BSBA Degree Requirements
The completion of the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree includes:
- A minimum of 124 semester hours of coursework and satisfaction of all degree requirements;
- 2.0 overall cumulative average;
- 2.0 average in major and minor fields of study;
- A minimum of 30 semester hours of business coursework must be completed at Suffolk University; and,
- An overall minimum of 45 semester hours of coursework must be completed at Suffolk University to be eligible to be considered for degree.
BSBA students must complete a minimum of 124 credits, AND
all mandatory courses and requirements. Course
descriptions may be updated periodically to reflect changes since the last
published catalog.
Full-time students normally complete their degree
requirements in four years. A student may shorten the time required by
attending summer sessions. Part-time students normally take five to seven years
to complete the requirements, depending on the course load carried.
Students are responsible for knowing and complying with
specific degree requirements. Any exception to the Program of Study requires
written approval from the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center.
Recommended Four-Year Course Sequence
Below
is an overview of the courses students must complete and the year they are
expected to do so. Students should meet with their advisors to review their
program of study.
The Business School’s curriculum is designed to enable
students to acquire knowledge and skills cumulatively, building from
introductory material to more specialized or advanced study in areas of major
concentration. Prerequisites have been established for courses that require
preparation in order for students to benefit fully from the learning
experience.
Students are responsible for taking courses in the prescribed
sequence. This means:
- All prerequisites must be satisfied
- Students must have satisfactorily completed 54
credits in order to register for upper division courses in the Business School
(Business School undergraduate courses numbered 300 or higher, unless otherwise
stated).
- Students must have completed all freshman and
sophomore required courses prior to registering in junior-level courses. In
particular, students are expected to have completed required writing and quantitative courses before the junior year.
Required Courses to be completed in the first year
-
SBS-100 careerSTART
Prerequisites:
Less than 24 credits earned.
Credits:
1.00
Description:
SBS 100 engages students in a series of activities, discussions, and programs on campus to explore their interests and strengths and learn how courses and co-curricular experiences together help them achieve their goals. Students also develop innovation, team, and presentation skills, get involved on campus, and learn about campus resources and services that aid in a successful college experience. This is the first in a four-year sequence of career courses.
-
WRI-101 First Year Writing I
Credits:
4.00
Description:
Study and practice of the writing process and revision in terms of expository writing modes for an academic audience.
-
WRI-102 First Year Writing II
Prerequisites:
WRI 101.
Credits:
4.00
Description:
Study and practice of argumentative and research writing through further work with writing process and revision and the critical reading of a variety of texts.
-
ENT-101 Business Foundations
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to foundational concepts in business, including functional areas, the life cycle, competition, stakeholders and ethical considerations. Students develop critical thinking by learning and using a problem solving process through a business situation analysis model to analyze various situations that confront managers and founders of small, medium, and large organizations. Students will also develop tools for analysis, allowing them to critically view business in a new and thoughtful way. The class culminates with student- teams presenting a detailed analysis and recommendations to a panel of executives and persuading them that the recommended strategy is not only feasible, but also practical for the stakeholders involved.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
STATS-250 Applied Statistics
Prerequisites:
MATH 128 or higher
Credits:
4.00
Description:
Application of statistical analysis to real-world business and economic problems. Topics include data presentation, descriptive statistics including measures of location and dispersion, introduction to probability, discrete and continuous random variables, probability distributions including binomial and normal distributions, sampling and sampling distributions, statistical inference including estimation and hypothesis testing, simple and multiple regression analysis. The use of computers is emphasized throughout the course. Normally offered each semester.
Type:
Quantitative Reasoning
-
BLE-215 Business Ethics and Law
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Business ethics is applied ethics. This course deals with the roles and responsibilities of business in a global society; teaches models of ethical decision-making that incorporate multiple points of view, including diverse cultural worldviews and legal perspectives; and addresses those factors that contribute to and constrain ethical behavior in and by organizations. Students will then apply these concepts to current business problems, such as anti-trust, accounting fraud, deceptive advertising, and environmental dumping.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Creativity and Innovation Requirement
When searching for classes, select course type "CI". Choose from the options provided.
