Undergraduate programs

The undergraduate program in business administration adheres to the principle that in a free society the business enterprise must be responsibly and efficiently managed. The undergraduate degree program includes both business and non-business courses. The mission of the undergraduate program is to provide students with a broad understanding of business and to equip them with the dynamic skills required to work successfully in a complex and changing global environment.

Special emphasis options are available within the business administration major and are designed to prepare students for positions in accounting, business technology & analytics, advertising, finance, human resource management, management & leadership, marketing, and supply chain management.  Business minors include the general business minor, the business minor in social innovation, the property management minor, the business minor in advertising for graphic design majors, and the advertising minor for communications majors. Certificates in entrepreneurship, blockchain, food industry management, the athletic and outdoor industry, property management, international business, and social innovation & social entrepreneurship are also available. The School of Business offers study abroad opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The School of Business offers online business concentrations in Accounting, Business Technology & Analytics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Management & Leadership, Marketing, or Supply & Logistics Management. 

Student Advising

Undergraduate academic and career advisors are located in the Karl Miller Center Suite 220. Students should plan to meet with their advisor at least twice a year to ensure that requirements are being met and to get assistance in their job search preparation.

The School of Business Web site, http://www.pdx.edu/sba, contains announcements concerning upcoming activities, scholarships, student organizations, internships, and career opportunities, policies, and other information vital to all business students.

Atmos Program 

As the largest and most diverse business school in Oregon, we believe diversity, cultural awareness, and the inclusion of all people is paramount for institutional impact and global change. We believe inclusion and excellence are not mutually exclusive. This belief motivates everything we do.  The Atmos program supports diverse and historically underrepresented business students of color and is a promise of academic and community support to help create an avenue for a brighter future. 

 

 

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Admission requirements

Business Administration B.A./B.S.

Business Administration Minor

Business Minor in Social Innovation

Business Minor in Real Estate Property Management

Business Minor in Advertising for Graphic Design Majors

Advertising Minor for Communications Majors

Business Administration B.A./B.S.

Requirements for major

In addition to meeting the general University requirements, the student in business administration must take at least 82 credits in business administration courses of which at least 41 must be taken at PSU. This total will include the business core (52 credit hours if taken at Portland State), at least one option area (20-36 credits, depending on option chosen), and enough business electives to meet the minimum of 82 credits in business.  A minimum of 180 credits is required for graduation.

Prerequisite policy

Prerequisites are strictly enforced in the School of Business and exceptions are not made. Before enrolling in any business course, students should read the course description and must complete any prerequisites that are listed. If a student completes a course before completing the prerequisite and later completes the prerequisite, credit for the prerequisite will not count toward 82 credits required in business. The instructor and/or School's Administration have the authority to administratively drop any student who has not completed the prerequisites. Students must successfully complete the prerequisite course with a C- or better.

Second Degree Students

Second degree (post-baccalaureate) students will need to meet the requirements for their major. In addition, post-baccalaureate students must request a review of their first degree to determine if they have met the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science requirements. This can be done by emailing their business advisor with the request for a first degree evaluation. Post-baccalaureate students should plan to meet with an advisor to determine if any of their previous coursework counts towards the business major requirements, to plan out their curriculum, and to discuss career resources.

Requirements

Business administration students must complete the following courses with a C- or better:

Core courses

BA 101Introduction to Business and World Affairs

4

BA 211Fundamentals of Financial Accounting

4

BA 213Decision Making with Accounting Information

4

BA 216Applied Excel for Business

2

BA 300Business and Professional Communication

2

BA 301Research and Analysis of Business Problems

4

BA 302Organizational Behavior

0-4

BA 303Business Finance

4

BA 311Marketing Management

4

BA 325Information Literacy & Technical Competence for Business Professionals

4

BA 327Data Analysis & Visualization

2

BA 339Supply Chain Management

4

BA 385Business Environment

4

BA 495Business Strategy

6

Total Credit Hours:52

Business specialization options

(see descriptions below)

Total Credit Hours:20-38

Business Concentrations

The School of Business offers concentrations for those students seeking specialization in a subject area. Each student must select one of these concentrations and complete the required courses with a C- or better. Concentration requirements are satisfied by taking 20 to 36 upper-division credits beyond the required business core. The courses specified to satisfy the concentration requirements are:

Accounting

Objective: to enable students to acquire the necessary technical and professional skills for successful careers in public, management, or governmental accounting.

