Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

San Diego State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management at San Diego State University prepares students to become confident business professionals by developing their leadership, decision-making, communication, and organizational management skills. Through a combination of business fundamentals, human resource management, entrepreneurship, international business, and practical internship experience, students gain the knowledge needed to manage people, coordinate business operations, and contribute to organizational success across different industries.

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum combines foundational business knowledge with specialized management courses, allowing students to develop a strong understanding of how organizations operate and how effective leaders make decisions.

Year 1 – Business Foundations

Students begin by developing essential knowledge in accounting, economics, mathematics, and business communication. Courses such as Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Principles of Economics, and Business Communications help students understand financial activities, economic environments, and professional communication.

Year 2 – Business Core and Analytical Skills

Students expand their understanding of business operations through courses such as Foundations of Business in a Global Environment, Fundamentals of Finance, Management & Organizational Behavior, and Introduction to Operations & Supply Chain. These subjects introduce students to organizational structures, financial decision-making, operational efficiency, and the relationship between different business functions.

Year 3 – Management Specialisation

Students develop specialized management expertise through Human Resource Management, Multinational Business & Comparative Management, Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship, and Statistical Analysis for Business. They also explore business ethics, corporate governance, leadership, and international management, building the ability to address organizational challenges and support strategic decisions.

Year 4 – Professional Application and Advanced Management

In the final stage, students strengthen their professional capabilities through Business Internship, Leadership in Organizations, and advanced management electives. Depending on their chosen track, they can explore areas such as Human Resource Selection, Compensation, Performance Management, Business Model Design and Development, or Venture Launch, preparing to apply their knowledge in professional settings.

Note: The year-wise structure above is a descriptive grouping of the official curriculum, not a university-published semester-by-semester course sequence.

Focus Areas

Organizational Management, Leadership Development, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship, International Business, Business Strategy, Corporate Governance, Organizational Behaviour, Business Operations, Innovation and Creativity, Strategic Decision-Making

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply strategic management concepts, evaluate organizational challenges, demonstrate effective leadership, understand international business practices, identify entrepreneurial opportunities, assess human resource requirements, apply ethical decision-making principles, and develop solutions to business problems across functional areas.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Fowler College of Business at SDSU holds accreditation from the AACSB International. This accreditation provides external recognition of the college's business education standards and academic quality.

Reputation (Employability and Recognition)

SDSU's Management Department emphasizes career readiness through a curriculum that includes a required business internship. Its 2025–2026 departmental report recorded 559 internships, including 249 paid placements, with several students converting internship experiences into employment opportunities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At San Diego State University, students gain practical management experience through a curriculum that connects classroom learning with real business environments. A distinctive feature of the Management major is its Business Internship course, which allows students to apply leadership, organizational, and decision-making skills within corporate, nonprofit, government, or entrepreneurial settings. Students can also participate in workshops, business panel discussions, and professional development activities that strengthen their workplace readiness.

Students can develop practical experience through the following opportunities:

Business Internship (MGT 401): Students complete a supervised internship involving at least 120 hours of professional experience, applying management concepts to real organizational challenges.
Business Projects: Internship assignments may involve business development, market research, lead generation, website development, social media programs, human resource documentation, employee wellness initiatives, operations planning, and entrepreneurial strategy.
Industry Workshops and Business Panels: Students participate in workshops and professional discussions that support leadership development, communication, and career preparation.
Entrepreneurship: Courses such as Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition and Evaluation, and Venture Launch allow students to explore business opportunities and entrepreneurial development.
Career Development Support: The Partrick-Clayes Center for Career Development provides internship guidance, resume preparation, interview workshops, and access to career opportunities.
Professional Networking: Students can use Handshake, employer connections, and university career events to identify internship opportunities and develop professional relationships.
Experiential Business Learning: The Fowler College of Business promotes internships, consulting projects, case competitions, and mentorship as part of its broader applied-learning environment.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management prepares graduates for entry-level management and business positions by developing their understanding of organizational behaviour, leadership, business operations, and strategic decision-making. Students can pursue opportunities in corporate organizations, human resources, entrepreneurship, nonprofit organizations, and international business, with the flexibility to build experience across different business functions.

Potential Career Opportunities

Management Trainee, Human Resources Coordinator, Business Development Associate, Operations Coordinator

Career Development and Graduate Outcomes

Career Services: The Partrick-Clayes Center for Career Development supports students with career planning, internship preparation, resume development, interview workshops, and employer connections.
Internship and Employment Statistics: During the 2025–2026 reporting period, the Management Department recorded 559 internships, of which 249 were paid. The department also reported instances of internships leading to employment.
Industry Partnerships: SDSU's Management Internship Program connects students with employers across corporate, nonprofit, government, and entrepreneurial sectors. Employer examples featured by the department include Costco and Enterprise Mobility.
Professional Accreditation: The AACSB accreditation of Fowler College of Business provides an internationally recognised quality framework for its business education.
Practical Graduate Preparation: The required internship, leadership-focused coursework, and business projects help students develop professional experience alongside academic knowledge.
Career Progression: Graduates can build experience toward positions involving team supervision, human resource management, business operations, entrepreneurship, and organizational leadership.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor's degree, graduates may pursue postgraduate study in the Master of Business Administration (MBA), management, entrepreneurship, human resource management, or related business disciplines. SDSU's Fowler College of Business offers an MBA and graduate business pathways, allowing students to continue developing their strategic, analytical, and leadership capabilities.