Bachelor of Science in Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Louisiana State University Baton Rouge

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Management at Louisiana State University is a 120-hour program designed for students who want to understand how organizations operate, make effective business decisions, and lead people and teams. The curriculum combines principles of management, organizational behavior, leadership, human resource management, and global management, with three concentration options—Human Resource Management, International Management, and Strategic Leadership—so students can tailor their studies to their career interests.

Curriculum Structure

First Year:
Students begin by developing a broad business and academic foundation while building the communication, quantitative, and analytical skills needed for management study. Early business coursework introduces subjects such as Principles of Management (MGT 3200) alongside foundational areas such as economics, accounting, communication, and business-related quantitative study.

Second Year:
The second stage builds a stronger understanding of how businesses function and how managers work with people and organizational resources. Students progress toward subjects such as Organizational Behavior (MGT 3620) and related business disciplines, preparing them to examine workplace behavior, decision-making, and organizational effectiveness.

Third Year:
Students move into more specialized management topics and begin developing expertise connected to their chosen concentration. Coursework can include Strategic Human Resource Management (MGT 3320) and Managing Across Cultures (MGT 4430), while students interested in international management can explore the cultural and global dimensions of business.

Fourth Year:
The final stage emphasizes advanced management, leadership, and strategic decision-making. Depending on the concentration, students can study subjects such as Strategic Leadership (MGT 4830), Management Mistakes and Failures (MGT 4820), Managing Change in Organizations (MGT 4840), Employee Selection & Placement (MGT 4322), Compensation Administration (MGT 4323), or Legal Issues in Human Resource Management (MGT 4523).

Focus Areas

Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Principles of Management, Strategic Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management, International Management, Strategic Leadership, Global Management, Employee Selection and Placement, Compensation Administration, HR Analytics, Decision-Making, Organizational Change.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to evaluate an organization's competitive environment, resources, and capabilities; identify managerial and implementation issues; analyze organizational behavior; make informed business decisions; communicate managerial issues and arguments effectively; and apply management knowledge to different organizational situations.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The BS Management is listed under LSU's E. J. Ourso College of Business programs accredited by AACSB. In addition, the Human Resource Management concentration is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Curriculum Guidelines, and eligible students may apply for the SHRM-CP examination.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The E. J. Ourso College of Business reports a 92% positive post-graduation outcome rate for AY 2024–25 graduates and an average starting salary of $77,266 across all graduates. The college also reports employers such as Deloitte, Ernst & Young, JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG, Wells Fargo, Chevron, BASF, and Grant Thornton among its top hiring employers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

LSU's management students have access to a business-focused learning environment where classroom knowledge can be reinforced through collaboration, research, professional development, internships, and international experiences. The 156,000-square-foot Business Education Complex (BEC) provides interactive classrooms, team rooms, a Behavioral Research Lab, and specialized business facilities, while the Rucks Department of Management also provides study-abroad funding and opportunities for undergraduate research.

Students can build practical experience through opportunities such as:

Business Education Complex Team Rooms: The BEC has 12 dedicated team rooms that support group projects, collaboration, brainstorming, and study sessions.
Behavioral Research Lab: Located within the BEC, this facility provides a dedicated environment for conducting business and behavioral research, relevant to understanding organizational and consumer behavior.
Undergraduate Research: Management students can work with faculty mentors on real research projects from their first year and present their work at LSU Discover Day.
Internship Preparation and Support: The Office of Business Student Success provides internship-search support, career exploration, résumé and cover-letter reviews, interview preparation, networking guidance, and job-search support.
International Study Opportunities: Management majors can apply for the Rucks International Scholar Award, which supports both longer exchanges and shorter study-abroad programs. The International Management concentration also encourages students to participate in an international study trip.
Business Residential College: Students can participate in a business-focused residential environment that includes academic programming and corporate-sponsored events that introduce students to internship opportunities.
Professional Business Environment: The BEC includes modern classrooms equipped with audiovisual technology, collaborative spaces, and the Office of Business Student Success, giving students direct access to academic and professional support within the business complex.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS Management prepares graduates for roles involving people, projects, organizational development, human resources, business development, and strategic decision-making. LSU identifies career options including human resource manager, business developer, compensation and benefits manager, labor relations director, development trainer, project manager, entrepreneur, and business analyst, with graduates working across energy, government, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and nonprofit organizations.

Typical career roles include: Human Resource Manager, Business Developer, Compensation and Benefits Manager, Project Manager

Career and professional services: The Office of Business Student Success provides career exploration, résumé and cover-letter reviews, interview practice, elevator-pitch preparation, internship-search support, networking guidance, and graduate-school application assistance.
Employment outcomes: For AY 2024–25, 92% of Ourso College graduates reported positive post-graduate outcomes, while the college reported an average starting salary of $77,266 for all graduates.
Salary and employment data: LSU's management page reports a $140,030 median salary for HR managers and 5% projected employment growth for HR managers for 2024–34, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Employer connections: LSU business students are recruited by organizations including Aflac, Amazon, BlackRock, Capital One, Deloitte, EY, ExxonMobil, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, IBM, KPMG, Nike, Shell, Walt Disney Company, and Wells Fargo.
Internship opportunities: LSU's business career team specifically supports students with internship searches and preparation, while the college reports that its Business Residential College hosts corporate-sponsored events introducing students to internships.
Long-term professional value: The BS Management is part of LSU's AACSB-accredited E. J. Ourso College of Business, while the HRM concentration has SHRM academic alignment and eligibility for students to apply for the SHRM-CP examination.
Alumni network: The E. J. Ourso College reports a network of 51,000+ living alumni, providing a broad professional community for business graduates.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS Management, students can continue into graduate-level business education at LSU. The E. J. Ourso College offers graduate options including the Master of Business Administration, Master of Analytics, Master of Finance, Master of Financial Economics, Master of Public Administration, and the PhD in Business Administration with a Management concentration.