Shared undergraduate business curriculum < Virginia Commonwealth University

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