McIntire School of Commerce: Concentrations, Minors, and Tracks

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Note: Students must declare at least one 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

Two courses from the following list of electives: Credits: 6

• COMM 4193 – GCI: Special Topics in International Accounting in Ireland Credit: 3
    
• COMM XXXX – Financial Statement Analysis 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 4731 Advanced Investments:Investment Management and Trading 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 (third or fourth year) plus six credits of approved IT courses from among the other three-credit courses listed below:

Third (or Fourth) Year

• COMM 3200 - Project Managment Credits: 3  

Fourth Year

Two courses from the following list of electives:  Credits: 6

• COMM 3220 – Database Management Systems and Business Intelligence Credit: 3
     may be taken third year
• COMM 4230 – Information Technology in Finance Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4240 – Electronic Commerce and Web Analytics Credit: 4.5
    
• COMM 4250 – Digital Innovation Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4260 – Business Analytics Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4293 – GCI: IT Project Practicum in Argentina 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 intellectual 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
    
  • OR
    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 electives (6 credits), which may include 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 4560 - Topics in Management
    
• COMM 4621 – Managing and Leading 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
      
• PLAC 5240 – Collaborative Planning for Sustainability
• 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

• COMM 4602 Critical Thinking on Business Issues Credit:3
     
• COMM 4621 Managing and Leading Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4622 The High Performing Organization Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4650 Business,Politics&Culture in the European Union Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4660 The Advice Business: The Basics of Strategic Consulting Credit:3
    
• COMM 4680 Entrepreneurship Credit:3
    
• COMM 4681 Entrepreneurship Track Capstone Credit:3
    
• COMM 4690 Global Management Credit:3
    

Which alternatively may include:

• COMM 3200 – Project Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4311 - Manufacturing in the Global Economy Credits: 3  
• COMM 4330 – Negotiating for Value Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4560 - Topics in Management
    
• 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

• COMM 4640 Advanced Managerial Communication Credit:3
    
• COMM 4641 Public Speaking & Persuasion Credit:3
    
• COMM 4642 Communication Strategies/Business Professionals Credit:3
    
• COMM 4643 Advanced Business Speaking Credit:3
    

The discipline of marketing is diverse in nature. In articulating and developing its content, it draws from the quantitative and social sciences. As such, the areas of accounting, economics, finance, law, mathematics, anthropology, 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 compromise 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 theories, and tools for answering 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.

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 all used to help students understand marketing. 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

• COMM 4300 Brand Management Credit:3
    
• COMM 4310 Global Marketing Credit:3
    
• COMM 4311 - Manufacturing in the Global Economy Credits: 3  
• COMM 4320 Entertainment Marketing Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4330 Negotiating for Value Credit:3
    
• COMM 4371 Promotional Aspects of Marketing Credit:4.5
    
• COMM 4372 Advertising Campaigns Credit:4.5
    
• COMM 4380 Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy Credit:3
    
• COMM 4393 - GCI: Consumers and Markets in India Credits: 1-3  
• COMM 4394 GCI: Market Insights in China Credit:3
    
• COMM 4535 - Topics in Marketing Credits:3  
• COMM 4559 - Topics in Marketing - Pricing Credit: 3
• COMM 4559 - Topics in Marketing - Financial Marketing Credit: 3 

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 required 12 credit hours.

The Curriculum:

Required Courses (9 credits)

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

Electives Complete one fourth-year elective listed below:

• COMM 4230 - Information Technology in Finance Credits: 3  
• COMM 4240 – Electronic Commerce and Web Analytics Credit: 4.5
     
• COMM 4380 – Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4520 - Topics in Information Technology
    
• COMM 4535 - Topics in Marketing Credits: 3  
• COMM 4622 – The High Performing Organization Credit: 3
    

Entrepreneurship Track

Overview The Entrepreneurship Track provides a select number of Commerce students with the unique opportunity to: explore the professional processes, concepts communities and tools that facilitate new-venture success; examine the sources of financing for a new venture; evaluate a start-up’s ability to not only be financially sustainable, but also generate compelling financial and/or social returns; and apply these principles through practical application via new ventures and teams.  The coursework includes lectures, case discussions, short-form pitches and long-form presentations, viability assessments, mock negotiations,venture simulations, guest speakers, and team projects.

Eligibility The Entrepreneurship Track is open to 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. 

The Curriculum:

Required Course (6 credits)

• COMM 4680 - Entrepreneurship
    Credit: 3
• COMM 4681 - Entrepreneurship Track Capstone
    Credit: 3

Electives Complete 6 credits of the four electives listed below:

• COMM 3200 – Project Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3330 - Marketing Research Techniques
    Credit: 3
• COMM 3420 - Commercial Law II
    Credit: 3
• COMM 3790 - Venture Capital and the Emerging Firm
    Credit: 3
• COMM 3791 - Financing New Ventures
    Credit: 3
• COMM 4240 - Electronic Commerce and Web Analytics
    Credit: 4.5
• COMM 4330 - Negotiating for Value Credit: 3  
• COMM 4535 - Topics in Marketing
    
• PPOL 3050 - Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
    Credit: 3
• PPOL 4730 - Impact Investing
    Credit: 3
• PPOL 4735 - Experiential Social Entrepreneurship
    Credit: 3
• PPOL 4740 - Philanthropy
    Credit: 3
• STS 2160 - Intellectual Property, Engineering, and Society
    Credit: 3
• STS 4110 - The Business of New Product Development
    Credit: 3
• CS 2110 - Software Development Methods
    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.

