UNDERGRADUATE
Bulletin

 

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

 

 

The College of Business Administration (CBA) is the undergraduate division of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and awards the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree. The CBA offers full-time and part-time programs with majors in accounting, business information systems, finance, global management, human resources management, marketing, and supply chain management. Double-degree programs are also available to BSBA students in conjunction with the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and with the School of Information Sciences (SIS). CBA also offers certificate programs in international business, leadership and ethics, and supply chain management for students in the BSBA degree program.

Additional degree programs include the arts and sciences/business dual major program offered through the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the CBA, and a post-baccalaureate career development certificate program in accounting available through the College of General Studies. CBA draws its faculty from the Katz School and is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

 

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh
College of Business Administration
Office of Admissions
2100 Sennott Square
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-383-9600
cba-admissions@katz.pitt.edu
www.cba.pitt.edu

Application Procedures

First-time freshman and external transfer admissions to the CBA are handled through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Students planning to relocate to CBA from another Pitt academic program or campus should contact the program in which they are currently enrolled to have their records forwarded to CBA for evaluation. Details for freshman and transfer admissions, as well as for relocation, are provided in the Application for Admission section of this bulletin.

Special Admissions

Under certain circumstances, second-degree, post-baccalaureate, and guest students may apply directly to the College of Business Administration for admission. Students applying under one of these statuses are considered for admission based on the strength of their academic records. (See Second Degree Candidates and Special and Nondegree Admissions sections of this bulletin for more information.) Contact the CBA Office of Admissions for specifics on admission requirements and other procedures.

Evaluation of Transfer Credits

Students transferring from other colleges or universities are encouraged to apply to the College of Business Administration through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. (See Transfer Student Admissions section of this bulletin for detailed information.) Upon admission to CBA, transfer students will receive a BSBA degree requirements checklist in the mail. CBA will evaluate coursework from other colleges based on content and equivalency to coursework offered at the University of Pittsburgh. The degree checklist shows how the transferred courses will apply to the student’s BSBA degree. To transfer, a course must be completed with a grade of C or better. The University does not accept grades for transfer, only credits. A minimum of 40 credits must be completed at the University of Pittsburgh. Students who have questions about their credit evaluation should contact the CBA Office of Admissions.

Academic Standards

The following section details the school’s academic standards:

Academic Standing Policy

The academic standing of all BSBA students is reviewed at the end of the fall and spring terms. As a result of this review, students are assigned one of the following academic standing codes: good academic standing, academic probation, academic suspension, or academic dismissal.

Good Academic Standing

Students remain in good standing as long as they maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 in all courses taken at the University of Pittsburgh.

The cumulative GPA includes all courses taken on a Letter Grade grading basis at all campuses of the University of Pittsburgh. The course repeat rules require the most recent grade of a repeated course be included in the GPA.

Academic Probation

Any student who has a cumulative GPA below 2.00 is placed on academic probation.

Academic Suspension

Full-time students

If after one term of additional enrollment, the cumulative GPA of a full-time student on probation remains below 2.00, the student is subject to suspension or dismissal.

Students on probation

Students on probation who enroll and then withdraw from all courses are still subject to suspension because they have not raised their cumulative GPA to 2.00 after an additional term of attempted enrollment.

Part-time students

If, after attempting 12 additional credits, the cumulative GPA of a part-time student on probation remains below 2.00, the student is subject to suspension or dismissal.

An academic suspension from CBA prohibits students from enrolling in courses at the University of Pittsburgh for one calendar year. Students will not be awarded transfer credit for courses taken at other colleges or universities while on academic suspension.

Reinstatement after the First Suspension

After one calendar year, suspended students are eligible to apply for reinstatement to the College of Business Administration by writing to the CBA Associate Dean presenting a rationale for reinstatement.

Reinstated students return on academic probation and have one term of enrollment to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.0 or be subject to a second suspension or dismissal.

Second Academic Suspension

If suspended a second time, a student is not eligible for reinstatement for five years. After five years, suspended students are eligible to apply for reinstatement to the College of Business Administration by writing to the CBA Associate Dean presenting a rationale for reinstatement.

Academic Dismissal

Dismissal from CBA is a permanent action, and dismissed students are not eligible for reinstatement at any University of Pittsburgh school or campus.

Grade Point Average Standards

Overall GPA

A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 is required in all courses applied toward the BSBA degree.

