Small Business Administration (APB)
This degree prepares students for the real-world challenges of starting and managing a business. With a focus on entrepreneurship, the three-year program in Small Business Administration targets students (including non-traditional students) who are goal-oriented and highly motivated to pursue ownership or a career in a small business.
The PSU School of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a global standard of excellence; and the 96-credit three-year option will meet the same exacting standards as our four-year 120-credit bachelor’s and MBA programs. Our business school debuts a $38 million total modernization in 2025. featuring an innovation hub, state-of-the-art finance lab, and sales institute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 1100 | Introduction to Marketing and Sales | 4 |
| BUS 1200 | Business Law and Ethics (DICO) | 4 |
| BUS 1300 | Digital Information Technologies (TECO) | 4 |
| BUS 1400 | Principles of Economics (GACO) | 4 |
| BUS 2000 | Financial & Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| BUS 2200 | Management and Decision Making | 4 |
| BUS 2300 | Business Writing and Presenting (WRCO) | 4 |
| BUS 2400 | Financial Management | 4 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| ENT 3060 | BUSINESS STARTUP PLANNING | 4 |
| ENT 3380 | Business Innovation | 4 |
| Tier 1 (choose two courses): | 8 | |
ACC 3XXXX ACCOUNTING WITH QUICKBOOKS | ||
| Fundamentals of Business Operations | ||
| Digital Marketing | ||
| Tier 2 (choose two courses): | 8 | |
| Cost Accounting | ||
| Business Internship | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship | ||
| Executing for Growth and Sustainability | ||
| Workplace Law | ||
FIN 3@,4@ elective | ||
| Managing Human Resources | ||
| Professional Selling Skills I | ||
| Hotel Operations Management | ||
| Mathematics Foundations | ||
| MA 2210 | Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO) | 4 |
| General Education | ||
| EN 1400 | Composition | 4 |
| IS 1115 | Tackling a Wicked Problem | 4 |
| CTDI | Creative Thought Direction | 3-4 |
| PPDI | Past and Present Direction | 3-4 |
| SIDI | Scientific Inquiry Direction | 3-4 |
| SSDI | Self and Society Direction | 3-4 |
| Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 1 | 4-8 | |
| WECO | Wellness Connection | 3-4 |
| INCP | Integrated Capstone | 3-4 |
| Electives | 8-10 | |
| Total Credits | 98-110 | |
- 1
Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction).
Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning course schedule. Course sequence is suggested but not required.
| Year One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1400 | Composition | 4 |
| IS 1115 | Tackling a Wicked Problem | 4 |
| MA 2210 | Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO) | 4 |
| BUS 1100 | Introduction to Marketing and Sales | 4 |
| BUS 1200 | Business Law and Ethics (DICO) | 4 |
| BUS 1300 | Digital Information Technologies (TECO) | 4 |
| BUS 1400 | Principles of Economics (GACO) | 4 |
| CTDI | Creative Thought Direction | 3-4 |
| Credits | 31-32 | |
| Year Two | ||
| BUS 2000 | Financial & Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| BUS 2400 | Financial Management | 4 |
| BUS 2200 | Management and Decision Making | 4 |
| BUS 2300 | Business Writing and Presenting (WRCO) | 4 |
| MGM 3150 | Fundamentals of Business Operations | 2 |
| INCP | Integrated Capstone | 4 |
| SSDI | Self and Society Direction | 3-4 |
| SIDI | Scientific Inquiry Direction | 3-4 |
| PPDI | Past and Present Direction | 3-4 |
| Credits | 31-34 | |
| Year Three | ||
| ENT 3060 | BUSINESS STARTUP PLANNING | 4 |
| ENT 3380 | Business Innovation | 4 |
| TIER 1 | 8 | |
| TIER 2 | 8 | |
| Electives | 8-10 | |
| Credits | 32-34 | |
| Total Credits | 94-100 | |
- Demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and concepts.
- Understand the process of small business start-up and the role of innovation.
- Build and manage a business using “lean start-up” techniques.
- Apply fundamentals of business operations, small business accounting, or digital marketing to improve entrepreneurial outcomes.
- Gain specialized knowledge for entrepreneurial growth in areas such as finance, human resources, legal activities, sales, or advanced entrepreneurship concepts.