Required Courses (6 credits; choose two courses from the following list which must be completed in McIntire)

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

Elective Course (6 credits; choose from the following list):

• COMM 3828 - Global Commerce in Context Credit: 3
    
• COMM 3880 - Global Sustainability Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4310 - Global Marketing Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4311 - Manufacturing in the Global Economy Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4694 - GCI: Business, Politics & Culture in the European Union Credits: 3
    
• COMM 4690 - Global Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4741 - Global Finance Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4821 - Managing Sustainable Development Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4822 - Invest in Sustainable FutureCredit: 3
    
• COMM 4840 - Global Commerce Scholar Thesis Proposal Credit: 2
    
• COMM 4841 - Global Commerce Scholar Thesis Credit: 2
    
• COMM 4193 - GCI: Special Topics in International Accounting in Ireland Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4293 - GCI: IT Project Practicum in Argentina Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4393 - GCI: Consumers and Markets in India Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4394 - GCI: Market Insights in China Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4693 - GCI: The Business of Saving Nature in Ecuador & the Galapogos Islands Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4694 - GCI: Business, Politics & Culture in the European Union Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4699 - Global Commerce Immersion: Topics in Management Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4890 - Global Commerce Immersion: General Topics Credit: 3
    

Students are strongly encouraged to complete a study abroad experience while enrolled at the University of Virginia.

Global Commerce Scholar

Students who desire a deeper understanding of global topics can apply in the spring of their third year for the Global Commerce Scholars program, which involves successfully completing

• COMM 4840 - Global Commerce Scholar Thesis Proposal Credit: 2
    
• COMM 4841 - Global Commerce Scholar Thesis Credit: 2
    

Quantitative Finance

Overview The Quantitative Finance Track is designed to develop students’ analytical skills and prepare them for quantitatively focused careers in finance. The track is appropriate for students pursuing careers in areas such as asset/investment management, sales/trading, risk management/compliance, and financial information technology. Students will gain a better understanding of model-based decision-making using tools from a variety of areas such as economics, operations research, statistics, computer science, and information technology.

Eligibility The Quantitative Finance Track is available by application to all Commerce students whose academic requirements allow them the flexibility to take the required 12 credit hours.

Selection Criteria Students apply for admission into the track at the beginning of the spring semester of the third year. Application materials include a resume, a one-page statement of purpose and interest, and a summary of all quantitative coursework taken to date including performance. Past quantitative coursework draws from departments such as chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, physics, and statistics, as well as all disciplines in the School of Engineering & Applied Science. Completion of a programming class is strongly recommended. Criteria for admission include past academic performance, past quantitative background, and the statement of purpose and interest. Admission is limited to 15-20 students.

Curriculum Students are required to complete the following courses:

Required Courses

• COMM 4710 – Intermediate Investments Credit: 3
     (B+ or higher grade required)

One of the following two quantitative trading-based courses must be completed:

• COMM 4731 – Advanced Investments:Investment Management and Trading Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4230 - Information Technology in Finance
    Credit: 3

Required Capstone

• COMM 4570 Quantitative Finance Seminar Credit: 3  

Electives

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

• COMM 4730 – Advanced Investments: Derivatives and Fixed Income Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4731 – Advanced Investments:Investment Management and Trading Credit: 3
    
• COMM 4230 - Information Technology in Finance
    Credit: 3
• COMM 4260 – Business Analytics Credit: 3
    
• ECON 4720 – Econometric Methods Credit: 3
    (Commerce and Economics double majors only)
• MATH 4300 – Elementary Numerical Analysis Credit: 3
    (Commerce and Math/Statistics double majors only)
• MATH 5110 Introduction to Stochastic Processes (Commerce and Math/Statistics double majors only)
• STAT 5120 Applied Linear Models (Commerce and Math/Statistics double majors only)

Note that admission to the track does not guarantee admission to each of the classes above. Instead, the list of electives is meant to provide a broad set of quantitative courses consistent with the objectives of the track. Courses outside of the Commerce School are appropriate for students double majoring in that particular department.

COMM 4731 and COMM 4230 can both be taken to satisfy the track’s requirements. One will satisfy the quantitative trading-based required course; the other will satisfy the elective course.

For more information, please contact Professor Michael Gallmeyer at mgallmeyer@virginia.edu.

Real Estate Track

Overview The Real Estate track develops 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. The curriculum is designed with the philosophy that learning requires active engagement. This engagement is accomplished through the application of theory based, best analytical practices to real world problems. Focusing on a series of real world cases developed at McIntire through the efforts of alumni, friends, and students, the local commercial real estate markets is used as an active laboratory setting from which to build and test students’ analytical skill sets. Simultaneously, students’ perspectives from local to global issues are expanded through presentations of global real estate investors and developers.

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 pursuing McIntire’s Real Estate Track, make a commitment to a program of active learning which requires dealing with ambiguity as well as a commitment to our community of McIntire scholars seeking to optimize each individuals personal and professional development.

Curriculum (9 credits) (with Director’s permission 2 of the 3 courses plus an additional approved elective)

• 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
    

Electives 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
    
• Or other related University of Virginia course approved by the Director of McIntire’s Real Estate Track