School of Business

School Dean
Dr. Jeffrey Zimmerman, Dean
Plaster Hall 302 • 417-625-9319

Mission

The mission of The Robert W. Plaster School of Business (PSB) is to prepare our students to be responsible, productive professionals who serve in the global business environment. We fulfill our mission through quality programs in a student-centered learning community.

Learning Goals

Graduates of the Plaster School of Business will be:

Excellent communicators in both writing, listening, & speaking.
Highly capable in their field.
Globally, culturally, and self-aware.
Capable problem solvers, using quantitative & technology tools.
Ethical and able to provide excellence in both leadership and support as needed.

Vision

We will achieve national recognition as being among the most innovative and market-sensitive regional business schools in the country.

Core Values

Learning and Research

We promote an environment that facilitates and supports learning, collaboration and communication by both faculty and students directed at scholarly activity and the application of knowledge.

Community

We respond to the needs of our global community by preparing responsible, productive citizens for leadership roles and by providing services that support economic development.

Innovation

We cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship by developing new offerings and activities and by incorporating technological and pedagogical advances that support the learning environment.

Social Responsibility

We believe that faculty and students should engage in activities that foster social and ethical awareness and respond to domestic and international needs for sustainable societies.

Continuous Improvement

We commit to continually assess and improve our current programs and activities that support our mission, vision and core values.

Accreditation

Programs in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business have earned accreditation from multiple organizations. All Business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. ACBSP is the leading specialized accreditation association for business education to support, celebrate and reward teaching excellence. The Industrial Engineering Technology program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Student Organizations

The Accounting Club provides accounting students information about the profession, along with the opportunity to network with practicing accountants. Members can interact through monthly meetings and various social functions and are encouraged to become active in the area’s professional accounting organizations. The club publishes an annual Resume Book that is distributed as a resource to area employers that wish to hire new accounting graduates.

The Finance and Economics Club is open to all majors who desire knowledge about financial careers and investments. Meetings allow students to network with each other and financial professionals and an annual trip allows students to gain exposure to financial markets and companies.

Omicron Delta Epsilon is the honorary economics fraternity open to juniors with at least 15 hours in economics or finance and a 3.5 GPA in economics or finance courses.

Collegiate DECA is an international organization that engages students from a variety of educational disciplines while maintaining a strong focus on business-related areas such as marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Competitive events at the state and national levels allow students to gain recognition and develop leadership skills. Meetings provide networking opportunities with business professionals.

Phi Beta Lambda aims to develop competent and aggressive business leadership, to create more interest and understanding of American business enterprise and to improve business and citizenship through participation in worthy undertakings. PBL is open to all students.

Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society in Business Administration that exists to promote higher scholarship in training for business and to recognize and reward scholastic achievement in business subjects. To be inducted in the Lambda Gamma Chapter, students must major in business and graduate in the top 20% of their class.

Missouri Southern Business Education Association is open to all business education majors. Its primary goal is to provide students with information regarding the teaching profession and to prepare them for their careers. Meetings offer students the chance to make important contacts with public school teachers and administrators, state department personnel and other professionals who are featured as speakers.

The Society of Human Resource Management is designed to familiarize students with human resource administration, industrial psychology and labor relations. It also functions as a way to keep students up-to-date on new professional human resources developments.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Student Chapter U 178 (SME) sponsors social and educational events as well as provides students with the opportunity to network and gain the competitive edge needed for building lucrative careers. Club activities include plant tours, homecoming activities, Engineering Technology initiation event, career fairs, and other events.

The International Business Club is open to those interested in any facet of international business. Both U.S. and international students are represented. Monthly meetings give members a chance to hear guest speakers from different businesses engaged in international activities, as well as experience field trips to area businesses.

Computer Information Science Club is a forum for CIS students and other interested parties to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest and to network with potential employers and internship opportunities. The club typically hosts 4 or 5 outside speakers a year from nearly every major IT employer in the area. In addition, field trips and visits to such places as Leggett & Platt, Con-Way Truckload, Wal-Mart headquarters, and to the Mountain Underground Data Center have been organized. Through club auspices, members arrange study groups, tutoring, and community service projects and they form a personal network to help each other find internships during school and fulltime jobs after graduation.

Entrepreneurship Club is open to all majors who are interested in entrepreneurship while in school or after graduation. Meetings allow students to network with each other and entrepreneurs throughout the region. Students have the opportunity to share their ideas, learn more about entrepreneurship, and host events.

Economic Development

Small Business and Technology Development Center

The Robert W. Plaster School of Business, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration, has formed a Small Business and Technology Development Center. The SBTDC was established in April 1987 and is located in the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center. The SBTDC provides existing and start-up for-profit small businesses in Jasper, Newton, Barton, Vernon, Cedar, Dade, Lawrence and McDonald counties with one-on-one consulting. In addition, the SBTDC assists businesses with their training and educational needs. The Center seeks to serve those needs by developing and/or coordinating various seminars and workshops for the local businesses.

The International Trade and Quality Center

The mission of the International Trade and Quality Center in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business is to:

Develop international consulting and other relevant services for four-state organizations and individuals who are or wish to be involved in international trade;
Assist area organizations in their quest for continuous improvement of products, processes and services to enhance quality while reducing cost;
Enhance the business curriculum by providing international and quality resources, internship opportunities and other appropriate assistance for faculty and students.

Business and Economic Lecture Series

The Robert W. Plaster School of Business sponsors an annual lecture series. Speakers of interest to both students and local business people are featured.

SBTDC Workshops

The Robert W. Plaster School of Business has established workshops to help local businesses with their training and educational needs. The Center seeks to serve those needs by developing and/or coordinating various seminars for the local businesses.

Professional and Executive Learning

The office of Professional & Executive Learning at Missouri Southern State University seeks to become a recognized engine of economic growth in the 4-state area, anchored by Joplin, MO. Housed in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business, the office of Professional & Executive Learning offers support to the community and organizations through non-credit seminars, certificate programs, solutions consulting, customized learning, and other programs to help individuals, non-profits and businesses in the 4-state region. For more information contact Lisa Robinson at 417-625-9575 or via email.

Business General Education Requirements

All BSBA candidates must take the following “core” courses in addition to the courses required in their major (see course descriptions for prerequisites):

Mathematics - All candidates for the BSBA degree must complete MATH 0129 (Finite Math) or higher as their General Education mathematics course.