Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship
Brian Gillespie, Ph.D., Dean
Maritza Espina, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Faculty and Research
Brenda Truman, MPA, Assistant Dean of Student Services and Retention
General Information
- Bachelor of Science in Business
- Minors and Certificates
- Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc)
- Master of Science in Innovation and Management (MSIM)
Academic Policies (Undergraduate)
The Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship aims to educate future leaders through inspiring, innovative, and engaging experiences, fostering a culture of trust, respect, and commitment to truth, excellence, and the entrepreneurial spirit. The College serves as a leader in business education and entrepreneurial innovation for Montana, advancing economic, environmental, and social prosperity locally and beyond.
Jabs is dedicated to driving transformational learning experiences by developing and improving innovative, rigorous programs, enhancing student success through access, engagement, and professional skill development. The College aims to advance scholarship and creative activity by expanding the reach and impact of scholarship, cultivating a culture of inquiry and creative activity, and promoting student-faculty research collaborations. Jabs emphasizes meaningful community engagement through partnerships that promote growth and contribute to the economic prosperity of the state.
The College is fully accredited by AACSB International—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting association for business programs.
To learn more about Jabs, please visit our website: https://www.montana.edu/business/index.html
Degree Programs
The Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship grants three degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Business, with options in Accounting, Finance, Management and Marketing; a Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) and a Master of Science in Innovation & Management (MSIM), five minors in Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management, Finance and International Business, and two certificates in Business and Entrepreneurship.
The Jabs undergraduate curriculum is made up four blocks: foundation business courses, common body of knowledge (CBK) courses, option (marketing, management, finance and accounting) courses, and interdisciplinary electives (9 credits of electives outside of business, economics and agriculture business, any level (100-400) but must be in addition to MSU University Core general education requirements).
The Jabs Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) degree is a demanding and highly reputed program that should be considered by students who are interested in pursuing CPA certification or advanced financial positions. Information about this program can be found in the College of Business section of MSU's Graduate Catalog.
The Jabs Master of Science in Innovation & Management (MSIM) degree.The MSIM is a 30-credit, non-thesis one-year graduate program is open to all degree backgrounds, and especially helpful for recent STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates. The goal of the program is to provide early-stage professionals with a set of skills that will enable them to be more effective leaders, innovators, and team members in their respective careers along with a sense of professionalism and the ability to apply knowledge across a broad context. Information about this program can be found in the College of Business section of MSU's Graduate Catalog.
Jabs Student Resources
The Jabs Office of Student Services (OSS) coordinates new and transfer student orientation, advises first and second year business students and students with a business minor or certificate, and coordinates continuing student course registration. Each Jabs student works with their assigned professional advisor in the Office of Student Services until they take BMGT 240IS Business Analytics, then transitions to a faculty advisor for mentorship specific to their business concentration and career goals.
The Bracken Center for Academic and Career Engagement
The Bracken Center for Academic and Career Engagement supports the career readiness and professional goals of business students by connecting students to skills, networks, and real-world experiences outside of the classroom. Operated by professional business faculty, the Bracken Center offers one-on-one communication coaching and skills development as an extension of classroom learning. Coaching and programming includes support with resumes, LinkedIn, cover letters, and interview preparation; class assignments; career and internship searching, networking, and more. For more information: http://www.montana.edu/business/bracken/index.html
The LaunchPad is a campus resource for all MSU students, faculty, and alumni focused or interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. Through its programs, the LaunchPad provides guidance, mentoring, and resources such as microgrants and competitions, helping participants develop their ideas into entrepreneurial opportunities and gain important innovation skills. The LaunchPad plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and empowering future leaders. Located in the Strand Union Building (SUB), the LaunchPad is powered by the Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship. For more information or to schedule a meeting: https://www.montana.edu/launchpad/
Academic Policies
Course pre-requisites
Course pre-requisites are listed for each course in the catalog. Where there are specific pre-requisites for business students, please note that students pursuing a business major, minor, or certificate are considered business students and will be expected to meet those pre-requisites.
Minimum Grades
The Montana Board of Regents has established a common policy on minimum course grades across all campuses in the Montana University System. According to the policy, a grade of C- or better is required to satisfy requirements for prerequisite and required courses in majors, minors, and certificate programs and for all university core requirements. Further, a grade of C- or better is required in all courses that will be counted toward the 42 upper-division credits required in all degrees. Courses with a grade of D-, D, or D+ may only be counted toward the overall 120 credit requirement. To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, a student must earn a C- or better in all prerequisites, university core, required and elective business courses, and interdisciplinary elective courses and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Acceptance of Transfer Credits and Residency Requirements
Residency Requirements
All students must comply with the Jabs and the Montana State University residency requirements to be awarded a degree from Montana State University. The Montana State University residency requirement can be found at https://catalog.montana.edu/curriculum-enrollment-graduation/#Graduation_Registration_Requirements_for_Baccalaureate_Degree
Transferring to Jabs
University undergraduate programs in business normally concentrate on professional business courses in the last two years of a four-year program. The objective is to allow students the opportunity to build a foundation of work in the arts, sciences, and humanities prior to beginning professional course work. Students taking their first two years of work at another institution should take only those business courses offered at the freshman or sophomore level at Montana State University. Lower-division business courses may not be used to satisfy upper-division Jabs course requirements. If at all possible, students should complete courses which will transfer to Montana State University as the equivalent to the business foundation courses. To graduate with a baccalaureate degree from Montana State University, transfer students must earn no less than thirty MSU credits and maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, in addition to meeting Jabs curriculum requirements.
For additional guidance on transferring to Montana State University, see the Admissions section of this catalog, explore the Admissions website at: http://www.montana.edu/admissions, and/or contact the Jabs Office of Student Services at business@montana.edu.
Graduate Programs
The Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship (Jabs) offers two masters degrees: Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) and Master of Science in Innovation Management (MSIM). See our page in the Graduate Catalog for details:https://catalog.montana.edu/graduate/business/