Major GPA

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 (C+ average) is required in all courses applied toward a student’s major. A C- or better must be earned in each individual course applied toward a student’s major.

For full-time students: If a full-time student’s major GPA drops below 2.25 for two consecutive terms, no new major courses may be taken until the major GPA is raised to 2.25 through course repeats.

For part-time students: If a part-time student’s major GPA drops below 2.25 for 9 consecutive credits in his/her major, no new major courses may be taken until the major GPA is raised to 2.25 through course repeats.

Satisfactory/No-Credit Grade Option Policy

All required BSBA core courses and all courses to be applied to a student’s major must be taken on a letter grade basis. In addition, courses taken to fulfill the requirements in microeconomics, macroeconomics, calculus, and statistics must also be taken on a letter grade basis. Language classes, arts and sciences general education courses, and electives may be taken on a satisfactory/no-credit (S/NC) grade basis.

Under the satisfactory/no-credit option, a student who does satisfactory work (C or better) receives the grade of S for the course and earns credit for the course. If a student does unsatisfactory work (defined as C- or lower), the student receives the grade of NC and does not earn credit for the course. These courses are not calculated as part of the GPA.

Students may select the S/NC grade option when enrolling online or by visiting 140 Thackeray Hall and completing the grade option form prior to the appropriate deadline.

Academic Integrity

All CBA students are responsible for adhering to CBA policies on academic integrity, which are available on the CBA Web site (www.cba.pitt.edu). CBA academic integrity guidelines follow the University’s guidelines with several procedural changes. Please see the guidelines for details.

Advising

Students pursuing the BSBA degree receive academic advising from full-time professional academic advisors in the College of Business Administration. Each new BSBA student is assigned an academic advisor, establishing a relationship that usually continues through graduation unless the student requests an advisor assignment change.

Academic advisors are information resources. Advisors meet with BSBA students at least once during the fall and spring academic terms to help students create customized academic and career development action plans and prepare for course enrollment. BSBA students are required to meet with their academic advisor at least once per term, prior to enrollment.

Students enrolled in the A&S/Business Dual Major are encouraged to consult with the CBA dual major advisor, who specializes in issues specific to the dual major program, in addition to their A&S advisor.

BSBA students are responsible for their academic and career development choices and decisions, but CBA academic advisors are an integrative information and planning resource for students.

BSBA Learning Goals

Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration should achieve the following learning outcomes in the four broad components of the BSBA program (major, electives, core and foundations courses):

 

Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills in at least one academic/career focus through completion of majors, certificates, minors and electives.

 

Demonstrate business management literacy.

 

Demonstrate competency in the fundamentals of analyzing problems and making decisions with standard business data and data sources using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

 

Demonstrate competency in professional communication and leadership.

 

Demonstrate competency in applying acquired knowledge and skills in real-world situations.

 

Acquire a basic knowledge of at least one nation, region or culture in areas such as language, history, political systems, literature and artistic expression.

 

Acquire an exposure to the knowledge and methodologies used to explore natural, individual, social and cultural phenomena.

BSBA Degree Requirements

The following sections describe the general requirements for all majors within the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree program:

The degree requirements applicable to a particular student are based upon the student's term of entry into the program and reflect any requirement changes that have been approved since this bulletin was published. These requirements and the student's progress toward the BSBA degree are noted on the student's online Undergraduate Advisement Transcript.

Graduation Requirements

One-hundred twenty credits are required for graduation with a BSBA degree. A minimum of 51 credits must be taken in the arts and sciences.

A student may use one course to fulfill two arts and sciences requirements (e.g., ANTH 1772 Anthropology of Women fulfills both social science and foreign culture requirements).

Arts and Sciences Foundations: Basic Skills Requirements

There are seven basic skills that all BSBA students must master; these basic skills prepare students for future classes. The basic skills requirements include:

English Composition

• Students  who earn 500 or above on SAT Verbal (Critical Reading) are placed into Seminar in Composition (or equivalent course).
• Students who earn below 500 on SAT Verbal (Critical Reading) will be placed into a Workshop in Composition course.
• Recommendations for ENGCMP 0201 or ENGCMP 0151 (tutorials) will be based on class diagnostic writing during add/drop period.
• English as a Second Language students will be placed into appropriate courses based on English Language proficiency.

All students are strongly encouraged to complete their English composition requirement(s) in the freshman year.

Students earning a score of 600 on the critical reading portion of the SAT, who also earn a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) English exam, will be awarded advanced standing credit for ENGCMP 0200 Seminar in Composition and 3 additional credits in English composition.

