McIntire School of Commerce: Concentrations, Minors, and Tracks

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Concentrations, Minors, and Tracks

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Note: Students must declare a concentration, maintain a 2.0 grade point average in all concentration courses, and complete the following courses:

The accounting program is designed to help students understand the role and responsibilities of accounting professionals. Graduates work as business consultants, financial managers, independent auditors, and tax advisors. McIntire’s accounting program is widely recognized as one of the country’s best, and graduates are highly sought. The program builds on the broad liberal arts background acquired during a student’s first two years at the University. It is designed to give the student both a sound general business foundation and the analytical and conceptual skills essential to an understanding of current accounting practices.

Accountants supply quantitative information to various users. Primarily financial in nature, this information is essential to decision making and control. As corporate financial managers, they also participate in financial decisions that allocate scarce resources within and among private and public organizations to achieve both economic and social goals. Equally important, accounting provides information to investors, creditors, government, and society on management’s stewardship and the effective use of an organization’s resources. Independent certified public accountants provide a wide variety of audit, tax, and consulting services to clients.

The basic requirements for the accounting concentration are COMM 3110, 3120, two courses from the following: COMM 4160, 5100, 5130, 5140, 5150, 5450, or 5460. Students seeking professional certification (e.g., certified public accountant, certified management accountant, or certified internal auditor) should consider taking COMM 5100, 5130, 5140, 5150, 5450, and 5460 as electives.

University of Virginia students who have been admitted to the McIntire School of Commerce may apply for, and be accepted to, the McIntire M.S. in Accounting degree program after completing two semesters of study as a Commerce School student, earning good grades, submitting acceptable letters of recommendation, and earning GMAT scores that indicate a capacity to do graduate work at the University. Because this is a competitive admissions process, acceptance to the program is not guaranteed but ultimately hinges on the candidate’s record of accomplishments.

The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination Students planning to sit for the Uniform CPA examination should determine the requirements for admission to the examination by contacting their State Board of Accountancy.

For information on admission requirements for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination and/or the Certified in Financial Management (CFM) examination, contact the Institute of Management Accountants, 10 Paragon Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645-1759; 1-800-638-4427.

Third Year

• COMM 3110 – Intermediate Accounting I Credit: 3
   
• COMM 3120 – Intermediate Accounting II Credit: 3
   

Fourth Year

• COMM ___ Two courses from the following list of electives: Credits: 6
• COMM 4160 – Global Commerce Immersion:Special Topics in International Acct. (Ireland) Credit: 3
    
• COMM 5100 – Accounting Information Systems Credits: 3
• COMM 5130 – Advanced Financial Accounting Credits: 3
• COMM 5140 – Strategic Cost Management Credits: 3
• COMM 5150 – Introductory Auditing Credits: 3
• COMM 5450 – Federal Taxation I Credits: 3
• COMM 5460 – Federal Taxation II Credits: 3

The program in finance starts with an integrative perspective of the role of the global financial manager within the corporation, and it addresses the manner in which finance interacts with the other business disciplines in performing core functions of financial planning and control, analyzing investment alternatives, and raising funds. Students of finance also study the valuation and application of equity, fixed income, and derivative securities, foreign exchange and commodities markets, and the functions of financial institutions. Emphasis is placed on a strong understanding of both the core concepts and the analytical methods of finance. The program is designed to meet the needs of students who look forward to specialized careers including investment banking, consulting, corporate finance, investment management, and trading.  International financial topics are incorporated throughout the finance concentration. Students concentrating in finance are required to complete COMM 3110, 3720, 3721, 4710 and at least one specialized advanced course (COMM 4720 4721, 4730 or 4731).  

