Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Business Administration (B.B.A.)


75-80 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours


Before enrollment in upper-level business classes, students must apply for admission to their major. (See Admission to the Beacom School of Business Majors .)  (USD-Sioux Falls students should reference the rotation schedule provided through the USD-Sioux Falls website.)

Students in this major must also complete requirements for a degree in the Beacom School of Business .

Pre-Major Business Core (25-30 hours)


Prior to gaining admission to the Beacom School of Business majors, students complete the University’s General Education Requirements  and Pre-Major Business Core necessary for acceptance. Students are not eligible for enrollment in 300/400 level business courses until they have met the requirements for admission to their majors.

Please see ADMISSION TO THE BEACOM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MAJORS .

The following courses are referred to as the Pre-Major Business Core and must be completed before full admission to the School of Business major is granted:

Notes:


The Mathematics course required for admission to the School of Business is MATH 121 Survey of Calculus (C) [SGR #5, HSDC] . A substitution is permitted for MATH 123 Calculus I (C) [SGR #5, HSDC] . Other mathematics courses may be required by the Mathematics Department as prerequisites to MATH 121 or MATH 123. The initial mathematics course is determined in accordance with the Board of Regent’s placement regulations.

The Beacom School of Business requires that either ENGL 205 Business Writing [SGR #1, HSDC]  or another university approved advanced composition course.

Additional Requirements


Students must also complete enough Advanced Electives to achieve a minimum of 60 credits at the 300/400 level. Most majors must complete 10 credits of Advanced Electives to meet this minimum.  (See Degree Requirements on Beacom School of Business page.)  

Elective Categories


Advanced Electives

Courses at the junior-senior level chosen from any college/school on the basis of the student’s interest are called Advanced Electives. University Honors courses at the 300/400 level are considered Advanced Electives.

School of Business Electives

Courses at the junior-senior level that must be selected in the fields of accounting, business administration, business law, decision sciences, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, health services administration, human resource management, management, or marketing are called School of Business Electives.

Electives

Courses chosen from any college/school on the basis of the student’s interest are called Electives. These electives may be at any level and are only tested for meeting the 120-credit-hour requirement.

B.B.A. / M.B.A. Accelerated Option


Business majors meeting requirements for entry into the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program may opt to complete both the B.B.A and M.B.A. concurrently. Students who pursue this accelerated option will be awarded their undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously, upon completion of the two programs. Permission to be awarded the undergraduate degree prior to the completion of the graduate degree is available.

The course requirements for the B.B.A., which are listed above, are the same for USD undergraduate students planning to pursue the B.B.A./M.B.A. accelerated option. The program gives students the opportunity to begin their M.B.A. program earlier and complete both programs in a timelier manner. Students must complete the requirements of the M.B.A. program in accordance with the graduate catalog. The minimum number of credits to achieve both degrees is 153 hours.

J.D. / B.B.A. Concurrent Program Description


Business majors meeting requirements for entry into the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program may opt to complete both the B.B.A. and the J.D. concurrently in a 3+3 program.  Students who pursue this accelerated option will be awarded their undergraduate and law degrees simultaneously, upon the completion of the two programs. Permission to be awarded the undergraduate degree prior to the completion of the graduate degree is available. Students may use courses in the first year of the J.D. program to fulfill up to 30 credits of the required 300/400 level coursework toward the B.B.A. degree.  

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs


USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

Related Programs:

Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs


This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.