The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

The Business Administration (BADM) major requires completion of a lower-division core prior to taking most upper-division core courses. Successful completion of the lower-division core allows students to advance to the upper-division core that continues their general background in Business and into their specialty option. Business Administration currently offers options in Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing, and Project Management.

Students must receive a verified grade of C or higher in each lower-division core course in order to advance into most of the upper-division core and option courses. If a student receives a grade of C- or lower in one of the lower-division core courses, that course must be repeated until a grade of C or higher is attained. The set of lower-division and upper-division core courses are listed under Course Requirements for the Major.

For more information about College of Business programs and helpful advising information for first-year and transfer students, please contact:

Business Student Advising
Glenn Hall 321
530-898-4480
Email: BusinessAdvisor@csuchico.edu

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Upper-Division Writing Requirement:

Writing Across the Curriculum (Executive Memorandum 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog for more details on the four courses.  The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.

• Any upper-division Writing (W) course.

The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (Executive Order 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all Business Administration majors.
Consult Business Student Advising (GLNN 321, 530-898-4480, or BusinessAdvisor@csuchico.edu) for information about your program and for a course plan that will enable you to complete your degree in four years.

Course Requirements for the Major: 72-75 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option are outlined following the major core program requirements.

Major Core Program: 48 units

Lower-Division Core: 21 units

Students in the major must complete each of the following seven lower-division core courses with a C or higher. All the lower-division core must be completed prior to taking upper-division core courses, with the exception of BADM 300W and MINS 301, which can be completed prior to completing all the lower-division core. Students are advised to take MATH 107, but Math 109 (Survey of Calculus) or MATH 120 (Analytic Geometry and Calculus) will be accepted as substitutes.

7 courses required:

Upper-Division Core: 27 units

Students must complete the lower-division core prior to taking upper-division core courses, except for BADM 300W and MINS 301.

8 courses required:

Capstone Course

Students with at least a 3.5 grade point average in the BADM major may wish to take the honors course BADM 495H.

1 course selected from:

Major Option Course Requirements: 24-27 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.  Use the links below to jump to your chosen option.

• The Option in Accounting
• The Option in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
• The Option in Finance
• The Option in Human Resource Management
• The Option in Management
• The Option in Marketing
• The Option in Project Management

For business majors, Business Administration status is required for all option classes.

The Option in Accounting: 27 units

The option in Accounting provides students with the skills needed to succeed in the accounting profession. All courses counted toward the option in Accounting must be completed with a grade of C or higher. No accounting option coursework (300 level or higher) may be transferred in from any institution outside of CSU, Chico. Various courses in the option have prerequisite courses where a minimum grade is required. An accounting student may be enrolled in a maximum of three accounting option courses per semester. The Accounting Department does not allow accounting students to re-enroll in an upper level (300, 400, and 500 level) accounting course in which they are currently enrolled until after grades are posted for the current term. An academic advising meeting with the Department Chair is required before an accounting student may enroll in the same accounting course a third time.

9 courses required:

The Option in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: 24 units

Students may complete this option in two or three semesters.

Foundation: 6 units

Note: MGMT 450, MGMT 451 & MGMT 452 must be taken in sequence.

2 courses required:

Domain Knowledge: 12 units

The Domain Knowledge requirement is intended to provide greater depth in the domain of business expertise necessary to launch successful ventures.

4 courses required:

Setting: 3 units

The Setting requirement is intended to address different settings in which entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and abilities can be applied.

1 course selected from:

Electives: 3 units

Note: MGMT 453, MGMT 454, and MGMT 455 may only be taken if not chosen in the above selection.

