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, finance, general management, global management and marketing. Double degree programs are also available to BSBA students in conjunction with the School of Arts and Sciences and with the School of Information Sciences (SIS). CBA also offers certificate programs in international business and leadership and ethics for students in the BSBA degree program.

Additional degree programs include the arts and science/business dual major program offered through the 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 both a transfer credit evaluation and a BSBA degree sheet in the mail. CBA will evaluate for transfer coursework from other colleges based on content and equivalency to coursework offered at the University of Pittsburgh. The credit evaluation sheet lists the courses that have been accepted for transfer, as well as the total number of transfer credits awarded. The degree sheet 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. 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 by the Student Records Office and the CBA Performance Committee, composed of faculty members on the Undergraduate Committee. 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 in effect cause the most recent grade in a repeated course to 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 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 as a CBA student 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 with a letter 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 with a letter 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.

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 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, statistics, and psychology must also be taken on a letter grade basis. Language classes, arts and sciences 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.

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 several times each year to help students create academic plans and register for classes; to review general information about degree requirements; to discuss career-related work experiences, internships, resume development, and study abroad plans; and to address any other issues that may affect a student’s academic performance and career goals. BSBA students are required to meet with their academic advisor twice per term.

Students enrolled in the A&S/business dual major are encouraged to consult with CBA’s dual major advisor, who specializes in issues specific to the dual major program, in addition to their A&S advisor. A&S/business dual majors register for all of their courses with their A&S advisor.

Advisors do not make decisions for students, but work with students to help them make wise choices by providing the necessary information about academic options. Students who proactively plan their education and set career goals with help from their advisors are likely to benefit most from CBA academic advising services.

BSBA Learning Goals

The BSBA program has developed the following learning goals.  Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration should demonstrate:

Professional Competence in Communication, Analysis, and Decision Making

Written Communication—demonstrate competency in the fundamentals of effective composition and the use of factual information in a persuasive, concise manner.

Oral Communication—demonstrate competency in interpersonal communication and presentation skills in professional settings.

Basic Quantitative Skills—master the fundamentals of algebra, calculus, statistics and probability most frequently applied to business problem solving.

Data Analysis—master the fundamentals of finding, analyzing, and interpreting standard business data and data sources using appropriate models and methodology.

Professional Ethics—master the fundamentals of ethical decision-making and decision implementation in business firms.

Awareness and Knowledge of Key Dimensions of World Citizenship

Foreign Language Competency—achieve basic foreign language skills, ideally moving toward the level of business-level fluency.

Knowledge of at least one Nation, Region, or Culture—develop an integrated knowledge base of at least one nation, region, or culture (in areas such as history, political systems, literature, and artistic expression).

Natural and Social Sciences—achieve basic competency in economics, one additional social science, and one natural or biological science.

Professional Competence in Business Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge and Skills in Key Disciplinary Foundations—demonstrate competency in the primary disciplinary foundations of business theory and practice, including economics, organizational behavior, applied mathematics, and the political/legal historical, and societal contexts of business.

Knowledge and Skills in Key Business Functions—demonstrate competency in the fundamentals of accounting, finance, human resources, information systems, marketing, operations, and strategic management.

Depth of Knowledge and Skill Mastery—demonstrate competency in, and in-depth knowledge of, a body of material in at least one student-chosen field of business study.

Applied Learning—demonstrate competency in applying acquired knowledge in real-world situations (including individual, team, and leadership settings).

BSBA Degree Requirements

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

Graduation Requirements

One-hundred twenty credits are required for graduation with a BSBA degree. A minimum of 54 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), thus permitting the student to take additional electives. These electives may be taken in the arts and sciences or in business. Credits taken in excess of 120 may be taken in either arts and sciences or business courses.

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 earning scores of 600 or greater on the verbal portion of the SAT are not required to take the University of Pittsburgh English Composition Placement Test. These students will enroll in either ENGCMP 0200 Seminar in Composition, ENGCMP 0203 Seminar in Composition: Women’s Studies, or ENGCMP 0205 Seminar in Composition: Film Studies to fulfill the English composition requirement.

Students earning scores of 590 or less on the verbal portion of the SAT are required to take the University of Pittsburgh English Composition Placement Test. Based on the student’s performance on this test, one of four outcomes will result:

1. A student may place into one of the composition options (see above);
2. A student who demonstrates weaker writing skills will also be required to register for ENGCMP 0201 Composition Tutorial (1 credit). Composition Tutorial is not counted toward the 120 total credits required for graduation from the BSBA program;
3. A student with very weak reading/writing skills will be required to register for ENGCMP 0100/0101 Intensive Workshop in Composition/Intensive Composition Workshop (6 credits). These courses are not counted toward the 120 total credits required for graduation from the BSBA program.
4. When English is a student’s second language, the student may be required to take ENGCMP 0152 English as a Second Language (ESL): Workshop in Composition (3 credits). English as a Second Language is not counted toward the 120 total credits required for graduation from the BSBA program.

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

Students earning a score of 600 on the verbal 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.

Foreign Language

Any one of the following fulfills the language requirement:

• Three years of study of a single foreign language in high school, passed with an average of C or better over the three years.
• Placement into level III of a foreign language on a University of Pittsburgh language placement test.
• Placement into level II of a foreign 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 foreign language sequences will be considered upon request.

Algebra

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*
• MATH 0100 Preparation for Business Calculus

* not counted toward the 120 credits required for graduation

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

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

Psychology

• PSY 0010 Introduction to Psychology fulfills this requirement.

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

Other Business Requirements

Most CBA students must also satisfy the following requirement:

CBA Orientation: (BUS 0001) is required of all first-time freshmen. The course introduces new BSBA students to the University and to CBA and helps students prepare for a career in business. This orientation course focuses on academic habits, skill building, career and major exploration, and other options to enhance the degree, including study abroad and internship acquisition.

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

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 an academic advisor.

CBA Certificate Programs

BSBA students have the opportunity to specialize their studies in ethics or international business 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. Most students admitted to the CPIB will be able to complete all certificate program requirements within 120 credits and four years. Requirements include satisfactory completion of level 4 of a foreign 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).

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 and a minimum of 124 credits. Thirteen of the 124 credits are composed of specific course work, internships, and a service-learning project integrating ethics and leadership.

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 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 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 School of Arts and Sciences section of this bulletin for detail 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

CBA consults with business organizations to establish professional internship opportunities in which business students can apply classroom theory in a relevant work environment. Internships also enhance a student’s job placement potential by improving the level of immediate contribution they can offer the firm.

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, including three professional, co-ed business fraternities. Participation in business student organizations provides excellent opportunities for students to enhance their undergraduate education. Being active in student organizations can help students hone their 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.