Business Management, B.B.A.
Program Description
The major in business management offers three concentrations that prepare students for careers in a wide range of industries, including government organizations, manufacturing, consulting, retail, banking, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, insurance and more.
Students will develop skills in leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and analytical decision making as they apply key managerial concepts and theories learned in the classroom to practical experiences.
Major coursework topics include organizational leadership, evidence-based decision making, innovation and technology management, project management, human resource management, entrepreneurship and consulting.
Admission and Retention Requirements
College of Business Progression Standards
Any student admitted to JMU can declare any major offered by the College of Business. However, students must make satisfactory progress in order to be formally admitted into the College of Business. Requirements to continue pursuing a B.B.A. degree, often referred to as progression standards or formal admission, can be found on the College of Business catalog page.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education requirements1 | 41 |
| B.B.A. lower-level core courses | 27 |
| B.B.A. upper-level core courses | 18 |
| Management major requirements | 24 |
| Electives | 8-11 |
| Total | 120 |
- 1
The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
B.B.A. Core Component
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| B.B.A. Lower-Level Core Component | ||
| B.B.A. majors must complete all of the B.B.A. core components as part of their degree program. The following courses comprise the B.B.A. Lower-Level Core Component: | ||
| COB 191 | Business Analytics I 1 | 3 |
| COB 202 | Interpersonal Skills | 3 |
| COB 204 | Computer Information Systems | 3 |
| COB 241 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| COB 242 | Managerial Accounting 2,3 | 3 |
| COB 291 | Business Analytics II 4 | 3 |
| ECON 200 | Introduction to Macroeconomics [C4GE] | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Applied Calculus [C3QR] 5 | ||
| Calculus I [C3QR] 5 | ||
| Subtotal | 27-28 | |
| B.B.A. Upper-Level Core Component | ||
| The following courses comprise the B.B.A. Upper-Level Core Component: | ||
| COB 300A | Integrative Business: Management 3,6 | 3 |
| COB 300B | Integrative Business: Finance 3,6 | 3 |
| COB 300C | Integrative Business: Operations 3,6 | 3 |
| COB 300D | Integrative Business: Marketing 3,6 | 3 |
| COB 318 | Legal and Ethical Environment of Business 7 | 3 |
| COB 487 | Strategic Management 8 | 3 |
| Subtotal | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 45-46 | |
- 1
- 2
- 3
COB 242 is a prerequisite for COB 300 but is not used in calculating the B.B.A. core GPA.
- 4
COB 191 or equivalent and MATH 205 or equivalent are prerequisites for COB 291.
- 5
Calculus is required but not used in calculating the B.B.A. core GPA. Students may substitute MATH 231, MATH 233 or ISAT 151 to fulfill the calculus requirement. MATH 235 is preferred for Economics and Finance majors.
- 6
All four COB 300 courses must be taken during the same semester.
- 7
COB 300 is a prerequisite or corequisite for COB 318. COB 318 is a prerequisite for COB 487 and BLAW 497.
- 8
COB 487 must be taken during the senior year.
Major Requirements
Students planning to major in business management must complete the 27-28 hours of lower-division B.B.A. core curriculum prior to enrolling in upper-division core courses normally taken in the first semester of their junior year. It is expected that the lower-division core curriculum will be completed during the first two years of study along with most of the university general education curriculum. Failing to complete all the lower-division core requirements on time will delay enrollment in upper-division core and major courses. Because of the demands of group, team and outside of classroom applied assignments, students will not be allowed to enroll in more than four courses with a MGT prefix in any given semester.
