Bachelor of Science in General Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Louisiana State University Baton Rouge

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in General Business at Louisiana State University gives students a broad foundation across accounting, economics, finance, information systems and analytics, management, and marketing while allowing them to customize their degree around their interests and career goals. It is particularly suited to students who want flexibility in their business education, with options to concentrate in Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Human Resource Management, or Information Technology Management.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing a foundation in business and quantitative skills through subjects such as GBUS 1000, MATH 1021/1431, ISDS 1102 – Introduction to Management Information Systems for Business Majors, and ACCT 2001 – Introduction to Financial Accounting. These early courses introduce students to business education, mathematics, information systems, and accounting while they complete their general education requirements.

Year 2: Students build broader business knowledge through core areas such as economics, finance, management, marketing, and information systems and analytics. Courses such as ISDS 2000 – Business Statistics & Analytics I help students develop quantitative skills, while the flexibility of the General Business curriculum allows them to begin shaping electives toward areas such as analytics, marketing, human resources, or technology management.

Year 3: Students move into more advanced business applications and can use their electives to develop a more focused professional profile. General Business offerings include GBUS 3302 – Predictive Analytics and GBUS 3304 – Visual Analytics, giving students opportunities to explore data-driven decision-making and visual communication of business information.

Year 4: The final stage emphasizes professional application and career preparation, with students completing upper-level business coursework and their selected concentration or electives. Students can also gain workplace experience through GBUS 3950 – Internship in General Business, while courses such as GBUS 3999 – Advanced Special Topics in Business: Personal Branding and Professional Communication can strengthen professional communication and career-readiness skills.

Focus Areas

Accounting, economics, finance, information systems and analytics, management, marketing, business analytics, digital marketing, human resource management, information technology management, predictive analytics, visual analytics

Learning Outcomes

Students develop broad business knowledge, quantitative and analytical skills, communication abilities, technology awareness, financial understanding, management knowledge, marketing insight, and the ability to apply business concepts to organizational and professional challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The degree is offered through LSU's E. J. Ourso College of Business, which holds AACSB International accreditation. LSU describes the college as being among the top 5% of business schools worldwide and identifies AACSB accreditation as a distinguishing quality marker for its business education.

Reputation (Employability & Outcomes)

LSU's current General Business information identifies Apple, IBM, Shell, and Disney among companies employing General Business graduates. The program page reports a $57,000 average alumni General Business salary five years after graduation, while LSU's broader 2024–2025 Ourso College results report 92% of graduates with positive post-graduate outcomes and an average starting salary of $77,266 across all Ourso College graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

LSU's General Business major combines flexible coursework with opportunities to gain practical business experience. Students can participate in internships, undergraduate research, industry-focused activities and business events, while the Business Education Complex provides a dedicated environment designed for collaboration, innovation and hands-on learning.

Students can build practical and professional skills through several opportunities:

General Business internship: Students can earn academic credit through GBUS 3950 – Internship in General Business, giving them a structured opportunity to connect classroom learning with professional experience. LSU has listed GBUS 3950 among its current General Business course offerings.
Predictive and visual analytics: GBUS 3302 – Predictive Analytics and GBUS 3304 – Visual Analytics give General Business students opportunities to develop data-focused skills that can be applied to business decision-making and communication.
Undergraduate research: LSU encourages General Business students to collaborate with faculty mentors on real research from the beginning of their undergraduate experience and present their work at LSU Discover Day.
Business Residential College: First-year business students can live and learn alongside other College of Business students while attending business-related workshops, networking with industry leaders and professionals, and participating in hands-on activities and tours.
Professional development: The Business Residential College provides seminars covering résumé writing and business etiquette, alongside opportunities to develop communication and leadership skills.
Business Education Complex: Students have access to LSU's award-winning Business Education Complex, which the university highlights as a space designed for collaboration, innovation and hands-on learning around real business challenges.
Career technology and job search: LSU's Career Center provides students with access to Handshake, where they can search for internships, full-time and part-time positions, while also accessing career events and interview preparation resources.
Career and internship advising: The Office of Business Student Success provides General Business students with major-specific academic and internship advising, as well as professional-development support covering career exploration, résumés, cover letters, interview preparation, internships and job searches.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS General Business degree is designed to give graduates flexibility across business functions and industries, with LSU identifying potential paths in business development, business intelligence, consulting, digital marketing, energy, healthcare administration, human resources, operations and project management. LSU's current General Business page also identifies corporations, consulting firms, energy companies, financial institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, small businesses and startups as potential workplace settings.

Typical career roles include Business Development Specialist, Business Intelligence Analyst, Management Consultant, Operations Manager, with additional pathways in digital marketing, human resources, healthcare administration and project management.

Students can build toward these opportunities through:

Career services: LSU's Career Center provides access to Handshake for internship and job searches, career events, résumé development, interview preparation and salary-negotiation guidance. The E. J. Ourso College's professional-development team also supports career exploration, résumés, cover letters, interviews, internships and job searches.
Employment outcomes: LSU's current General Business page reports a $57,000 average alumni salary five years after graduation. For the broader E. J. Ourso College, the 2024–2025 graduate survey reports 92% positive post-graduate outcomes and a $77,266 average starting salary across graduates from the college.
Employer connections: LSU identifies Apple, IBM, Shell and Disney among companies that employ General Business graduates. The broader Ourso College's 2024–2025 first-destination data also lists employers including Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo, Chevron and BASF.
Industry exposure: Students in the Business Residential College can participate in workshops with industry leaders and business professionals, while corporate-sponsored events introduce students to internship opportunities.
Accreditation value: The E. J. Ourso College of Business holds AACSB accreditation, giving students the benefit of studying within a business school operating under internationally recognized business-education standards.
Graduation outcomes: LSU's First Destination Survey tracks employment, salary, continuing education and other post-graduation outcomes, with data available by year, education level, senior college and major through its outcomes dashboard.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced study at LSU, with the university specifically highlighting the Flores MBA Program, Master of Public Administration, and MS in Analytics as postgraduate options connected to the General Business pathway. Students can use graduate education to deepen their expertise, change specialization or prepare for more advanced professional opportunities.