Sam M. Walton College of Business

Mission and Objectives

Vision Statement

Through our teaching, research, and service, the Sam M. Walton College of Business will be a thought leader and a catalyst for transforming lives in Arkansas, the United States and the world.

Core Values

Excellence: We are driven to be the best in everything we do.

Professionalism: We operate with integrity, humility, respect, and Inclusion.

Innovation: We imagine possibilities, we create, and we inspire others.

Collegiality: We respect each individual, we value our differences, and we welcome all.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Sam M. Walton College of Business is to advance and disseminate business knowledge using a diverse, inclusive, and global perspective and to encourage innovation in our primary strategic endeavors: Retail, Data Analytics, and Entrepreneurship. 

Facilities and Resources

The Walton College offers degree programs for undergraduate students and for graduate students at both the master’s and doctoral levels.

The Walton College is housed in modern four buildings supporting on-campus programs. These attractive facilities provide technology-equipped classrooms and state-of-the-art computer laboratories for both business classes and individual use. The buildings also house faculty and administrative offices, an honors program study area with computer access, the George W. Edwards Jr. Career Suite, the Garrison Financial Institute, and large study areas equipped for individual as well as group studying.

The library of the college is part of the general University Libraries and is housed in Mullins Library. The business and economics collection comprises approximately 55,000 volumes and makes this library one of the best in the region.

Walton College also operates centers, hubs, labs and studios for research, outreach, and public service. Information about centers may be found in the University Centers and Research Units section of this catalog. Walton College centers include the following:

  • Behavioral Business Research Lab
  • Bessie B. Moore Center for Economic Education
  • Blockchain Center for Excellence
  • Center for Business and Economic Research
  • Executive Education
  • Garrison Financial Institute
  • McMillon Innovation Studio
  • Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Supply Chain Management Research Center
  • The Sustainability Consortium
  • Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace

Degrees Offered

Undergraduate students may pursue curricula leading to one of the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A), Bachelor of Science in International Business (B.S.I.B.). In each of these degree programs, the pre-business requirements must be completed before students may enroll in upper division business courses. Students in Walton College may pursue an academic minor in business or in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Walton College also offers business minors for non-business students. Degree programs and minors are outlined on subsequent pages.

College Admission Requirements

All students admitted to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, are eligible for admission to the Sam M. Walton College of Business. Students will be required to follow the degree program requirements set forth in the catalog corresponding to the student’s first semester in Walton College, not the first semester of enrollment at the University of Arkansas.

College Scholarships

High school graduates who expect to enroll in Walton College are encouraged to apply for scholarships made available to freshmen by individuals, business firms, and organizations. Also available to freshmen, regardless of degree program, are freshmen academic scholarships. Current Walton College students may apply for both college and departmental scholarships beginning in January of each year for the following academic year. Information on these financial awards may be secured from the University Scholarship Office and the Walton College Undergraduate Programs Office.

Student Organizations

In addition to the general university student organizations, Walton College Student Ambassadors, Leadership Walton and a Business Dean’s Student Advisory Board, there are several college societies open to Walton College students. These include the following:

  • American Marketing Association
  • Association for Information Systems
  • Beta Alpha Psi (accounting honorary)
  • Beta Gamma Sigma (business honorary)
  • Enactus (formerly SIFE)
  • Finance Club
  • Future Women Business Leaders
  • National Association of Black Accountants
  • Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics honorary)
  • Phi Beta Delta (international scholars honorary)
  • S.A.K.E. (Students Acquiring Knowledge Through Enterprise)
  • Society for Human Resource Management
  • Student Society for Management Education
  • Students of Retailing Excellence (STORE)
  • Transportation and Logistics Association
  • Women Impacting Supply Excellence (WISE)

Eight-Semester Degree Program Policy

College Academic Regulations

Pre-Business Requirements

Students pursuing a degree in Walton College are classified as pre-business with an intended major until all pre-business requirements are fulfilled. The following policies apply to the pre-business program:

