Business Administration, BS
Understand how organizations coordinate people, resources and responsible choices.
See how an organization works.
Business Administration examines the relationship among purpose, people, operations and resources. You will learn to read basic financial information and compare choices through a clear set of assumptions.
The program favors concrete cases and project work. In the capstone, market research, an operating plan and a financial scenario become parts of one proposal that another person can question and assess.
The degree in view
The BS requires 120 semester credits. The shared core connects your specialized study with writing, evidence, interpretation and public life. An adviser helps you choose electives that fit your interests without losing sight of the degree requirements.
Required courses
BUSN110Organizations & Enterprise
Follow an organization from purpose to operations, considering value, resources, stakeholders and the costs of a decision. 3 credits. Prerequisites: none.
STAT150Introduction to Statistics
Summarize samples, explore variation and use elementary statistical inference in a reproducible analysis. 3 credits. Prerequisites: none.
SOCI110People & Institutions
Use sociological concepts to examine relationships among individuals, institutions and social change. 3 credits. Prerequisites: none.
BUSI150Enterprise in Practice
Map an organization’s purpose, customers, operations and resource needs through a practical case. 3 credits. Prerequisites: none.
BUSI220Accounting & Decisions
Read basic financial statements and use cost information to explain a management decision. 3 credits. Prerequisites: BUSI150.
BUSI310Operations & Organizations
Analyze workflows, capacity, teams and process improvements using an explicit set of assumptions. 3 credits. Prerequisites: BUSI220.
BUSI410Strategy Studio
Compare a small organization’s strategic options through market research, operating constraints and financial scenarios. 3 credits. Prerequisites: BUSI310.
BUSI490Business Capstone
Present an organizational proposal with evidence, budgets, operating steps and criteria for review. 3 credits. Prerequisites: BUSI410.
A related-study pathway
One approved related-study pathway; the sample plan uses these six courses. Alternatives require an adviser-approved sequence with the same credit value.
An eight-semester example
The plan below completes prerequisites before the next sequenced course. Breadth electives come from outside the major division; free electives can support exploration or a coherent additional interest. Consult your adviser before changing a sequence.
| Semester | Courses and elective spaces | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 · Fall | WRIT101, COMM105, BUSN110, Breadth elective, Free elective | 15 |
| Year 1 · Spring | PHIL110, HIST120, STAT150, Breadth elective, Free elective | 15 |
| Year 2 · Fall | WRIT201, LIT130, SOCI110, BUSI150, Breadth elective | 15 |
| Year 2 · Spring | ARTS105, QUAN105, BUSI220, DATA150, Breadth elective | 15 |
| Year 3 · Fall | SCIE105, CIVI120, BUSI310, EPOL150, Free elective | 15 |
| Year 3 · Spring | ETHI210, GLBL150, BUSI410, PSYC150, Free elective | 15 |
| Year 4 · Fall | DATA220, EPOL220, Free elective, Free elective, Free elective | 15 |
| Year 4 · Spring | BUSI490, PSYC220, Free elective, Free elective, Free elective | 15 |
Work toward a capstone
An operating proposal for a small organization with financial assumptions, research and implementation milestones.
Your proposal sets the scope, method and expected form of the final work. Scheduled reviews give you an opportunity to respond to feedback before a public presentation or exhibition.
A person to plan with
Dr. Daniel Foster
Associate Professor, Business Administration
Alder Hall, Room 130
Small organizations, operations and sustainable enterprise.
Start an advising conversationConsider your next direction
The degree can support community and organizational roles, research or program support, graduate study in a related field. Career Studio can help you translate project work into a portfolio, a clear account of methods or the preparation for further study.
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