Business Administration Major, B.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Department of Marketing

College of Business

Available Program Format(s): In-Person, Online

About the Program

The B.S. in Business Administration is a general business degree that enables students to build cross-functional expertise and prepares students to progress their career into multi-function business and leadership roles. The B.S. in Business Administration degree program enables students who do not need or desire deep expertise in one functional area an opportunity to create several areas of business focus which match their needs. Students will complete business core and additional requirements that provide a solid foundation across business functions. Within the major, students will select 21 credits of business coursework with a maximum of 9 credits in any one area of business, enabling students to select from a broad array of courses that support students’ professional interests. Finally, students complete the degree with a course on Strategic Leadership (MGT 4910). As part of the College of Business, the B.S. in Business Administration is accredited by AACSB.

Student Outcomes

The purpose of the B.S. in Business Administration is to prepare graduates to progress their career into multi-function business and leadership roles.

Goal 1: Students will apply outcomes from self-assessments and knowledge from major coursework to clearly communicate career pathways.

Goal 2: Students will be able to integrate knowledge across business functions.

2.1 - Students will be able to integrate data from multiple functional areas to inform decision making.
2.2 - Students will demonstrate knowledge of how to interact with and manage teams in a range of functional areas.

The College of Business B.S. programs, including Business Administration, share a common set of four cross-disciplinary core competencies, knowledge, and skills.

Competency 1: Communication - Business students will be able to:

1.1 - Communicate effectively through writing.
1.2 - Communicate effectively through speaking.

Competency 2: Business Solutions - Business students will be able to analyze a business situation and recommend effective solutions utilizing:

2.1 - appropriate technological frameworks.
2.2 - appropriate ethical frameworks.
2.3 - appropriate global frameworks.

Competency 3: Technological Agility - Business students will be able to:

3.1 - understand the impact of current technology on the business environment.

Competency 4: Core Knowledge - Business students will demonstrate competence in required business topics, including accounting, computer information systems, data analytics, economics, ethics, finance, marketing, management, and business law.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, a student must successfully complete 30 or more credit hours of business coursework at MSU Denver. This 30-hour residency requirement can be met by completing any business courses with the prefix ACC, ACCM, BNK, BUS, CIS, ECO, FIN, MGT, MKT, and REL and a course number of 2000 or higher. A student must complete at least 12 upper-division semester hours in Business Administration at MSU Denver.
In order to graduate, students must maintain a 2.0 average inside the Business Core and also maintain a 2.0 inside Business Administration Major required courses and elective courses.
In order to graduate, a grade of “C-” or better is required in MGT 4950.
Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.

Written Communication (6 credits)
Oral Communication (3 credits)
- Recommended: COMM 1010 - Presentational Speaking or COMM 1100 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication (one of these courses is required in the College of Business Additional Requirements for Business students completing any Bachelor of Science major.)
Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
- Recommended: MTH 1110 - College Algebra for Calculus or MTH 1310 - Finite Mathematics for the Management and Social Sciences (one of these courses is required in the College of Business Additional Requirements for Business students completing any Bachelor of Science major).
Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Historical (3 credits)
Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
- Recommended: ECO 2010 - Principles of Macroeconomics (required in the Business Core for Business students completing any Bachelor of Science major)
- Recommended: ECO 2020 - Principles of Microeconomics (required in the Business Core for Business students completing any Bachelor of Science major)
Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.

Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits

Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.
Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.

College of Business Additional Requirements: 7 credits

COMM 1010 - Presentational Speaking Credits: 3
or
COMM 1100 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credits: 3
MTH 1110 - College Algebra for Calculus Credits: 4
or
MTH 1310 - Finite Mathematics for the Management and Social Sciences Credits: 4

Business Core: 45 credits

All business majors require foundation course work in all significant areas of business theory and practice. The following courses are required for all students with a BS in a business discipline. Students must maintain a 2.0 average inside the Business Core.

ACC 2010 - Principles of Accounting I Credits: 3
ACC 2020 - Principles of Accounting II Credits: 3
BUS 1850 - Introduction to Business Credits: 3 *
BUS 1950 - Business Communication Credits: 3
BUS 3040 - Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Credits: 3
or
ACC 4440 - Accounting Ethics and Professionalism Credits: 3
or

Enrollment in the MPAcc 3+2 Program
CIS 2010 - Foundations of Information Systems Credits: 3
CIS 2320 - Descriptive and Predictive Analytics Credits: 3
CIS 3320 - Prescriptive Analytics Credits: 3
ECO 2010 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECO 2020 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
FIN 3300 - Managerial Finance Credits: 3
MKT 3000 - Principles of Marketing Credits: 3
MGT 2210 - Legal Environment of Business I Credits: 3
MGT 3000 - Organizational Management Credits: 3
MGT 4950 - Strategic Management Credits: 3 **
* Transfer students that transfer in 6 or more credits of business courses will not need to take BUS 1850 but may take any other College of Business 3-credit hour course that does not appear in their Major or Business Core requirements.

** “C-” or better must be earned in MGT 4950.

Major Requirements: 24 credits

In order to graduate, students must maintain a 2.0 average inside Business Administration Major required courses.

Business Administration majors will select 21 upper-division credits (3000 or 4000 level) from College of Business prefix courses (ACC, BNK, BUS, CIS, ECO, FIN, MGT, MKT, REL); must be courses not already taken to fulfill other degree requirements. Students may take a maximum of 9 credits in any one prefix.

MGT 4910 - Strategic Leadership Credits: 3

Senior Experience: 3 credits

MGT 4950 - Strategic Management Credits: 3 (this course is also required and counted in the Business Core)

Summary of Requirements

General Studies Requirements	33 credits
ESSJ Requirement	0-3 credits
College of Business Additional Requirements	7 credits
Business Core	45 credits
Major Courses	24 credits
Senior Experience	(counted in business core)
Unrestricted Electives	8-23 credits
Total for the Business Administration Major, B.S.	120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.