To be eligible to enroll in upper-division business courses in Walton College, a student must complete the Walton College computer competency requirement, ISYS 1123and maintain at least a 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) overall grade-point average (GPA) in addition to completing the 31 credit hours listed below of pre-business core courses (or their equivalents), also with at least a 2.50 GPA. Further, a student must complete all courses offered to meet this requirement with a grade of “C” or better or the requirement for graduation. The pre-business core courses are as follows:

ACCT 20133
ACCT 2023 13
COMM 1313
ECON 2013
ECON 2023
ENGL 10133
ENGL 10233
ISYS 11233
MATH 2043
MATH 2053
BUSI 1111
BUSI 1033
1

Students majoring or minoring  in Accounting or Finance must complete ACCT 2023.

Students’ records will be evaluated each semester to determine whether a student should be moved to a major and have pre-business classification removed.  After completing pre-business requirements and  being admitted into his or her major, the student is expected to arrange for a pre-graduation check by the Undergraduate Programs Office to ascertain remaining degree requirements.

Business Core Requirements

Students pursuing a degree in Walton College must complete the following business core courses.

BLAW 20133
ISYS 21033
FINN 20433
MGMT 21033
SEVI 30133
MKTG 34333
SCMT 21033

Registration in Junior/Senior-Level Walton College Courses

Walton College students must complete the pre-business requirements prior to enrollment in junior- or senior-level courses in Walton College.

Non-degree seeking students and students enrolled in other colleges are subject to the same course prerequisites as students within Walton College. Specific exceptions to this policy must be addressed to the executive director for undergraduate programs in Walton College.

Restrictions on General Education Electives: Only three hours total of general education electives will be allowed in Physical Education Activity (PEAC) or Dance Education Activity (DEAC) courses.

Transfer of Credit Policies

In addition to the university policies controlling the granting of credit for course work taken at other institutions, the following policies apply to transfer work applied to any undergraduate business program:

  1. Transfer students considering admission to pursue a major in Walton College must have completed the pre-business courses and requirements listed above and have a 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) cumulative grade-point average in the pre-business courses and in his or her overall grade-point average. Transfer students will be classified as pre-business students until pre-business core requirements have been completed.
  2. A pre-business and overall grade-point average for courses accepted for transfer by the University of Arkansas will be calculated and used to evaluate the completion of the pre-business requirements by students transferring courses from other institutions.
  3. Unless exceptions are granted at the time of admission to the University of Arkansas, transfer courses accepted by the university will not be accepted by Walton College for degree purposes unless a grade of “C” or better has been earned in each of these courses. (See the university Transfer of Credit page.)
  4. A transferred course cannot carry more degree hours than are available in a similar University of Arkansas course. For example, a four-hour principles of economics course transfers as three degree hours.
  5. Business courses completed at the freshman or sophomore level at another institution will not count as equivalents of junior- or senior-level courses offered in Walton College (University of Arkansas), and no transfer credit shall be granted for any such course(s) in Walton College.
  6. At least 50 percent of program requirements in business and economics must be taken in residence.
  7. SEVI 3013, 21-24 hours of upper division courses required for the completion of the major, and 3-6 hours of additional, upper division business courses are required degree must be taken in residence at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
  8. Junior- or senior-level core courses in business and economics may be transferred from a school accredited by AACSB International.
  9. Junior- or senior-level core courses taken at a non-AACSB International-accredited, four-year institution must either be repeated or validated by procedures specified and approved by the assistant dean for undergraduate programs.
  10. Junior- or senior-level electives in business and economics taken at a non-AACSB International-accredited, four-year institution may be accepted in transfer as junior/senior business electives.
  11. In cases of minors or transfer, students who take courses with different names but with similar content at different institutions or in different colleges within the University of Arkansas, may be allowed degree credit for only one of the courses (i.e.: principles of economics and agricultural economics).  Students pursuing degrees and minors within the Walton College must enroll in business courses as designated by their program of study.
  12. Courses taken at any higher education institution where the course content is remedial are not acceptable for degree credit.
  13. The student should be prepared to submit course descriptions, syllabi, or other course-related information for transfer course work if there is any question as to whether Walton College will grant degree credit for such work.
  14. Exceptions: All requests for, exceptions to, and variations from the rules, regulations, and requirements of Walton College and the university should be made in writing to the executive director for undergraduate programs of Walton College. Consult the Undergraduate Programs Office in Walton College for these requests.

