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)

4

credits

Introduction to the role of accounting numbers in the process of managing a business and in investor decision-making.

Prerequisite
MATH 21 or a higher math course or a satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination
3

credits

Technological and interpersonal skills for the contemporary business professional, stressing collaborative learning, electronic inquiry and communications, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211 and ECON 102 or ECON 104 and ENGL 15

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Effectiveness of the business professional in team settings, especially the capacity to execute both technologically and cooperatively through group exercises.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211 and ECON 102 or ECON 104 and ENGL 15

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
1

credit

This course emphasizes effective career planning by closely examining oneself, the business world, and communication styles and strategies.

Prerequisite
BA 321 or BA 322

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Introduction to Project Management, covering all phases of a project in proposal development, planning, execution, and closing.

Prerequisite
BA 321 or BA 322

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Study of strategic planning and implementation in multi-industry, multicultural, and multi-national settings with emphasis on sustaining competitive advantages.

Prerequisite
BA 321, BA 322, BA 421, FIN 301, MGMT 301, MKTG 301, SCM 301

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

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

GS
This course can be used to satisfy the Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) requirement.
3

credits

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

GS
The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) requirement.
3

credits

Nature of finance function; risk and return concepts; working capital; dividend policies; mergers; security markets; acquisition and management of corporate capital; analysis of operations; forecasting capital requirements; raising capital; and planning profits. Available to baccalaureate students only.

Prerequisite
ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; ACCTG 211; ECON 102 or ECON 104; SCM 200 or STAT 200

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

A survey of the major aspects of international business environment and operations with an emphasis on the cultural dimension.

Prerequisite
Fifth-semester standing

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

IL
The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Integrative Studies (IL) requirement.
3

credits

Examination of fundamental principles and processes applicable to the study of management. Not available to students who have taken BA 304.

Prerequisite
(ENGL 15 or ENGL 30) and (ECON 102 or ECON 104) and (MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination)

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

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 BA 303.

Prerequisite
(ENGL 015 or ENGL 030) and (ECON 102 or ECON 104) and (MATH 021 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination.)

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Introduction to the use of information systems in business organizations.

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

GQ
The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Quantification (GQ) requirement.
3

credits

Supply chain management concepts, principles, and methodologies.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211 and ECON 102 and (SCM 200 or STAT 200)

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

Additional Courses (select 15–18 credits)

4

credits

Explores the ethical, political, social, legal and regulatory, technological, and demographic diversity environment of business.

Note
A student may not receive credit toward graduation for both BLAW 243 and BA 243.
3 or 6

credits

Guided professional practicum in business consisting of 3 or 6 credits of supervised fieldwork in business.

Prerequisite
BA 321; BA 322; BA 420 and completion of 6 credits at the 300- or 400- level in student's option

Note
This internship is an opportunity to apply the theories and concepts taught throughout the program. With approval from the academic program coordinator, you can engage in an assignment at your workplace that goes beyond your regular job duties, or you could work on a special initiative with a local organization in your community. Whichever path you choose, this internship is an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world business setting and demonstrate your willingness to go beyond your regular job responsibilities.
- 4
  
  credits
  
  Functions, graphs, derivatives, integrals, techniques of differentiation and integration, exponentials, improper integrals, applications.
  
  Prerequisite
  MATH 022 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination
- or:
  4
  
  credits
  
  Functions, limits; analytic geometry; derivatives, differentials, applications; integrals, applications.
  
  Prerequisite
  MATH 22 and MATH 26 or MATH 26 and satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination or MATH 40 or MATH 41 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination.
4

credits

Descriptive Statistics, frequency distributions, probability and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation.

Prerequisite
Placement into MATH 21 or higher.