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BADM 499H	Honors Seminar in Business		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: Admission to Business Honors in the Major program. This course is a common first Honors course for students in all options, to be followed by an option-specific 499H. This is primarily a research methods course where students will learn the methodologies necessary for them to succeed in their Honors projects. Issues range from selecting a topic to the nature of data and specific research methods. The course also helps students integrate knowledge that they have gained from their business studies. 9 hours supervision. (001080)
BLAW 450	Intellectual Property Law		3.0	SP
This course explores the four fundamental pillars of intellectual property study: 1) patents 2) trademarks 3) copyrights 4) trade secrets. Balance is struck between theory (textbook content of the above four main areas) and practice (students applying theory in joint venture simulations). The text and lectures set out the theory, historical, and present context of intellectual property law. Beyond this, however, a critical component of the course shall focus on applying theory to practice. By semester's end, IP portfolios containing real world intellectual property forms and applications, are complied or constructed by entrepreneurial teams evidencing understanding of each of the four aforementioned domains of intellectual property. 3 hours discussion. (021776)
FINA 456	Risk and Insurance		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: FINA 307. Nature of risk and risk management; fundamentals of property, liability, and life contracts; types of companies; government regulation. 3 hours lecture. (003734)
MGMT 389C	Internship in Management		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: MGMT 303, faculty permission. Students must register directly with a supervising faculty member. For students who wish to gain practical work experience with participating organizations, this course enables students to apply management coursework in an organizational setting. See internship advisor for eligibility requirements, performance requirements, assignments, and methods of evaluation prior to undertaking the internship. For programs offered by the Department of Management, this course may be applied only once for 3 units. 9 hours supervision. Credit/no credit grading. (020578)
MGMT 444	Managing Project Teams		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303 or faculty permission. Creating team effectiveness and developing project management skills. Includes coverage of the nine project management body of knowledge areas required for professional certification by PMI, the professional code of ethics, and the benefits of diversity on team performance. The course requires use of information technology including spreadsheets, Web-based file storage and sharing, electronic presentations and use of project management software. 3 hours lecture. (005731)
MGMT 453	Social Entrepreneurship		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: MGMT 450. This course emphasizes the adaptation of entrepreneurial concepts and practices for creating and developing successful social enterprises. Students explore what distinguishes social innovations and how to apply business start-up knowledge, skills, and abilities in order to accomplish them. 3 hours lecture. (020559)
MGMT 454	Family Business Ventures		3.0	SP
Prerequisite: MGMT 450. This course examines the roles families play in the entrepreneurial process. Students explore the mindset and methods for family enterprises, the advantages and challenges facing family ventures, and issues that arise as family businesses become multi-generational. 3 hours lecture. (020581)
MGMT 455	Web-Based Entrepreneurship		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: MGMT 450. The purpose of the course is to offer students the opportunity to learn using an experiential approach, about the practices, challenges, and decision-making processes faced in launching and managing a new Web-Based business venture. It focuses on the field of entrepreneurial management and adopts the perspective of the start-up founder implementing a "lean startup". 3 hours seminar. (021522)
MGMT 460	Managing for Sustainability		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. This course examines the ways in which organizations can be managed to meet the triple bottom line: profit, ethical treatment of workers, and environmental sustainability. Students learn to analyze organizational impacts and develop practices that foster a balanced ecosystem as well as organizational effectiveness. 3 hours lecture. (020231)
MGMT 489B	Practicum in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management		3.0	FA
Prerequisite: MGMT 451 (may be taken concurrently) and faculty permission. Students must register directly with a supervising faculty member. The purpose of the course is to offer students the opportunity to learn experientially about the practices, challenges, and decision-making processes faced in launching and/or managing a new venture. See practicum advisor for eligibility requirements, performance requirements, assignments, and methods of evaluation prior to undertaking the practicum. 3 hours seminar. (020583)

Note: A maximum of 15 units of courses ending in 89 may count for the bachelor's degree.

Note: MGMT 498 must be taken for 3 units.

The Option in Finance: 24 units

Finance is a 24-unit option which you may complete in two semesters. The first semester, students will take FINA 351, FINA 355, and two electives.

3 courses required:

Choose a total 5 courses from the lists below, at least 4 courses from List 1.

List 1

4-5 courses selected from:

Note: FINA 399 and FINA 498 must be taken for 3 units.

List 2

0-1 courses selected from:

The Option in Human Resource Management: 24 units

Students may complete this option in two or three semesters.

6 courses required:

2 courses selected from:

Note: MGMT 498 must be taken for 3 units.

The Option in Management: 24 units

Students may complete this option in two or three semesters.

Management Core:

3 courses required:

Management Depth:

3 courses selected from:

2 courses selected from:

MGMT 443, MGMT 445, MGMT 448, and MGMT 470 may only be taken if not chosen in the above selection.

