Mar 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2015-2016 
    
USC Catalogue 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Undergraduate Programs


Return to: USC Marshall School of Business  

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 Leventhal School of Accounting (part of the Marshall School).

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. The Marshall School and USC Viterbi School of Engineering offer a combined degree program leading to a BS in Business Administration/Computer Science; this degree is administered by the Viterbi School of Engineering. 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 also offers a variety of minors for non-business students.

Admission

Students may be admitted to the program 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; information and guidelines for USC undergraduates who wish to transfer to Marshall from another major at USC can be found on the Marshall Undergraduate Advising Website.

Degree Requirements

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.

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. 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. For more information about USC’s general education requirements, see the General Education Program  page for more information.

International Studies

The Marshall School offers students a variety of opportunities to cultivate a global mind. Classes like 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 the offices of Undergraduate Student Services or Undergraduate Advising 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 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, Dublin, Sydney, Hong Kong, Milan and Singapore during the summer session. The program provides students with theoretical and practical experiences working and navigating within the international global environment. The program consists of an eight-week internship abroad. In addition, unpaid social entrepreneurship internships are offered in Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Ghana. Funded internships in Bangkok and Jakarta are also offered.

Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

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, the department chair and the Office of Undergraduate Advising by the semester prior to enrollment. 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.

Marshall Honors

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), a GPA of 3.5 or higher in course work to be applied to the major, an application, and a successful interview with the director of the program. Achievement of Marshall Honors requires completion of BUAD 493  Marshall Honors Research Seminar (4 units) prior to the senior year, a thesis (research project and paper) conducted under the guidance of a Marshall faculty member 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 the Office of Undergraduate Advising, BRI 104, (213) 740-0690 or the program director.

Marshall Undergraduate Advising

Academic advisement is provided through the Office of Undergraduate Advising located in Bridge Hall 104, (213) 740-0690 or undergrad.advising@marshall.usc.edu. 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 USC students may schedule appointments throughout the year.

The Marshall Connections Program (MCP) helps first-year students develop strong connections to the university and the Marshall school. MCP promotes student engagement and success through its co-curricular events, advisement programs and faculty mentors. The Marshall Peer Tutoring program offers free tutoring in selected subjects, and a variety of academic support programs and workshops are also offered to all undergraduates.

Registration

Students may register for business courses directly 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 for a course. 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.

Marshall Undergraduate Student Services

The Marshall School recognizes the importance of integrating education with experience. The Undergraduate Student Services Office, in cooperation with the USC Career Center, assists business school undergraduates with securing externships, internships and full time positions. Moreover, this office provides students with career support and access to alumni. Students who actively participate in these programs maximize their opportunities for professional development and employment after graduation.

Students are also encouraged to participate in student organizations to build leadership, teamwork and networking skills. The Marshall School has more than 40 student organizations.

The Student Services Office also offers over 32 international exchange programs in Asia, Australia, South America and Europe. Through these programs, students spend a semester overseas and fulfill business elective requirements. The office also coordinates international summer internship programs and week-long international travel opportunities in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe.

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 the Office of Undergraduate Advising.

 

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. Courses that do not appear on the articulation agreement are not transferable. 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. Check with the Degree Progress Department (JHH 010) for information about transferable courses. Prospective freshman or transfer students should contact the USC Admissions Office. Continuing USC students should speak with an adviser in the Marshall Office of Undergraduate Advising.

Official transcripts of college work taken elsewhere must be submitted at the time of application to the USC Office of Admission. ECON 351 x  and ECON 352 gx  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 351 x  and ECON 352 gx  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.

Leventhal School of Accounting

The Leventhal School also offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. See the USC Leventhal School of Accounting  pages for a complete listing of information regarding courses, programs and requirements.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science/Business Administration

This combined program offers qualified students the opportunity to gain an educational foundation in both computer science and business administration. Students must meet the admission requirements for both programs. The degree is administered by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and student advising is provided by the Viterbi School of Engineering. See Computer Science  for complete degree requirements.

 

Minor in Advertising

The Marshall School and the School of Journalism jointly offer a 24-unit advertising minor for students interested in building a career in or developing a better understanding of the field of advertising. Through this program of study, students explore the key role played by advertising in today’s global economy. At no time has advertising been more successful or more controversial than it is today, and this program will explore both the positives and the negatives.

Emphasis is placed on both the practical skills required to meet the demands of the marketplace and the theoretical underpinnings of those practices. Program content includes: the history of advertising; creation of written and visual advertising elements; the measurement, selection and analysis of media; the concept of “branding”; the role of advertising in creating and maintaining successful brands; the analysis of advertising campaign case studies; and the creation of integrated marketing communication campaigns. See the Advertising Minor   in the School of Journalism for course requirements.

Minor in Biotechnology

The Marshall School and the departments of biological sciences and chemistry in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences jointly offer the minor in biotechnology. This minor brings essential knowledge in the basic sciences together with the corporate skills needed in a rapidly growing industry. The minor is especially well suited for the business, biology, chemistry or engineering student seeking a career in business and/or the biomedical/bio-technical sciences. Refer to Biological Sciences  for a list of required courses.

Minor in Innovation: The Digital Entrepreneur

The Minor in Innovation: The Digital Entrepreneur is jointly sponsored by the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the Marshall School of Business and the Information Technology Program of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. The minor is designed for students from a wide range of backgrounds who are interested in starting their own digital ventures, working for start-up companies or consulting firms that advise in the field, or pursuing traditional jobs with large corporations that may be launching new digital business units. Students will learn all major elements of launching a digital venture including ideation, feasibility analysis, high-tech product management, online customer acquisition, technology implementation, online business models and monetization. Students will work on launching a digital venture in a team-based environment in the capstone class. The minor is available to business majors. See Information Technology Program  for course requirements.

Minor in Managing Human Relations

This interdisciplinary minor is for students in all schools with an interest in human relations as a subject of study or professional goal. In addition to course work in organizational behavior, social psychology and management, this minor includes attention to questions of ethics and leadership. See Sociology  for course requirements.

 

Minor in Mathematical Finance

This interdisciplinary minor was created for students in business, economics and mathematics, whose majors already require some of the introductory course work. Students in other programs are welcome but should expect the minor to require more units than it does for students in those programs. See Mathematical Finance Minor  in Mathematics for course requirements.
 

Minor in Media Economics and Entrepreneurship

The interdisciplinary Minor in Media Economics and Entrepreneurship is available to students in all schools and departments. It introduces students to the trends of the contemporary media and information industries and gives them an understanding of the role that entrepreneurship plays in the new economy. Students with professional media industry aspirations will learn basic economic literacy and discover the key factors that shape competition in information markets. Further, the minor fosters an entrepreneurial mindset in students and helps them to develop the entrepreneurial skills required to build successful careers and ventures in the media and information sector. For more details see the School of Communication .