Third Year

• COMM 3110 – Intermediate Accounting I Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3720 – Intermediate Corporate Finance Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3721 – Quantitative Finance Credit: 1
    

Fourth Year

• COMM 4710 – Intermediate Investments Credit: 3
    AND
• COMM 4720 – Advanced Corporate Finance: Valuation and Restructuring Credit: 3
    OR
• COMM 4721 – Advanced Corporate Finance: Investment Banking Credit: 3
    OR
• COMM 4730 – Advanced Investments: Derivatives and Fixed Income Credit: 3
    OR
• COMM 4730 – Advanced Investments: Derivatives and Fixed Income Credit: 3
    

Few businesses can survive without information technology (IT). Indeed, most organizations leverage IT as a critical and strategic resource. IT is used to collect and analyze unprecedented amounts of data at incredible speed, and it is often a main component in the most exciting product, process, and business model innovations in the modern era. Organizations need leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage this amazing resource and to use it to produce business value. McIntire’s Information Technology concentration prepares students to become business analysts and consultants ready to apply their skills in project management, analytics, and leading-edge technologies to solve business problems in accounting, finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, and international business. Course material in the IT concentration focuses on project management, consulting, financial systems, innovation, database management, business analytics, and e-commerce.

To complete the IT concentration students must take COMM 3200 Project Management (third or fourth year) plus six credits of approved IT and Management courses from among the following three-credit courses:

• COMM 3220 – Database Management Systems and Business Intelligence Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4230 – Information Technology in Finance Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4240 – Electronic Commerce and Web Analytics Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4250 – Innovation and Technology Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4260 – Business Analytics Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4270 – Global Commerce Immersion: IT Project Practicum (Argentina) Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4290 – Selected Topics in Information Technology Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4621 – Managing and Leading Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4622 – The High Performing Organization Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4623 – Leading Change Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4660 – The Advice Business: The Basics of Strategic Consulting Credit: 3
    

The Purpose The purpose of the Leadership minor is to build students’ identities and effectiveness as leaders by transforming their thinking and giving them the capability to influence others. With this minor, students will be able to supplement the intellectural depth in their chosen fields of study and enhance their contributions within these fields by exercising true leadership through their work.

Eligibility  The Leadership minor begins with an application process open to students who are enrolled in COMM 2600/SOC 2600-Leadership Across the Disciplines (3 credit hours) during the spring of second year. The application process is open to all undergraduate students enrolled in that second-year courses whose academic requirements allow them the flexibility to take the required 15 credit hours. For those admitted to the program, COMM 2600/SOC 2600 constitutes the first three credit hours of the program. During this course, late in the semester, the application process begins and all student in the course are eligible for the Leadership Minor Program.

The Selection Criteria In addition to a review of current leadership activities and plans, the application process will require a brief description of a proposed field project. Admission is NOT limited to students with the most leadership experience; students who have a demonstrated strong interest and potential for personal development and leadership are desired.

Curriculum Students are required to complete the following courses:

• COMM 2600 – Leadership Across the Disciplines Credit: 3
    
• SOC 2600 – Leadership Across the Disciplines Credit: 3
   
• COMM 3610 – Learning to Lead Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4881 – Leadership Practicum Credit: 3
    

Electives In addition to the nine (9) required hours, students must complete two of the following courses:

• COMM 3200 – Project Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3600 – Principles and Practice in Arts Administration Credit: 3
    
• SARC 3100 – Principles and Practices of Arts Administration Credit: 3
   
• RELG 2630 – Business, Ethics, and Society Credit: 3
    OR
  COMM 3810 – Business Ethics Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4621 – Managing and Leading Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4623 – Leading Change Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4640 – Advanced Managerial Communication Credit: 3
    OR
  COMM 4641 – Public Speaking & Persuasion Credit: 3
    OR
  COMM 4643 – Advanced Business Speaking Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4821 – Managing Sustainable Development Credit: 3
    OR
  COMM 4824 – Sustainable Development Practicum Credit: 3
    
• PLAC 5240 – Collaborative Planning for Sustainability
• PLAP 3310 – American Presidency Credit: 3
    
• PPOL 4750 – Political Leadership in American History Credit: 3
    
• ROTC – Leadership Courses

Managerial, interpersonal, and organizational skills are a necessary complement to technical skills for long-term career success and satisfaction. The management concentration in the McIntire School develops and deepens those skills through a course of study in management theory and practice. Students choose a management concentration for a variety of reasons. Some have a specific career in mind, such as consulting or entrepreneurship. Others choose management courses or a concentration to provide a balance to more technical courses of study in business. The flexibility of the management curriculum provides students with the ability to customize a program of study that meets their academic and career objectives.

