whitman’s entrepreneurship program has been ranked nationwide by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneur Magazine/The Princeton Review; Fortune Small Business; and U.S. News & World Report. Many of Whitman’s specialty programs have been highly ranked by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, including accounting, corporate strategy, entrepreneurship, operations management, sustainability, business law, marketing management, and ethics.

Accreditation Information

The Whitman School has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) since 1920.

Educational Vision, Mission and Core Values

Common Purpose
We inspire students for a world of accelerating change.
Vision
We aspire to be a pre-eminent and inclusive school of management that:
  • Prepares students for professional success, engaged citizenship, and lifelong learning;
  • Produces high-impact research that advances business and society.
Mission
Whitman’s mission is to develop analytic, globally-minded, innovative and entrepreneurial leaders and professionals through the power of:
  • Transformative learning experiences;
  • Innovative ideas and high-impact research insights;
  • Collaborative networks of lifelong learning and discovery.
We strive to achieve our mission by:
  • Leveraging the breadth and richness of Syracuse University’s schools and colleges;
  • Focusing on domains that benefit student learning and in which we can excel;
  • Engaging with our academic, alumni, and industry partners.
Whitman’s Core Values:
INTEGRITY - We are an ethical community that values transparency, accountability, responsibility, respect and professionalism.
INCLUSION - We strive to be a student-centered community that is supportive of all. We are open-minded. We engage and encourage diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.
COLLABORATION - We believe the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We value teamwork as the most successful way to reach our goals.
INNOVATION - We are forward-thinking with a global mindset, always exploring new and creative ideas that can bring positive changes to the world.
EXCELLENCE - We persevere, always challenging ourselves and each other to improve in pursuit of outstanding quality in processes and outcomes, leading to overall success.

Undergraduate Education

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management offers nine programs leading to the B.S. degree. They are in accounting, business analytics, entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, finance, management, marketing management, real estate, retail management, and supply chain management. The school also offers dual programs with arts & sciences, citizenship and public affairs, information studies, public communications, and sport & human dynamics. Each of these programs is designed to be completed within four years.

Each student is assigned a professional advisor who will guide them for the entire program. Students select a major any time before the end of the second semester of the sophomore year.

The Whitman School of Management fully supports and participates in students’ knowledge and skill development through Syracuse University’s institutional learning goals, the Shared Competencies. Through the Shared Competencies, students can expect to learn how to integrate aspects from their major courses, liberal arts requirements, and co-curricular activities.  These are invaluable skills that are applicable to business education and industry practice.

In the course of earning their degree, students are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

  1. Display competence in the functional areas of business and their interdependencies.
  2. Employ logical, analytical, and technological skills in decision making.
  3. Develop organizational strategies taking into account internal and external factors.
  4. Communicate and interact with others in a professional manner.
  5. Demonstrate exemplary personal and professional behaviors and apply knowledge in a selected area of study.
  6. Be aware of and engage in a diverse and global society.

General Regulations

For academic rules and regulations that apply to all University students, see the Academic Rules  section of this catalog. This annual publication also contains special regulations that apply to all students matriculated in the Whitman School.

The students, instructional staff, and administrators of the Whitman School recognize that honesty, integrity, and respect for others are fundamental expectations in the academic and business communities. The Whitman School follows the Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures.


Whitman Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements


The B.S. degree, in any of the 9 areas available, requires at least 122 credits, distributed as indicated below. In addition, all students must complete two university-wide required courses: First-year Seminar (FYS 101 ) and a 3-credit IDEA course, as well as global diversity, community engagement, and internship requirements before graduating.

University-wide Requirements


All incoming and transfer students are required to take a 1-credit FYS 101  course and a 3-credit IDEA course that can be selected from an approved list .

Quantitative Skills


Total Credits: 13


Total Credits: 9


Total Credits: 9


Arts & Science Electives


  • 27 credits taken through any subject offered by the College of Arts & Sciences. IDEA courses offered in the College of Arts & Sciences can be taken to fulfill the 3-credit IDEA course requirement. FYS 101  counts towards 1 required A&S elective credit.

Total Credits: 27


Introductory Core


In addition to management coursework taken within other skills areas, students are required to complete the following coursework in the management core:

Major Field Specialization


  • All students, except those majoring in accounting, take 15 credits in the major area beyond core requirements. Students must contact an academic advisor in the chosen major field to discuss specific requirements.

Total Credits: 15


Business Elective


  • A business elective is any upper-division course in the Whitman School that gives credit but is not used to fill requirements in other groups. This course cannot be from the student’s major area. IDEA courses offered in the Whitman School can be taken to fulfill the 3-credit IDEA course requirement.

