Undergraduate Business Program

The educational objective of the Business Undergraduate Program is to provide its graduating students with an education that will facilitate their access to management employment positions, entrepreneurial ventures and/or other graduate educational programs.

The key features of this educational program include: international orientation of the business curriculum, faculty and student body; class size, faculty interaction and innovative pedagogy conducive to an efficient learning environment; course work that promotes abilities to communicate and perform effectively as decision makers; core curriculum that exposes students adequately to the major business disciplines of accounting, mathematics and statistics, economics, finance, management, law, marketing, information and technology, and operations; and the opportunity to develop a level of expertise with a specific emphasis.

Curriculum Overview

The McLaren College of Business has updated its curriculum to satisfy the latest AACSB requirements and to assure that its students receive the full experience of studying at an excellent liberal arts university. Recognizing our students as individuals with unique interests and talents, the faculty have designed the business curriculum to support the focus and breadth each individual student requires. Course requirements are divided into the following areas:

1. Core Curriculum
2. General Electives
3. Business Core and Foundation
4. Major Courses

Core Curriculum - University

To assure a broad liberal arts education and a solid grounding in the basics of business, all business students must complete 46 units in the Core Curriculum. The Core Curriculum is required of all USF undergraduates and covers topics ranging from communication and math skills through the social sciences and ethics. Core Curriculum course requirements are listed under the Core Curriculum section in this catalog.

General Electives

The 26 units of general electives may be taken from various areas of interest. Elective courses range from languages to exercise sports to computer skills. Electives may also be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements.

Business Core and Foundation

The business core and foundation cover the basic business topics needed for a career in business. Consistent with the direction of business today, the business core at the McLaren College of Business highlights issues related to the global business environment, diversity and ethics. Oral and written communication and critical thinking are also stressed throughout the curriculum.

All Business majors must complete the following business foundation and core courses. The required foundation courses are also used to satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements (see faculty advisor or McLaren advising office). Students must maintain at least a C (2.0) cumulative grade point average in their foundation and business core coursework.

Required Foundation Courses / University Core

• ECON - 101 Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON - 102 Principles of Macroeconomics
• MATH - 106 Quantitative Methods in Business

Business Core Courses (36 units)

• BUS - 201 Principles of Accounting I
• BUS - 202 Principles of Accounting II
• BUS - 204 Quantitative Business Analysis
• BUS - 301 The Legal and Regulatory Environment
• BUS - 302 Marketing Management
• BUS - 304 Management and Organizational Dynamics
• BUS - 305 Financial Management
• BUS - 308 Systems in Organizations

Senior Capstone Course:

• BUS - 401 Strategic Management , or
• BUS - 406 Entrepreneurship/Business Plan Development

Major Courses

To permit greater depth in an area of personal interest, the curriculum for each of the majors includes 20 units of major coursework. Undergraduate business majors select a major from Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Hospitality Industry Management, International Business, Management and Marketing. All Business majors must complete 20 units of major coursework and must maintain at least a C (2.0) cumulative grade point average in the coursework applied to their major. Business students may elect to complete multiple majors as part of their business degree, but must complete 20 unique units and the course requirements for each major. Faculty Advisors work with students to help select elective work within their major.