Business Administration Major (BA)

Degree Requirements:

Plus three 4 unit courses (12 units) in any concentration belonging to the Business Administration Major:

Exploring the World of Business Course Sequence Overview

In each semester of the undergraduate Business Administration major, students complete key sections of the four-year business course entitled “Exploring the World of Business (EWB)”. This personal and professional development program aligns self-awareness and discovery with knowledge of business disciplines to determine one’s career path. Students of all levels attend this course together each semester, and bring to the course their experience, interests and talents. Integrating critical thinking and business ethics from a global perspective, students develop skills to perform as effective business professionals. The courses will include workshops and seminars to enhance students’ preparation for careers in business professions.

EWB courses ending in '8' are offered each fall; EWB courses ending in '9' are offered each spring.

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Total Credit Hours: 4

Transfer students will enroll in the level appropriate “Exploring the World of Business” class. Earlier courses in the series are waived for transfer students. For example, Junior transfer students will take BUS 3008, BUS 3009, BUS 4008, and BUS 4009. BUS 1008, BUS 1009, BUS 2008, and BUS 2009 are waived.

Accounting Concentration

Accounting focuses on recording and analyzing financial activities. Accounting is described as “the language of business” because it is used to report financial information to a wide variety of interested parties. Strong critical thinking, quantitative, and interpersonal skills as well as attention to detail are important qualities for accountants.

Studying accounting prepares students for a wide variety of professional opportunities, including positions in public accounting, private accounting, government and not-for-profit organizations. Many students also find the accounting concentration to be useful preparation for careers in consulting, banking, general management, and securities analysis.

Students can prepare for professional certifications (such as Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Certified Internal Auditor) by taking additional courses in accounting and other subjects beyond those required for the major.

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

To obtain a CPA license in 2019, the State of California educational requirements are that a person have a baccalaureate degree from a four-year accredited university or college, 24 semester units in accounting subjects, 24 units in business-related subjects, 20 semester units of accounting study, 10 units of ethics study, and 150 semester units. Students can earn 150 units with additional study at the undergraduate level. Or eligible students may apply to the MBA program, including the 4+1 program, to earn 150 semester units.

For more information about the CPA exam, see www.cpa-exam.org. For additional information about applying for a CPA license in California, see the California Board of Accountancy web site at www.dca.ca.gov/cba.

CMA and CIA

The BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting qualifies the student to sit for the CMA and CIA examinations. Information about the examinations, required professional experience, and other license requirements may be found at the following websites: CMA at www.imanet.org and CIA at www.theiia.org.

Required Courses:

Total Credit Hours: 12

Financial Management Concentration

Financial management is the study of how money is managed and how funds are raised and invested. The financial management concentration develops the skills needed to make complex business decisions involving economic values over time and under uncertainty. Examples of finance problems include capital budgeting decisions, raising money for new ventures, risk management, hedging against currency and commodity price fluctuations, advising clients on investment strategies, assessing business valuation for mergers and acquisitions, and setting the optimal capital structure (debt/equity) of the firm. Proficiencies in these areas are highly sought after by the financial services industry, consultants, and other employers in the private and public sectors.

The financial management concentration prepares students for such career paths as financial management in business, government, and non-profits. Additional career paths include investment banking and management consulting, banking and insurance, asset management for institutional investors, financial planning for private wealth, treasurer, chief risk officer, chief investment officer, and chief financial officer.

Certified Financial Planner®

To qualify for the Certified Financial Planner® Certification Examination, the CFP® Board of Standards requires that a person have a baccalaureate degree from a four-year accredited university or college, 15 semester units in financial planning subjects, and another 12 units in related business courses (i.e., accounting, economics, and finance).

The following courses are recommended to prepare for the CFP® exam:

Required Courses:

Total Credit Hours: 12

Global Business Concentration

Global business is any business activity that occurs between people or organizations from different nations. The global business concentration prepares students for the international challenges facing business leaders. Students will demonstrate understanding of the global context in which most organizations now compete, and have an in-depth knowledge of the political, environmental, and social/cultural features. In addition, students will be competent in a number of professional skills such as conflict resolution, negotiation, team leadership, and personal career management that are normally associated with professionals who already have substantial work experience.

Global business students can take advantage of the University's strategic positioning in the San Francisco Bay Area, a border of the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. Barowsky School of Business currently has study-abroad and student-exchange agreements with universities around the world.

Required Courses:

Total Credit Hours: 12

Management Concentration

Management focuses on organizations—their design, function, and management; behavior in organizations, and how to manage change. Areas of study within management include entrepreneurship, human resource management, communication, and organizational behavior. Integrating themes include leadership, leading change, global culture, diversity, ethical behavior, teamwork, and the administration of functional areas.

The Barowsky School of Business management concentration prepares students for careers as entrepreneurs, and manager/leaders in the areas of business, not-for-profit, and governmental organizations.

Select three of the following courses:

Total Credit Hours: 12

Marketing and Sales Concentration

Marketing is the function in organizations that is responsible for developing, pricing, distributing, and promoting products, services, and ideas. Students pursuing a marketing and sales concentration acquire a solid grounding in applying the basic disciplines (e.g., psychology, economics, statistics) essential for understanding consumer and organizational buying patterns and for developing successful marketing strategies. Marketing and sales students also acquire practical experience in the application of these concepts and methods through team activities, research projects, analyses, and marketing simulation games.

The marketing and sales concentration prepares students for positions such as sales specialist, research analyst, purchasing agent, retail manager, and corporate marketing management. Many graduates have gone on to careers in brand management, advertising sales, marketing research, consulting, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Select three of the following courses:

Total Credit Hours: 12