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School of Business

Curriculum & Concentrations

The BBA Curriculum and Concentrations

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree seeks to prepare students to be successful leaders in the global economy. The curriculum is designed to focus on development of practical competencies with a solid theoretical base that encourages life-long learning.

Most School of Business courses are three credit hours in order to provide both breadth of understanding in a core body of knowledge explored in the Business Core, and depth in application through electives in a focused discipline Concentration. Students are required to take 15 credits of elective beyond the core and we strongly recommend this be in one of the Concentrations: Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Management and Human Resources, or Individualized. We recognize the complexity in balancing three credit courses; however, this allows for an in-depth concentration which better prepares you to be competitive when seeking professional employment at graduation.

The curriculum is specifically designed to facilitate internships and the opportunity for students to pursue Study Away programs. You are encouraged to meet frequently with your faculty advisor to plan for the future and explore career goals.

Foundation & core course requirements

Required Foundation Courses to Declare the Major - 20 semester hours
  • BUSA 201: Value Creation in the Global Environment (4)
  • CSCE 120: Computerized Information Systems – NS (4)
  • ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics – S2 (4)
  • MATH 128: Linear Models and Calculus, An Introduction – MR, NS, (4)
  • STAT 231: Introductory Statistics – MR, (4)
Required Lower-Division Business Courses to be Eligible for Upper-Division - 6 semester hours
  • BUSA 202: Financial Accounting (3)
  • BUSA 203: Managerial Accounting (3)
Required Upper-Division Business Courses - 21 semester hours
  • BUSA 302: Finance for Managers (3)
  • BUSA 303: Business Law and Ethics (3) or BUSA 304: Business Law and Ethics for Financial Professionals (3) ( Accounting and Finance students must take BUSA 304)
  • BUSA 305: Human Dimensions of Effective Organizations (3)
  • BUSA 308: Principles of Marketing (3)
  • BUSA 309: Creating Value in Goods and Services Operations (3)
  • BUSA 310: Information Systems (3)
  • BUSA 499: Capstone: Strategic Management (SR, 3)
Required Elective Examining Global, Ethical or Vocational Issues Relevant to Enterprise Management - 3-4 semester hours
Courses must be upper-division. Students may satisfy this
requirement by taking one three- or four-credit course OR by
two two-credit courses. Courses appropriate to fulfilling this
requirement include:

  • BUSA 337: International Finance (3)
  • BUSA 340: Non-profit Management (3)
  • BUSA 352: Global Management (3)
  • BUSA 358: Entrepreneurship (3)
  • BUSA 408: International Business Law and Ethics (3)
  • BUSA 442: Leading Organizational Improvement (3)
  • BUSA 460: International Marketing (3)
  • COMA 302: Media Ethics (2)
  • ECON 331: International Economics (4)
  • ECON 333: Economic Development: Comparative Third World Strategies (4)
  • HIST 347: American Business and Economics History (4)
  • POLS 380: Politics of Global Development (4)
  • RELI 365: Christian Moral Issues (4)
  • Virtually any upper-division international study away course with prior approval of the School of Business dean or his/her designate.
  • Other upper-division global, vocational, or ethics course by prior permission of the School of Business dean or his/her designate.
Foundation Courses Required to Graduate - 8-10 semester hours
  • PHIL 225: Business Ethics - PH (4)
  • Professional Communication courses from the following list (4)
    • One from the following:
      • COMA 211: Debate (2)
      • COMA 212: Public Speaking (2)
      • COMA 214: Group Communication (2)
    • AND, one of the following:
      • COMA 213: Communication Writing (2)
      • COMA 230: Writing for Journalism (2)
      • COMA 270: Professional Writing (2)
      • COMA 311: Research Writing (2)
      • ENGL 221: Research and Writing (2 or 4)
      • ENGL 323: Writing in Professional Settings (4)

BBA elective requirement

Any 15 semester hours of upper-division business electives, and any non-Business elective courses identified in the concentration options. By taking an approved set of electives, a student can pursue a concentration. (Please see concentration links in the column to the right.) At least nine semester hours elective in Business required.

Please review the additional credit and grading requirements.

Resources

Business course descriptions

Track your degree requirements using the BBA curriculum worksheet which includes GURs

Concentration options

By taking an approved set of electives (see concentration listings) beyond the 34 credit core, a student earns a concentration designation in one of the following:


Concentration requirements:

  • Multiple concentrations are allowed
  • 3.00 GPA required in the concentration area courses
  • C- is the minimum acceptable grade in any business or concentration course
  • A minimum of nine semester hours of the total concentration requirements must be taken in residency at PLU
  • All B.B.A. degree overall requirements
Visit concentration pages for information on courses, faculty, etc.