Requirements for the Business Major (11 Units)
MAT 217, MAT 327 or ECO 257 (Statistics)
ECO 113 Principles of Microeconomics
ECO 114 Principles of Macroeconomics
BSP 211 Management Concepts
BSP 215 Business Law and Ethics
BSP 321 Marketing and Promotions or BSP 335 Strategic Marketing Management
BSP 325 Financial Accounting
BSP 327 Financial Management
BSP 357 Project-Based Internship or BSP Elective*
BSP 411 Business Strategy
BSP Elective
*Must have a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for the Project-Based Internship
8 BSP workshops are required for the major but carry no grade or credit.
Additional Requirements for the Finance Concentration
3 of the following courses:
BSP 323 Investments
ECO 234 Rational Choices
ECO Money and Financial Markets
ECO 333 International Trade and Finance
BSP 315 Business Analytics
Additional Requirements for the Marketing Concentration
Complete the 2nd marketing course: BSP 321 Marketing and Promotions or BSP 335 Strategic Marketing Management
Plus 2 of the following:
BSP 322 Professional Selling
BSP 332 Entrepreneurship
BSP 351 Business Analytics
COM 242 Visual Communication
COM 246 Writing for Media
PSY 344 Social Psychology
Additional Requirements for the Management Concentration
3 of the following courses:
ECO 331 Labor Economics
ECO 335 Managerial Economics
BSP 331 Human Resource Management
BSP 328 Managing a Not-for-Profit Organization
BSP 333 Entrepreneurship
BSP 351 Business Analytics
COM 319 Organizational Communication
PSY 344 Personality Theory
Additional Requirements for the Analytics Concentration
3 of the following courses:
BSP 351 Business Analytics
MAT 327 Probability and Statistics
MAT 437 Topics in Probability and Statistics
MAT 224 Linear Algebra
CS 218 Survey of Data Science
CS 229 Data Wrangling and Management
Additional Requirements for the International Business Concentration
3 of the following courses:
ANTH 222 World Ethnographies
ANTH International Development
ECO 333 International Trade and Finance
HIS 264 The World Since 1945
INS 161 Modern Africa
PLS 217 Latin American Politics
PLS 218 European Politics
PLS 231 World Politics
PLS 335 International Political Economy
*A Modern Languages major or minor is recommended.
Additional Requirements for the Technology and Design Management Concentration
Complete the following courses:
ENGR 101 Exploring Engineering
ENGR 190 Introduction to Engineering Design or ART 224 Design Thinking and Problem Solving
ENGR 302 Mechanical Engineering Tools
CS 112 Computer Science Principals or CS 220 Fundamentals of Computer Science
*A Computer Science minor is recommended.
Additional Requirements for the Accounting Pathway
Please visit the Accounting Pathway page for details regarding this program.
Requirements for the Business Minor (7 Units)
ECO 113 Principles of Microeconomics, ECO 114 Principles of Macroeconomics, or ECO 161 Foundations of Economics
BSP 211 Management Concepts
BSP 325 Financial Accounting
BSP 327 Financial Management
BSP 357 Project-Based Internship or BSP Elective*
BSP 411 Business Strategy
BSP Elective
*Must have a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for the Project-Based Internship
8 BSP workshops are required for the minor but carry no grade or credit.
Course Descriptions:
BSP 211 - Management Concepts
An integrated introduction to the fundamental concepts of management and business. Topics include the relationship between business and society, including ethical and legal responsibilities; business organization; competitive strategies; and management theory including organizational structures, decision making and creative problem solving, collaborative teamwork, and organizational control. Case studies and projects will be used to provide an opportunity to integrate and apply essential concepts. Prerequisite: Admission to the Business Scholars Program.
BSP 215 - Business Law and Ethics
This course examines the moral and legal aspects of business. Topics include the sources for legal and regulatory controls over domestic businesses, the aspects of constitutional law affecting business transactions, business ethics, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, business torts, strict liability and product liability, intellectual property, contracts, warranties, and selected aspects of employment law. This course also explores the moral dilemmas and problems that arise in business and considers the defensible ways to apply ethical principles and standards to business. Prerequisite: BSP 211.
BSP 260 - International Encounters: India
This course travels to India in Spring Term. The objective of the course is to learn about India's dynamic economy and business environment through hands-on learning. The course will cover a range of topics, including history, culture, economics, government, development challenges, and business. Students will travel to large and mid-sized cities as well as villages and rural areas. Students will meet with business leaders and village elders alike, have a chance to work with an NGO, and visit the "Silicon Valley" of India along with several UN World Heritage Sites such as the Taj Mahal. Open to all students.
BSP 321 - Marketing and Promotions
Introduces the fundamentals of marketing with special emphasis on the "promotion" element of the overall marketing mix - Advertising, sales promotion and public relations. Marketing fundamentals will be covered, such as segmentation, branding, positioning, consumer behavior and the "four Ps." A large component of the course will be more in-depth consideration of marketing communication than is typical in an introductory marketing course, including practical exercises in planning and developing a communication campaign. Prerequisite: BSP 211.
