Business Administration, Management Major, B.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Management major (15 credits) prepares Business Administration students for a wide range of administrative and supervisory careers ranging from team leader to functional area manager to executive. Elective courses are offered in skills-focused areas such as leadership, negotiation, change management, project management, and technology and innovation. Students acquire a solid grasp of human resource, interpersonal, and strategic management concepts and practices along with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively and ethically coordinate stakeholder actions to fulfill organizational objectives. Most importantly, the program fosters the development of the skills that establish positive work relationships and that motivate and persuade others to achieve strategic goals, which are crucial for career success. Students are encouraged to further develop skills by taking the applied courses listed below and finding meaningful experiential placements.

Program Requirements

In addition to meeting all University requirements, students must earn a minimum grade of C- in all Pre-Business Core Classes and a C in 300-400 level courses in all Business Core, Thematic Core, major, and required Business electives (or a Business minor). To ensure that students graduate with a current understanding of their field, upper-level courses taken more than 10 years before the degree is awarded must have Departmental approval for use in the Business Core, Thematic Core, the major, or the remaining 9 credits, whether taken as upper level Business electives or a Business minor.

Double majors are possible as long as no more than one course (3 credit hours) applied toward one major is applied toward the second major. Under no circumstances can more than one course (3 credit hours) be double-counted for two majors within the School of Business.

School of Business majors may count up to two specified (see minor requirements) business core courses (6 credits) in both the Business Core and a Business minor. The remaining minor courses (9 credits) cannot double count in the minor and the business major courses or between two business minors. School of Business majors are allowed to declare more than one business minor.

At least 50 percent of classes in the Business Core and Thematic Core (4 out of 7) have to be taken at USM. In addition, at least 50 percent of classes in the major (3 out of 5) must be taken at USM.

Students can take no more than 12 credits of upper level business classes until they have successfully completed the pre-business core with a grade of C- in each course.

Minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core Curriculum) required for the Business Administration, Management major: 51-73.
Minimum grade requirement for major courses listed below: Pre-Business Core: C-; all other cores, global business course, five major courses (15 credits), and additional nine credits at 300-level or above beyond the major: C.
Minimum GPA requirement for major courses listed below: 1.67; all other cores, global business course, five major courses (15 credits), and additional nine credits at 300-level or above beyond the major: 2.0.

Overview of course requirements:

Pre-Business Core
Business Core
Thematic Core
One Global Business course
Major requirements
Additional 9 credits at 300-level or above beyond the major taken either as electives (ACC, BAN, BUS, FIN, RMI) or 2nd Business major or as 15-credit School of Business minor
General University Electives as needed

Pre-Business Core

MAT 108 - College Algebra Credits: 4 with C- or higher grade (Substitutes include a C- or higher grade in MAT 140 or approved higher level math course or passing a CLEP exam)
ECO 101 - Introduction to Macroeconomics Credits: 3 with C- or higher grade
ECO 102 - Introduction to Microeconomics Credits: 3 with C- or higher grade
ACC 110 - Financial Accounting Information for Decision Making Credits: 3 (C- or higher)
ACC 211 - Managerial Accounting Information for Decision Making Credits: 3 (C- or higher)
BUS 260 - Marketing Credits: 3 (C- or higher)
BUS 280 - Legal Environment of Business Credits: 3 (C- or higher)
BUS 241 - Applied Business Modeling Credits: 3 (C- or higher)

Business Core*

*At least 50 percent of classes in the Business Core and Thematic Core (4 out of 7) have to be taken at USM.

BUS 301 - Business Analytics Credits: 3 (C or higher)
BUS 340 - Managing Organizational Behavior Credits: 3 (C or higher)
BUS 375 - Production/Operations Management Credits: 3 (C or higher)
FIN 320 - Basic Financial Management Credits: 3 (C or higher)

Thematic Core*

*At least 50 percent of classes in the Business Core and Thematic Core (4 out of 7) have to be taken at USM.

BUS 300 - Entrepreneurial Thinking Credits: 3 (C or higher)
BUS 345 - Technology Management Credits: 3 (C or higher)
BUS 450 - Business Policy and Strategy Credits: 3 (C or higher)

Global Business Course

Select one of the following courses:

BUS 335 - International Business Credits: 3 (C or higher)
BUS 361 - International Marketing Credits: 3 (C or higher)
BUS 373 - Project Management Credits: 3 (C or higher)
BUS 382 - International Business Law Credits: 3 (C or higher)
FIN 330 - International Financial Management Credits: 3 (C or higher)

Major Requirements (15 credits)

At least 50 percent of credit hours applied to the major must be taken at USM. Double majors are possible as long as no more than one course (3 credits) applied toward one major is applied toward the second major. No more than 3 credits of internship can count toward the major. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in each major course.

Required courses (9 credits)

BUS 343 - Management Skills Credits: 3 (offered in both fall and spring)
BUS 346 - Strategic Human Resource Management Credits: 3 (offered in both fall and spring)
BUS 376 - Advanced Topics in Strategy Credits: 3 (offered in fall only)

Electives (Choose two courses - 6 credits)

Offered at least once every two years.

BUS 304 - AI, Business & Society Credits: 3
BUS 339 - Business Ethics Credits: 3
BUS 344 - Business Negotiation Credits: 3
BUS 347 - Triple-Bottom-Line Business Credits: 3
BUS 351 - Cross-Cultural Management Credits: 3
BUS 364 - Professional Selling Credits: 3
BUS 373 - Project Management Credits: 3
BUS 387 - Design Thinking Credits: 3

Additional 9 credits at 300-level or above beyond the major

Satisfied in one of the following three ways:

9 credits in any 300- or 400-level ACC, BAN, BUS, FIN, RMI courses;
2nd Business major;
15-credit minors in approved School of Business topics. Up to two specified courses (6 credits) may count for credit in both the Business Core and the Minor. Minors are available in the following areas: Entrepreneurship, Risk Management and Insurance, and Sustainable Business.

General University Electives (remaining credits for 120 credit minimum)

The exact number of general elective credits varies and is dependent upon choices made in University core requirements.

Major Courses that Satisfy Core Requirements

Students are encouraged to explore Core courses that also count towards their major or minor. Courses listed below are part of this major and also satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements. Course lists that satisfy each requirement can be found on the Core Curriculum webpage.

Writing, Reading, and Inquiry 3: BUS 314 - Sport Media & Communication
Quantitative Reasoning: MAT 108 -College Algebra or ECO 101 - Introduction to Macroeconomics or ECO 102 - Introduction to Microeconomics or BUS 241 -Applied Business Modeling (credits counted in the pre-business core)
Creative Expression:
Cultural Interpretation:
Science Exploration:
Socio-cultural Analysis: ECO 101 - Introduction to Macroeconomics or ECO 102 - Introduction to Microeconomics (credits counted in the pre-business core)
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship: BUS 347 - Triple Bottom Business or BUS 339 - Business Ethics or BUS 304 - AI, Business & Society
Culture, Power, and Equity:
International: BUS 335 - International Business or BUS 361 -International Marketing or BUS 373 - Project Management (credits can be counted in the global business category)
Engaged Learning: BUS 450 - Business Policy and Strategy (credits counted in the thematic core)
Capstone: BUS 450 - Business Policy and Strategy (credits counted in the thematic core)

USM Core Requirements

Students must complete all Core and degree requirements as part of the Graduation Requirements. For more information, see Academic Policies.

The USM Core Curriculum provides a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal arts education that fulfills general education requirements. It is designed to help students become globally aware, purposeful, and lifelong learners.

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor. For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.