Total Credits: 3


Free Electives


  • Students complete additional credits from any credit-bearing course with the following conditions: no more than 3 credits of physical education, health, or music ensemble may be used; and students may not take courses considered to have content that duplicates courses already taken. IDEA courses taken outside of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Whitman School can be taken to fulfill the 3-credit course requirement.

Total Credits: 12


Global Diversity

Whitman students must have some form of global experience. For most students, this is achieved through study abroad. Students may also fulfill the requirement with the completion of two courses from the Global Diversity Electives list (which may fulfill other course requirements for the degree).

Community Engagement

Students are required to apply their management skills and knowledge to community problems. This is realized through a Community Service Project in which 50 hours at a maximum of five organizations are completed throughout the undergraduate experience.  Services must be completed at a non-profit and requires pre-approval from the Whitman Undergraduate Office.  Examples of approved sites available on the Whitman website. 

Internship

Students are required to have at least one internship after they acquire junior standing. The internship should consist of 120 hours on-site, be a natural extension of the classroom, and provide substantial opportunity for knowledge attainment and skill development. Exposure to real job situations related to the students major is required. The internship should be registered in Handshake and approved by the Whitman Career Center prior to beginning.

Grading Policy

The faculty at the Whitman School developed a uniform grading policy for the undergraduate program. The policy has three goals: (1) to ensure that grading is fair and consistent across courses, (2) to encourage students to take their coursework seriously, and (3) to ensure faculty deliver a challenging academic experience.

The policy is as follows: For all undergraduate courses taken at the Whitman School with 25 or more students enrolled, the mean grade shall be no higher than 3.3 and the maximum percentage of A/A- is 33%.

Multiple sections taught by the same professor will be aggregated together to calculate the mean grade and percentage of A/A- awarded. Deviations to the above policy may occur depending on individual class performance.

Other Programs and Services

Dual Programs

The Whitman School, in cooperation with other schools and colleges within the University, offers dual programs that make it possible for students to pursue two programs of study concurrently. Students in these programs are assigned an advisor in each college.

Students enrolled in dual programs fulfill degree requirements in each school and receive one degree (one diploma) jointly conferred by both schools. Dual programs require more than 122 credits, normally required for graduation, but can often be completed within four years. The Whitman School offers the following dual programs with the College of Arts and Sciences  specializing in the Sciences and Math (minimum 142 credits), the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs  with a major in International Relations (minimum 142 credits); the School of Information Studies  (minimum of 141 credits); the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications  (minimum of 150 credits); and David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics  specializing in Public Health (minimum of 152 credits or Sport Management (minimum of 148 credits). 

3+3 Joint Degree Program with the College of Law

The Whitman School has an established dual program with the College of Law to complete the BS/JD in 6 years.  This establishes an early admission opportunity for outstanding Whitman students to complete three years of undergraduate students before entering the first year of Law School. Conditional acceptances are offered to incoming first-year students after admission to Whitman School.  Students must complete a minimum of 107 credits by the end of the 3rd year and maintain a 3.3 GPA to be eligible for consideration with the conditional acceptance.  The LSAT is a required component for the Law School application and applicants must meet the median score equivalent or higher than that of the incoming College of Law students (most recently a 155).  Students must also demonstrate appropriate character and fitness for the study of law.  Final admissions decisions to the JD program are made by the College of Law.

Further information about dual programs can be obtained from the Office of Undergraduate Programs, Whitman Suite 215.

Study Abroad

The Whitman School, in cooperation with Syracuse Abroad, offers students the opportunity to participate in a program of study abroad in London, England; Santiago, Chile; Madrid, Spain; Strasbourg, France; or Florence, Italy; during the fall or spring semester. Students may choose from a variety of courses in arts and sciences while developing sensitivity to cultural differences.

During the summer, students may participate in a variety of programs spanning from 2 to 8 weeks. Whitman offers a number of short-term immersion trips during the school breaks to locations such as Kenya or East Asia.

Syracuse Abroad also partners with over 60 institutions in cities across the globe to expand the locations and opportunities for students.

It is essential that students planning to study abroad contact their Whitman academic advisor during their first or second year.  Students interested in taking coursework in a foreign country must go through a program that is recognized by the Syracuse Abroad Office. Students may not take a leave of absence to study abroad with another institution with the intent to earn academic credit.

For further information about study abroad, contact SU Abroad, 106 Walnut Place.