Globalization Requirement
Choose one of the following options [Global Business majors take SIB 101]:
-
SIB-101 Globalization
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces the nature and processes of globalization which define today's international business environment. The course employs a multidisciplinary perspective to explore the growing interdependence of nations in their trade, investment, technology flows, and business operations. Topic include business, geographic, economic, social, cultural, political, and other issues related to globalization. The course is experiential in its approach. Students will undertake a team research project exploring globalization issues with reference to a particular country, region or industry.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
HST-149 Empires & Globalization in World History I
Credits:
4.00
Description:
This is the first of the two-course series of Empires and Globalization in World History. Course discusses the origins and development of globalization and capitalism from the perspective of economic history. Major issues include the formation of the medieval trade system, the development of finance and capitalism in the early modern ages, and economic changes prior to the Industrial Revolution. The specific topics may change every year due to new academic developments and publications. Cultural Diversity B
Term:
Offered Fall Term
Type:
Humanities & History,Cultural Diversity Opt B,Humanities Literature Requirement
-
HST-150 Empires & Globalization in World History II
Credits:
4.00
Description:
This is the second of the two-course series of Empires and Globalization in World History. Course discusses the origins and development of globalization and capitalism from the perspective of economic history. Major issues include state-making, wars, and the rivalry among early modern empires, economic development, the Industrial Revolution and the formation of the global trade system. The specific topics may change every year due to new academic developments and publications. Cultural Diversity B
Term:
Offered Spring Term
Type:
Humanities & History,Cultural Diversity Opt B,Humanities Literature Requirement
Math Requirement
Incoming
students to the University (who have not transferred in the math requirement)
take the University math assessment for placement in an appropriate math
course. Students may be placed in prerequisite math courses based upon their
assessment results in order to prepare for their Math requirement. In general,
students will choose one the following options:
-
MATH-128 Math for the Modern World
Prerequisites:
MATH-000 or appropriate Math Placement Exam score.
Credits:
4.00
Description:
From the ISBN on a book, to buying a car, from the size of small chips in a cell phone, to the size of the national debt, or just reading a graph in the daily newspaper, mathematics plays an important and vital role in countless areas of life and your future career and courses included. Mathematics is both an art and a tool created by humans. The common bond is a way of thinking and a way of reasoning to describe and solve problems of many types. This course uses the context of modern real life problems to introduce math needed for literacy and problem solving in contemporary life and work. It uses a minimal amount of algebra and focuses on math models, concepts and basic math manipulations. It encourages students to move from anxiety about math, to using formulas well, to thinking critically in the math context to use math to solve problems and pose new problems. Topics include scientific notation, basic financial math, linear, exponential and polynomial models and an introduction to probability. (Formerly Math 132)
-
MATH-130 Topics in Finite Mathematics
Prerequisites:
MATH 104, MATH 108, MATH121 or appropriate math placement score.
Credits:
4.00
Description:
Linear Modeling (for example, using linear functions to model supply/demand situations), graphing, linear programming, financial functions (compound interest, annuities, and amortization of loans) sets, Venn diagrams, counting and combinatorics, discrete probability, conditional probability, Bernoulli experiments, Bayes theorem. Several sections offered each semester. *This course cannot be applied toward a departmental concentration in Mathematics by Sawyer Business School students.
-
MATH-134 Calculus for Management & Social Sciences
Prerequisites:
MATH 104, MATH 121 or appropriate math placement score.
Credits:
4.00
Description:
A one-semester introduction to differential and integral calculus. Theory is presented informally and topics and techniques are limited to polynomials, rational functions, logarithmic and exponential functions. Topics include a review of precalculus, linear regression, limits and continuity, derivatives, differentiation rules, implicit differentiation, related rates, applications of derivatives to graphing, minima/maxima, applications of the derivative, marginal analysis, differential equations of growth and decay, anti-derivatives, the definite integral, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, area measurements. This course cannot be used to satisfy core or complementary requirements by students majoring in chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or physics. Several sections offered each semester. *This course cannot be applied toward a departmental concentration in Mathematics by Sawyer Business School students.