Actg 335Accounting Information Systems and Analytic Fundamentals

4

Actg 360Management Accounting

2

Actg 381Financial Accounting and Reporting I

4

Actg 382Financial Accounting and Reporting II

4

Actg 383Financial Accounting and Reporting III

4

Actg 421Taxation

4

Actg 430Governmental Accounting

2

Actg 492Auditing Concepts and Practices

4

Actg 495Integrated Accounting Issues

4

One upper-division accounting course to be chosen from:

Actg 422Advanced Taxation

4

Actg 445Forensic Accounting

4

Actg 460Advanced Managerial Accounting

4

Actg 485Business Law

4

Actg 493Advanced Auditing

4

Actg 407Seminar

1-6

Total Credit Hours:36-38

Business Technology and Analytics

Objective: to provide requisite knowledge and skills which enable the student to meet the challenges of working within information-rich business environments.
Total Credit Hours:28

Core

BTA 350Business Problem Solving with Analytics and Visualization

4

BTA 415Database Management

4

BTA 419Business Analytics with Programming

4

BTA 420Systems Analysis and Design

4

BTA 428Data Privacy, Security and Ethics

4

Total Credit Hours:20

Electives

The 8 credits of electives can be either: within the Business Technology and Analytics area at the 400 level or from an approved list of courses.

Approved electives:
Actg 407Accounting Analytics

4

Actg 335Accounting Information Systems and Analytic Fundamentals

4

BTA 483Blockchain in Business

4

Fin 419Financial Data Analytics & Modeling

4

GSCM 412Introduction to Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

4

GSCM 430Decision Making Using Enterprise Systems and Data Analytics

4

GSCM 450Project Management

4

GSCM 451Business Forecasting

4

Mgmt 442Human Resources Information Systems & People Analytics

4

Mktg 448Digital Media Planning and Analytics

4

Mktg 460Marketing Research

4

Mktg 462Marketing Analytics

4

 

BTA 481Blockchain Fundamentals

4

And

BTA 482Blockchain Fundamentals Lab

2

Total Credit Hours:8
Additional electives (including GSCM 410) as approved.

Advertising Management

Objective: to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for students to create and execute advertising strategy within the broader context of the marketing function.

Mktg 340UAdvertising

4

Mktg 363Consumer Behavior and Customer Satisfaction

4

Mktg 441Media Strategy

4

Mktg 442Creative Strategy

4

Mktg 443Advertising Campaigns

4

Mktg 460Marketing Research

4

Total Credit Hours:24

Note: Students who wish to complete a double concentration in advertising management and marketing cannot apply more than eight common MKTG elective credits to each concentration.

Finance

Objective: to provide undergraduate students with the educational foundation and exposure to the broad field of finance, enabling them to develop their financial decision making skills so that they can be successful as finance professionals in their chosen financial career path.

Total Credit Hours:28

Core

Actg 381Financial Accounting and Reporting I

4

Fin 319Intermediate Financial Management

4

Fin 352Investments

4

Fin 449Valuation

4

Total Credit Hours:16

One upper-division finance course to be chosen from:

 
Fin 410Selected Topics

1-4

Fin 431Financial Markets & Institutions

4

Fin 456International Financial Management

4

Fin 439Real Estate Valuation I

4

Total Credit Hours:4

Two upper-division finance courses to be chosen from:

 
Fin 410Selected Topics

1-4

Fin 419Financial Data Analytics & Modeling

4

Fin 441Fundamentals of Derivative Securities

4

Fin 457Real Estate Investment

4

Fin 465Finance Topics and Cases

4

Fin 473Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

4

Total Credit Hours:8

Human Resource Management

Objective: to provide a conceptual framework, as well as the necessary hands-on knowledge, skills, and abilities, that allow students to understand what is required, what is possible in terms of HRM techniques and the application of data and analytics to achieve and engage in more effectively manage human resources within an organization.
Mgmt 351Human Resource Management

4

Mgmt 461Reward Systems and Performance Management

4

Mgmt 471Staffing and Employee Selection

4

Mgmt 493Human Resource Strategy

4

Upper-division management courses

4

Elective

4

Total Credit Hours:24

Of the 8 credits of electives, four credits must be taken within the management area at the 400 level.

