Overview
The completion of the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree includes:
A minimum of 124 semester hours of coursework and satisfaction of all degree requirements;
2.0 overall cumulative average;
2.0 average in major and minor fields of study;
A minimum of 30 semester hours of business coursework must be completed at Suffolk University; and,
An overall minimum of 45 semester hours of coursework must be completed at Suffolk University to be eligible to be considered for the BSBA degree.
Learners are responsible for knowing and complying with specific degree requirements. Any exception to the Program of Study requires written approval from the Sawyer Business School Dean's Office.
Full-time learners normally complete their degree requirements in four years. A learner may shorten the time required by attending summer sessions. Part-time learners normally take five to seven years to complete the requirements, depending on the course load carried.
Curriculum
Below is a suggestion of when BSBA core courses are typically taken; due to course sequencing within majors, learners may need to work with their assigned advisor to optimize scheduling their program of study.
First-Year General Education Requirements
Globalization Requirement (1 course, 3-4 credits)
Choose one of the three (3) courses offered to meet this requirement; however, Global Business majors must take SIB-101. All other learners may choose from the following:
Learners in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
| SIB-101 | Globalization | 3 |
| SIB-H101 | Honors Globalization | 3 |
| HST-149 | Empires and Globalization in World History I | 4 |
| HST-150 | Empires and Globalization in World History II | 4 |
Writing Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)
Creativity and Innovation Requirement (1 course, 3 credits)
Choose one (1) course designated as “CI” in the Undergraduate Course Listing.
Math Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)
Choose one (1) based on your Math placement score:
Stats Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)
Choose one of the two (2) courses offered to meet this requirement. However, Business Economic majors must take STATS-250. All other learners may choose from the following:
Learners in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
First-Year Business Core Requirements
Learners in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
First-Year SBS Honors learners are required to take SBS H100 and SBS H101.
| SBS-100 | Pathways to Success: Navigating Your First Year at Suffolk | 1 |
| SBS-H100 | Honors Pathways to Success: Navigating Your First Year at Suffolk | 1 |
| SBS-101 | Business Foundations: Navigating the Fast-Paced Business Landscape | 3 |
| SBS-H101 | Honors Business Foundations: Navigating the Fast-Paced Business Landscape | 3 |
| SBS-104 | Innovative Teaming | 3 |
| SBS-H104 | Honors Innovative Teaming | 3 |
| SBS-110 | Introduction to Business Communication | 3 |
| SBS-H110 | Honors Introduction to Business Communication | 3 |
| EC-101 | Applied Microeconomics | 3 |
| EC-H101 | Honors Applied Microeconomics | 3 |
Note: EC 103 may be substituted for EC 101
Sophomore Year Business Core Requirements
Learners in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
Choose one course from the following:
All students must complete ACCT 202, EC 102, or ISOM 319. Students have the option of completing the Honors version of a course. Please note that some majors require students to take a specific course from this list.
| ACCT-202 | Accounting for Decision Making II | 3 |
| ACCT-H202 | Honors Accounting for Decision Making II | 3 |
| EC-102 | Global Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC-H102 | Honors Global Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ISOM-319 | Operations Management | 3 |
| ISOM-H319 | Honors Operations Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Junior Year Business Core Requirements
Learners in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
SIB H429 is an Honors Program requirement.
*
ISOM-201 is optional for Marketing and Business Economics majors. All other business majors are required to take
ISOM-201.
Social, Cultural, and Global Perspectives (1 course, 3-4 credits)
Choose one course from the Humanities/History, Language, Literature, Quantitative Reasoning areas. Search for course options by using the course type, Core: Diverse Perspective (SGCP).
Science, Technology, and Engineering (4 credits)
Choose one course from the Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) areas. Learners must complete a 4 credit course or a 3 credit course with an associated 1 credit lab to satisfy the STE requirement. Courses are offered in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Neuroscience, Physics, and Science areas. Search for course options by using the course type, “STE”.
Business Law and Ethics Requirement (1 course, 3 credits)
| BLE-216 | Ethical Decision-Making and Action in a Regulated World | 3 |
Major Requirements (6-9 courses, 18-27 credits)
Learners complete 6-9 courses in a specific area of study. The number of required courses is determined by the following areas of study: Accounting, Business Analytics and Information Systems, Business Economics, Corporate Accounting & Finance, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Global Business (requires a second business major), Business Management & Leadership, Marketing, Sports Management, and Supply Chain Management.