BSP 322 - Professional Selling
This course focuses on the challenges and opportunities provided by professional selling. Selling concepts, tools, strategies, and tactics will be discussed as they apply to both external and internal customers. Students are exposed to and experience some problems faced and rewards earned by those in professional sales. Customer relationship management and seeking to meet customer needs will be discussed as key to successful long-term selling. Prerequisite: BSP 211.
BSP 323 - Investments
This course provides a fundamental understanding of the theory and concepts used in making investment decisions. It covers topics including financial markets, stock and bond valuation, capital market equilibrium, risk and return trade-offs, and portfolio theory. Prerequisites: BSP 211.
BSP 325 - Financial Accounting
This course introduces the methods and principles involved in processing financial data into accounting statements for use by investors and creditors. Students will gain an understanding of the purpose and interpretation of financial statements. This course is intended as the first course in a two-course accounting sequence with Managerial Accounting and should not be taken unless the student is planning to take both. Prerequisite: BSP 211.
BSP 326 - Managerial Accounting
This course introduces the use of accounting information to aid internal decision-makers. This includes the development and interpretation of information to set goals, evaluate the performance of departments and individuals, and support various types of management decisions. Prerequisite: BSP 325
BSP 327 - Financial Management
This course introduces the approaches companies can use to obtain and deploy funds. Topics include financial forecasting, operating and financial leverage, time value of money, working capital management, capital budgeting and long-term financing. Prerequisite: BSP 325
BSP 328 - Managing a Not-for-Profit Organization
An examination of the elements, knowledge, and skills needed to create and manage a successful not-for-profit organization (NPO), including mission and programming; people resources and leadership - boards, staff, volunteers, and clients; financial management; marketing and community relations; and fundraising. Students will design their own virtual NPO over the course of the semester. Open to all students, no prerequisite. Especially recommended for students embarking upon a summer internship with an NPO. Offered Spring Term.
BSP 329 - Personal Financial Management
This course provides an introduction to concepts that will help you address the key financial decisions you will face throughout your life to meet your personal financial goals. The course covers creating a financial plan, saving and investing, buying a car or house, insurance, sources and uses of credit, and other topics. This course is open to all students.
BSP 331. Human Resource Management
This course introduces students to the field of human resources management, its purpose, and how it functions in the business arena to address the issues related to employee training, compensation, benefits, selection, hiring, firing and outplacement. Students will analyze examples from actual companies to examine various general management concepts within the context of current-day application. The course is open to all students.
BSP 333. Entrepreneurship
This course enables Business Scholars to engage with entrepreneurs brought to campus through funding made available by the John and Donna Shoemaker Guest Lecturer Endowment Fund. The course will include concentrated interaction with guest lecturers and one or more projects relating to starting a business. Topics include value propositions, innovation, channel management, sources of financing, cash flow, cost structure, business model design, marketing, and pricing.
BSP 335. Strategic Marketing Management
This course provides an overview of the principles of marketing necessary for functioning in any business environment. The course introduces a structured approach for managerial marketing decisions, with special emphasis on developing a cohesive marketing strategy. Students will learn how to incorporate business objectives, customer segmentation, competitive positioning, and marketing analytics to produce an integrated marketing plan that leads from corporate strategy through execution. Prerequisite: BSP 211.
BSP 351 - Business Analytics
Business analytics refers to the ways in which businesses, non-profits, and government organizations can use data to gain insights and make better decisions. This course provides an introduction to the field of business analytics, including the use of data, statistical and quantitative analysis, exploratory and predictive models, and fact-based management to drive decisions and actions. Business analytics is highly applicable in operations, marketing, finance, and strategic planning among other functions. Students actively participate in the delivery of this course through cases and project presentations. Prerequisite: Admission to the Business Scholars Program.
BSP 357 - Project-based Internship
A project-based internship to be carried out through work in a for-profit, not-for-profit or governmental organization. Prior to the internship students will prepare by carrying out research on the organization and/or their specific project. They will also develop objectives for what they want to learn about themselves and their career path through the internship. During the internship, Scholars will be advised by Business Scholars Program faculty and supervised by on-site supervisors. The internship and its outcomes will be presented via a public poster session or recorded presentation. A project-based internship is a full-time position (approximately 30 - 40 hours per week) with a duration of at least 250 hours over the course of 8 - 10 weeks. Prerequisite: 3.00 GPA or higher career GPA at the end of the fall term of a Business Scholar's junior year.
BSP 411 - Business Strategy
An integrated capstone course requiring BSP Scholars to demonstrate they can create a well-conceived comprehensive strategy for business and successfully execute it; synthesize liberal arts, business and economics concepts in strategic management. Scholars will complete a comprehensive strategic analysis for a business. Prerequisite: BSP 327 and senior standing.