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BADM 499H	Honors Seminar in Business		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: Admission to Business Honors in the Major program. This course is a common first Honors course for students in all options, to be followed by an option-specific 499H. This is primarily a research methods course where students will learn the methodologies necessary for them to succeed in their Honors projects. Issues range from selecting a topic to the nature of data and specific research methods. The course also helps students integrate knowledge that they have gained from their business studies. 9 hours supervision. (001080)
BLAW 413	Employment Law		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: At least junior standing. An in-depth study of federal and California employment laws as they affect the management of human resources, with appropriate consideration of ethical and global dimensions. Emphasis is on the legal rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in the employment relationship, primarily in a private-sector, non-union environment. 3 hours discussion. (001352)
BLAW 414	Labor Law and Collective Bargaining		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: At least junior standing or faculty permission. Intensive examination of unions in an organizational setting. Includes organizational and concerted activities, collective bargaining and employee/employer rights and responsibilities. Includes applied collective bargaining project. 3 hours discussion. (001343)
MGMT 389C	Internship in Management		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: MGMT 303, faculty permission. Students must register directly with a supervising faculty member. For students who wish to gain practical work experience with participating organizations, this course enables students to apply management coursework in an organizational setting. See internship advisor for eligibility requirements, performance requirements, assignments, and methods of evaluation prior to undertaking the internship. For programs offered by the Department of Management, this course may be applied only once for 3 units. 9 hours supervision. Credit/no credit grading. (020578)
MGMT 441	Managing Personal Success		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. An examination of the knowledge, skills, and values that foster personal and managerial success. This course presents a multidimensional approach to success that emphasizes reflective thinking, including ethical considerations. 3 hours discussion. (005693)
MGMT 443	Organizational Design and Change		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. Effective organizations make active design decisions that support their goals and generate a competitive advantage. This course takes a systems perspective to analyze the different elements of an organization's design, including the fundamental elements of internal design and decisions regarding its interaction with its external environment. Students explore specific organizational design solutions that respond to recent social trends, technological advances, and changing environmental conditions such as increasing global competition. The course introduces students to difficulties inherent to managing a process of change, as well as processes that facilitate its effective implementation. The course further explores the development of continuously changing, learning organizations. 3 hours lecture. (005696)
MGMT 444	Managing Project Teams		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303 or faculty permission. Creating team effectiveness and developing project management skills. Includes coverage of the nine project management body of knowledge areas required for professional certification by PMI, the professional code of ethics, and the benefits of diversity on team performance. The course requires use of information technology including spreadsheets, Web-based file storage and sharing, electronic presentations and use of project management software. 3 hours lecture. (005731)
MGMT 445	International Management		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. An examination of the strategy, infrastructure, and business processes that foster effectiveness in global organizations. An analysis of the impact of cross-cultural differences on managerial issues such as motivation, discipline, work and leisure values, and collaboration. An analysis of issues in the global business environment, including the impact of labor conventions, legal systems, technology transfer, ethics, and e-commerce. 3 hours lecture. (005707)
MGMT 448	Managing Teams and Conflict in Organizations		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. This course helps you gain an understanding of team processes and team performance in organizations. We examine theories related to teams and group dynamics and learn how to apply them to problems confronting team managers. Topics covered include the nature and use of teams, team formation, and factors that influence team effectiveness such as norms, cohesiveness, statues, roles, process issues, and team leadership. Specific attention is given to understanding how to manage conflict in teams and apply conflict resolution principles to make teams more effective. 3 hours lecture. (005730)
MGMT 450	Introduction to Entrepreneurship		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: Junior standing or faculty permission. Focuses on the critical role of recognizing and creating opportunities as well as critical tools for analyzing a new business idea. Provides an overview of entrepreneurship including success factores and the entrepreneurial process. 3 hours lecture. (005722)
MGMT 460	Managing for Sustainability		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. This course examines the ways in which organizations can be managed to meet the triple bottom line: profit, ethical treatment of workers, and environmental sustainability. Students learn to analyze organizational impacts and develop practices that foster a balanced ecosystem as well as organizational effectiveness. 3 hours lecture. (020231)
MGMT 470	Business Dynamics		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Junior standing, completion of the BADM lower division core, or faculty permission. This course offers students training in the use of System Dynamics for managing people in business settings. Students develop computer simulation models that allow them to test alternative management policies. 3 hours lecture. (020495)
MGMT 488	Organizational Consulting		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: MGMT 303, MGMT 304. This course is the first in a two course series undertaken in pursuit of the Professional Management Consulting Certificate. It provides an overview of the consulting profession, the hard and soft skills required in consulting, typical phases of a consulting engagement, and life as a consultant. Particular attention is paid to the integration and application of management theory and practice for the diagnosis and resolution of organizational problems. To this end, this course offers students an opportunity to perform a situational analysis for a real client, allowing students to gain skills in selling a project, entering the client firm, gathering data, and diagnosing issues. Students develop analytical, problem solving, and facilitation skills. Course includes ethical and international considerations. 3 hours seminar. (005714)
MGMT 498	Special Topics in Management		1.0 -3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Senior standing. This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. For advanced students who wish to investigate business problems in specialized areas. Application of research methods. 3 hours supervision. (005737)

