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The objective of the Associate Degree in Business Administration is to provide people interested in management with enhanced communications and mathematical skills, socially relevant course work, and a choice of advanced courses in specific business specialties to develop well-rounded and application-oriented graduates. 

For those wishing to continue their studies, the 60 credits earned toward an associate degree may often be applied toward the requirements of a bachelor's degree at Penn State or at other institutions. 

The 60 credits for the Associate of Science in Business Administration are as follows:

  • Requirements for the Major (48–50 credits)*
    • Prescribed Courses (13 credits)
    • Additional Courses (23–24 credits)
    • Supporting Courses and Related Areas (Choose 12–13 credits)
  • General Education courses (21 credits)*

*Note: 9 of the General Education credits are also included in the Requirements for the Major.

Course List - Associate in Science in Business Administration

Requirements for the major — 48–50 credits

Prescribed Courses (13 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making ACCTG 211 Introduction to the role of accounting numbers in the process of managing a business and in investor decision making.

Prerequisite: MATH 21 or 1.5 units of high school algebra		 4 credits
Effective Speech CAS 100 Introduction to speech communication: formal speaking, group discussion, analysis and evaluation of messages. 3 credits
Effective Writing: Business Writing ENGL 202D Writing reports and other common forms of business communication.

Prerequisite: ENGL 15 or ENGL 30; fourth-semester standing		 3 credits
Introduction to Business Information Systems MIS 204 Introduction to the use of information systems in business organizations. 3 credits
Additional Courses (23–24 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business B A 243 Explores the ethical, political, social, legal and regulatory, technological, and demographic diversity environment of business. 4 credits
Rhetoric and Composition ENGL 15 Instruction and practice in writing expository prose that shows sensitivity to audience and purpose.

Prerequisite: ENGL 4 or satisfactory performance on the English proficiency examination		 3 credits
Introductory Microeconomic Analysis

or

Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis		 ECON 102

or

ECON 104		 Methods of economic analysis and their use; price determination; theory of the firm; distribution.

or

National income measurement; aggregate economic models; money and income; policy problems.		 3 credits

or

3 credits
College Algebra I


or

College Algebra II


or

Techniques of Calculus I		 MATH 21


or

MATH 22


or

MATH 110		 Quadratic equations; equations in quadratic form; word problems; graphing; algebraic fractions; negative and rational exponents; radicals.

Prerequisite: MATH 4 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination

or

Relations, functions, graphs; polynomial, rational functions, graphs; word problems; nonlinear inequalities; inverse functions; exponential, logarithmic functions; conic sections; simultaneous equations.

Prerequisite: MATH 21 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination

or

Functions, graphs, derivatives, integrals, techniques of differentiation and integration, exponentials, improper integrals, applications.

Prerequisite: MATH 22 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination		 3 credits


or

3 credits


or

4 credits
Principles of Marketing MKTG 301 or 301W Focuses on customer behavior, product, channels of distribution, promotion, and pricing with emphasis on a culturally diverse environment. Not available to students who have taken B A 303.

Prerequisite: ENGL 15 or ENGL 30 & ECON 102 or ECON 104 & MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement exam (i.e. minimum placement MATH 22)  		 3 credits
Basic Management Concepts MGMT 301 Examination of fundamental principles and processes applicable to the study of management. Not available to students who have taken B A 304.

Prerequisite: ENGL 15 or ENGL 30 & ECON 102 or ECON 104 & MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement exam (i.e. minimum placement MATH 22)  		 3 credits
Elementary Statistics STAT 200 Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, binomial and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation.

Placement in to MATH 21 or higher 		 4 credits
Supporting Courses and Related Areas (Choose 12–13 credits)
Description Abbreviation Credits
Choose from departmental approved course list BA 100(3); BA 250(3); BA 364(3); CAS 250(3) or CAS 252(3); CAS 352(3); MATH 22 GQ(3); MATH 110 GQ(4); ACCTG 300 to 399(3); ECON 100 to ECON 399(3); ENTR 100 to 399(3); FIN 100 to 399(3); HPA 100 to 399(3); IB 303 IL(3); LER 100 to 399(3); MGMT 100 to 399(3); MKTG 100 to 399(3); MIS 100 to 399(3); RM 100 to 399(3); or SCM 200 to 399(3) (Sem: 1-4) 3–4 credits each
General Education (21-27 credits*)
Description Credits
Arts — GA 3 credits
Humanities — GH 3 credits
Natural Sciences — GN 3 credits
Social and Behavioral Sciences — GS 3 credits
Writing and Speaking — GWS** 3 credits
Quantification — GQ* 3 credits
Any General Education course, including Integrative Studies (Inter-domain or Linked courses) 3 credits
United States Cultures (US), or International Cultures (IL) or combined designation (US; IL) 3 credits*
Writing Across the Curriculum (W, M, X,Y) 3 credits*

*May be satisfied by designated courses that also meet other degree or General Education requirements.

** These credits are included in the Requirements for the Major as CAS 100, ENGL 202D, and MATH 21.

Note: 15 of these 21 credits are included in requirements for the major

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.