BS in Business Administration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

American University

Program Overview

The BS in Business Administration at American University's Kogod School of Business provides a broad business education covering accounting, finance, management, marketing, analytics, economics, and strategic thinking, making it suitable for students who want flexibility across industries or plan to develop their own business venture. Students build a common business foundation and then deepen their expertise through a specialization such as Accounting, Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems and Technology, International Business, Management, or Marketing.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin taking business courses from their first semester while also completing general education, writing, mathematics, and economics requirements. The sample four-year plan includes Business 1.0 (KSB-100), College Writing, Applied Calculus (MATH-211), Business Statistics (STAT-204), Microeconomics (ECON-200), Macroeconomics (ECON-100), and Global Corporate Citizenship (MGMT-201), giving students an early introduction to business thinking and quantitative analysis.

Second Year: Students develop their core business knowledge through subjects including Financial Accounting (ACCT-240), Managerial Accounting (ACCT-241), Business Finance (FIN-365), and The Edge of Information Technology (ITEC-200). Business Professionalism (KSB-211) also helps students develop the professional skills needed to connect classroom learning with future internships and careers.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into more advanced business functions through Fundamentals of International Business (IBUS-300), Principles of Marketing (MKTG-300), Principles of Organizational Behavior (MGMT-353), Production/Operations Management (ITEC-355), and Business Law. Students also begin their specialization coursework and are expected to declare their specialization by the second semester of the third year.

Fourth Year: In the final year, students complete additional specialization courses and may combine them with electives, an internship, and Business Policy & Strategy (MGMT-458). Depending on their chosen specialization, students can develop deeper expertise in areas such as business analytics and AI, finance, marketing, management, international business, accounting, entrepreneurship, or information systems and technology.

Focus Areas

Accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, analytics, information systems and technology, international business, management, marketing, economics, operations management, business strategy, business law, organizational behavior, business communication, professional development, and global business.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop functional business knowledge, strategic thinking and integration skills, analytical abilities, communication skills, technology awareness, and an understanding of how different business functions work together in organizations. The curriculum also develops students' ability to apply business knowledge through internships, global learning, projects, and other experiential opportunities.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Kogod School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). American University identifies Kogod as the oldest accredited business school in Washington, DC, and states that AACSB accreditation represents a recognized standard for business-school quality.

Reputation (Employability & Official Statistics)

Kogod reports that 94% of its business graduates were working, in graduate school, or both within six months of graduation, based on May 2018, 2017, and 2020 graduates whose status was confirmed at six months. The school also reports that 88% of business students participated in an internship and identifies employers of graduates including EY, PwC, Accenture, KPMG, Deloitte, Apple, Goldman Sachs, Wayfair, and UBS.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Kogod places learning by doing at the center of its undergraduate business education, allowing students to take classroom concepts into real business situations. BS in Business Administration students can gain experience through internships, in-class projects, site visits, pro bono projects for local organizations, global learning, student organizations, research-center opportunities, and business competitions, while Washington, DC provides access to government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, and companies.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Internships: Kogod reports that 88% of its business students participated in an internship, with organizations including the World Wildlife Fund, 1776, Allied Integrated Marketing, the American Enterprise Institute, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Washington Wizards listed among internship-for-credit organizations.
Co-op opportunities: Kogod offers longer, more intensive internship experiences through its co-op option, giving students additional workplace exposure and opportunities to build employer connections.
Real-world projects: Kogod's experiential-learning model includes projects in which students help local businesses solve actual problems and develop solutions with tangible results.
Pro bono projects: Undergraduate students can work on real solutions for local companies through Kogod's pro bono project opportunities.
Global learning: Students can participate in semester- and year-long study abroad programs, international summer internships, and short study tours such as those associated with the International Management Practices course.
Site visits: Kogod specifically includes site visits as part of its undergraduate hands-on learning opportunities, allowing students to connect business concepts with professional environments.
Business competitions: Kogod's experiential-learning approach includes venture and business competitions where students can develop and present ideas in practical settings.
Specialization-based practical skills: Students choosing the Business Analytics & AI specialization can work with courses such as Programming Tools for Analytics: R (ITEC-300), Advanced Business Analytics and AI (ITEC-321), and Database and AI (ITEC-470).
Management projects: Students specializing in Management can study Leading High Performance Teams (MGMT-409), Negotiation (MGMT-465), Consulting and Project Management (MGMT-484), and independent study projects.
Research opportunities: Kogod's undergraduate experience includes opportunities to work alongside professors in the school's research centers, connecting students with faculty-led business research.
Professional organizations: Students can participate in professionally focused clubs and student initiatives, providing additional opportunities for networking, leadership, and applied learning.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Business Administration provides a broad foundation that can lead into business consulting, management, marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, analytics, and other business functions. Kogod specifically highlights career possibilities such as business consultant, management analyst, and marketing manager, while its graduates have started careers with organizations including Deloitte, EY, Fannie Mae, Goldman Sachs, Apple, KPMG, and PwC.

Typical career paths include: Business Consultant, Management Analyst, Marketing Manager, Financial Analyst.

Students can build their transition from university to employment through:

Office of Career Engagement: BS in Business Administration students receive access to a dedicated career advisor who helps them develop an individual career vision and connect with organizations in Washington, DC and beyond.
Internship preparation and connections: Kogod's internship program helps students gain professional experience and build employer relationships; Kogod reports that internships have led to full-time employment at companies including Fannie Mae, UBS, Microsoft, and Protiviti.
Employment outcomes: Kogod reports that 94% of its business graduates were working, in graduate school, or both within six months of graduation based on the graduating cohorts specified by the school.
Internship participation: Kogod reports that 88% of its business students participated in an internship, providing a direct measure of students' engagement with workplace experience.
Employer connections: Employers identified by Kogod include EY, PwC, Accenture, KPMG, Deloitte, Apple, Goldman Sachs, Wayfair, and UBS, demonstrating the range of organizations in which its graduates have started careers.
Washington, DC professional environment: Kogod highlights access to approximately 400 international associations and 1,000 internationally owned companies in Washington, DC, giving students opportunities to connect classroom learning with the region's business environment.
Industry-focused internships: Kogod supports internships across several market-focused career paths and provides guidance for students exploring industries before committing to a career direction.
Accreditation: Kogod's AACSB accreditation provides an established external quality framework for its business education and is relevant to the long-term recognition of the business school.
Global opportunities: Study-abroad programs, international internships, and global business experiences allow students to build international exposure alongside their business degree.
Alumni network: Kogod reports a global community of 25,000 alumni, connecting students and graduates with a broader professional network across industries and locations.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Business Administration, students can pursue graduate study in areas aligned with their specialization. Kogod offers master's programs including MS in Business Analytics & AI, MS in Finance, MS in Marketing, MS in Accounting, MS in Sustainability Management, and MS in International Relations & Business, as well as an MBA. Kogod also offers combined bachelor's/master's pathways that can allow eligible students to begin graduate-level study while completing their undergraduate degree.