Business Administration, BS

Department Mission

The Department of Business Administration at Sonoma State University offers high-quality, relevant education in business to aspiring and practicing professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs in the private and public sectors. It does this in a liberal arts and sciences environment in which faculty emphasize the development and continuous improvement of the skills of critical thinking, effective communication, ethical reasoning, maintaining a global perspective, and applying disciplinary tools.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate general business problem-solving skills
• Employ ethical reasoning
• Apply global perspectives
• Interpret quantitative applications
• Demonstrate written communication skills
• Show oral communication skills

Careers in Business Administration

The Department of Business Administration offers a wide selection of specialized courses designed to meet a variety of career objectives. These career objectives include, but are not limited to, management-level accounting positions in business, government, or public accounting; financial management, financial analysis and planning, investment banking, and insurance; general management, personnel, labor relations, public relations, wage and salary administration, training, and international business; advertising and promotion, product development, marketing research, and sales management; and positions in sales and management within the wine industry.


 

Degree Requirements

See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

General Education Requirements (48 units)

See the “General Education ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Advising

The Department of Business Administration believes that advising is essential for students’ success. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor and are required to seek advising at certain critical junctures. These junctures occur when creating a 4-year plan and planning a concentration, when applying for graduation, and when experiencing academic difficulties.

When students join the Business Administration major, they are assigned an advisor from the School of Business and Economics’ (SBE) advising office. Students should consult with their SBE advisor on matters regarding general education (GE) coursework, graduation requirements, University requirements, and routine major issues. Upon reaching Junior standing (60 units), students are assigned a faculty advisor from their concentration. 

Required Lower-Division Business Major Courses

Lower-division coursework in the major consists of both (a) lower-division preparatory courses for the Business Major and (b) lower-division business core courses.  Completion of all the lower-division coursework (7 courses shown below) is a prerequisite for all 300-level or higher business courses.

Upper-Division Business Core Courses

All business students must complete the following seven upper division core requirements. (Note that coursework in the selected area of concentration usually may be taken concurrently with the core courses.) Completion of all (1) lower-division preparatory courses and (2) lower-division core business major courses is a prerequisite for all 300-level or higher business courses.

• BUS 316 - Operations and Supply Chain Management Unit(s): 4
• BUS 319 - Introduction to MIS Unit(s): 4
• BUS 320 - Business Data Analysis and Interpretation Unit(s): 4
• BUS 344 - Organizational Behavior Unit(s): 4
• BUS 360 - Introduction to Marketing Unit(s): 4
• BUS 370 - Introduction to Managerial Finance Unit(s): 4

• * Important Note: BUS 491 is the capstone course in the Business Administration major and is designed to be taken in the student’s final semester. Prerequisites: all six 300-level or higher business core requirements and submission of graduation application.

• BUS 491 - Seminar in Management Strategy and Policy Unit(s): 4

Minimum units needed for graduation: 120

A minimum of 120 semester units is required to graduate with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. Note: Students’ individualized educational pathways may vary and require additional units beyond the minimums listed below. 

Preparatory Courses: 11 (3 units count for GE)

Total Major Core units: 40 

GE units: 48

Concentration units: 17

University Electives: 7

Total units needed to graduate: 120

Concentrations for Business Administration Majors

Every business student must complete an area of concentration within the major. Each concentration consists of five courses. Students should plan carefully and consult their faculty advisor regularly and before enrolling in concentration courses. Those wishing to complete a double concentration must take at least eight concentration courses beyond the Core, with a minimum of three unique courses taken from each concentration. Many concentration courses can be taken while completing core requirements. Most courses in the concentrations have prerequisites. At times, appropriate courses from other majors, such as psychology, sociology, public administration, economics and environmental studies, may be substituted in a concentration with the approval of the concentration advisor and the department chair. Except for the special concentration, at least 3 of the concentration courses must be taken at SSU.

Concentrations

Certificates for Business Majors

Studying Away and Business

Sonoma State University students are encouraged to study away as a part of their academic experience!  Studying away is where a student takes academic courses in another location, either in another state or territory in the United States through the National Student Exchange program, or abroad through various SSU study abroad programs, including CSU International Programs. SSU students can choose from a variety of semester and year-long study away programs across the globe while taking classes toward graduation and using their financial aid. For more information on programs and locations available, and for information on the application process to study away, students should contact the SSU Global Engagement Office.

Lower-division Business students can study away during their sophomore year and take certain lower division Business major courses, as well as GE courses.  Upper-division Business students can study away and take certain upper-division Business major courses during their junior year.  Upper-division Business students can also study away during the Fall semester of their senior year, but should keep in mind that they must complete their senior capstone course (BUS 491) at SSU.  Students should work closely with their Business department Area Chair to work out an acceptable course plan for their study away experience.

Undergraduate Program Special Requirements

Residency
At least one-half of the courses of the major, including three of the courses in the concentration, must be completed at Sonoma State University.

Change of Major
The catalog year for a student declaring a major in Business Administration will be the catalog in effect at the time of such declaration.

BS in Business Administration Degree Completion Program

The School of Business and Economics offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree completion program in partnership with the SSU School of Extended & International Education. The degree completion program provides a pathway for students in the greater San Francisco North Bay area to earn a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Courses are taught online by SSU faculty, and are scheduled primarily on weekday evenings. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is designed specifically for students with work, family, or other commitments who are not able to join traditional Business degree programs on the main SSU campus in Rohnert Park.

Program Roadmaps