Bachelor of Science

The School of Business Administration offers curricula leading to the undergraduate degree Bachelor of Science with a major in Business Administration or Accounting. Information on graduate and dual degree programs is contained in this catalogue in the Graduate School of Business Administration section.

The curricular requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree fall into two parts: lower division (first and second years) and upper division (third and fourth years).

In the first two years, all students share a common curriculum designed primarily to provide a sound general education in basic liberal arts subjects. In addition, students complete prerequisite courses that form the foundation for upper division course work in business. In the last two years, students devote most of their study to the field of business.

Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for exceptions to the policies, rules and procedures. A petition process for the university and the school exists to handle requests for such exceptions. To keep misunderstandings to a minimum, a student should ask for written and signed statements to be placed in the student's file.

Admission

In order for students to develop a sound liberal arts foundation and to encourage an exploration of a wide range of majors, freshmen, except as noted below, are not generally admitted directly to the School of Business Administration. Usually, students are admitted to the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences as "pre-business" majors, although this is not a prerequisite for admission to the business school in the junior year. However, certain students are admitted directly into the school as freshmen through the Business Scholars Program. Admission under this program is based on scholastic merit reflected in combined SAT scores and high school GPA. Students qualifying for admission under this program are notified by letter following submission of their normal USC application, where business was indicated as their intended major.

Students admitted through this program are permitted to take certain business courses in their freshman and sophomore years. In addition, special academic advisement, guest lectures, alumni mentoring and symposia are features of this program.

All pre-business majors are expected to complete at least one prerequisite requirement each semester until admitted to the School of Business Administration. Pre-business students are also expected to begin their math requirements during their freshman year and, at the very least, complete MATH 117 by the end of the first year with a grade of C or better. Students who successfully complete the prerequisites (COMP 101 and 102; MATH 117, 118, 218; ECON 203 and 205; and PDP 101x) with a minimum GPA of 3.25 (A = 4.0) and maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 can apply for the business major and will be accepted to the program. Students who do not meet these standards will not necessarily be denied admission. Historically, students with an overall GPA of 2.75 have been competitive. In addition, other factors such as leadership, community service, work experience and involvement in extracurricular activities are taken into consideration.

A student applying directly to the School of Business Administration as a transfer from another institution will be more competitive with a 3.0 GPA. Transfer students will be admissible without having completed the equivalent of MATH 218 since most colleges do not offer this course. These students will be expected to complete this course during their first semester of enrollment.

All questions regarding eligibility, admissions criteria or the admissions process should be directed to the School of Business Administration Admissions Office, Bridge Hall 105, (213) 740-8885.

Students who have not been admitted to the School of Business Administration may complete a maximum of 20 business units at USC. No further course work may be taken until admitted. Students who complete the maximum number of units without gaining admission to the school will be advised to select another major. Students are encouraged to consult the school's Undergraduate Student Affairs Office, Bridge Hall 104, (213) 740-0690, for advisement and assistance in planning a program that will satisfy general education requirements and prerequisites required for admission.

The School of Business Administration offers two degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and the Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Students who are admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Business and, at a later date, wish to change to the Bachelor of Science in Accounting, should contact the School of Accounting. If the minimum grade requirements of the School of Accounting are met, a change of degree request will be approved. Students admitted to the B.S. in Accounting who wish to change to the B.S. in Business should also contact the School of Business Administration Admissions Office, Bridge Hall 105, for the official change in degree objective.

Honors Program

The honors program is available to majors in business administration or accounting with senior status and results in a special designation of departmental honors on a student's transcript. Admission to the program requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.3 and completion of at least 32 units of BUAD courses with a minumum GPA of 3.5. Successful completion of the program requires four units of BUAD 491 Honors Seminar (2 units each semester emphasizing a special topic in business) and maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.5 in School of Business or School of Accounting courses. For additional information, contact an academic advisor in the School of Business Administration Student Affairs Office, Bridge Hall 104, (213) 740-0690.

Advisement

Academic advisement is provided through the School of Business Administration Student Affairs Office in Bridge Hall 104, (213) 740-0690. Pre-business and business students will be required to meet with an academic advisor before registering and this requirement will be in effect until 24 USC units are completed. However, all students are encouraged to see an academic advisor on a regular basis. A record of each student is kept on file in Bridge Hall 104. Appointments for advisement may be scheduled at most times during the academic year. However, during busy times such as the preregistration, registration and drop/add periods, advisors may be available on a walk-in basis only.