Fourth Year

• Three 4600- level management courses Credits: 9

Which may include:

• COMM 3200 – Project Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4330 – Negotiating for Value Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4821 – Managing Sustainable Development Credit: 3
    OR

          Two 46XX-level Management courses, including the above list Credits: 6 AND

          One 464X Communication course Credits: 3

The discipline of marketing is eclectic in nature. In articulating, developing, and expanding its content, it draws from and interchanges with the quantitative and social sciences. As such, the areas of accounting, economics, finance, law, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and other related disciplines are used as resources for the conceptual, theoretical, and empirical underpinnings of the marketing discipline.

What product or service, and how much of it, should a company provide for its consumers? How should the product be distributed? How should the company inform consumers of the product’s existence and merits? What price should be placed on the product or service? How should the firm measure the success of its offerings in the marketplace? These and other decision areas are part of the marketing function.

Every organization, profit or non-profit, must answer these questions in one form or another. It is the purpose of the marketing program to provide the student with the necessary concepts, theories, and background for examining these questions. The program’s objective is to make the student aware of the role of marketing in society and in the firm, where it interrelates with almost all organizational functions and influences virtually all plans and decisions.

The marketing program intends to introduce the student to the role of marketing, both in the firm and in society. Case analysis, discussion groups, experiential exercises, research reports, seminars, field projects, lectures, outside speakers, and the Advertising and Marketing Association (AMA), together with national marketing/advertising competitions (AAF, the American Advertising Federation competition), are utilized to accomplish this purpose. The marketing program is intended to meet the basic educational needs of students planning graduate study or entering profit or non-profit organizations in such areas as client relations, sales, advertising and promotion, brand management, distribution, international marketing, marketing research, marketing consulting, logistics, purchasing, product management, retailing, and positions in the service industries.

Third Year

• COMM 3330 – Marketing Research Techniques Credit: 3
    

Fourth Year

• Two or more 4300- level marketing courses Credits: 6 

Business Analytics Track

Overview Business Analytics Track is designed to provide students with broad, interdisciplinary knowledge and skills that help managers leverage analytics to improve performance and decision-making. Students will learn practical research skills necessary to design, create, and analyze data sets as well as to report meaningful insights to diverse audiences. Students will appreciate the challenges and opportunities facing a wide array of commercial enterprises that rely on analytics to make key  strategic decisions.

Eligibility The Business Analytics Track is open to all Commerce students whose academic requirements allow them the flexibility to take the require 12 credit hours.

The Curriculum Students are required to complete the following courses:

Required Courses

• COMM 3220 – Database Management Systems and Business Intelligence Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3330 – Marketing Research Techniques Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4260 – Business Analytics Credit: 3
    

Electives Business Analytics Track students are required to complete one fourth-year elective listed below:

• COMM 4240 – Electronic Commerce and Web Analytics Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4350 – Customer Value Analytics Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4371 – Promotional Aspects of Marketing Credit: 4
    
• COMM 4380 – Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4622 – The High Performing Organization Credit: 3
    

Entrepreneurship Track

Overview The Entrepreneurship Track provides 30 fourth-year Commerce students with the unique opportunity to explore the entrepreneurship process, learn concepts and analytical tools that facilitate new-venture success, examine the sources of financing for a new venture, evaluate a start-up’s ability to make money and generate attractive financial and personal returns for the entrepreneur compared to alternative career options, and apply business principles through practical application with actual new venture concepts and teams.  The coursework includes lecture, case discussions, new venture pitches, new venture viability assessments, mock negotiations, guest speakers, and team projects.

Eligibility The Entrepreneurship Track is open to fourth year Commerce students whose academic requirements allow them the flexibility to take the required 12 credit hours.  All interested students must successfully complete COMM 4680 Entrepreneurship (3 credit hours) during the fall semester of their fourth year.  Admission to the Track is offered to 30 fourth-year Commerce students through the Venture Viability Assessment (VVA) competition and an admission process.  Admission criteria are grades, VVA performance (on an individual basis), venture concept quality, and application essay demonstrating clarity of motivation for dedicating significant time and effort in the spring of the fourth-year to a new venture concept and the associate teamwork. 