The final four elective credits must be from an approved list of courses.

Note: Students who wish to complete a double concentration in management & leadership and human resource management cannot apply more than eight common credits to each concentration.

Management and Leadership

Objective: to provide requisite knowledge and skills which enable the student to meet the challenges of leadership and managerial responsibilities.

Mgmt 351Human Resource Management

4

Mgmt 428Team Processes

4

Mgmt 445Organizational Design and Change

4

Mgmt 464Contemporary Leadership Issues

4

Upper-division management courses

4

Elective

4

Total Credit Hours:24

Of the 8 credits of electives, four credits must be taken within the management area at the 400 level.

The final four credits can be either: within the management area at the 400 level or from an approved list of courses.

Note: Students who wish to complete a double concentration in management and leadership and human resource management cannot apply more than eight common credits to each concentration.

Marketing

Objective: To provide students with a strong academic foundation in marketing and to enable students to gain the strategic, technical, and professional skills necessary for career success.

Mktg 363Consumer Behavior and Customer Satisfaction

4

Mktg 460Marketing Research

4

Mktg 464Marketing Strategy and Management

4

Mktg 462Marketing Analytics

4

Mktg 448Digital Media Planning and Analytics

4

Upper-division marketing elective(s)

8

Total Credit Hours:28

Students who wish to complete a double option in marketing and advertising management cannot apply more than 8 common Mktg elective credits to each option.

Marketing students can choose their electives from any of the available upper-division (300- or 400-level) elective courses offered at the School of Business with the exception of MKTG 404.

Supply and Logistics Management

Objective: to provide students with an interdisciplinary foundation in supply chain management in preparation for careers in purchasing, industrial distribution, logistics, transportation, and operations management.

GSCM 429Global transportation and Logistics management

4

GSCM 439Global Sourcing and Negotiation

4

GSCM 479Global Supply Chain Strategy and Sustainability Management

4

Three of the following electives as approved by supply and logistics management faculty:

GSCM 410Selected Studies

1-8

GSCM 412Introduction to Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

4

GSCM 432Craft Beverage Operations Management

4

GSCM 440Governmental Procurement

4

GSCM 450Project Management

4

GSCM 451Business Forecasting

4

GSCM 454Supply and Logistics Negotiations

4

GSCM 458Purchasing and Logistics within the Food Industry

4

GSCM 459Production Planning and Control

4

GSCM 469Lean Management

4

BTA 410Selected Topics

1-6

ISQA 430Industrial Transportation and Freight

4

ISQA 431Transportation Regulation

4

Other electives as approved by Supply and Logistics faculty

Total Credit Hours:24

School of Business Honors Track

The School of Business Honors Program is a cohort of high performing, dedicated undergraduate business students who want to take core business courses and build lasting relationships with other honors students, build leadership skills, attend monthly professional development workshops that offer opportunities for networking, and give back to the community.

 

Honors students challenge themselves and polish their professional and academic business skills through a combination of special honors sections of core business courses and enjoy special opportunities to interact with business professionals, including CEOs and other business executives. Successful completion of all honors requirements results in an Honors designation on the student’s diploma.

Requirements for honors track designation include:

 
  • Exclusive access to Honors-only sections for BA 301, BA 311, BA 385, BA 495, and a 1-credit leadership course
  • Monthly professional development workshops (during the academic year), including events featuring guest speakers, business executives, and business communication content
  • 30 hours of community service
  • Cumulative PSU and business major GPA > 3.5 upon completion of degree requirements

For admission to the honors track, students must be degree-seeking undergraduates who are admitted to the School of Business.  Applications are evaluated based on GPA, application essays, and recommendation letters. Freshmen are encouraged to apply and will be conditionally admitted until all application materials are submitted at the end of their sophomore year.

Honors program requirements are subject to change. For the most current honors requirements, more detailed application information, and link to apply visit: www.pdx.edu/sba/business-honors-track