Nov 23, 2024  
2024 - 2025 College Catalog 
    
2024 - 2025 College Catalog

Business Administration and Management, BA


The business administration and management major has a curriculum that emphasizes the core role economic theory has in giving a broad context of the competitive and regulatory world in which a business must function; this core also focuses on the quantitative methods of economics that put theory into a usable form and elaborates on the strategic planning processes of businesses to provide tools of critical thinking that will inform business decision making. This core of required business and economics courses provide a basis for multi-faceted decision making in a business, government or nonprofit organizations.

The interdisciplinary component of the business administration and management major broadens the study of business by adding the perspective gained from a diverse group of disciplines. It allows students to choose from elective courses in other disciplines where they will write and research on topics crucial to informed decision making. A senior requirement allows students the option to focus solely on research through a St. Mary’s Project or to combine research and practical experience with a senior seminar and an internship.

As a business administration and management major, you can find connections to major companies based in and around the D.C. metropolitan area, as well as in St. Mary’s County, where many companies search for new talent at Patuxent Naval Air Station. Our close proximity to both centers of business allows for engaging opportunities with a variety of industries. In addition, our small faculty-student ratio ensures that you get to work closely with your professors. The business administration and management major offers many different course topics, such as: accounting, international business, econometrics, and more.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will process, interpret, and analyze data within the context of business.
  • Students will apply business concepts and tools to propose solutions to business challenges.
  • Students will design and implement an independent line of inquiry.
  • Students will demonstrate effective and ethical interpersonal skills in a team setting.
  • Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

Degree Requirements


General College Requirements


General College Requirements (see Curriculum  section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major

Technical Core: 12 Credits (three courses)


Business Core: 12 credits


Business Theory and Application: 16 credits (four courses)


International Business Track:


Business Management Track:


The department highly recommends that students give focus to their electives by concentrating in one of the areas above, or working with their advisor to develop a directed plan of study.  It is recommended that students pursuing International Business seriously consider studying abroad or doing an internship abroad.

Senior Experience: 8 credits


The department recommends that students with an International Business focus consider an internship abroad.

Students must choose from one of the following two options:

Minimum Grade and GPA Requirements


Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in all required business and economics courses and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 or better in these courses.

Sequence of Study


The following model is suggested as a possible basic program to satisfy requirements for the major in business:

First Year:


Sophomore Year:


Junior Year:


Senior Year:


  • At least one course satisfying Business Theory
  • Application requirements and 8 credits satisfying senior experience requirements.

Minimum Grade and GPA Requirements


A grade of C- or better must be received in each course of the minor, and the cumulative grade-point average of courses used to satisfy the minor must be at least 2.0.