The following programs have certain elements that are shared among them.
- Accounting, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Business, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), finance, human resource management, management (and sub-concentrations), risk management and insurance, and supply chain management and analytics concentrations
- Economics, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Information Systems, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Marketing, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), general marketing, marketing communication and analytics, personal selling and business marketing, and product and brand management concentrations
- Real Estate, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Learning goals
The mission of the shared undergraduate business curriculum, in conjunction with universitywide general education requirements, is to provide students the knowledge, skills, opportunities and experiences needed as a framework for the various major programs of study.
The goals of the shared curriculum are:
- Effective communication
- A broad-based knowledge of business functions and processes
- Quantitative skills
- Critical-thinking and development of creative solutions to business problems
- A solid foundation for making responsible and ethical business decisions
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following:
- Communicate successfully in a variety of business situations
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic functions of business
- Use data to support decision-making
- Lead and work effectively in teams
- Apply creative problem-solving techniques to business problems
- Use ethical principles while making business decisions
Special requirements
The foundation program specifies course work required during the freshman and sophomore years. Students are eligible for admission into the advanced business program with a major in the School of Business upon meeting the minimum cumulative GPA requirement and successful completion of:
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A minimum of 54 credits in the foundation program | 54 | |
ACCT 203 & ACCT 204 | Introduction to Accounting I and Introduction to Accounting II | 6 |
BUSN 201 | Foundations of Business | 3 |
BUSN 212 | Differential Calculus and Optimization for Business | 3-4 |
or MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | |
BUSN 225 | Winning Presentations | 3 |
ECON 210 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
ECON 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
INFO 160 | Digital Literacy: Computer Concepts, Internet, Digital Devices | 1 |
INFO 161 | Digital Literacy: Word Processing Skills | 1 |
INFO 162 | Digital Literacy: Spreadsheets Skills I | 1 |
Another INFO 16X course | 1 | |
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I [View Image] | Focused Inquiry I | 3 |
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II [View Image] | Focused Inquiry II (with a minimum grade of C) | 3 |
UNIV 200 | Inquiry and the Craft of Argument (with a minimum grade of C) | 3 |
The admission requirements for the School of Business detail the deadlines for students to be admitted to the advanced business program with a major in the school. At least 30 hours of the required business courses for the Bachelor of Science must be taken at VCU.
All baccalaureate degree programs in the School of Business require successful completion of the business knowledge exam as administered in BUSN 499.
Students may need to take additional mathematics courses as prerequisites to BUSN 212 or MATH 200. These credits will count as electives in the foundation program. The sample curriculum outline provides an example in which BUSN 171 is used as a prerequisite for BUSN 212.
The INFO 160, INFO 161, INFO 162 and INFO 16X requirements may be waived upon successful completion of a knowledge equivalency test administered by the Undergraduate Studies Office. No more than two additional credits may be applied to the degree from the INFO 16x series.
No more than four credits in physical education courses may be applied to the degree.
Advanced business core flexible requirements are determined by the major program of study from the approved lists. See each program for specifics.
INTL 493 may not be counted toward a business degree.
Credit for SPCH 121 or SPCH 321 will substitute for BUSN 225, and no more than three credits of these courses may be applied toward a business degree. Credit for STAT 210 or STAT 212 will substitute for SCMA 301. Students who earned a minimum grade of B in ECON 203 at VCU may substitute that credit for ECON 210.
Degree requirements for Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting, business, economics, information systems, marketing and real estate
Business foundation (60 credits minimum)1
General education requirements (34 credits minimum)2
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Core Education Curriculum | ||
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I [View Image] | Focused Inquiry I | 3 |
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II [View Image] | Focused Inquiry II | 3 |
UNIV 200 | Inquiry and the Craft of Argument | 3 |
Approved humanities/fine arts | 3 | |
Approved natural/physical sciences | 3-4 | |
Approved quantitative literacy: | ||
BUSN 212 | Differential Calculus and Optimization for Business | 3-4 |
or MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | |
Approved social/behavioral sciences | 3-4 | |
Business general education requirements | ||
ECON 210 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
ECON 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
INFO 160 | Digital Literacy: Computer Concepts, Internet, Digital Devices | 1 |
INFO 161 | Digital Literacy: Word Processing Skills | 1 |
INFO 162 | Digital Literacy: Spreadsheets Skills I | 1 |
INFO 16X software course as specified by major | 1 | |
Business general education electives: Select credits from the approved list | 3 | |
Total Hours | 34-37 |
Additional Business Foundation requirements
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ACCT 203 & ACCT 204 | Introduction to Accounting I and Introduction to Accounting II | 6 |
BUSN 201 | Foundations of Business | 3 |
BUSN 225 | Winning Presentations | 3 |
Open electives | 11-14 | |
Total Hours | 23-26 |
Students may complete additional course work (if needed) in electives to total 60 credit hours in business foundation.
Students who receive waivers to these required courses must complete additional business general education electives to reach the 34 credit minimum.
Advanced business program (60 credits minimum)
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Advanced business core – required for all majors | ||
BUSN 325 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
BUSN 499 | Business Knowledge Exam | 0 |
FIRE 311 | Financial Management | 3 |
MGMT 303 | Creativity and Ideation | 3 |
MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
MGMT 434 | Strategic Management (capstone) | 3 |
MKTG 301 | Marketing Principles | 3 |
SCMA 301 | Business Statistics I | 3 |
Major requirements | ||
Advanced core (flexible by major) | ||
Business law and ethics, as specified by the major | 3 | |
Information systems, as specified by the major | 3 | |
Interpersonal skills, as specified by the major | 3 | |
Major-specific requirements | 24 | |
Quantitative approaches to business, as specified by the major | 6 | |
Total Hours | 60 |
The minimum total of credit hours required for these degrees is 120.
