Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Program Overview

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The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) degree, and the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, are composed of a curriculum that ensures college-level competence in business and the arts and sciences. The business degree provides ample opportunities for prior learning to be recognized and used in meeting many, if not all, of its degree requirements.

To attain the business degree, students in most areas of study must earn 120 credits distributed as follows: 45 credits in general education, 42 credits in business, 18-24 credits in the area of study, with 18 credits at the 3000 level or above, and 9-15 credits of electives. In addition, students pursuing the B.S. or B.S.B.A. are required to take College Algebra, Statistics, and Quantitative Skills for Business.

Download our Degree Program Profile Sheet for an overview of our Business Administration program. 

Outcomes-Based General Education

Thomas Edison State University’s institutional outcomes are closely mapped to the Liberal Education and America's Promise Essential Learning Outcomes (LEAP Outcomes) as documented by the Association of American Colleges and Universities www.aacu.org/leap.

All Thomas Edison State University students who graduate from bachelor’s degree programs will complete 45 semester hour credits of general education, by demonstrating general education competencies and completing general education electives, taken directly from the LEAP Outcomes www.aacu.org/leap. Some of these credits must fulfill specific category requirements and others allow students to tailor a general education experience to their own needs and interests. The categories include intellectual and practical skills with institutional outcomes in communication; information literacy; quantitative literacy and technological competency; human cultures; and the physical and natural world through study in areas including the sciences and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the arts. Knowledge of personal and social responsibility with institutional outcomes in diversity/global literacy and responsible global leadership and lifelong learning and integrative and applied learning, including synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies integrated throughout general education and Capstone courses are also included.

Degree Requirements

  • College Algebra or Quantitative Business Analysis within Intellectual and Practical Skills section of general education requirements
  • Statistics within the requirements of the Professional Business Requirements section

Professional Business Requirements 42 Credits

The business core is composed of 12 business subjects that represent the foundation courses that support the student’s chosen area of study.

Area of Study 18-24 Credits

The area of study is the component of the degree that focuses on the specific business area in an in-depth way.

School of Business and Management Upper Level Degree Policy

Require that baccalaureate students complete a minimum of 18 credits at the upper level (3000 level or higher). Complete 12 upper-level credits in the area of study, the Capstone, and one additional 3 credit course, which can be completed in the area of study or the Business Core.

The School of Business and Management offers the following Bachelor of Science degrees:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Students may specialize in the following areas of study:

  • B.S. in Accounting CPA
  • B.S. in Computer Information Systems
  • B.S. in Entrepreneurship
  • B.S. in General Management
  • B.S. in Healthcare Management
  • B.S. in International Business
  • B.S. in Organizational Leadership
  • B.S. in Professional Studies

*Accounting/CPA area of study: This area of study is 24 credits to allow for additional required accounting courses. There are no electives within the Accounting/CPA area of study.

 

The School of Business and Management also offers the following degrees, which are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP):

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). Students may specialize in the following areas of study:

  • B.S.B.A. in Accounting
  • B.S.B.A. in Finance
  • B.S.B.A. in Human Resources/Organizational Management
  • B.S.B.A. in Marketing
  • B.S.B.A. in Operations Management

 

Electives

The elective category may be satisfied by almost any college credits. Academic policies should be reviewed for limitation of credits.

Business Transfer Credits

Within the B.S./B.S.B.A. areas of study, up to 50 percent of the courses may be older than 10 years from the most current date of application to the University and still apply toward the area of study. The remaining area of study credits must be current, completed within 10 years of the most current date of application to the University. Within the Business Core, the Business Administration Capstone course, has a currency limitation of no more than five years old in order to apply toward the Core requirement. If the course is older than five years, students are required to retake the current version of the course.

NOTEThe University offers a host of ways to earn credit for knowledge obtained in non-collegiate settings. Examples include:

  • Courses and examinations approved through National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) and the American Council on Education (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service.
  • Military service
  • License and certifications
  • Prior learning assessment (PLA)

ACBSP Logo

The BSBA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Credit Distribution

Courses in the General Education Requirements are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses.

I. General Education Requirements (45 Credits)

General Education Credit Distribution by Category
Category Credits
A. Intellectual and Practical Skills
     Written Communication (English Composition I and II) 6
     Oral Communication 3
     Quantitative Literacy and Mathematical Skills 3
     Information Literacy: SOS-110: Critical Information Literacy 3
B. Civic and Global Leadership
     Diversity 3
     Ethical Leadership 3
     Civic Engagement and Awareness 3
C. Knowledge of Human Cultures
     Social Sciences 3
     History 3
     Humanities 3
     Two courses from the categories above 6
D. Scientific Knowledge
     Natural Sciences and Computer Science 6
Total General Education Credits 45

II. Professional Business Requirements (42 Credits)

ACC-1010Principles of Financial Accounting

3

ACC-1020Principles of Managerial Accounting

3

CIS-1070Computer Concepts and Applications

3

LAW-2010Business Law

3

MAN-2100Principles of Management

3

MKT-2010Introduction to Marketing

3

FIN-3010Principles of Finance

3

ECO-1110Macroeconomics

3

ECO-1120Microeconomics

3

BUS-2100Quantitative Skills for Business

3

STA-2010Principles of Statistics

3

MAN-3730Managerial Communications

3

MAN-3720International Management

3

BUS-4210Business Administration Capstone

3

III. Areas of Study Requirements (18-24 Credits)

IV. Electives (9-15 Credits)

For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.

TESU accepts credits in transfer from accredited institutions as well as non-collegiate providers. View information and resources on where you may find additional learning experiences.

Total Credit Hours: 120

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of bachelor's programs in business and leadership will obtain competencies in the business core and a breadth of knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences, preparing them to apply these competencies to business situations. In addition, they will be able to:

  • Business Content Orientation: Apply key theories, models, and applications within the global business context;
  • Analytic and Critical-Thinking Orientation: Demonstrate critical-thinking skills in business related situations.
  • Quantitative Reasoning Orientation: Employ empirical approaches to planning and decision making using quantitative reporting mechanisms;
  • Communication Orientation: Demonstrate written and oral skills appropriate for business communication;
  • Ethics and Legal Orientation: Analyze business and organizational situations using ethical approaches to decision making; and
  • Technology Orientation: Apply technology to enable business growth, development, and sustainability.