Undergraduate Catalog

College of Business and Technology

Dean: Dr. Craig A. Conrad
Associate Dean: Dr. Tara N. Feld
Office: Stipes Hall 101
Telephone: (309) 298-2442
Fax: (309) 298-1039
Email: CBT@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/cbt

Program Offerings and Locations

  • Minor in Business: Macomb, Quad Cities
  • Minor in Pre-MBA: Macomb, Quad Cities

The College of Business and Technology at Western Illinois University provides a focus for educational excellence that promotes the intellectual and personal growth of participants and enhances their contributions to individuals and organizations to thrive, contribute, and lead in a global society. The activities and operations of the college are not regionally restricted, as the western part of Illinois is an integral part of a unified social and economic infrastructure that extends across the United States to the world.

Several programs within the College of Business and Technology have earned accreditation or other external recognition:

  • The Business and Accountancy programs (undergraduate and graduate) are fully accredited by AACSB International.
  • The Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering programs are accredited by ABET.
  • The B.S. in Cybersecurity is a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE–CD) validated program of study in Cyber Defense (CD).

The essence of educational excellence involves a qualified and scholarly faculty, a diverse student body, small class sizes, the use of current technology, the best aspects of a small college atmosphere, and a positive learning environment. Intellectual and personal growth includes cultivating scholarly virtues, promoting the concept of life-long learning, encouraging faculty development, and generating and sharing information and knowledge. Participants are students, faculty, graduates, and all others involved in the educational process. Every individual is an active leaner and teacher through shared responsibility, collaboration, and mutual respect. The college contributes to the success of future and current leaders, managers, and professionals in the global community. Faculty are engaged in teaching, research, and service; students are prepared for meaningful positions and for life; and employers recognize the value of an education from the college.

Annually, a wide variety of lectures, symposia, and discussions designed to augment classroom work are presented. While many of these professional programs appeal primarily to business people and business and technology students, increasing emphasis is being placed on the broad social spectrum of business endeavors. The goal of these varied programs is to engage students in the concepts of social responsibility and ethical business practices while encouraging the use of quantitative, technical, and theoretical approaches necessary for problem solving in the complex milieu of today’s global business environment.

Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Gamma Sigma is the national scholastic honor society in the field of business. Election to membership is available to both undergraduate and graduate students in business. Selection is based upon outstanding scholastic achievement.

Departments and Programs

Students in the College of Business and Technology may pursue studies in the following departments/schools and programs:

School of Accounting, Finance, Economics, and Decision Sciences
  • B.B. in Accountancy
  • B.B. in Business Analytics
  • B.A. in Economics
  • B.B. in Economics
  • B.B. in Finance
School of Agriculture
  • B.S. in Agriculture with options in:
    • Agricultural Business
    • Agricultural Science
    • Teacher Education
School of Computer Sciences
  • B.S. in Computer Science
  • B.S. in Cybersecurity
  • B.S. in Information Systems
School of Engineering and Technology
  • B.S. in Civil Engineering
  • B.S. in Construction and Facilities Management
  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering
  • B.S. in Engineering
  • B.S. in Engineering Technology
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
School of Management and Marketing
  • B.B. in Human Resource Management
  • B.B. in Management
  • B.B. in Marketing with options in:
    • Digital Marketing
    • Enterprise Marketing
    • Omni-Channel Marketing
  • B.B. in Supply Chain Management

The College of Business and Technology offers minor programs in the same fields as the major programs and options listed above (except Civil Engineering, Construction and Facilities Management, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering). In addition, the college offers the following minor programs that have no corresponding majors: Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Technology Management, Agronomy, Algorithms and Data Management, Animal Science, App Development, Business, Cannabis Cultivation, Community Forestry, Computer Science Education, Construction and Facilities Technology, Horticulture, Industrial Technology, Information Technology, International Business, Manufacturing Technology, Natural Resources Conservation, Network Technologies, Operations Management, Plant Breeding, Pre-MBA, Precision Agriculture, and Sustainable Business. The requirements for the minor in Business are listed below. Requirements for all other minors are listed under the appropriate department sections.

The College of Business and Technology also provides advising for pre-professional programs in Forestry, Pre-MBA, and Veterinary Medicine.

