Business professionals meeting to discuss notes

Business Administration

The Bachelor of Science Program in Business Administration is designed to allow students maximum flexibility by designing an individualized program of study tailored to each individual's interests, needs, and aspirations.

Degrees & Offerings
  • B.S.B.A.
Location
  • Bloomsburg
  • Lock Haven
  • Mansfield
Department
College
Program Contact
Professor and Chair of Department of Management
Chair, Department of Business, Innovation & Technology
Illustration of Mountain

Let's Get to Business

Completion of the Commonwealth University Business Administration program prepares students with a strong foundation in the liberal arts, which strengthens writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Students are encouraged to hone their decision-making and problem-solving skills in a business-focused learning environment.  

This program provides a generalized approach in which students can select courses from different disciplines within the business department and other corresponding majors. Additionally, the Business Administration program provides students with experience critical to success in today's fast-paced, global environment.  

Course Delivery Format

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Courses and Curriculum

Business Administration will provide you with a broad overview of essential business management theory in the core areas of finance, marketing, and management. Our program prepares you for employment and advancement within a company, for entrance into graduate school, or for launching your own business.

In this Finance concentration, you will investigate topics including the investment decision process, the role of financial markets, and economic mechanisms by which scarce resources are allocated.

Learn more about our B.S.B.A. Finance Concentration.

Information Technology and Analytics (ITA) prepares students to strategically evaluate and implement information technology resources of an organization. The program emphasizes the digital tools and knowledge to transform, innovate, and impact business strategy.

Learn more about our B.S.B.A. Information Technology and Analytics Concentration.

In the Management concentration, you will learn how to effectively and efficiently utilize physical, human, financial, and technological resources to achieve the goals of organizations. You will gain insight into resource management to meet the constantly changing demands of our global society.

Learn more about our B.S.B.A. Management Concentration.

In the Marketing concentration, you will learn how goods and services are channeled to the marketplace, how demand is stimulated, and how business identifies and meets the needs of the consumer.

Learn more about our B.S.B.A. Marketing Concentration.

Available at Bloomsburg in Face-to-Face, Online, and Hybrid formats. Available at Lock Haven and Mansfield in Online and Hybrid formats.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Business

Baccalaureate degree students may wish to enhance their major program of study with knowledge of the basic principles of business. A Minor in Business will provide these students with a general overview of fundamental business concepts and terminology and an introduction to professional business skills. This knowledge may be applied to careers in industry, government or professional occupations, as well as to entrepreneurial endeavors.

Business Minor

Economics

Baccalaureate degree students may wish to enhance their major program of study with knowledge of basic and advanced courses in economics.

Economics Minor

Entrepreneurial Innovation

For students in a major other than business (or for community members) who are considering launching their own business, we offer an Entrepreneurial Innovation Minor.

Entrepreneurial Innovation Minor

Finance and Economics

Finance

Students completing the BSBA Finance program will be able to:

  1. Achieve a firm understanding of financial concepts, models, theories in investments, corporate financial management, and capital markets.
  2. Enhance the problem-solving and empirical application skills of financial analysis tools and techniques in Finance.
  3. Discuss the global financial environment and the effect of global influences on the financial decision-making process.
Economics

The Economics curriculum offers a systematic study of the economic activities of firms, households, and government. The core of the curriculum enables students to master basic principles of economics, develop analytical skills, and interpret economic phenomena. 

The learning goals and outcomes for all tracks are as follows: 

  1. Outline a variety of economic theories, describe their assumptions, and state their predictions.
  2. Apply an economic model and collect, summarize, and explain data.
  3. Assess an argument about a current economic, social, and political issue. Formulate and test a hypothesis and interpret the results.
  4. Discuss original interpretations of an economic analysis, and support an argument based on relevant literature.

Management

Students who complete the program will be able to:

  1. Apply the fundamental concepts for the people-oriented and analytical/technical aspects of managing an organization in a domestic or international setting.
  2. Evaluate how management plans integrate with a successful business strategy.
  3. Analyze how management creates organizational structures.
  4. Evaluate the leadership imperatives faced by managers in global environments.
  5. Determine how control mechanisms are deployed by managers to drive and assess business performance.
  6. Compete for in-demand management careers in global business environments.

Marketing

Students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of marketing.
  2. Explain the process of researching and identifying customer needs, understanding the customer buying behavior and process.
  3. Explain the key functions of the sales management process including the recruitment, selection, training, motivation, evaluation and compensation of the sales force.
  4. Apply quantitative marketing techniques.
  5. Identify the elements of international marketing.
  6. Ability to solve and communicate solutions to applied marketing problems.

