What does bachelor of science in business administration mean

A bachelor’s degree can be required to apply for jobs in business administration. And having a degree that’s specifically focused on the field can set you apart from other job candidates.

So if you want a bachelor’s education in business, what’s the right degree to get? The answer depends on what you want to do, says Strayer University business full-time faculty member Marilyn Carroll, PhD. Among the most popular are: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA).

WHAT IS A BBA?

A BBA gives students a broad understanding of how companies function. You’ll learn general principles for how businesses operate and develop skills in communication and business decision-making. Courses may include: ethics, management, marketing, economics, and law.

“The degree is focused on business administration,” Carroll says. “You might have to take basic math and algebra courses, but you won’t be required to do calculus and courses related to advanced finance.” The degree can be used in a wide variety of workplaces, Carroll says. Individuals with a BBA can work in a wide variety of fields. Strayer offers concentrations in accounting, contract management, finance, human resource management, marketing, retail management, and more.

WHAT IS A BSBA?

A BSBA goes into a narrower range of topics but at a deeper level. Courses are focused on acquiring financial and technical skills. Individuals may take courses in ethics, leadership, law, statistics, economics, and corporate finance. The degree prepares you to transform business intelligence into actionable strategies. “With a bachelor’s of science degree, you’ll learn more about the ‘science of business,’” Carroll explains.

WHAT DO THE DEGREES PREPARE YOU TO DO?

Either degree can help you get a job in management, accounting, human resources, marketing, or another business field. “Ultimately, it comes down to focus—do you want a more general degree that can help you explore business, or do you want a more technical degree that allows you to focus on a particular field,” Carroll says.

Learn more about Strayer University’s business degree programs.

This program provides students with a comprehensive view of the inner workings of corporate, non-profit, and governmental organizations, as well as the complex legal and strategic environments in which organizations function. Students enrich core study in organizational operations through the selection of advanced quantitative skills courses.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration prepares students for decision-making and leadership roles in business and public service. Students with the Bachelor of Science degree pursue graduate study in business, healthcare, sports management, human resources, human resources, law, and sports management, among others.

Requirements

1. Prerequisite Courses
The following courses are prerequisites to the required major courses. Some also satisfy Liberal Arts Foundation or Liberal Arts Inquiry requirements.  Please note that the prerequisite courses include any 200 - level course in Economics. Students may also choose between POLI 202, MATH 111, or PSYC 250. Students may also choose between BUS 240 or GLB 240.

ECON 101 Principles of Economics
One 200-level Economics course or a 100-200 level applied skills course

BUS 136 Principles of Global Marketing

BUS 226 The Rise of American Capitalism 1860-1941
ACCT 210 Principles of Financial Accounting and Reporting
ACCT 220 Principles of Managerial Accounting
POLI 202 Statistical Analysis and Mapping of Social Science Data or MATH 111 Elementary Statistics with Applications or PSYC 250 Statistical Methods
BUS 240 Business Law or GLB 240 U.S. Business Law

2. Core Courses

BUS 310 Principles of Management and Organization Behavior or BUS 410 Organizational Consulting (with permission)
GLB 336 International Business or BUS 333 Labor in the Global Economy or other approved international course
BUS 353 Financial Management
BUS 430 Human Resource Management
BUS 434 Applied Business Ethics or other approved ethics course
BUS 459 Business Policy and Strategy for Bachelor of Science Majors (offered in Spring only)

3. Advanced Analysis

One course selected from the following:

ACCT 411 Accounting Information Systems
BUS 354 Investments
BUS 421 Corporate Finance
CS 301 Business Analysis and Excel
ECON 400 Introduction to Econometrics
MATH 118 Integrated Calculus I and MATH 119 Integrated Calculus II or MATH 121 Calculus I 
MATH 212 Mathematical Consulting
MATH 231 Introduction to Modeling
PSYC 300 Research Methods
Or another Advanced Analysis course, with permission of their advisor. MATH 118 and MATH 119 must be completed. 

4. Advanced Electives

At least two 300 or 400-level courses in Business, Accounting, or related field outside the major that have relevance thereto, upon signed adviser approval.

Want to Study Abroad?

Your faculty advisor will be happy to work with you to integrate your study abroad classes into this curriculum.

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