Mar 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2019-2020 
    
USC Catalogue 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Marshall Undergraduate Programs


Return to: USC Marshall School of Business  

Marshall Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science

The business administration major combines a strong grounding in business fundamentals and expertise in select functional areas with extensive exposure to the liberal arts. The curriculum is designed with significant flexibility so that students can complement their studies in business with a minor in a field outside business.

Marshall School programs lead to a Bachelor of Science degree. The most common major is Business Administration. Marshall students may major in Accounting through the USC Leventhal School of Accounting  (part of the Marshall School). [See the USC Leventhal School of Accounting  pages for a complete listing of information regarding courses, programs and requirements. See Accounting (BS)  for specific degree requirements.]

The Marshall School offers three emphasis programs: the program with the School of Cinematic Arts leads to a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Cinematic Arts; the program with the School of International Relations leads to a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Relations; and the program in the Finance and Business Economics department leads to a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Real Estate Finance. Students in the BS in Business Administration (World) program earn bachelor’s degrees from USC, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Bocconi University (Milan, Italy). The Marshall School and USC Viterbi School of Engineering offer a combined degree program leading to a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Business Administration (BS)  administered by the Viterbi School of Engineering. The Marshall School also offers a variety of minors for non-business majors.

Educational Objectives

The undergraduate programs in business administration have three main goals: (1) graduates will have a grounding in skills and concepts that are fundamental to business; (2) graduates will have deep expertise in one or more specific areas of business, selected according to the student’s personal and professional goals and objectives; and (3) graduates will have extensive exposure to the liberal arts, usually with a formal minor in a field outside business.

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge students will need to consider themselves (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. It requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. The current GE program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later and for transfer students who began college elsewhere in fall 2015 or later and subsequently transferred to USC. For more information about USC’s general education requirements, see the General Education  page for more information.

Marshall Majors

The major requirements for each degree are found on the catalogue page for each major:

Certificate Program

Marshall offers an undergraduate certificate in Food Industry Management for individuals currently employed in the food industry. For more information see the Food Industry Management Program  page.

Marshall Minors

Marshall offers minors in a range of business disciplines. Please see the catalogue page for each minor for a complete description and degree requirements.

The Leventhal School of Accounting offers the Accounting Minor  to students in all schools and departments except the Marshall School of Business. Leventhal also oversees the Risk Management Minor , which is open to students in all schools and departments except Accounting.

Marshall participates with other USC academic units that administer a number of interdisciplinary minors:

 


Admission

Students may be admitted as incoming freshmen, as students transferring from another college or university, or as USC undergraduates transferring from another major. Admission to the Marshall School requires admission to the university and depends on academic performance, particularly in quantitative areas. USC students who have not been admitted to the major or a minor in the Marshall School may complete a maximum of 12 units from the Marshall School and/or the Leventhal School. Information and guidelines for students applying to USC Marshall as freshmen and those transferring to USC from another university are available at the USC Undergraduate Admission and USC Marshall Undergraduate Admissions websites. Admission to the Computer Science/Business Administration program requires admission to USC and the Viterbi School of Engineering. Information and guidelines for USC undergraduates who wish to transfer to Marshall from another major at USC can be found on the Marshall Undergraduate Programs website for current students or contact Marshall Undergraduate Advising and Student Affairs.

Transferring College Credit

Community College Courses

USC has established articulation agreements with most community colleges in California. Most academic courses are acceptable for transfer credit from a two-year school, but students will not receive credit for remedial course work.  A maximum of 64 semester units may be transferred. There are university restrictions that apply to transferring course work from other institutions that may affect the above rule.

Official transcripts of college work taken elsewhere must be submitted at the time of application to the USC Office of Admission. ECON 351x  and ECON 352x  must be taken in residence at USC, and all business courses completed at a two year college, if transferable, will be considered elective credit. There is one exception to this policy: Students may transfer two semesters of introductory accounting and receive credit equivalent to one semester of introductory accounting at USC. Then students can register for BUAD 305 Abridged Core Concepts of Accounting Information .

Four-Year Colleges

Most courses of an academic nature are acceptable for unit credit from all fully accredited four year institutions. If they do not satisfy specific subject requirements at USC, they will usually be accepted for elective course credit.

Students are urged to complete all their required business courses at USC. ECON 351x  and ECON 352x  must be completed at USC. All business courses from four year institutions, if transferable, will be considered elective credit unless a challenge examination is passed. All upper division core classes, with the exception of BUAD 497 Strategic Management  and BUAD 425 Data Analysis for Decision Making , may be challenged. Students should consult with an academic adviser to initiate the challenge examination process.

Registration

Students register for Marshall courses using the Web Registration system, according to their scheduled appointment times. Appointment times are based on number of units completed. For example, seniors have the first opportunity to register. It is important to register as soon as one’s appointment allows or priority standing will be lost. There are no waiting lists for Marshall undergraduate courses. USC students who have not been admitted to the Marshall School may register for a maximum of 12 units in the Marshall School and/or the Leventhal School.