-
MATH-165 Calculus I
Prerequisites:
Math Placement score or MATH 121 with a grade of C or better
Credits:
4.00
Description:
Functions, limits and continuity; instantaneous rate of change, tangent slopes, and the definition of the derivative of a function; power, product, and quotient rules, trig derivatives, chain rule, implicit differentiation; higher order derivatives; applications(curve sketching, limits at infinity, optimization, differentials); other transcendental functions (inverse trig functions, exponential and log functions, hyperbolic trig functions); anti-derivatives; indefinite integrals; applications (net change). 4 lecture hours plus 1 recitation session each week. Normally offered each semester.
Required courses to
be completed by the end of the sophomore year
-
SBS-200 careerEXPLORE
Credits:
1.00
Description:
SBS 200 fosters active exploration of career interests, jobs and fields. Students build introductory career management, information seeking, and self-presentation skills. Students refine oral and written communication through class presentations, networking, research, and writing a resume and cover letter. This is the second in a four-year sequence of career courses.
-
SBS-220 Business Writing
Prerequisites:
ENT 101 (formerly SBS 101); WRI 102
Credits:
3.00
Description:
The world is constantly changing and businesses as well as individual employees must adapt. In order to effectively leverage future communication technologies and media, you must be a critical reader and have strong foundational writing and editing skills. In this course, current business news will be read for its content and to understand the interplay of language and purpose. You will learn to write effectively for business by focusing on your audience, purpose, tone, and the design of various business documents and by revising and refining your writing.
-
EC-102 Global Macroeconomics
Prerequisites:
Non-CAS majors need to have completed at least 16 credits
Credits:
4.00
Description:
This course examines the workings of the national and the global economy. It will describe the determination of Gross Domestic Product, the problems of unemployment, inflation, and the determination of economic growth. It will also describe and analyze the determination of the country's exchange rate, the balance of payments, and international borrowing and lending. A particular focus will be on understanding economic fluctuations (booms, busts, and recessions) in the domestic economy and its effects on other economies. It will analyze the role of the government and the effects of government spending and taxation on the economy. Furthermore, it will describe and analyze the determination of the quantity of money and interest rates in the economy and the role of the country's central bank. It examines the basis and pattern of international trade and the effects of a country's trade policy on the economy.
Type:
Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE
-
ACCT-201 Acct for Decision Making I
Prerequisites:
WRI 102 or SBS 220; MATH 128 or higher
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Designed to provide a user of accounting information with the skills to appraise and manage a business. Students are introduced to the accounting cycle, the financial statements, and the theory underlying accounting as information. Coverage addresses current accounting topics, including relevant ethical and international issues found in the financial press.
-
ACCT-202 Acct for Decision Making II
Prerequisites:
ACCT-201
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Enables students to apply the concepts and skills from the preceding course. They learn how to analyze the financial condition and performance of a firm, and how to use accounting information in business planning, decision-making, and control. Relevant current ethical and competitive issues found in the financial press are discussed in the course.