Curriculum

Once admitted, in addition to completing COMM 4680, students are required to complete COMM 4681 and two of the four electives listed below.

Electives

• COMM 3200 – Project Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4660 – The Advice Business: The Basics of Strategic Consulting Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3790 – Venture Capital and the Emerging Firm Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3330 – Marketing Research Techniques Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4330 – Negotiating for Value Credit: 3
    

Global Commerce Track

Overview The Global Commerce track, a course of study spanning multiple concentration areas, is designed to provide students with a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of the global business environment, an in-depth regional perspective, and an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities facing a wide array of commercial enterprises operating within these interrelated environments. 

Eligibility The Global Commerce track is open to all Commerce students whose academic requirements allow them the flexibility to take the required 12 credit hours.  Note that courses taken to satisfy requirements of the Global Commerce track can also be used to satisfy other concentration requirements.

Core Curriculum (9 hours; must be completed in Charlottesville)

• COMM 4310 – Global Marketing Credit: 3
    (3 hours)
• COMM 4690 – Global Management Credit: 3
    (3 hours)
• COMM 4741 – Global Finance Credit: 3
    (3 hours)

Global Commerce in Context (3 hours; Global Immersion)

Students can satisfy this requirement by completing one course from the following categories:

1. Complete a study abroad short course offered by the McIntire School (e.g., J-Term, May Term, or Spring Break).  Here is a partial list of qualifying courses:

• COMM 4160 – Global Commerce Immersion:Special Topics in International Acct. (Ireland) Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4390 – Global Commerce Immersion: Market Insights in China Credit: 4
    
• COMM 4650 – Global Commerce Immersion:Business,Politics&Culture in the European Union Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4742 – International Finance and Accounting Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4824 – Sustainable Development Practicum Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4825 – Global Commerce Immersion: Development Practice: NGO’s in Bangladesh Credit: 3
    

Or

2. Complete a regionally focused elective (beyond the COMM 3050 requirement) while studying abroad with one of McIntire’s global academic partners.

Or

(On an Exception basis for students who cannot complete a study-abroad course)

3. Complete a McIntire School of Commerce course (preferred) or a University of Virginia course with a global focus, such as:

• COMM 3880 (Global Sustainability), COMM 4821 (Managing Sustainable Development), or another relevant McIntire School course; OR
• A College of Arts and Sciences non-western perspective class at UVa while enrolled at the McIntire School.   Classes that meet this requirement change each semester.

An exception, generally granted only under unusual circumstances, must be approved and documented through an Exception to the McIntire Rules Petition Process available through McIntire Student Services.

Global Commerce Scholar

Students who desire a deeper understanding of global topics can apply in the Fall of their fourth year for the Global Commerce Scholars program, which involves successfully completing COMM 4840 Global Commerce Scholar Thesis (3 credits; Spring Semester Only).

Real Estate Track

Overview The Real Estate track is designed to develop students’ understanding of real estate value and the fundamentals underlying successful investment decisions, while also offering them real-world experience through a real estate practicum course.

Eligibility The Real Estate track is open to all Commerce students whose academic requirements allow them the flexibility to take the required 12 credit hours. Students will apply for admission into the track after the mid-term examination in COMM 4790 and include their resume and a brief one page statement of purpose and interest. Criteria will include past academic performance, current performance in COMM 4790, and a statement of purpose and interest. Admission will be limited.

Curriculum Once admitted, students are required to complete the following 9 credits

• COMM 4790 – Fundamentals of Real Estate Analysis Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4791 – Real Estate Investment Analysis Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4792 – Commercial Real Estate Seminar:Advanced Issues and Fieldwork Credit: 3
    

In addition to the nine (9) required hours, students must complete one of the following 3 credit courses:

• COMM 3200 – Project Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3330 – Marketing Research Techniques Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4330 – Negotiating for Value Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4720 – Advanced Corporate Finance: Valuation and Restructuring Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4721 – Advanced Corporate Finance: Investment Banking Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4730 – Advanced Investments: Derivatives and Fixed Income Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4731 – Advanced Investments:Investment Management and Trading Credit: 3