Course Loads

The normal course load in Walton College is 15 to 17 hours per semester (and six hours per summer term). Students with a 2.75 grade-point average the previous semester may take a maximum of 18 hours. Seniors may take 18 to 19 hours, if required for graduation, during their final semester. Students on academic warning are limited to a maximum course load of 12 hours. University regulations on the number of hours allowed per semester are found in the Orientation and Registration section of this catalog.

Foreign Language Concentration

An undergraduate B.S.B.A. degree-seeking student may elect to substitute 12 hours in a single upper-level foreign language for 12-15 hours of the 12-15 hours required in the junior-senior business elective block of courses for the degree requirements. Students who choose to use 12 hours of foreign language, but who are pursuing majors requiring 15 hours of junior-senior business electives, must take an additional 3 hour junior-senior business elective to satisfy degree requirements.

Double Major

A student may elect to obtain a double major by completing all required courses for two majors in Walton College (but not in two concentrations within a single major). The minimum hour requirement for a double major is 138 degree credit hours to include all requirements for both majors. If there are courses common to both majors, academic advisers will specify additional requirements in lieu of the common courses. The junior/senior business elective block can be reduced by three hours; however, choice of the junior/senior business electives is restricted to no more than three total hours from each department that offers the two majors. Students who have elected to substitute a foreign language course of study for junior/senior business electives must complete 12 hours of junior/senior language courses.

The student must notify the Undergraduate Programs Office in Walton College of intent to pursue a double major. All requirements for double majors must be completed prior to awarding of a degree.

Business Minors

The Walton College offers a variety of minors for students desiring specific knowledge in another area of business (outside their major) to assist them in their business careers.  Students may elect to obtain a business major and a business minor by completing all required courses for both the major and the minor in the Walton College (but not a major and minor within the same discipline). Students must complete all requirements for both the major and the minor and may not use more than six hours of major courses toward minor requirements. If there are common courses to both, the department chairs involved will agree upon and specify additional requirements.  Business minors require the completion of 15 specific hours of study and all upper level courses applied toward the minor must be taken in residence.

Students may elect to obtain multiple business minors by completing all required courses for all minors in the Walton College (but not minors within the same discipline).  Students must complete all requirements for minors and may not use more than three hours of courses toward each of the minor requirements.  However, if there are common courses to both, the department chairs involved will agree upon and specify additional requirements.

Students who desire to earn a business minor must notify the Walton College Undergraduate Programs Office of their intent to pursue a minor.  All requirements for the minor must be completed prior to the awarding of the student's undergraduate degree.  All specific course prerequisites must be met.  Each students must have a 2.00 cumulative GPA in the courses offered for the minor.

Additional Bachelor’s Degrees

Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree must contact the Undergraduate Programs Office to ascertain specific requirements. Degree candidates must meet the university’s general graduation requirements. The university requires that 1) the student take a minimum of 30 semester hours over the requirements for the first degree, and 2) the 30 hours cover a minimum of 36 weeks in residency at the Fayetteville campus. Walton College also requires that the student complete all courses in the pre-business and business core and the major and any additional business requirements (if some of these have been completed on the first degree, they are waived). It is recommended that any additional courses needed to finish the university’s 30-hour requirement be junior or senior business electives. The second degree may be taken after the first is awarded, or both degrees may be awarded simultaneously after completion of all requirements for both.