Business management majors must choose one of the following options to complete the required eight courses in the MGT major:
- Option 1: Five MGT core courses, one concentration and one elective
- Option 2: Five MGT core courses and three MGT electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MGT 320 | Management of Innovation and Technology | 3 |
| MGT 325 | Project Management | 3 |
| MGT 357 | Evidence-Based Decision Making | 3 |
| MGT 365 | Fundamentals of Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGT 390 | Organizational Leadership | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Concentration and Electives | ||
| Students choose one concentration from the following options and one additional major elective; or three additional MGT electives. | 9 | |
| Concentration options (see below for details): | ||
Human Resource Management | ||
Innovation and Entrepreneurship | ||
Management Consulting | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Concentrations
Human Resource Management Concentration
The human resource management (HRM) concentration is designed to help students broaden and deepen their understanding of the acquisition, development, management and retention of human capital in organizations. This focus area is suggested for students who intend to work in human resource (HR) generalist or specialist positions, students planning on a career in labor relations or employment law, students who plan to start or manage a business, and students who want to attend graduate school in an HR-related field. MGT 365 is considered the first course in this concentration.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MGT 470 | Acquiring and Developing Human Capital | 3 |
| MGT 475 | Managing and Retaining Human Capital | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Concentration
The innovation and entrepreneurship (ENT1) concentration is designed to provide students with an introduction to the role of innovation in business development, a solid foundation in the principle elements of entrepreneurship and small business management, and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with a team to create a new business venture. This focus area is suggested for students interested in creating and managing a new business venture, students intending to work for larger firms that encourage innovation and intrapreneurship, and students planning to work in small or family run businesses. MGT 320 is considered the first course in this concentration.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MGT 471 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MGT 472 | New Venture Creation | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Management Consulting Concentration
The management consulting concentration is designed to develop and enhance students' critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills. In this concentration students engage in research and analysis to build a strong foundation for learning and implementing the business analysis and consulting process. This focus area is suggested for students interested in working as a business analyst, consultant or solutions manager, or in any position that requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills. MGT 357 is considered the first course in this concentration.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MGT 457 | Management Consulting Fundamentals | 3 |
| MGT 467 | Advanced Management Consulting | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| Third Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| For all Business Management, B.B.A students. | ||
| COB 300A | Integrative Business: Management | 3 |
| COB 300B | Integrative Business: Finance | 3 |
| COB 300C | Integrative Business: Operations | 3 |
| COB 300D | Integrative Business: Marketing | 3 |
| General Education or elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Recommended Schedule for Business Management Majors
| Third Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Second Semester | ||
| COB 318 | Legal and Ethical Environment of Business | 3 |
| General Education or electives | 6 | |
| Choose three of the following MGT core requirements: | 9 | |
| Management of Innovation and Technology | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Evidence-Based Decision Making | ||
| Fundamentals of Human Resource Management | ||
| Organizational Leadership | ||
| Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| COB 487 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| Remaining two of five MGT core course requirements | 6 | |
| General Education or electives as needed. | 12 | |
| Choose one of the following options: | 9 | |
Option 1: One concentration (two courses) plus one MGT elective |
||
Option 2: Three MGT electives. |
||
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Recommended Schedule for Human Resource Management Concentration
| Third Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Second Semester | ||
| COB 318 | Legal and Ethical Environment of Business | 3 |
| MGT 365 | Fundamentals of Human Resource Management | 3 |
| General Education or electives | 6 | |
| Choose two of the following core requirements: | 6 | |
| Management of Innovation and Technology | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Evidence-Based Decision Making | ||
| Organizational Leadership | ||
| Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| COB 487 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| MGT 470 | Acquiring and Developing Human Capital | 3 |
| MGT 475 | Managing and Retaining Human Capital | 3 |
| Remaining two of five MGT core course requirements | 6 | |
| One MGT elective course | 3 | |
| General Education or electives as needed. | 12 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Recommended Schedule for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Concentration
| Third Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Second Semester | ||
| MGT 320 | Management of Innovation and Technology | 3 |
| General Education or electives | 6 | |
| Choose two of the following MGT core requirements: | 6 | |
| Project Management | ||
| Evidence-Based Decision Making | ||
| Fundamentals of Human Resource Management | ||
| Organizational Leadership | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| COB 487 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| MGT 471 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MGT 472 | New Venture Creation | 3 |
| Remaining two of five MGT core course requirements | 6 | |
| One MGT elective | 3 | |
| General Education or electives as needed | 12 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Recommended Schedule for Management Consulting Concentration
| Third Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Second Semester | ||
| COB 318 | Legal and Ethical Environment of Business | 3 |
| MGT 357 | Evidence-Based Decision Making | 3 |
| General Education or electives | 6 | |
| Choose two of the following MGT core requirements: | 6 | |
| Management of Innovation and Technology | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Fundamentals of Human Resource Management | ||
| Organizational Leadership | ||
| Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| COB 487 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| MGT 457 | Management Consulting Fundamentals | 3 |
| MGT 467 | Advanced Management Consulting | 3 |
| Remaining two of five MGT core course requirements | 6 | |
| One MGT elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |