Haslam College of Business

Stephen L. Mangum, Dean
Bruce K. Behn, Associate Dean, Graduate and Executive Education
M. Lane Morris, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs and Student Affairs
Charles H. Noble, Associate Dean, Research and Faculty
Betsy Adams, Assistant Dean, Finance and Administration
Terry L. Neal, Executive Director, Neel Corporate Governance Center

https://haslam.utk.edu/

The Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee is widely recognized for its leadership role in implementing some of the most innovative and exciting curricular changes occurring during the last forty years of management education.

Admission

Freshmen are admitted directly to the Haslam College of Business in the first year. Admission to the university is highly competitive and based primarily on academic achievement at the high school level and scores on the ACT and/or SAT.

Students admitted into the Haslam College of Business must maintain a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average and earn a grade of C or better in the following tracking courses or honors equivalents prior to the completion of 75 hours:

MATH 123 *-MATH 125 * or MATH 141 *-MATH 142 * (6 or 8 hours); Oral Communication (3 hours from CMST 210 * or CMST 240 *); Written Communication (3 hours from ENGL 255 * or ENGL 295 *); ACCT 200  (3 hours) or ACCT 203  (3 hours); ECON 211 * (3 hours); ECON 213 * (3 hours); STAT 201 * (3 hours); MGT 202  (3 hours).

If a student’s cumulative grade point average drops below 2.50, the student will be placed on probationary status for one semester prior to college release.

Internal and External Transfer Admission

Students who are not directly admitted to the Haslam College of Business or who are transferring from other educational institutions can apply for admission after completion of the tracking courses. Internal and external transfer students will be categorized as business exploratory majors until such time that they complete their requirements for admission. Students seeking transfer admission must complete all progression courses with a grade of C or better prior to the completion of 75 hours. Selection is highly competitive and based on academic achievement, commitment to pursuing a business discipline, and departmental capacity.

Curriculum

The curriculum coursework is divided into four components – general education, pre-business core, business core, and major.

The 57 hours of general education focus on all aspects of human endeavor – written and oral communications; mathematics; social, behavioral, and natural sciences; humanities; global citizenship; ethics; and the arts. General education courses span the student’s entire academic career.

The pre-business core courses (18 hours) are taken during the student’s first and second year. The pre-business core provides students with the fundamentals of business education, introducing the tools, the environment, and the functions of contemporary business practices.

Building on the pre-business core foundation, the business core (17 hours) consists of integrated contemporary business management modules in supply chain management, demand management, lean operations, and information management; a discipline-specific course in financial management; coursework on legal issues, and a capstone experience integrating business strategy with a business simulation. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in the capstone, BUAD 453 * (Honors BUAD 457 *). As business management perspectives change, the topics in the business core will, by design, adapt.

Simultaneously, students are completing the coursework (27 hours) required by their chosen major. The Haslam College of Business offers nine primary majors – accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, human resource management, management, marketing, public administration, and supply chain management. Additionally, approved students may pursue International Business as a secondary major (with one of the previously listed nine majors as primary). Within the 27 hours of their major, students may study two areas of emphasis – their major with a collateral or their major with a concentration. With a collateral, students complete 18 hours in their major and 9 hours in their collateral area. With a concentration, students complete 15 hours in their major and 12 hours in their concentration area. See the chart in this section for details of the collateral and concentration options for each major. A minimum grade of C must be earned in every course counted toward the major, including major, collateral, or concentration courses.

Upon the completion of this curriculum, students are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

 2023 Majors with Collaterals and Concentrations   

uTrack Requirements

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.

Residency Requirement for Major Coursework

Haslam College of Business students are required to take 21 of the 27 major hours (75 percent) in residence at the University of Tennessee. This 27-hour major requirement includes all major, collateral, and/or concentration coursework.

Optional Second Major

Haslam College of Business students who wish to pursue an optional second major within the Haslam College of Business must apply for consideration with internal and external transfer students. Admission is competitive and based on departmental capacity.