Sample business curriculum outline
Freshman year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall semester | Hours | |
BUSN 171 | Mathematical Applications for Business | 3 |
INFO 160 | Digital Literacy: Computer Concepts, Internet, Digital Devices | 1 |
INFO 162 | Digital Literacy: Spreadsheets Skills I | 1 |
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I [View Image] | Focused Inquiry I | 3 |
University Core Education Curriculum approved courses | 6 | |
Term Hours: | 14 | |
Spring semester | ||
BUSN 212 | Differential Calculus and Optimization for Business | 3 |
BUSN 225 | Winning Presentations | 3 |
INFO 161 | Digital Literacy: Word Processing Skills | 1 |
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II [View Image] | Focused Inquiry II | 3 |
Open elective | 3 | |
University Core Education Curriculum approved course | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 16 | |
Sophomore year | ||
Fall semester | ||
ACCT 203 | Introduction to Accounting I | 3 |
BUSN 201 | Foundations of Business | 3 |
ECON 210 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
UNIV 200 | Inquiry and the Craft of Argument | 3 |
Open elective | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 15 | |
Spring semester | ||
ACCT 204 | Introduction to Accounting II | 3 |
ECON 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
MKTG 301 | Marketing Principles | 3 |
SCMA 301 | Business Statistics I | 3 |
Business law and ethics, as specified by the major | 3 | |
INFO 16x, as specified by major | 1 | |
Term Hours: | 16 | |
Junior year | ||
Fall semester | ||
BUSN 325 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
MGMT 303 | Creativity and Ideation | 3 |
MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
Major course | 3 | |
Quantitative approaches to business, as specified by the major | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 15 | |
Spring semester | ||
FIRE 311 | Financial Management | 3 |
Information systems, as specified by the major | 3 | |
Interpersonal skills, as specified by the major | 3 | |
Major course | 3 | |
Open elective | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 15 | |
Senior year | ||
Fall semester | ||
BUSN 499 | Business Knowledge Exam | 0 |
Major courses | 9 | |
Open elective | 2 | |
Quantitative approaches to business, as specified by the major | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 14 | |
Spring semester | ||
MGMT 434 | Strategic Management | 3 |
Major courses | 9 | |
Open elective | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 15 | |
Total Hours: | 120 |
The minimum total of credit hours required for these degrees is 120.
Business general education electives
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Additional University Core Education Curriculum approved courses | ||
Any AFAM, ANTH, ANTZ, ARTH, BIOL, BIOZ, CHEM, CHEZ, CRJS, DANC, ENGL, ENVS, FRSC, FRSZ, HIST, INNO, INSC, INTL (except INTL 493), MASC, MATH, PHIL, PHYS, PHYZ, POLI, PSYC (except PSYC 214), RELS, SOCS, SOCY, USRP or WRLD course | ||
Any foreign language course | ||
Any honors-designated course taught outside of the School of Business | ||
Any of the following UNIV courses: | ||
Food for Thought | ||
The Truth About Lying | ||
Finding Your Voice in Contemporary Society | ||
Pseudoscience | ||
What's the Big Idea? |
Approved flexible advanced business core courses
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Business law and ethics | 3 | |
Legal Environment of Business (unless as otherwise specified below) | ||
Business major with finance concentration | ||
Legal Environment of Business | ||
or FIRE 325 | Real Estate Law | |
or FIRE 459 | Insurance Law | |
Business major with risk management and insurance concentration: | ||
Insurance Law | ||
Real estate major: | ||
Real Estate Law |
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Information systems | 3 | |
Business Information Systems (unless as otherwise specified below) | ||
Accounting major: | ||
Accounting Systems | ||
Information systems major: | ||
Systems Analysis and Design |
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Interpersonal skills | 3 | |
Leadership (unless as otherwise specified below) | ||
Accounting major: | ||
Research and Communication for Accountants | ||
or BUSN 400 | Principles of Consulting | |
or BUSN 401 | International Consulting Practicum | |
or MGMT 319 | Leadership | |
Business major with finance or risk management and insurance concentrations: | ||
Introduction to Intercultural Communication | ||
or MGMT 319 | Leadership | |
Economics major: | ||
Contemporary Economic Issues | ||
Information systems major: | ||
Information Systems Planning and Project Management | ||
Marketing major with personal selling and business marketing concentration: | ||
Introduction to Personal Selling |
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Quantitative approaches to business | 6 | |
Managerial Economics and Production/Operations Management (unless otherwise specified) | ||
Accounting majors select two of the following: | ||
Data Analytics for Accountants | ||
Managerial Economics | ||
Business Statistics II | ||
Production/Operations Management | ||
Business major with finance or risk management and insurance concentrations: | ||
Financial Modeling and Investments | ||
Business major with human resource management or management or supply chain management and analytics concentrations: | ||
Business Statistics II and Production/Operations Management | ||
Economics major: | ||
Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
or SCMA 320 | Production/Operations Management | |
Introduction to Econometrics | ||
or SCMA 302 | Business Statistics II | |
Information systems majors: | ||
Business Intelligence and Data Mining and Business Statistics II | ||
Marketing major: | ||
Marketing Research | ||
Production/Operations Management | ||
Real estate major: | ||
Financial Modeling and Business Statistics II |