Note: MGMT 498 must be taken for 3 units.

The Option in Marketing: 24 units

The 24-unit Marketing option is a three-semester sequence of courses beginning with MKTG 371 and MKTG 380. This option credits internship units as part of the program.

3 courses required:

15 units selected from:

Note: No more than 3 units of MKTG 389 or MKTG 399 may be used to meet major requirements. MKTG 498 must be taken for 3 units.

The Option in Project Management: 24 units

4 courses required:

1 course selected from:

3 courses selected from:

Note: BSIS 444 and SMFG 458 may only be taken if not chosen in the above selection and may only be counted once toward this elective requirement.

Note: A maximum of 15 units of courses ending in 89 may count for the bachelor's degree.

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
MGMT 443	Organizational Design and Change		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. Effective organizations make active design decisions that support their goals and generate a competitive advantage. This course takes a systems perspective to analyze the different elements of an organization's design, including the fundamental elements of internal design and decisions regarding its interaction with its external environment. Students explore specific organizational design solutions that respond to recent social trends, technological advances, and changing environmental conditions such as increasing global competition. The course introduces students to difficulties inherent to managing a process of change, as well as processes that facilitate its effective implementation. The course further explores the development of continuously changing, learning organizations. 3 hours lecture. (005696)
MGMT 447	Leadership and Motivation		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: MGMT 303. The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of leadership and motivation in organizations. This course explores contemporary leadership thought, including approaches to leadership development, leadership models, leadership in specific contexts, and the relationships between leadership and organizational power, authority, and management. We also investigate the connection between leadership and motivation, motivation theories, and motivational programs for complex organizations. 3 hours lecture. (005729)
MGMT 460	Managing for Sustainability		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MGMT 303. This course examines the ways in which organizations can be managed to meet the triple bottom line: profit, ethical treatment of workers, and environmental sustainability. Students learn to analyze organizational impacts and develop practices that foster a balanced ecosystem as well as organizational effectiveness. 3 hours lecture. (020231)
MGMT 488	Organizational Consulting		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: MGMT 303, MGMT 304. This course is the first in a two course series undertaken in pursuit of the Professional Management Consulting Certificate. It provides an overview of the consulting profession, the hard and soft skills required in consulting, typical phases of a consulting engagement, and life as a consultant. Particular attention is paid to the integration and application of management theory and practice for the diagnosis and resolution of organizational problems. To this end, this course offers students an opportunity to perform a situational analysis for a real client, allowing students to gain skills in selling a project, entering the client firm, gathering data, and diagnosing issues. Students develop analytical, problem solving, and facilitation skills. Course includes ethical and international considerations. 3 hours seminar. (005714)
MGMT 498	Special Topics in Management		1.0 -3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Senior standing. This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. For advanced students who wish to investigate business problems in specialized areas. Application of research methods. 3 hours supervision. (005737)

Note: MGMT 498 must be taken for 3 units and may only be taken once for this requirement.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Consult Business Advising & Services (GLNN 321, 530-898-4480, or Business Advisor@csuchico.edu) for more information.

Students interested in careers related to Professional Sales should contact the Undergraduate Business Advising Office.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

• You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
• You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
• Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
• Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.

Honors in Business

Students may apply for admission to the Honors in the Major Program in the College of Business through any of the options offered. An honors student must meet all the requirements of the chosen option with a grade point average that places him or her in the top 5% of students enrolled within the option or must have at least a 3.5 grade point average in the business major. Each honors student must also complete 6 units of the honors course in his or her option with a grade of B or higher. These units must result in a research paper which is publicly presented. See BADM 499H and courses numbered 499H in each option of the course offerings section. Please consult your department for specific information.