Courses
The Bachelor of Science in Business degree requires students to complete a minimum of 120 credits.
This program features a core of prescribed courses, general education requirements, and electives. Students will also select an option that emphasizes one set of skills. Options include accounting, entrepreneurship, financial services, health services, management and marketing, and an individualized option.
The number of credits you will have to take will vary according to the courses you transfer into the business degree program. Once you are admitted into the degree program, an academic adviser will help you with remaining requirements.
Prescribed Courses (41 credits)
Additional Courses (select 15–18 credits)
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Supporting Courses and Related Areas (0–3 credits)
Select 0–3 credits from 400-level business courses from: ACCTG, BA, ECON, ENTR, FIN, FINSV, HPA, IB, MGMT, MIS, MKTG, RM, or SCM. A letter grade of C or higher is required. You are encouraged to work with your adviser to identify the appropriate supporting courses.
Options (select 18 credits)
Customize your path by choosing 18 required credits from one of the degree options:
Additional Courses for the Accounting Option (6 credits)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas for the Accounting Option (select 3 credits)
Select 3 credits from 400-level business courses from: ACCTG, BA, ECON, ENTR, FIN, HPA, IB, MGMT, MIS, MKTG, or SCM (Sem: 7–8)
Additional Courses for the Entrepreneurship Option (select 0–3 credits)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas for the Entrepreneurship Option (select 6–9 credits)
Select 6 to 9 credits of 400-level ENTR courses in consultation with your adviser. Some prerequisites may apply.
Additional Courses for the Financial Services Option (3 credits)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas for the Financial Services Option (select 12 credits)
Select 12 credits in 300 or 400-level (with at least 3 credits at the 400-level) from ACCTG, FIN (Sem: 5–8)
Additional Courses for the Health Services Option (select 0–3 credits)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas for the Health Services Option (select 9–12 credits)
- 3–9 credits of 300- or 400-level HPA courses (fifth-semester standing or permission of instructor)
- 0–6 credits of ACCTG, BA, ECON, ENTR, FIN, HPA, IB, MGMT, MKTG, MIS, or SCM. Consult with your adviser; prerequisites may apply.
Management and Marketing Option
Note: 3 of the 18 credits in the Management and Marketing Option must be 400-level Management (MGMT) and Marketing (MKTG). Please check with your adviser about their availability.
Additional Courses for the Management and Marketing Option (select 0–6 credits)
Select 0–6 credits from the following: BA 250(3), ENGL 419(3), MKTG 220(3) or one of the following, CAS 252(3), CAS 352(3), CAS 404(3) (Sem: 5–8)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas for the Management and Marketing Option (select 12–18 credits)
A minimum of 3 credits of supporting courses must be selected at the 400-level.
- Select 3 credits from 300 or 400-level MGMT courses (Sem: 5–8)
- Select 3 credits from 300 or 400-level MKTG courses (Sem: 5–8)
- Select 6–12 additional credits in 300 or 400-level courses from MGMT or MKTG courses (Sem: 6–8)
Individualized Option
The 18-credit plan must meet the following guidelines:
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Maximum number of 100-level course work to be accepted in the option: None
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Maximum number of 200-level course work to be accepted in the option: 6 credits
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Maximum number of transfer credits accepted into the option: No limit (transfer credit policies apply)
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Maximum course work in disciplines other than the following: ACCTG, FIN, FINSV, ENTR, MGMT, MKTG, SCM, STAT, IB, ECON, HPA: 9 credits
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Maximum number of credits completed more than 5 years before enrollment the program: 6 credits
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Maximum number of independent study/special topics course work: 3 credits, must be at the 400-level
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Minimum number of 400-level credits completed in business courses from the following: ACCTG, ENTR, FIN, FINSV, IB, MGMT, MKTG, SCM, HPA: 3 credits
Electives (select 10 credits)
Among the degree requirements, students should incorporate at least 3 credits in U.S. cultures, 3 credits in international (IL) cultures, and 3 credits in writing-across-the-curriculum courses.
This course list includes only courses offered by World Campus. An official degree audit or the recommended academic plan for this program may include additional course options and detailed requirements. All students are expected to complete at least 36 Penn State credits to earn this degree. Please consult an academic adviser for details.
General Education Requirements
Some General Education requirements may be satisfied by courses required for the major. Students should work with an adviser to select courses.
- Arts (GA): 6 credits
- Humanities (GH): 6 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 9 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
A student must receive a grade of C or better in GWS courses. - Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
A student must receive a grade of C or better in GQ courses. - Integrative Studies: 6 credits
This requirement only applies to students starting in summer 2018 or later. Learn more about the Integrative Studies options and consult your academic adviser when choosing courses to fulfill these requirements. Integrative Studies credits may be completed within the thirty Knowledge Domain credits and must be completed with either Inter-domain or Linked courses, not a combination of both.
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.

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