Special Programs

The school recognizes that a combination of education and experience creates the best opportunities for development and employment after graduation. Special Programs offers business students access to internships, alumni mentors and student-to-professional networking. These resources allow involved students to develop professional skills and knowledge pertinent to their chosen fields of emphasis and their intended career paths.

Students who take an active part in these programs meet potential employers, develop networking skills and prepare themselves for easier entry into the competitive employment market. They graduate with highly demanded skills and relevant professional experience. Special Programs maintains a database of internships, interns, graduates and other information. The office also assists students with increasing resume and cover letter effectiveness, research and interviewing techniques and use of information in the internship and career search. For further information about which services are available, contact the Special Programs Office, Bridge Hall 100-D, (213) 740-5705.

Honor Societies

Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society for business students. The USC School of Business chapter has been active since 1923. Juniors in the top five percent of the class and seniors in the top 10 percent of the class are eligible to join. For further information, contact the Undergraduate Student Affairs Office, Bridge Hall 104.

Registration

Students may register for business courses directly by using the Touch-Tone system, according to their scheduled appointment times. Appointment times are based on number of units completed, i.e., seniors have the first opportunity to register for a course. Therefore, it is important that students register as soon as their appointment time allows or their priority standing will be lost.

There is a high demand for all required business classes as well as many electives. As a result, the School of Business Administration maintains wait lists for all classes. Students may be put on the wait list in Bridge Hall 104. However, students may not be on a wait list for one section of a course and enroll in another section of the same course. It should be noted that being on a wait list does not guarantee a seat in a class. Therefore, students are strongly advised to register in an open class whenever possible.

Many required core classes have mandatory Friday labs and students can expect that they may have a class schedule that meets up to five days a week. Outside work commitments and other activities should be planned accordingly.

Transferring College Credit

Community College Courses

USC has established articulation agreements with all community colleges throughout California. Most academic courses are acceptable for transfer credit from a two-year school, but students will not receive credit for remedial course work. Courses that do not appear on the articulation agreement are not transferable. A maximum of 70 semester units may be transferred from community colleges. Check with the Degree Progress Department (Student Administrative Services 010) for questions about transferable courses or see a business counselor in Bridge Hall 104.

Official transcripts of college work taken elsewhere must be submitted at the time of application to the USC Office of Admission. A credit evaluation will be completed which will list transfer courses accepted for credit. All business courses completed at a two year college, if transferable, will be considered elective credit.

There are two exceptions to this policy:

(1) Students may transfer two semesters of introductory accounting and receive credit equivalent to one semester of introductory accounting at USC. Then students can register for BUAD 305x Abridged Core Concepts of Accounting Information and complete their accounting course requirement in one semester at USC. In this case, students would not be required to take BUAD 250ab.

(2) BUAD 403 may be satisfied by transferring two semesters of equivalent work from a community college.

Four Year Colleges

Most courses of an academic nature are acceptable for unit credit from all fully accredited four year institutions. If they do not satisfy specific subject requirements at USC, they will be accepted for elective course credit. Students are urged to complete all their required business courses at USC. All business courses from four year institutions, if transferable, will be considered elective credit unless a challenge examination is passed. All upper division core classes, with the exception of BUAD 497, may be challenged. Students should consult with an academic advisor in Bridge Hall 104 to initiate the challenge examination process.

Composition Skill Level Requirement

All students who began college work as freshmen in fall 1982 or later, at USC or at another institution, must complete Expository Writing 101 and 102 to meet the General Education Composition Skill Level Requirement. Transfer students may substitute equivalent courses taken elsewhere for USC composition courses. To meet the skill level, students must receive a grade of C- or higher in Expository Writing 102.

Diversity Requirement

All students who began college as a freshman in fall 1993 or later must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism. It is possible to select a course that meets both the diversity requirement as well as a general education requirement.

International Business Courses

The interest in international businesses is reflected in the curricula of the school. Such courses as the following permit students to broaden their understanding of this increasingly important part of America's world-wide involvement: international trade and commercial policy, financial management of multinational corporations, international finance, multinational marketing, and international management practices and negotiation.