Free Electives
The number of free electives a learner can take varies by major, number of transfer credits, and other factors. BSBA learners must complete a minimum total of 124 credits to graduate. Learners may use their free electives to minor in a business or liberal arts, take honors challenge courses, earn a second major* or take courses in areas of personal interest. Many transfer learners bring in credits that are applied as free electives when there is no program equivalent. Learners should refer to their program evaluation for credit counts, and discuss free elective options with advisors.
*Please note a maximum of two (2) courses may double count between double majors; no courses can double count towards any minor.
Residency Requirement: In the Sawyer Business School, a maximum of two equivalent courses may be transferred from an outside institution and applied towards an SBS major and a maximum of one equivalent course may be transferred from an outside institution and applied towards a minor.
Sawyer Business School Honors Pathway
The Sawyer Business School Honors Pathway offers BSBA learners with exceptional academic promise and motivation the opportunity to participate in a unique program that provides innovative challenges.
Honors curricula include honors sections of required courses in the business core and general education requirements. These and other honors courses allow Honors Scholars to customize their academic experience, which includes:
- Business Course requirements
- Major electives (varies)
- General Education requirements
- Challenge courses*
- Internships
- Independent study
A host of co-curricular experiences are offered each year. Academic, social, and networking events promote leadership and involvement while rounding out a strong educational foundation. Honors Scholars participate in case competitions, service projects, career development programs, and social events as well as plan and lead such initiatives to meet their own needs. Incoming freshmen planning to live on campus have an option to reside in the Honors Living Learning Community. This provides new Honors Scholars with an opportunity to ease their transition to the university by residing in a community of their peers where they have access to out-of-class learning, peer mentoring, study groups, and social events.
The Honors Pathway also features outstanding mentoring and recognition events from orientation through graduation. Alumni networking events connect learners to our honors alumni group. Honors Scholars have opportunities to develop robust networks, both in- and outside of the Business School through interaction with local executives and alumni, gain career advice, internship leads, and even job offers. Other benefits of the Honors Pathway include early registration, priority consideration for campus housing, and social and career programs each semester.
SBS Honors Pathway Requirements
Academic requirements for Honors Scholars in the Sawyer Business School include:
- completing a minimum of 25% of coursework in honors sections (31 credits);
- completing SBS H101 Honors Business Foundations (for first-year students);
- taking a minimum of 3 credits of challenge courses*; and,
- maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 with no D, I, or F grades.
Honors Scholars must be in good standing at the university with no disciplinary actions against them. The failure of one course will result in program dismissal.
The above requirements must be met for learners to graduate with the Honors designation on their transcript. Students who do not maintain the minimum required GPA will be placed on program probation for a semester and be required to meet with their advisor and program director. The subsequent semesters' GPA of honors scholars on program probation must be 3.5 or greater to remain in the Honors Pathway while working to regain the overall program GPA. If this is not mathematically possible within two semesters, the learners will no longer be eligible to participate in the Honors Pathway.
* Note: a total of six credits of Challenge Courses may be used to fulfill a maximum of two free elective courses in the program of study.
Honors Courses
Honors Scholars along with any student who meets the GPA minimum for an honors course may sign up for that course through the normal registration system. Most honors courses have a minimum 3.3 GPA requirement.
Entry Requirements
Honors Scholars are automatically considered for the Honors Pathway when they submit their freshman or transfer application. Admission to the Sawyer Business School Honors Pathway is limited to a select number of high-achieving students. Students will be invited to join the Suffolk University Honors Program at the time of admission.
Rising Sophomores
Continuing students with a college GPA of 3.5 who have completed 30 credits of coursework at Suffolk University (but not more than 44 credits) will receive an invitation to participate in the SBS Honors Pathway.
Transfer Students
Transfer students with fewer than 45 transfer credits, who are invited to participate in the Honors Program, must satisfy the academic requirements as noted above.
- completing a minimum of four honors courses,
- taking a minimum of 3 credits of challenge courses*; and,
- maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, with no D, I, or F grades.
Transfer students with 45 or more transfer credits, who are invited to participate in the Honors Program would be required to complete 15 honors credits with 3 of those credits being challenge courses,* maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, with no D, I, or F grades.
*Note: a total of six credits of Challenge Courses may be used to fulfill a maximum of two free elective courses in the program of study.
Internship/Practicum Requirements
All Accounting, Corporate Accounting and Finance, Finance, and Financial Planning majors complete a required non-credit practicum. Business Economics, Business Analytics & Information Systems, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Business Management & Leadership, Marketing, Sports Management, Supply Chain Management and Global Business majors have no required internship, however, we encourage these learners to take advantage of the major elective option if they wish to receive academic credit for an internship experience. Refer to your specific major's web pages or catalog page for details. Learners who wish to receive credit for a subsequent internship should ask an advisor for details.