Entrepreneurship

Students who complete the program will be able to:

  1. Evaluate business opportunities using applied design, creativity and innovation.
  2. Propose ideas to manage innovation and entrepreneurship within your own business or in any industry.
  3. Implement innovation and entrepreneurial techniques using best practices.
  4. Apply entrepreneurial planning and communication styles in various environments.
  5. Compete for in-demand supply chain careers in global business environments.

Business Minors

Business

The student outcomes include:  

  1. Analyze various business functions and apply business strategies.
  2. Describe how different areas of business are all interrelated.  
  3. Decipher important information for business purposes.  
  4. Explain different business terminology and procedures from a variety of courses.
Economics

The Economics curriculum offers a systematic study of the economic activities of firms, households, and government. The core of the curriculum enables students to master basic principles of economics, develop analytical skills, and interpret economic phenomena. The learning goals and outcomes for all tracks are as follows: 

  1. Outline a variety of economic theories, describe their assumptions, and state their predictions.
  2. Apply an economic model and collect, summarize, and explain data.
  3. Assess an argument about a current economic, social, and political issue. Formulate and test a hypothesis and interpret the results.
  4. Discuss original interpretations of an economic analysis, and support an argument based on relevant literature.
Entrepreneurship

Students who complete the program will be able to:

  1. Evaluate business opportunities using applied design, creativity and innovation.
  2. Propose ideas to manage innovation and entrepreneurship within your own business or in any industry.
  3. Implement innovation and entrepreneurial techniques using best practices.
  4. Apply entrepreneurial planning and communication styles in various environments.
  5. Compete for in-demand supply chain careers in global business environments.
Illustration of Mountain

Commonwealth U Because

We mean business at Commonwealth University. Our program is accredited by and meets the rigorous educational standards of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Clubs and Organizations

Collegiate Entrepreneur's Organization (CEO): This organization gives students a way to connect with entrepreneurial business leaders, and to build relevant experience.

ENACTUS: This is a student organization that promotes teamwork and communication skills through the principles of free enterprise.

Phi Beta Lambda (PBL): Many business students actively participate in Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), a business fraternity organization dedicated to teaching leadership skills and educating graduates about career opportunities in business and related fields.

Facilities

Faculty deliver courses in technology-enhanced classrooms with vast multimedia capabilities. Students can access open computer labs and campus wireless networks when using personally-owned devices. 

Graduate Studies

After graduating you may choose to work in a wide variety of settings in sales, business consulting, accounting, marketing, financial advising, and general management. Many students also choose to pursue graduate studies at schools including:  

  • Drexel University  
  • University of Oklahoma  
  • DeVry/Keller Graduate School of Management 
  • Penn State University
  • Commonwealth University

Internships

The Department of Business Administration, in collaboration with Career Services, identifies suitable internships for students to apply for. We encourage students to start early and take full advantage of the career services available. Students are encouraged to complete internships in their junior or senior year. You will find opportunities for internships in large organizations as well as in small, family-owned businesses. In recent years, students have interned with organizations as diverse as:  

  • Disney  
  • U.S. Naval Academy  
  • PA Office of the Budget  
  • State Farm  
  • Geisinger Health Systems  
  • Little League International  
  • Hershey’s  
  • The Franklin Institute  
  • First Quality

The Commonwealth Difference

75x75-aacsb-accredited
Many top, global corporations only recruit from AACSB-accredited schools. Those grads are offered better, more competitive salaries.
business distinction
College of Distinction
Commonwealth University earned national recognition as a College of Distinction for its business programs, honored for its quality and high-impact preparation for successful business professionals.

Careers

Our students have landed jobs in a variety of different fields across the business industry.

Potential Job Opportunities

  • Accountant
  • Business Strategist
  • Finance Officer
  • General Manager
  • Investment Advisor
  • Production Manager
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Purchasing Manager
  • Regional Manager
  • Statistician

Continue to Explore

Program Contacts

Michael

Michael Golubiewski

  • Secretary of the Department of Management and International Business
  • Bloomsburg

Applying to This Program

Apply

  • Application Process

    Review the step-by-step process whether you're a first-year student, transferring to CU, or more.

  • Apply Now

    By starting your application, you gain access to your personalized application portal to view your progress.

  • Scholarships

    As the largest comprehensive university in north central and northeastern Pennsylvania, CommonwealthU works hard to provide a world-class education that consistently rates among the best values in the nation.

Explore More

Contact the Ziegler College of Business