-
ISOM-201 Data and Decisions Analysis
Prerequisites:
MATH 128 or higher; STATS 240 or STATS 250
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is designed to introduce undergraduate business students to fundamental quantitative methods of using data to make informed management decisions. Topics covered include: decision modeling, decision analysis, regression, forecasting, optimization, and simulation, as it applies to the study and analysis of business problems for decision support in finance, marketing, service, and manufacturing operations. Practical business cases and examples drawn from finance, marketing, operations management, and other management areas are used to provide students with a perspective on how management science is used in practice. The implementation of management science tools has been facilitated by the intensive use of Excel spreadsheet models.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
MGT-217 Organizational Behavior
Prerequisites:
ENT 101 (formerly SBS 101); WRI 102 (formerly ENG 102) or WRI 103 (formerly ENG 103) or SBS 220
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course explores the application of sociological, psychological and anthropological concepts in domestic and international business settings. Attention is given to the study of human behavior in organizational settings, the organization itself, human interaction, and small group process.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
MKT-210 Principles of Marketing
Prerequisites:
WRI 101 or WRI 103
Credits:
3.00
Description:
As part of the core curriculum for the BSBA, this course provides a comprehensive, innovative, managerial, and practical introduction to marketing. Students will learn and apply basic concepts and practices of modern marketing as used in a wide variety of settings. Technological advances, rapid globalization, economic shifts and cultural and environmental developments are causing profound changes in the marketplace. As the marketplace changes, so must the marketers who serve it. These new developments signify a brand new world of opportunities for forward thinking marketers. In response to these new developments, the focus of this course is on four major themes that go to the heart of modern marketing theory and practice: 1. Building and managing profitable customer relationships; 2. Building and managing strong brands; 3. Harnessing new marketing technologies in this digital age; and 4. Marketing in a socially responsible way around the globe.
-
MKT-220 Business Research Methods
Prerequisites:
STATS 240 or STATS 250
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Business Research Methods is a general introduction to both quantitative and qualitative business research methods. Topics covered include the purpose of research, defining research and research problems, defining an hypothesis, problem solving and knowledge discovery, methods of quantitative and qualitative research, conducting literature reviews, designing appropriate methodologies, evaluating outcomes, analysis and communicating the results. Students will use Excel and SPSS to support research analysis, implementing what was learned in statistics and going beyond as they learn new data analysis techniques. Students will discuss and present research ideas and processes orally both informally and formally.
New courses that meet this learning goal may be announced by the Undergraduate Programs Office after they are approved. Students who entered Suffolk prior to Fall 2010: requirement was 4 credits. Students who entered prior to Fall 2010 may need to add a 1 credit course to their Programs of Study if they chose the 3 credit course option.
Choose:
-
P.AD-201 Social Change
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will examine social change in the U.S. and abroad. The course will also examine the role of business, nonprofits, and the public sector in addressing social problems. Topics studied may include the Industrial Revolution, the civil rights movement, the women's movement, environmentalism, and the gay and lesbian movement.
Type:
BSBA SOCIAL CHANGE,Diverse Perspectives
Or ask an advisor for a list of newly approved options.
Required courses to
be completed by the end of the junior year
-
SBS-300 careerBUILD
Credits:
1.00
Description:
SBS 300 deepens students' career information and skills with a focus on professionalism. Students refine career documents based on personal branding with a focus on articulating the experiences, learning, and skills gained in previous internships, volunteer and work experiences, courses, and club or performance roles. Students use technology, personal networks and professional organizations to develop job search skills. This is the third in a four-year sequence of career courses.
-
EC-101 Applied Microeconomics
Prerequisites:
Non CAS majors need to have completed at least 16 credits.
Credits:
4.00
Description:
This course introduces students to foundational principles of microeconomic theory, with an emphasis on applications of concepts to management decision-making in specific industry and market settings. It describes and analyzes the interaction of supply and demand and the behavior of the prices of goods, services. It explains the determinations of costs, output, strategic pricing, and governance by firms under conditions of perfect and imperfect competition in a global economy. In addition, it describes the supply demand for factors of production and the impact of taxes and government regulation and intervention on firms and consumers.