Second Language

Any one of the following fulfills the language requirement:

• Three years of study of a single second language in high school, passed with an average of C or better over the three years.
• Placement into level III of a second language on a University of Pittsburgh language placement test.
• Placement into level II of a second language on a University of Pittsburgh language placement test and completion of the appropriate course from the second course list below.
• Completion of one of the two-course sequences listed below:

First Course

 

Other second language sequences may be appropriate, including those taught through the Less Commonly Taught Language Center; students should discuss options with their academic advisor.

Any one of the following fulfills the requirement:

• A score of 600+ on the mathematical reasoning section of the SAT I.
• Successful completion of the Algebra Placement Test.
• MATH 0010 College Algebra Part 1 and MATH 0020 College Algebra Part 2
• MATH 0031 Algebra

 

Calculus

Taking one course from the following list fulfills this requirement:
Note: Only one of these courses may apply to the 120 total credits required for graduation.

• MATH 0120 Business Calculus
• MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1

       or both

• MATH 0125 Calculus for Business 1

        and

• MATH 0126 Calculus for Business 2

Statistics

• STAT 1100 Statistics and Probability for Business Management fulfills this requirement.

Economics

Both of the following courses must be taken to fulfill this requirement:

• ECON 0100 Introduction to Microeconomic Theory
• ECON 0110 Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory

Arts and Sciences General Education Electives

In addition to fulfilling the basic skills requirements, students further supplement their business curriculum by taking courses from six general education categories including:

• Literature (one course)
• Music/art (one course)
• Philosophy (one course)
• Social sciences (two courses, each from a different discipline)
• Natural sciences (two courses)
• Foreign culture (two courses or participation in an approved study abroad program)

Note: All students, including international students and U.S. citizens who have lived abroad for any length of time, must complete the foreign culture requirement.

Contact the school for a complete listing of approved courses that meet these elective requirements.

Business Core Curriculum

The Business Core Curriculum was revised effective fall 2012.  Students admitted to CBA as of fall 2012 and after follow the "new" curriculum as detailed below.  Students admitted to CBA prior to fall 2012 follow the "old as detailed below.

The "new" Business Core Curriculum:

The following courses (36) are required of all CBA students:

 

BUSSPP	0020	Managing in Complex Environments
BUSACC	0030	Financial Accounting (prerequisite ECON 100 or ECON 0110)
BUSACC	0040	Managerial Accounting (prerequisite BUSACC 0030)
BUSQOM	0050	Quantitative Methods (prerequisite STAT 1100)
BUSENV	0060	Managerial Ethics and Stakeholder Management
BUSORG	1020	Organizational Behavior
BUSORG	1101	Fundamentals of Business Communication (prerequisite 30 credits)
BUSFIN	1030	Introduction to Finance (prerequisite 30 credits, BUSACC 0030, STAT 1100)
BUSMKT	1040	Introduction to Marketing (prerequisite 30 credits)
BUSECN	1010	Business Economics (Prerequisite: MATH 0120 and ECON 0100 or BUSMIS 1060 Introduction to Information Systems (prerequisite 30 credits)
BUSQOM	1070	Operations Management
BUSSPP	1080	Strategic Management

The "old" Business Core Curriculum:

The following courses (42) are required of all CBA students:

 

Other Business Requirements

CBA students must also satisfy one of the following requirements:

BUS 0010: Your Academic and Career Success. This one-credit course is required of all first-time CBA freshmen. In the course, new BSBA students will explore the majors offered in CBA, investigate global opportunities, develop networking and professional skills, create a resume, and learn how to connect with CBA's Career Services team regarding events, internship opportunities, and career development.

BUS 0020: Your Career Success. This one-credit course is required of all new CBA transfer students. In the course, students will participate in career exploration, develop and implement a personal strategy for career goal setting and planning, learn and practice communication and other professional skills, and become familiar with the internship and job search processes.

Major and Degree Options

The College of Business Administration offers the following degree options:

BSBA Degree

The College of Business Administration awards the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree and offers majors in accounting, business information systems, finance, general management*, global and supply chain management.

*General management majors select two areas of focused study from the following: accounting, finance, human resources management, management information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, and/or supply chain management.

NOTE: The general management major is being phased out as of fall 2013 and will no longer be a major option.  Effective fall 2013 only students who have already declared a General Management major may graduate with a General Management major.