Global Opportunities

The Marshall School offers students a variety of opportunities to cultivate a global perspective. Classes such as international trade and commercial policy, financial management of multinational corporations, international finance, multinational marketing, and international management practices and negotiation broaden students’ understanding of managing a global business. Opportunities to travel and study outside the United States allow students to develop skills for functioning in different cultures, societies and economic environments, and to understand a wide variety of international business practices. Contact Marshall Undergraduate International Programs or Undergraduate Advising and Student Affairs for information about international study opportunities at Marshall, including:

GLP/LINC/TIE

Students are encouraged to take advantage of one of Marshall’s international experiential learning programs. Each includes a nine-day faculty-led trip to a city outside the United States, where students meet with business, political and civic leaders. The Learning about International Commerce (LINC) Program is a 2-unit class open to freshman students who apply. The Global Leadership Program (GLP) is a two-course sequence open by invitation to select first-year students in the incoming freshman class. GLP invitations are extended by the USC Marshall Undergraduate Admissions Office. The Transfer International Experience (TIE) Program consists of two 1-unit classes or one 2-unit class, open to transfer students who apply.

International Exchange Program

The International Exchange Program is a one-semester exchange program with a host institution in Asia, Australia, South America or Europe during either the fall or spring semester. Exposure to international cultures and practices in business and non-business settings provides another level of understanding of international business. Students complete between four to eight courses at the host institution (15-18 USC units). All instruction is in English, so foreign language proficiency is not required. Courses completed at the host school are graded credit/no credit on the student’s USC transcript. The courses are selected from a list approved by the Marshall School of Business and satisfy the business elective requirement.

International Summer Program

The Marshall School offers unpaid international internship programs in London, Madrid, Berlin, Dublin, Prague, Hong Kong, Milan and Singapore during the summer session. The program provides students with theoretical and practical experiences working and navigating within the international business environment. The program consists of an eight- to ten-week internship abroad. Funded internships in Bangkok and Jakarta are also offered.


Research Opportunities

BUAD 490 Directed Research  provides an opportunity to pursue research above and beyond the normal course offerings. This course is open to juniors and seniors with a 3.0 or better grade point average who have obtained approval from a faculty sponsor and associated department chair prior to registration. Units are assigned on a variable basis with a maximum of 12 units toward an undergraduate degree, 4 units per semester. Students may also work with faculty as research assistants. For additional information, contact Marshall Undergraduate Advising and Student Affairs.

Marshall Honors Program

Marshall Honors, available upon graduation to majors in business administration or accounting, provides a special designation of departmental honors on a student’s transcript. Acceptance to the program requires completion of at least 64 units of course work (including transfer units), an overall GPA of at least 3.3, a GPA of 3.5 or higher in course work to be applied to the major, and a successful application. Achievement of Marshall Honors requires completion of BUAD 493 Marshall Honors Research Seminar  prior to the senior year, completion of BUAD 494 Marshall Honors Research and Thesis  during the senior year, and a minimum GPA of at least 3.5 in upper-division Marshall School and Leventhal School courses applied to the major. For additional information, contact Marshall Undergraduate Advising and Student Affairs.

Honor Societies

Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society for business students. The Marshall School of Business chapter has been active since 1923. Juniors in the top 10 percent of the class and seniors in the top 10 percent of the class are invited to join. For further information, contact Marshall Undergraduate Advising and Student Affairs.


Marshall Undergraduate Advising and Student Affairs

Academic advisement is provided through the Marshall Office of Undergraduate Advising and Student Affairs, which supports the education and development of undergraduate students by providing a broad array of co-curricular and academic support programs and services.  Incoming freshman and new transfer students are required to meet with an academic adviser before registering, and this requirement is in effect until 24 USC units are completed. All students are encouraged to see an academic adviser on a regular basis, and continuing students may schedule appointments throughout the year.

The Marshall First-Year Experience (Marshall FYE) includes a wide variety of programs to support and engage new freshman and transfer students throughout their first year at USC. Marshall FYE is designed to help students navigate academic and career resources, become involved in student life, and foster a sense of belonging within the Marshall community.

The Marshall Academic Resources (MARs) Program provides free group tutoring through its Core Review Sessions for select Marshall core courses. Core Review Sessions, led by Peer Academic Leaders, are a supplement to classroom instruction and designed to assist students at all academic levels. Participating in Core Review Sessions early and regularly supports student success and learning.

Marshall Recognized Student Organizations serve as a vehicle for Marshall students to develop and practice their leadership and networking skills through participation in various professional, academic, and social organizations.   The Marshall School has more than 40 student organizations including Marshall Business Student Government.

The Marshall School offers a number of scholarships available to continuing students.  Awards recognize academic excellence and/or outstanding service at Marshall, and provide funding applied toward tuition for one academic year.

Marshall Undergraduate Career Services

The Marshall School recognizes the importance of integrating education with experience. Marshall Undergraduate Career Services seeks to enhance the Marshall undergraduate student experience by engaging students in services designed to help them cultivate, refine, and plan for their professional development.

In cooperation with the USC Career Center, we provide a variety of workshops, recruiting events, networking opportunities, and individual advising appointments to educate and empower students in their pursuit of internship and full-time opportunities. Students also have access to weekly newsletters, industry specific opt-in email announcements, and alumni mentorship programs.

Those who actively participate in these events while establishing and achieving meaningful career goals, will maximize their opportunities for employment after graduation.

 

 

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