Haslam College of Business students who wish to pursue optional second majors in the College of Arts and Sciences may do so by completing all curricular requirements for the Haslam College of Business and only the major requirements outlined by the College of Arts and Sciences department.

In either instance, the optional multiple majors (or second major) may be listed on the student’s transcript. Students should understand that meeting the requirements of second majors may lengthen their academic programs and they should consult with advisors in both areas. 

Readmission

For students reentering Fall 2011 and later:

• Returning dismissed students will not be readmitted to a major in the Haslam College of Business and should explore other options with the appropriate college advising center.
• Returning probationary students (last semester GPA at UTK below 2.0) will be readmitted to their major but must meet with an academic advisor in the Undergraduate Programs office of the Haslam College of Business to discuss the appropriate course of action.
• Returning students in good standing (minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA with at least a “C” in all completed tracking courses) will be readmitted to their major but must meet with an academic advisor in the Undergraduate Programs office of the Haslam College of Business to discuss the appropriate course of action.

Faculty

Students in the Haslam College of Business benefit from the countless faculty recognized for excellence in teaching, research, and public service. One of the first in the South to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business strives for excellence in all endeavors.

In addition to challenging students in the classroom, faculty also devote their energies to professional growth and commitment to the community by participating in other Haslam College of Business programs, like the Global Business Institute, the Neel Corporate Governance Center, Graduate and Executive Education, and the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research.

Technology

Success in today’s business environment is largely a function of accessibility to and interpretation of information. This information provides the knowledge that allows employees and employers to make smart business decisions. Because today’s business world demands that employees be able to effectively use personal computers and diverse software applications, the Haslam College of Business intertwines technology with its curriculum at all levels.

In order to take advantage of these unique learning tools, all business students are required to have their own laptop computers when they start their business core courses, which is typically at the beginning of the third year. With the wireless network at the University of Tennessee, students will be able to use their laptop computers almost anywhere on campus.

The Global Initiative

Seeking to instill a global perspective in all of its students, the Haslam College of Business challenges undergraduate students to develop the requisite knowledge and skills to prosper in today’s global business environment. To help students meet that challenge, the college provides these critical tools – an enhanced core curriculum that covers international business topics in all relevant courses; extraordinary programs for international study and internships; and a unique opportunity to delve into the principles of international business through a collateral or concentration in international business.

Students who choose a major, collateral, or concentration in international business will gain an understanding of how functional strategies are carried out and how to assess business opportunities in other cultures and countries. With the ability to appreciate different cultural perspectives, political, and economic institutions and to scan the broader environment of world events, students will be prepared to succeed in future international assignments in their careers.

Diversity Initiatives

The Office of Diversity and Community Relations, located in 329 Haslam Business Building, leads efforts to build a diverse college community by fostering a climate that respects, celebrates, and embraces diversity. The college stands firm in the belief that an appreciation of individuals from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences is a necessity in the global workforce.

We create and sustain a welcoming, supportive and inclusive climate through goals such as attracting and retaining faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds; attracting, retaining, and graduating students from historically under-represented populations; and ensuring that undergraduate curricular requirements include significant intercultural perspectives.

We recognize diversity in terms of ethnic, social, economic, and cultural differences.

Where to Begin: The HUB (Haslam Undergraduate Business)

Undergraduate Programs Office

The mission of the Undergraduate Programs Office is to provide comprehensive academic and educational program planning that promotes integrity and responsibility within a diverse environment. The Undergraduate Programs Office, 342 Haslam Business Building, maintains a full-time staff of academic advisors to answer students’ questions concerning majors, curriculum, and elective options. Student advising is achieved through these professional advisors and through faculty mentors when students are admitted to a major. While the university’s policy requires students to have one mandatory academic planning session per year, the Haslam College of Business considers academic planning to be so critical that we require our students to meet with an advisor every fall and spring semester. To schedule an appointment, sign up online at https://haslam.utk.edu/undergraduate.