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

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:

Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Financial Services
Health Services
Management and Marketing
Individualized

Accounting Option

Prescribed Courses for the Accounting Option (9 credits)

3

credits

Accounting techniques as planning, control, and motivating devices in business and other organizations; accounting data for decision-making and performance evaluation.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211, STAT 200 or ECON 102

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Theory and practice issues in income concepts and value measurement; GAAP; revenues, costs, assets, liabilities, and equities.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211 or ACCTG 311

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Off-balance sheet financing; special issues in cost capitalization, liabilities, and equities; matching; funds flow statements; statement analysis; inflation accounting.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 371 or ACCTG 471

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

Additional Courses for the Accounting Option (6 credits)

3

credits

Financial compliance, internal, and operational audits; standards and procedures; sampling; EDP auditing; professional issues; application of concepts through written responses.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 371 or ACCTG 471

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Elements of tax policy and tax-planning concepts for personal and business decision-making; with emphasis on taxation of individuals.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211; BA 301 or FIN 301

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

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)

Entrepreneurship Option

Prescribed Courses for the Entrepreneurship Option (9 credits)

3

credits

Overview of the fundamental principles and processes of entrepreneurship, including idea generation and opportunity analysis.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211, ECON 102

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Explores the process for starting and growing a new venture, including the development of a business plan.

Prerequisite
ENTR 300

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Overview of alternative forms of financing, including seed capital, valuing a company, going public, partnerships, and acquisitions.

Prerequisite
BA 243 or BLAW 243; ENTR 320, FIN 301

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

Additional Courses for the Entrepreneurship Option (select 0–3 credits)

3

credits

Examines the function and structure of communication in both formal and informal situations.

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Preparing and editing reports and presentations common to business, industry, and government.

Prerequisite
ENGL 015 or ENGL 030

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

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.

Financial Services Option

Prescribed Courses for the Financial Services Option (3 credits)

3

credits

Investment and risk, types of security investments, sources of investment information, the broker, the stock market, portfolio management.

Prerequisite
FIN 301

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

Additional Courses for the Financial Services Option (3 credits)

3

credits

Elements of tax policy and tax-planning concepts for personal and business decision-making; with emphasis on taxation of individuals.

Prerequisite
ACCTG 211; BA 301 or FIN 301

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

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)

Health Services Option

Note: 6 of the 18 credits in the Health Services Option must be at the 400-level.

Prescribed Courses for the Health Services Option (6 credits)

3

credits

Examination of the social, political, historic, and scientific factors in the development and organization of health services.

Prerequisite
fifth-semester standing or permission of instructor

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

This course provides you with an overview of how health care institutions are organized and governed, the role of the management staff, and the management systems designed for their efficient and effective operation.

Prerequisite
HPA 101, HPA 211

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

Additional Courses for the Health Services Option (select 0–3 credits)

3

credits

Examines the function and structure of communication in both formal and informal situations.

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Theories and strategies important for conceptualizing, developing, and managing conflict negotiation, mediation, and third-party intervention.

Prerequisite
CAS 100

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Preparing and editing reports and presentations common to business, industry, and government.

Prerequisite
ENGL 015 or ENGL 030

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Development and management of employee compensation systems.

Prerequisite
LHR 201 and sixth-semester standing

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Explore the causes and consequences of conflicts between work, family, and other life commitments, and how these may be resolved.

Prerequisite
3 credits of LHR

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Personnel selection, training, accident prevention, morale, and organizational behavior.

Prerequisite
PSYCH 100

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Survey of theory and research with respect to attitudes, morale, and motivation of employees and management.

Prerequisite
PSYCH 100; PSYCH 200 or STAT 200

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
3

credits

Review of research and application of behavior principles in the areas of management and supervision.

Prerequisite
PSYCH 100; PSYCH 281 or 3 credits MGMT; fifth-semester standing or permission of instructor

C or better
A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

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:

Maximum number of 100-level course work to be accepted in the option: None
Maximum number of 200-level course work to be accepted in the option: 6 credits
Maximum number of transfer credits accepted into the option: No limit (transfer credit policies apply)
Maximum course work in disciplines other than the following: ACCTG, FIN, FINSV, ENTR, MGMT, MKTG, SCM, STAT, IB, ECON, HPA: 9 credits
Maximum number of credits completed more than 5 years before enrollment the program: 6 credits
Maximum number of independent study/special topics course work: 3 credits, must be at the 400-level
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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