Degree Information

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 are able to 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 122 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.
• ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPTION: Preparation for a variety of entrepreneurial careers from starting a new business venture to working as an entrepreneur within a larger organization.
• FINANCIAL SERVICES OPTION: Preparation for positions in community financial organizations such as banks, real estate firms, insurance brokers, investment firms, and credit companies.
• HEALTH SERVICES OPTION: Development of a background in the financial and administrative aspects of health care enterprises such as hospitals, managed-care organizations, clinical practices, and physicians' offices.
• INDIVIDUALIZED BUSINESS OPTION: The option allows the tailoring of a program of study to suit specific student needs. The selection of 18 credits of study based on an individualized plan of study submitted by the student and approved by an adviser.
• MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT OPTION: An emphasis on the skills and knowledge necessary for the business professional to function in community and regional centers of commerce.

---

For the B.S. degree in Business, a minimum of 122 credits is required, 15 of which must be at the 400 level.

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

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: 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 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)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPTION: (18 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (12 credits)
ENTR 300(3), ENTR 320(3) (Sem: 5-6)
ENTR 400(3), ENGL 419(3) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (6 credits)
ENTR 410(3), ENTR 420(3), ENTR 430(3), or ENTR 440(3) (Sem: 5-8)
CAS 252(3), CAS 352(3), or SPCOM 350(3) (Sem: 7-8)

FINANCIAL SERVICES OPTION: (18 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (12 credits)
FINSV 400(3), FINSV 411(3), INS 301(3) (Sem: 5-8)
ENGL 419(3) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (6 credits)
ECON 351(3), FINSV 420(3), INS 310W(3), or R EST 301(3) (Sem: 5-8)
CAS 250(3), CAS 252(3), or CAS 352(3) (Sem: 5-8)

HEALTH SERVICES OPTION: (18 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (12 credits)
H P A 101(3) (Sem: 5-6)
H P A 310(3), H P A 332(3) (Sem: 5-8)
ENGL 419(3) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (6 credits)
CAS 250(3), CAS 252(3), or CAS 352(3) (Sem: 5-8)
H P A 447(3) or H P A 455(3) (Sem: 7-8)

INDIVIDUALIZED BUSINESS OPTION: (18 credits)
Prepare an individualized plan of study consisting of 18 credits to be submitted for approval by an adviser. (Sem: 5-8)

MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING OPTION: (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).