Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Major in Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Oklahoma State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Management at Oklahoma State University prepares students to lead people, solve organizational problems and make effective business decisions across a wide range of industries. The program combines management theory with practical business knowledge in areas such as organizational behavior, human resources, leadership, data analytics and strategic management, with options to focus on Business Sustainability & Nonprofit Management, Human Resource Management, Management Consulting or Sports Management.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Business and Analytical Foundation: Students begin developing their business foundation through courses such as MSIS 2103 Business Data Science Technologies, EEE 2023 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and MSIS 2233 Business Analytics Fundamentals. These subjects introduce students to technology, entrepreneurship and data-driven thinking while they complete their general education requirements.

Year 2 – Core Management Knowledge: Students move into the core business curriculum with ACCT 2003 Survey of Accounting, ECON 2003 Microeconomic Principles for Business and MGMT 3013 Fundamentals of Management. They then develop a deeper understanding of people and organizations through MGMT 3123 Managing Behavior and Organizations, alongside FIN 3113 Principles of Finance, MKTG 3213 Marketing and upper-division management coursework.

Year 3 – People, Communication and Leadership: The third year focuses on applying management knowledge to professional situations through MGMT 3313 Human Resource Management, BADM 3113 Practical Business and Interpersonal Skills and LSB 3213 Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business. Students also develop written and oral communication skills and study MSIS 3223 Principles of Data Analytics together with MGMT 4073 Management and Ethical Leadership or MGMT 4083 Corporate and Social Responsibility.

Year 4 – Advanced Management and Strategy: In the final year, students complete advanced management and business electives that allow them to tailor their studies toward their professional interests. The curriculum culminates with MGMT 4513 Strategic Management, where students bring together knowledge of leadership, business functions, organizational decision-making and strategy.

Focus Areas

Management, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Ethical Leadership, Corporate and Social Responsibility, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Finance, Business Communication, Management Consulting, Business Sustainability, Nonprofit Management, Sports Management

Learning Outcomes

Students develop skills in leadership, organizational behavior, human resource management, strategic decision-making, problem solving, critical thinking, business analytics, professional communication, ethical reasoning, teamwork and the application of management concepts to real-world organizational challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The BSBA Management program is part of the Spears School of Business, where all academic programs have been accredited by AACSB International since 1958. AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for business education and reflects external standards for academic quality and continuous improvement.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Spears School of Business undergraduate programs ranked No. 77 out of more than 530 programs in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Spears Business also reports that it is among the top 6% of the world's schools offering business degrees, based on AACSB's global business-school data.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Oklahoma State's Management major connects classroom learning with professional experiences through internships, student organizations, competitions, industry interaction, study abroad and research opportunities. Students can work with industry professionals through organizations such as the Human Resource Management Association and Sports Management Club, while the Department of Management also provides access to the Behavioral Research Lab and Management Canvas community.

The Eastin Center for Career Readiness provides additional opportunities to develop professional skills through career coaching, résumé reviews, mock interviews, career fairs, internships and mentoring. Students can also use the Spears Network to connect one-on-one with experienced business professionals for industry insight and career guidance.

Key program-specific practical experiences include:

Behavioral Research Lab: Management students have research opportunities through the Behavioral Research Lab, providing exposure to research related to management and organizational behavior.
Internships: OSU provides academic credit opportunities for internships, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings.
Human Resource Management Association: Students can meet industry professionals, participate in competitions and connect with faculty through this management-focused organization.
Sports Management Club: Students interested in sports management can interact with professionals and participate in activities connected to the sports business field.
Management Consulting: The Management Consulting option is designed to strengthen project management, technical and communication skills while providing opportunities for real-world consulting experience and professional connections.
Study abroad: Management students can use OSU's study-abroad opportunities to gain international business exposure and enhance their professional development.
Industry engagement: Spears Business employers engage with students through career fairs, on-campus interviews, résumé days, mentoring and career-readiness events.
Spears Network mentoring: Students can connect individually with experienced business mentors who provide career guidance and industry insight.
Career technology: Students use HireOSUgrads, LinkedIn and the Eastin Center's Canvas Community as part of their career preparation and professional development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BSBA in Management prepares graduates for management and specialist roles across areas such as human resources, operations, recruiting, retail, nonprofit organizations, sports administration, government affairs and community outreach. The program's flexible management curriculum also allows students to develop specialized interests through options such as Human Resource Management, Management Consulting, Business Sustainability & Nonprofit Management and Sports Management.

Typical Job Roles: Management Trainee, Human Resources Generalist, Recruiter, Management Consultant

Career services: The Eastin Center for Career Readiness provides résumé reviews, mock interviews, career coaching, job and internship searches, career fairs, interview preparation, professional mentoring and career-readiness support.
Employment outcomes: Spears Business reports that 91% of students for whom post-graduation information was available had employment, job offers or other plans within six months of graduation among its 2023 BSBA graduates. The same official report states that 11% of all students reporting information were continuing their education for an advanced degree.
Salary information: OSU's official Management career map provides historical salary examples for management-related roles, including $53,633 for Human Resource Representative I and $73,590 for Business Sustainability in Oklahoma City averages from January 2020. These figures are historical and should not be treated as current graduate salary outcomes.
University–industry connections: Spears Business employers can engage students through career fairs, on-campus interviews, résumé days, mentoring, job-shadow opportunities and other career-readiness events. The university describes these relationships as opportunities for employers to build talent pipelines and connect with potential interns and future hires.
Management career preparation: The official Management career map identifies industries including energy, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, retail, transportation, technology, nonprofit organizations and sports and athletics.
Professional mentoring: The Spears Network connects students with experienced business mentors who provide industry insight and career guidance through one-on-one relationships.
Long-term accreditation value: Spears School of Business has maintained AACSB accreditation since 1958, providing an internationally recognized quality framework for its business programs.
Graduation outcomes: Among the 2023 BSBA graduates for whom outcome information was available, 91% had employment, job offers or other plans within six months, while 11% of all students reporting information continued toward an advanced degree.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue their education through OSU's graduate business offerings, including the MBA or doctoral study such as the PhD in Business Administration/Management, depending on their academic and professional goals. The Department of Management specifically identifies graduate study leading to an MBA or PhD as part of its academic offerings.