Type:
Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE
-
BLE-214 Principles of Business Law
Credits:
3.00
Description:
An introduction to the field of business law including an overview of the organization and operation of the American legal system, including the court system and legal procedure, together with brief coverage of selected business law topics such as contracts, torts, criminal law,and agency principles. Particular attention is given to the ways in which business law manifests important social and ethical precepts.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
FIN-200 Business Finance
Prerequisites:
MATH 128 or higher; ACCT 201; STATS 240 or STATS 250 (can take concurrently with FIN 200); Sophomore standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is a study of the functions of business finance and focuses on basic financial principles such as time value of money, risk and return tradeoffs, and asset valuation. Formally FIN 310.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ISOM-310 Management Information Systems
Prerequisites:
WRI 102 or SBS 220; and at least 45 completed credits
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course examines the rise of information-enabled enterprises and the role of information technologies/information systems (IT/IS) and e-commerce as key enablers of businesses and social changes globally. The effective application of IT/IS to support strategic planning, managerial control, operations and business process integration in the digital economy is covered. The course also examines the IT/IS related issues of ethics, privacy, piracy and security in the information society.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ISOM-319 Operations Management
Prerequisites:
ENT 101 (formerly SBS 101); ISOM 201; Junior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
In this course, students are introduced to the operating component of a service/manufacturing organization where inputs such as raw material, labor, or other resources are transformed into finished services and/or goods. The following OM areas: strategic and tactical issues, product planning and process design, technology management, quality management, capacity, location, and layout planning, inventory management, forecasting and work force management issues are addressed through class discussions, readings and cases. Quantitative models, analytical tools and case studies are used to analyze problems that the business manager would face in both a local and global setting.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
MGT-360 Leadership 360 Practicum
Prerequisites:
MGT 217 (formerly MGT 317); does not count toward the Management Major, nor the minor for BSBA students
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Leadership 360 Practicum provides a fundamental understanding of the principles of leadership and the core competencies, traits and behaviors that enable effective leadership. Students will conduct an in-depth self-examination of skills, abilities, personality, attitudes, values, and behaviors to increase self-awareness of their leadership competencies. Students will learn relevant leadership theories and introductory project management principles and techniques. They will apply leadership and project management skills in a mini-team project with a not-for-profit organization that seeks solutions to a specific challenge, leading to a project implementation plan. Students will present formally to the client; feedback to the presenters will reinforce their oral communication skills. MGT 360 is a free elective only and may not be counted towards the Management major or minor.
Review the list of options with your advisor.
Required courses to
be completed during or by the end of senior year
-
SIB-429 Strategic Management
Prerequisites:
MKT 210; ISOM 319; MGT 217 (formerly MGT 317); FIN 200 (formerly FIN 310); Senior standing
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course covers and integrates administrative processes and decision making under uncertainty in business areas of marketing, accounting, management, finance, personnel, and production. It also focuses on strategic and policy issues from the viewpoint of senior management in both domestic and international corporations. Case discussions help develop the conceptual framework for analysis and implementation of strategy and policy decisions.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
SBS-400 careerLAUNCH
Prerequisites:
90 credit hours required.
Credits:
1.00
Description:
SBS 400 is the culminating career and professional experience for seniors. It focuses on career entry and transition, networking for career and job success, impression management, and related life-long learning skills. Students articulate and reflect on academic, work, and co-curricular experiences from the perspective of professionals entering or advancing their careers. This is the final course in a four-year sequence of career courses.
When searching for classes, select course type "STE". Choose from the
options provided.
Review the list of
options with your advisor.
Free Electives
BSBA students must complete a total of 124 credits to
graduate. In addition to completing all degree program and major requirements,
students have free elective credits that they may use to complete a minor,
explore topics of interest by taking courses in the College of Arts &
Sciences or the Business School, take honors challenge courses, or use toward a
second major. Many transfer students bring in credits that are applied as free
electives when there is no program equivalent. The number of free elective
credits to be completed varies by major, number of transfer credits, and other
factors. Students should refer to their program evaluation for credit counts,
and discuss free elective options with their advisors.
Internship/Practicum Requirement
All Accounting, Finance and Information Systems majors
complete a required non-credit practicum (formerly called the experiential
component). Entrepreneurship, Management,
Marketing and Global Business majors have no required internship. However, we
encourage these students to take advantage of the major elective option if they
wish to receive academic credit for an internship experience. Refer to your
specific major's web pages or catalog page for details. Students who wish to
receive credit for a subsequent internship should ask an advisor for details.