In addition to advising, the Undergraduate Programs Office provides individual and group educational program planning, management of student data and enrollment information for the college, recruitment and retention, administration of the undergraduate scholarship program, coordination of progression procedures to business majors, and career counseling.

Enrichment Opportunities

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available for highly-qualified students. Students are invited to apply for a Haslam College of Business scholarship. Selection criteria considered for scholarships include academic merit, financial need, and leadership.

To be considered for a scholarship, students must meet the following criteria.

• Unweighted grade point average of 2.75.
• ACT composite score of 23 or SAT combined score of 1050.

Students must complete the Entering Freshman Academic Scholarship Application which can be obtained from UT’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Hodges Library Ground Floor or online at https://onestop.utk.edu/financial-aid/, and submit it by the date printed on the application, with the following items.

• A current high school transcript and a current college transcript, if the student is a transfer student.
• ACT or SAT scores.

International Programs and Study Abroad

Several opportunities for study abroad are available to Haslam College of Business students, such as group programs arranged and supervised by the college’s departments on a full semester or summer term; direct enrollment, exchange, summer study, international internships; and individualized programs. Students pursuing an International Business major, collateral, or concentration are required to study abroad.

Students planning foreign study must first meet with an advisor in Haslam’s Office of International Programs and Study Abroad to discuss curricular issues.

Off-Campus Study

Recognizing that learning is not restricted to formal classroom situations, students may earn credit towards graduation for approved off-campus study. It may include certain types of work experiences or community involvement. Such study may be undertaken only with prior approval of the department granting credit.

Student Engagement

Haslam’s Office of Student Engagement provides students with opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom. From business-focused student organizations, leadership development, mentor programs, and service and volunteerism, there are many ways for students to gain valuable skills and abilities for their future endeavors. Every week, Haslam students receive a college newsletter that outlines all the upcoming events and activities to help them get engaged to make the most of their college experience.

Signature Programs

Smith Global Leadership Scholars

The Smith Global Leadership Scholars Program offered by the Haslam College of Business serves its talented and motivated undergraduate students. The program consists of specified honors classes, seminars in leadership training, international experiences, and extracurricular activities including community service. Taught by a cadre of designated honors faculty and invited guest lecturers, the program promotes the development of international and intercultural awareness, leadership, and personal and professional growth and responsibility. Upon application, students can be admitted at the end of their first year. Accepted students will be admitted to the major of their choice and will pursue a concentration or collateral in international business.

Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program

This program is available to undergraduate students from the Haslam College of Business and Tickle College of Engineering. The students will be selected in their freshman year through an application process by appropriate committees in the two colleges. The students will be advised by a joint faculty committee and will register in courses designed for this program in their sophomore through senior years. The program will also provide common learning experience to the students through extracurricular activities and projects specifically designed for this program.

Haslam College of Business (HCB)
Business Fellows Program

The HCB Business Fellows Honors Program is a premier business honors program for high-achieving, academically minded students enrolled in the Haslam College of Business. The program is designed to provide intellectual challenge for students who have distinguished themselves through high academic achievement. The program supports and enhances HCB’s pillars of Inclusion, Integrity, Insight, and Impact by providing both curricular and co-curricular activities for student engagement.

The HCB Business Fellows Honors Program prepares students to be innovative leaders in the competitive business climate by blending classroom learning and real-world experience. In addition to co-curricular activities, students:

• Engage in a strategically designed four-year academic and career development plan with opportunities to take smaller pre-business and business core honors courses
• Participate in company visits to engage with executives and explore industries and organizations
• Engage in professional development workshops and mock interview sessions
• Develop and complete a leadership capstone or research project

Students are automatically admitted to the HCB Business Fellows Honors Program as incoming freshmen when they are admitted to one of the University Honors Programs. The program is designed to align with the University Honors and Scholars requirements, while supporting students in their business disciplines of choice.

For questions about the program, contact businessfellows@utk.edu.

Academic Programs