The faculty of the Penn State Altoona Business degree have designed the undergraduate curriculum to accomplish four objectives:

  1. Provide a broad knowledge in the areas of accounting, finance, business logistics, economics, marketing, management, and business law.
  2. Prepare graduates to communicate effectively and work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams.
  3. Prepare technology graduates who can learn and adapt to changes in a professional work environment.
  4. Demonstrate a high standard of professional ethics and be cognizant of social concerns as they relate to the practice of business.

Students receive a bachelor of science in business. Students take a total of 120 credits for graduation.

Eighteen credits of the junior/senior-level course work will focus on a specific option selected by the student. Options include:

  • Accounting option: Preparation for positions in business with an emphasis on the areas of financial and managerial accounting, systems and controls, auditing, and taxation.
  • Business Analytics option: Preparation for students to pursue careers in applying business analytics techniques to implement appropriate decision-making outcomes using data for companies.
  • Entrepreneurship option: Preparation for various entrepreneurial careers, from starting a new business venture to working as an entrepreneur within a larger organization.
  • Management and Marketing option: An emphasis on the skills and knowledge necessary for the business professional to function in the community and regional centers of commerce.

For the B.S. degree in business, a minimum of 120 credits is required, fifteen of which must be at the 400 level.

Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)

General Education Requirements

GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(12 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in front of Bulletin.)

FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)

UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

ELECTIVES: 5-16 credits

Requirements for the Major

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 73-84 credits
(This includes 12 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses.)

COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR (ALL OPTIONS): 55-66 credits

PRESCRIBED COURSES (35-40 credits)
ECON 002 GS(3) (Sem: 1-2)
ACCTG 211(4), B A 243(4)[64], ECON 004 GS(3), MIS 204(2) (Sem: 3-4)
B A 321(1-3)[1], B A 322(1-3)[1], B A 420(1)[1], FIN 301(3)[1][64], MGMT 301(3), MKTG 301(3)[1][64], SCM 301(3)[1][64] (Sem: 5-6)
B A 421(1-2)[1], B A 422W(3)[1] (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (20-26 credits)
MATH 021 GQ(3) and MATH 022 GQ(3)[73]; or MATH 110 GQ(4) or MATH 140 GQ(4)[48] (Sem: 1-4)
Select 3-4 credits of CMPSC 203 GQ(4) or MIS 103(3)[48] [73] (Sem: 1-4)
SCM 200(4) or STAT 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 1-4)
B A 323(3)[1] or I B 303(3)[1] (Sem: 5-8)
Select 6-9 credits from B A 495A(3-9)[1], B A 495B(3-9)[1], or B A 495C(3-90[1] (Sem: 7-8)

Requirements for the Options

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPTION: 18 credits [1]
(Not all options are available at every campus.)

Accounting Option (18 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (15 credits)
ACCTG 404(3), ACCTG 432(3), ACCTG 471(3) ACCTG 472(3) (Sem: 5-6) ACCT 430(3) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (3 credits)
FINSV 411(3) or ACCTG 405 (Sem: 7-8)

Business Analytics Option (18 Credits)

Prescribed Courses (Require a grade of C or better)

  • MIS 301 Business Analytics (3 credits)
  • MIS 345 Introduction to Data Analytics (3 credits)
  • MIS 431 Business Data Management (3 credits)

Additional Courses (Require a grade of C or better)
Select 9 credits from the following:

  • COMM/IST 310 Digital Media Metrics
  • ECON 481 Business Forecasting Techniques
  • MIS 336 Database Management Systems
  • MIS 404 Introduction to ERP and Business Processes
  • MIS 415 Social Media Management and Analytics
  • MIS 441 Business Intelligence for Decision Making
  • MIS 445 Business Intelligence
  • MKTG 342 Marketing Research
  • MKTG 343 Introduction to Marketing Analytics
  • MKTG 473 Digital Marketing
  • MKTG 474 Marketing Analytics
  • MKTG 480 Intermediate Social Media Marketing
  • SCM 340 Introduction to Supply Chain Analytics

Entrepreneurship Option (18 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (12 credits)
ENTR 300(3), ENTR 320(3) (Sem: 5-6), ENTR 400(3)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (0-3 credits)
ENGL 419(3) (Sem: 7-8) OR CAS 352

SUPPORTING COURSES (0-9 credits)
ENTR 410(3), ENTR 420(3), ENTR 430(3), or ENTR 440(3) (Sem: 5-8)

Management and Marketing Options (18 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (3 credits)
ENGL 419(3) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (15 credits)
Select 12 credits from the following (at least 3 credits in MGMT and at least 3 credits in MKTG):
B A 250(3), MGMT 321(3), MGMT 341(3), MKTG 220(3), MKTG 310(3), MKTG 327(3), MKTG 330(3), MKTG 342(3), MKTG 422(3) (Sem: 5-8)
CAS 250(3), CAS 252(3), or CAS 352(3) (Sem: 5-8)

[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
[48] Abington College, Altoona College, and University College students are required to take MATH 110 GQ(4) or MATH 140 GQ(4) and CMPSC 203 GQ(4).
[64] B LAW 243(3), FIN 100(3), MGMT 100W(3), and MKTG 221(3) may be substituted for B A 243(4), FIN 301(3), MGMT 301(3), and MKTG 301(3), respectively, with the approval of the college.
[73] Berks-Lehigh Valley College students are required to take MATH 021 GQ(3) and MATH 022 GQ(3) and CMPSC 203 GQ(4) or MIS 103(3).