College Graduation Requirements

  1. University Requirements. Degree candidates must meet the following: the university’s general entrance requirements, number of credit hours required in residence, and the “requirements for graduation,” including the State Minimum Core American history.
  2. Hour Requirements. Degree candidates must satisfactorily complete the total number of semester hours specified for the curriculum in courses approved for one of the majors outlined in the succeeding pages. No less than 50 percent of the total credits must be in approved subjects other than business.
    NOTE: Not all courses offered by the university will be accepted for degree credit by Walton College. Courses falling into this category are  ENGL 0002, MATH 0001LMATH 0002L, and MATH 0131L. Developmental courses are defined as 1) any course so designated by the university, and 2) any lower-division course taken after a higher-level course is taken. Credit will not be given for duplicate course work.
  3. Grade Requirements. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all pre-business core course requirements. Each student must have a 2.00 cumulative GPA in each of the following areas:
    1. All work completed at the University of Arkansas.
    2. All courses specifically designated for the major.
    3. All required business core courses and required economics courses.
  4. General Education Course Work. A student’s general education course work must satisfy State Minimum Core Requirements, additional college/program course-specific requirements, as well as these two area requirements:
    1. Social Issues, Multicultural Environment, and Demographic Diversity, and
    2. Micro and Macroeconomics. If a student has not satisfied these area requirements within the fine arts and/or social sciences areas of the university core, these area requirements must be satisfied through general education electives to allow students to complete degree requirements within the hours indicated above.

      Courses that satisfy these area requirements are listed below. Many of these courses will also satisfy State Minimum Core Requirements. Where possible, a student should select courses that satisfy both requirements.
       
      A. Social Issues, Multicultural Environment, and Demographic Diversity
      ANTH 1023 (University Core)
      ECON 35333
      ECON 38433
      ECON 38533
      GEOS 11233
      HIST 1113 (University Core)
      HIST 1123 (University Core)
      SOCI 2013 (University Core)
      SOCI 2033 (University Core)
      Any Foreign Language (State Minimum Core, if 2000-level or above, general education elective otherwise)
      Any Walton College study abroad course
      B. Micro/Macro Economics
      ECON 2013 (business core)
      ECON 2023 (business core)
  5. Enrollment Requirement: Students must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours on the Fayetteville campus – this includes study abroad classes, online and courses offered through the Global Campus. Other courses paid toward Fayetteville campus tuition and fees may be used with approval. These 30 semester hours must include SEVI 3013, 21-24 hours of upper division courses required for the completion of the major, and 3-6 hours of additional upper division courses required for the degree program. Specifically, required junior and senior courses in business or economics must be taken at the University of Arkansas or at an AACSB accredited school.  At least 50 percent of the total hours in business and economics must be taken in residence.
  6. Catalog/Curriculum Changes. Business is a dynamic profession, and the college and department curricula are updated continuously to keep pace with changes in the business world. Students entering under this catalog will be required to comply with such curricular changes to earn their degree. The total number of hours required for the degree, however, may not be increased, and all work completed in accordance with this catalog prior to the curriculum change will be applied toward the student’s degree requirements. Furthermore, courses incorporated into the curriculum at a level lower than the one the student has completed are not required for that student unless there are specific prerequisites. Students entering under earlier catalogs are responsible for completing the graduation requirements as published in the catalog in effect when they entered the program. Students having interruptions of their academic programs that exceed two calendar years must complete the requirements published in the catalog in effect when they re-enter the program. Exceptions to the graduation requirements must be approved by the executive director for undergraduate programs.

The Walton College offers an eight-semester degree-completion program. In each of the majors listed in this chapter, at least one eight-semester schedule is shown. Some majors offer several concentrations, and eight-semester programs are available for each of the concentrations.

See more about the university's Eight-Semester Degree Policy.

Graduate Studies

The University of Arkansas offers the following advanced degrees in business: Master of Accountancy, Master of Applied Business Analytics, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Economics, Master of Information Systems, Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Economic Analytics, Master of Science in Marketing, Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy in Economics.

For further information about these programs and requirements for admission, see the Graduate School Catalog or write to the assistant director of marketing and recruiting, Graduate School of Business, 475 Willard J. Walker Hall.

Accreditations

The college has been a member of and accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business since 1931. The accounting program was accredited separately in 1986 at both the bachelor’s and master’s level. The master’s degree in the business administration program was approved in 1963. Accreditation by and membership in AACSB signifies commitment by the college to the goals of promoting and actualizing the highest standards of business education.