Academic Catalog

Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship

For updated information, see our website at www.fhsu.edu/cob

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Fort Hays State University Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship (RCOBE) characterizes itself as an organization continually innovating to improve the quality and strategic scope of its activities. Its own culture and activities are entrepreneurial. It provides entrepreneurship programming and curricular offerings to supplement both business and non-business degrees.

Instructional Engagement

Inspired by the university tag line, “Forward Thinking, World Ready,” RCOBE provides teaching excellence at the undergraduate and master’s educational levels. In addition, RCOBE offers executive and professional development. It provides these services in both face-to-face and distance learning environments. Faculty are passionate about teaching and are proud of connecting with students.

Our faculty members teach students through both established and innovative techniques in classrooms, labs, internships/coops, and distance learning. They do so in classes small enough to encourage faculty/student interaction. Faculty members engage students through service learning, and co-curricular activities such as student organizations, learning communities, competitions, study abroad programs, and one-on-one interactions, including regular office hours, as well as undergraduate and graduate research.

Instruction is provided primarily by full-time faculty using technology rich campus facilities and distance learning tools. Teaching excellence is achieved through deployment of qualified faculty members who bring their initial expertise as well as ongoing scholarly and professional experiences.

Service and Community Engagement

The college and university offer several programs serving the academic and professional community as well as contributing to economic development. These include, but are not limited to: the Fort Hays State University Management Development Center, Fort Hays State University Small Business Development Center, Center for Economic Education, the Information Enterprise Institute, the Dane G. Hansen Scholarship Hall, Symposium of International & Interdisciplinary Research and the Journal of International & Interdisciplinary Research.

Service Area and Student Populations

Kansas and the surrounding states are the primary target markets for the college’s on-campus education while off-campus or virtual students are served worldwide. This recognizes the mission driven approach to serving the residents of the institution’s large, but lightly populated geographic Great Plains service area. It also takes a market smart approach, serving vital key constituencies such as members of the U.S. military, domestic distance learning students from across America, and complementary international markets with the college’s programs. A substantial portion of the university’s domestic and international enrollment consists of first-generation students.

Center for Economic Education

The Center for Economic Education presents economics workshops, seminars, and other programs for elementary and secondary school teachers in all academic disciplines from K-12 so the teachers can then integrate and infuse economics principles, concepts, and reasoning into their curriculum. The Center serves teachers in the western half of the state.

Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship Dean’s Executive Advisory Council (DEAC)

DEAC members identify opportunities for partnerships between the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the business community through activities such as:

  • Developing student internships and employment opportunities,
  • Exploring faculty and student consulting opportunities,
  • Involving faculty members in practical business problems through the Management Development Center and the Small Business Development Center,
  • Arranging for guest speakers from industry and other types of student-business interactions,
  • Supporting outreach and funding operations, and
  • Bringing students into direct contact with business leaders (e.g., mentoring relationships, sponsoring business luncheons, etc.).

Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship Student Advisory Council (RCOBESAC)

The RCOBESAC serves as a liaison between the students, the administration, and the faculty of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship by coordinating student activities within the RCOBE. It is the voice of the student body and has the responsibility of creating and implementing programs of value to all Business and Entrepreneurship students.

The Student Advisory Council will:

  • Provide an open forum for innovation and changes at the RCOBE;
  • Enhance the visibility and augment the reputation of the RCOBE on campus and in the community;
  • Be a supporting resource for prospective and incoming students; and
  • Take a leadership role in activities that recognize Business and Entrepreneurship student achievements and promote the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Scholarships for Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship Students

Individuals, businesses, and professional organizations contribute annually to support scholarships for worthy students majoring in programs offered by the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Annual scholarship award ceremonies distribute scholarships and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students.

Transfer Policy for Transfer of Community College Credits

A large number of students transfer each year into the programs offered by the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. For this reason, each year the various departments of the college prepare course transfer equivalency statements which are distributed to appropriate community colleges located in the FHSU service area. Students entering community colleges as freshmen and subsequently transferring into a Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship academic program will be allowed to transfer the following courses toward a major:

Course Hours
ACCT 203
& ACCT 204		Principles of Accounting I
and Principles of Accounting II		6
GBUS 204Business Law I3
MATH 250Elements of Statistics3
MATH 331Calculus Methods3
INF 101Introduction to Computer Information Systems3
ECON 201
& ECON 202		Principles of Microeconomics
and Principles of Macroeconomics		6

In conjunction with this policy, and consistent with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International guidelines, the college will follow a validation procedure for certain upper-division courses. These courses are:

BCOM 301Strategic Business Communication3
MKT 301Marketing Principles3
MGT 301Management Principles3
ACCT 305Intermediate Accounting I3
FIN 305Managerial Finance3

Business courses other than those noted above will generally be acceptable for elective credit only. Specific transfer and articulation agreements take precedence over this transfer policy.

Students planning to transfer into programs offered by the college should check with the departmental chairs for transfer policy information.

Transfer Policy for Students Seeking Degrees in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship

It is a Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship requirement that at least 50% of the business credit hours required for the business degree be earned at FHSU. Transcript analysts from the Registrar’s Office will monitor this standard to ensure compliance.

Second Degrees

Students who wish to obtain a second degree in business (BBA) from FHSU and already have a degree in business from a regionally accredited American university may have the FHSU Business Core requirements waived by the department chair associated with the major for the second degree. The department chair may waive all or part of the business core requirements depending on coursework needed for the specific major. Other university requirements for a second degree do not change.

Professional Pathways in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: The Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship MBA Option

A special cooperative program for undergraduates in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is available for those students interested in pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree. Under this program, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences students will be prepared to begin the MBA program without additional foundation courses. This joint program gives students the advantage of a solid liberal arts undergraduate education and the excellent employment prospects of a degree in business. A student will take the following courses in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship as part of an undergraduate program:

ACCT 203Principles of Accounting I 13
ACCT 204Principles of Accounting II 13
FIN 305Managerial Finance 13
MGT 301Management Principles 13
MKT 301Marketing Principles 13
MATH 250Elements of Statistics 1, 23
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics 1, 23
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics 1, 23
Total Hours24
1

Courses are part of the minor in Business Administration.

2

Courses can be used to fulfill requirements in General Education. BCOM 301 Strategic Business Communication, GBUS 204 Business Law I, and MATH 331 Calculus Methods are recommended as electives. Upon successful completion of this program, a student will have a minor in Business Administration and the necessary pre-requisites completed to finish an MBA in two years.

Participation in this program does not imply automatic admission to the MBA program. Regular application procedures are required and existing admission criteria must be met. Students should plan to submit application materials to the graduate business programs in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship during their senior year and take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) prior to submitting their applications. Application materials for graduate business programs are available through the Director of Graduate Programs for the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Bachelors

Minors

Certificates

Masters