There is also an international exchange program which allows students to satisfy their senior option requirement through study abroad. For further information, contact the Student Affairs Office in Bridge Hall 104.

Lower Division Requirements

A total of 60 units of non-business course work is required for the B.S. degree in Business Administration. Students are expected to complete their prerequisites, general education requirements and BUAD 250ab before enrolling in upper division business classes (except for business scholars). See the sample programs on the following pages for scheduling suggestions. Transfer students may meet individual subject requirements with three semester units or four quarter units.

Successful completion of upper division courses for which lower division courses are prerequisites does not constitute a basis for waiving the lower division courses. For example, a student who passes BUAD 310 prior to taking MATH 218 will not be waived from the MATH 218 requirement.

In addition, international students working toward the business degree are expected to take and successfully complete ALI 262 Argumentation prior to enrolling in BUAD 302. Exceptions to this policy may be granted through the ALI waiver process.

General Education Requirements

The list of courses accepted for the areas of study requirement during the 1996-97 academic year is published in the General Education section of this catalogue. Revised lists are published each semester in the General Education Addendum.

Skill Level, Composition

Expository Writing 101 and 102 or 111 and 112 (for non-native speakers)

Areas of Study

Two Natural World courses (from any two of the three different areas: Physical, Earth and Life Sciences)
One Literature course
One Empirical Approaches course
(The empirical approaches requirement is automatically satisfied when a student completes the required prerequisites ECON 203 or 205 or their equivalents.)
One Non-Western Cultures course
A total of two courses from two of the following five categories:
American Public Life
Western Culture I
Western Culture II
The Arts
Ethical Approaches

Additional Lower Division Requirements (Business Prerequisites)

MATH 117	Introduction to Mathematics for Business and Economics (MATH 108 may be substituted or may be waived by placement examination)	4
MATH 118x	Fundamental Principles of the Calculus (MATH 125 Calculus I may be substituted)	4
ECON 203	Principles of Microeconomics	4
ECON 205	Principles of Macroeconomics	4
PDP 101x	Introduction to Computers and Data Processing	4
MATH 218	Probability for Business	4

It is recommended that the required accounting courses, BUAD 250ab or 305x, be completed before enrolling in upper division courses; however, they do not need to be completed for admission to the School of Business Administration.

All prerequisites for business and all business courses must be taken for a letter grade.

A maximum of 24 units of undergraduate course work may be taken pass/no pass and used toward the B.S. degree in Business Administration. Twelve of those 24 units may be applied to the general education requirements.

Sample Lower Division Program

The following sample program does not represent a required sequence of study; rather it serves as a guideline only.

First Year, First Semester		Units
COMP 101	Introduction to Expository Writing	4
MATH 117	Introduction to Mathematics for Business and Economics	4
General education requirement		4
General education requirement		4
		____
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units
COMP 102	Topics in Expository Writing	4
MATH 118	Fundamental Principles of the Calculus	4
PDP 101x	Introduction to Computers and Data Processing	4
General education requirement		4
		____
		16

Second Year, First Semester		Units
BUAD 250a	Core Concepts of Accounting Information	4
ECON 203*	Principles of Microeconomics	4
MATH 218	Probability for Business	4
General education requirement		4
		____
		16

Second Year, Second Semester		Units
BUAD 250b	Core Concepts of Accounting Information	4
ECON 205*	Principles of Macroeconomics	4
General education requirement		4
General education requirement		4
		____
		16

*ECON 203 or ECON 205 satisfy the empirical approaches requirement.

To ensure that a student understands more fully the requirements in courses and course scheduling, incoming freshmen and new transfer students should contact the School of Business Administration, Undergraduate Student Affairs Office, Bridge Hall 104 (213) 740-0690 for mandatory advisement before enrolling in classes at USC.

Upper Division Requirements

In general, students will not be expected to enroll in any business subjects beyond the introductory accounting courses until the junior year. The program of required core courses is designed to provide the student with a solid foundation in the analytical tools and the organizational aspects of business in a private enterprise economy.

Junior Year and Senior Year Program

Business majors are expected to complete the following core program during their junior and senior years. Students are urged to complete most of these courses during the junior year so that they are better prepared to continue on to their areas of specialization (senior options).