CBA Double Majors

Students pursuing the BSBA degree may opt for a double major (i.e., earning two complete BSBA majors). Implications of this choice should be discussed with the student's academic advisor.

CBA Certificate Programs

BSBA students have the opportunity to specialize their studies in international business, leadership and ethics or supply chain management through certificate programs.

The Certificate Program in International Business (CPIB) builds upon the core curriculum in the College of Business Administration and is available only to BSBA students. Requirements include satisfactory completion of level 4 of a second language (a two-year, four-course sequence at the University of Pittsburgh), specialized course work, and one term of approved study abroad or an international internship (3–12 credits).  Students majoring in Global Management may not also earn the Certificate in International Business.

The Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics (CPLE) builds upon the core curriculum in the College of Business Administration and is available only to BSBA students. Students admitted to the CPLE will be required to successfully complete all requirements for the BSBA degree requirements including satisfactory completion of specialized course work, internships, and a service-learning project integrating ethics and leadership.

The Certificate in Supply Chain Management (CSCM) is offered jointly by the College of Business Administration and Swanson School of Engineering.  Enrollment is available to BSBA students and students enrolled in the BS engineering programs in the School of Engineering.  The CSCM provides students with the opportunity to understand important concepts in supply chain management and develop managerial and technical skills which are highly valued in today's corporate environment. The program also offers an international travel experience for students to gain hands-on exposure to global supply chain organizations.  The CSCM requires 15 credits and is comprised of coursework offered by both CBA and the School of Engineering.

Area Studies Certificate Programs

Interdisciplinary certificates are offered in African, Asian, Global, Latin American, Russian and East European, and West European studies through the University Center for International Studies. (See descriptions in the UCIS section of this bulletin for details.)

A&S/Business Dual Major Program

The College of Business Administration, in conjunction with the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, offers the A&S/business dual major program for students who wish to combine an A&S major with a major in business. In this program, students earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree, depending on their arts and sciences major, through the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

Students in the dual major program fulfill all A&S general education requirements and complete both an A&S major and a prescribed set of courses in CBA. A&S requirements and general education courses provide a liberal education foundation, and the A&S major adds a deeper understanding of one or several of the arts and sciences disciplines. The business course work introduces students to topics such as accounting, managerial ethics, finance, marketing, human resources, information systems, operations management, organizational behavior, quantitative methods, and strategic management.

Most students complete this 120-credit program in four years with proper planning and consultation with an A&S advisor and the A&S/business dual major advisor. (See the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences section of this bulletin for details on the A&S/business dual major.)

CBA/A&S Double Degree

CBA offers the double degree program for students seeking to earn degrees in both business and the arts and sciences. Students earning degrees from both CBA and A&S complete a 150-credit program of study, generally requiring five years of study. Students considering this option should consult with advisors in both CBA and A&S, as well as a representative from Career Services, to determine how this program will advance their academic and career goals.

CBA/SIS Double Degree

CBA offers a double degree program for BSBA students seeking to earn degrees in both business and information sciences. Students earning degrees from both CBA and SIS complete a 150-credit program of study, generally requiring five years of study. Students considering this option should consult with advisors in both CBA and SIS, as well as a representative from Career Services, to determine how this program will advance their academic and career goals.

Special Academic Opportunities/Programs

The College of Business Administration offers the following special programs:

Internship Programs

Internships and other hands-on career development experiences are an absolutely essential part of business education. The CBA Career Services team works closely with business students to prepare them to successfully launch their careers. A wide range of services, including individualized resume development reviews, mock interviews and career coaching are provided by the CBA Career Services team. The CBA Career Services team also works closely with a wide network of employers and alumni to help business students find internships, as well as full-time positions upon graduation.

Additionally, an international internship program is available to qualified CBA students.  This six-credit global immersion program provides a valuable professional experience for students to develop their functional skills, gain a better understanding of cultural differences in the workplace, and enhance their language skills.  Sites include:  Berlin, Germany; San Paulo, Brazil; Dublin, Ireland; Beijing, China; and Madrid, Spain.

 

Student Organizations

In addition to the more than 250 student organizations at the University of Pittsburgh, there are approximately 20 organizations specifically for business students. Participation in business student organizations provides excellent opportunities for students to enhance their undergraduate education. Being active in student organizations can help students practice the leadership, interpersonal, and analytical skills they acquire through the business curriculum; gain new skills; identify talents; establish business contacts that will improve employment potential; and make friends.