Minor in Business: 24 s.h.
  • ACCT 201, 202; ECON 231, 232; STAT 171 15 s.h.
  • Select three of the following courses: 9 s.h.
    FIN 331, IS 340, MGT 349, MGT 481, MGT/OM 352, MKTG 327
Pre-MBA Minor: (21–27 s.h.)

See Pre-Professional Programs.

Limit on Business Credits

Students who are not declared as Bachelor of Business majors may enroll/count a maximum of 29 total hours of coursework with the following prefixes: ACCT, BAT, B L, DS, FIN, HRM, MGT, MKTG, OM, and SCM. Business courses in excess of 29 hours will not be counted toward degree or graduation requirements for non-business majors. Exceptions to this rule require the permission of the Dean of the College of Business and Technology.

Major in Business

Acceptance as a declared business major requires the completion of at least 60 s.h. and, except as provided below, at least 12 s.h. completed at WIU with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 at WIU. The student must have also completed ACCT 201 and 202, ECON 231 and 232, MATH 137, and STAT 171. Students not eligible to declare may enroll in a Pre-Business Program. Enrollment in these programs does not guarantee acceptance into one of the major areas as a candidate for the Bachelor of Business degree.

Transfer students who have earned 60 hours prior to matriculation at WIU, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.50, and who have completed ACCT 201 and 202, ECON 231 and 232, MATH 137, and STAT 171 will enter as declared majors.

All students must have attained junior standing in order to enroll in 300- and 400-level business courses with the exception of courses in Economics.

Pre-Business students who have earned 60 hours, but are otherwise ineligible to declare a business major, will be limited to a maximum of 29 hours of business courses (see Limit on Business Credits above) and may be removed from business courses.

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 24 s.h. in the major area as defined by the appropriate department. In special cases, the chairperson of the major department, the Dean of the College of Business and Technology, and the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS) may approve a course outside the college as a substitute for a major area requirement.

After satisfying the University General Education Curriculum, the Business Core, and the major area courses, the remaining courses may be taken as open electives.

Advising Centers

Students majoring in Agriculture, Engineering, or Engineering Technology receive academic advising services in the Agriculture and Engineering Technology Advising Office, located in Knoblauch Hall 110, telephone (309) 298-2100.

Students majoring in Business disciplines or Computer Sciences receive academic advising services in the Business and Computer Sciences Advising Center, located in Stipes Hall 133, telephone (309) 298-1619.

Students majoring in business disciplines or Information Systems who are primarily enrolled at the WIU—Quad Cities campus receive advising services from the WIU—Quad Cities advising office, telephone (309) 762-9481.

College Graduation Requirements

In addition to meeting University graduation requirements, students in the College of Business and Technology must:

  1. Complete 120–126 s.h. of credit in approved courses, of which a minimum of 42 s.h. must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
  2. Complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science degree as outlined for specific majors.
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS MAJORS
  • Complete the business major core courses.
  • Complete the last 30 s.h. in residence.
  • Complete at least 50% of the required business credit hours in residence.
BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MAJORS
  • Satisfy the University residence and other general requirements including the University General Education Curriculum and minimum scholastic standards.
  • Complete an appropriate minor or comprehensive major in lieu of a major-minor combination.

Licensure to Teach Agriculture

Students enrolled in the School of Agriculture who wish to obtain a teaching license must meet all criteria for admission to the Teacher Education Program, complete the Teacher Education curriculum, and complete the major or minor requirements for Teacher Education students. See School of Agriculture and Teacher Education for additional information and specific requirements.

Bachelor of Business Degree

In addition to the University General Education Curriculum, all candidates for the Bachelor of Business degree must complete the following requirements:

Business Core

Accounting (ACCT 201 and 202): 6 s.h.
Professional Preparation and Business Communication (BCOM 320†): 3 s.h.
Business Law (B L 230/B L 432 for Accountancy majors): 3 s.h.
Business Statistics (DS 303): 3 s.h.
Finance (FIN 331): 3 s.h.
Global Studies (ECON 170 or MGT 125/ACCT 477 for Accountancy majors): 3 s.h.
Information Systems (IS 340): 3 s.h.
Management (MGT 349 and 490): 6 s.h.
Marketing (MKTG 327): 3 s.h.
Business and Technology (BAT 190 and 490): 0 s.h.
Total: 33 s.h.

† Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course.

Students who transfer an equivalent course with less than the hours shown may seek approval from the Dean of the College of Business and Technology to complete the core requirements with fewer than 33 s.h.