Upper Division Core Program		Units
BUAD 302	Business Communication	4
BUAD 304	Organizational Behavior	4
BUAD 306	Business Finance	4
BUAD 307	Marketing Management	4
BUAD 310	Applied Business Statistics	4
BUAD 311	Operations Management	4
BUAD 350	Macroeconomic Analysis for Business Decisions, or
BUAD 351	Economic Analysis for Business Decisions	4
BUAD 403	Legal Environment of Business	4
BUAD 497	Managerial Decision-Making and Planning (for seniors only)	4

Sample Upper Division Program

Junior Year, First Semester		Units
BUAD 302	Business Communication	4
BUAD 306	Business Finance	4
BUAD 307	Marketing Management	4
BUAD 310	Applied Business Statistics	4
		____
		16

Junior Year, Second Semester		Units
BUAD 304	Organizational Behavior	4
BUAD 311	Operations Management	4
BUAD 350	Macroeconomic Analysis for Business Decisions, or
BUAD 351	Economic Analysis for Business Decisions	4
Non-business elective		4
		____
		16

Senior Year, First Semester		Units
BUAD 403	Legal Environment of Business	4
Free elective		4
Senior Option Class		4
Senior Option Class		4
		____
		16

Senior Year, Second Semester		Units
Senior Option Class		4
Senior Option Class		4
BUAD 497	Managerial Decision-Making and Planning (for seniors only)	4
Free elective		4
		____
		16

Senior Options

In addition to the core courses, students are required to concentrate in an area of business. The intent is for students to gain a deeper understanding of a specific field in which they have career and/or personal interests.

This concentration (or senior option) consists of four emphasis courses (16 units) from the School of Business Administration, usually from the same area. However, senior options may be individually designed with prior approval of an advisor. Students can also satisfy the senior option requirement through participation in a School of Business Administration sponsored international exchange program. For informaton about this program contact the Student Affairs Office, Bridge Hall 104. Please note that the School of Accounting requires eight courses (26 units) beyond BUAD 250ab. Students wanting information on the Bachelor of Science in Accounting should refer to the Accounting section of this catalogue.

Business Administration 490x

Business Administration 490x Directed Research is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to pursue research above and beyond the normal course offerings. This course is open to seniors with a 3.0 or better grade point average who have obtained approval from a faculty sponsor, the department chair and the assistant dean, undergraduate programs, by the semester prior to enrollment. Units are assigned on a variable basis with a maximum of eight units toward an undergraduate degree, four units per semester.

Business Administration Honors Program

The business honors program consists of two special honors seminars (two units of credit each seminar) offered during the student's senior year. The seminars will explore various strategic issues associated with today's business environment and will entail advanced study of a selected topic. Since the topics associated with each seminar will not be related, they do not have to be taken in a particular order. Successful completion of the program will result in a special designation of departmental honors on a student's transcript.

Honors Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the honors program, students must be business administration or accounting majors and must have completed 32 units of BUAD courses with a minimum GPA of 3.3 overall and 3.5 in BUAD courses. To complete the honors program, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 in School of Business Administration courses and complete four units of BUAD 491 Honors Seminar (two, 2-unit seminars).

Electives

To accumulate the 128 units required for the bachelor's degree, the business curriculum allows for eight units taken as free electives. These elective units are in addition to the business core and senior option requirements. Students may also need to take additional non-business electives in order to reach the required 60 non-business units.

Grade Point Average Requirements

In addition to meeting university GPA requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (A = 4.0) in upper division business courses is required for graduation.

Business Minor

A minor in business is available to students in all schools and departments at USC. This provides the opportunity for non-business majors to gain understanding of the basic concepts and tools of business. To be approved for the business minor, students must have completed a minimum of 32 units of college-level courses and attained a minimum overall GPA of 2.75. Successful completion of the business minor requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 on the following courses:

Minor course requirements		Units
BUAD 100x	Economic Foundations of Finance	2
BUAD 215x	Foundations of Business Finance	4
BUAD 302	Business Communication	4
BUAD 304	Organizational Behavior	4
BUAD 307	Marketing Management	4
ACCT 410x	Accounting for Non-Business Majors	4

Choose one of the following:

403	Legal Environment of Business	4
BAEP 450x	Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship	4

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