Welcome from the Dean

Welcome to the College of Business Administration (COBA) at Missouri State University. We are committed to being a center of excellence in the field of business education and to fulfilling our role as one of the six academic colleges within the University. Our six academic units include the School of Accountancy, and the departments of Computer Information Systems, Finance & General Business, Industrial Management, Management, and Marketing.  A total of 23 undergraduate majors or specialties are offered.  At the graduate level, five degrees are offered including the Master of Business Administration (MBA), the Master of Accountancy (MAcc), the Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (MSCIS), the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and the Master of Project Management (MPM). With a total enrollment of 4,400, we offer the largest AACSB accredited business program in Missouri and one of the largest programs in the Midwest.  The college is also very proud of the fact that all of our programs (Business and Accounting) are fully accredited by AACSB--The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.  Of the over 1,600 schools in the country offering business degrees, only 165 have attained this status.  

Attending an accredited school ensures that students are receiving the quality education needed in today's competitive job market. The AACSB accreditation process is designed to guarantee that graduates of accredited programs are aware of the latest developments in their fields of study, have a broad understanding of the business environment, and possess a working knowledge of appropriate technologies, including a variety of computer applications. Thus, a degree from an AACSB accredited school can make the necessary difference when beginning a career.

One of our strengths is that we have had great success in recruiting top-quality faculty from excellent graduate programs throughout the country to teach our students. Perhaps the best evidence of this success is the fact that over 95 percent of the College's 120 faculty members have doctorates in their fields of expertise. Consequently, our students are instructed by doctorally-qualified faculty members in the great majority of their business classes. Also, no graduate students are employed for instruction purposes.

The faculty and administration of the College of Business Administration believe that an important part of the educational experience is the opportunity to interact with members of the business community. As a result, activities such as guest speakers in classes and at student organization functions, field trips, the COBA Executive-in-Residence Series, the David D. Glass International Business Lecture Series, and internship and cooperative employment programs are all integral parts of a student's career preparation.