Intra-University Transfer

Syracuse University students interested in an intra-University transfer into the Whitman School must meet the intra-University transfer requirements. To be considered eligible for transfer, students must have completed at least 30 credits at Syracuse University (two academic semesters), including two of the following or their equivalents: MAT 221 , MAT 284 , and ECN 101 . Students are admitted as space becomes available and considered based on the following criteria: cumulative GPA, rigor of academic coursework taken at SU, engagement on and off campus, and an optional professor recommendation. Whitman only admits students for the fall semester - admissions decisions are made over the summer. Students interested in transferring are required to attend an Information Session (in person or virtual) and meet with an advisor in the Whitman School’s Office of Undergraduate Programs.  All application requirements must be completed by the last day of the finals of their freshmen year, no summer coursework will be considered.  Decisions will be made by a committee over the summer and communicated to all applicants.  

Transfer Credit into the Whitman Program

The Whitman School limits the total number of credits that can be accepted after matriculation into the Whitman School.  Once a student matriculates into Whitman, only 12 additional credits can be taken outside Syracuse University (with prior approval by an academic advisor) and transferred back to count towards degree requirements.  Additionally, all transfer coursework must be taken through a US domestic institution.  Coursework taken through an International Institution will not be accepted after matriculation into the Whitman Program.

Minors Available to Management Students

Students in the Whitman School are encouraged to pursue a minor offered by other schools or colleges, and should seek assistance from their academic advisor in choosing a minor that will enhance their academic program. With careful and early planning, many minors can fit into the undergraduate curriculum without a need for extra coursework. While management students are allowed to pursue most minors offered outside the Whitman School, provided that they have the appropriate prerequisites, they most often choose a minor in economics, information management and technology, psychology, public communication studies, or a foreign language.

Minors in Management

Minor Coordinator: Erica Gromny
215 Whitman School of Management
315-443-2361 or whitmanadvising@syr.edu

The Whitman School offers several minors, allowing students to pursue either business minor or a more specialized program that provides in-depth study in one area of management. A minor in management can help students learn about subjects that contribute to success in business, not-for-profit, and government organizations. Knowledge in management is seen as beneficial by many prospective employers.

The minors in Whitman are available to matriculated undergraduate students from all Syracuse University schools and colleges other than the Whitman School, provided that they have the permission of their home school or college, a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.2 at the time of application, and a minimum of four semesters on campus to complete the requirements. 3.2 is the minimum GPA required for the minor, however decisions are made on a space available basis.  A student may declare a minor in: Accounting , Business Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises , Finance , Marketing , Real Estate , Retail Management , and Strategic Management . The details of each of the minor programs can be found under Academic Offerings.

There are two deadlines for submitting applications for management minors: November 1 and April 1 of each academic year. Due to course sequencing and enrollment limitations, students must have a minimum four semesters on campus to complete the minor requirements. Any student wishing to apply for a management minor after the spring of the sophomore year will be ineligible to declare the minor due to space availability and course sequencing.

To Declare a Minor in Management

  1. Check with your home school or college office to make sure you have room in your program for the required courses. Also check that you have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2.
  2. Complete the online minor application form on the Whitman minor webpage (keep in mind the April 1 and November 1 deadlines).
  3. Expect to hear a decision via email around the deadline date. If accepted, official declaration paperwork will be sent to the home college. They will approve the declaration and give you instructions about how to get the minor officially posted to your SU record. 

Management Interdisciplinary Minors

The Whitman School has two minors in cooperation with another school/college on campus. These minors are open to Whitman students in addition to non-Whitman students and have separate minor declaration instructions than the ones listed for “Minors for Management”.

Engineering & Computer Science Management Minor - Offered in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Please refer to the official description on the ECS page .

Infrastructure Minor - Offered in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Please refer to the official description on the ECS page .

Transferring Courses into Minors in Management

All 18 credits must be taken through Syracuse University for a letter grade.  No transfer credit will be considered for the Management minor.

Facilities

The Whitman School of Management’s 160,000-square-foot sustainable building opened in 2005, with a central focus on students and creating an environment that promotes a culture of collegiality and a high-tech, world-class learning experience. To provide that experience, the Whitman School creates an open community atmosphere with advanced resources and team-oriented learning spaces, including:

  • 22 classrooms
  • 200-seat auditorium
  • 20 team meeting rooms each for graduate and undergraduate students
  • three-story, 4000-square-foot Grand Hall
  • undergraduate and graduate computer clusters
  • 74 faculty offices
  • a faculty research center
  • an Investment Research Center
  • a center for entrepreneurial start-ups
  • a 100-seat cafe
  • a special-events room with outdoor terrace

The Whitman School of Management’s building is dedicated to sustainability, providing environmentally friendly resources and features for an enhanced “green” experience.

Research Centers & Institutes

The Whitman School building boasts many spaces for innovative and collaborative research that provide experiential learning and prepare students for careers across a broad range of business areas. Sophisticated software and integrated technology coupled with advanced workshops and seminars create an ideal learning atmosphere. Whitman’s diverse research centers and institutes include:

Programs

Major

Minor

Combined Degree

Other Programs