Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Concentration in General Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

San Francisco State University

Program Overview

The General Business concentration at San Francisco State University’s Lam Family College of Business gives students a broad foundation across key business functions while allowing them to shape their studies through electives from different business disciplines. Designed for students interested in small, medium-sized, or family businesses, the program develops practical knowledge in accounting, finance, marketing, management, information systems, and strategic decision-making.

Curriculum Structure

The degree requires a minimum of 69 units in the major, including prerequisite courses, core business requirements, and seven concentration courses selected from at least four different subject prefixes. The following year-by-year outline is a suggested learning progression; the official bulletin and academic advisor determine the student's actual course sequence.

Year 1 – Establishing Business Foundations

Students begin with essential business, quantitative, and economic concepts that help them understand how organizations operate. Courses such as ACCT 100 – Introduction to Financial Accounting, ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis, and ISYS 263 – Introduction to Information Systems introduce financial reporting, market behavior, and the role of technology in business.

Year 2 – Exploring Core Business Functions

Students develop a broader understanding of business operations through accounting, economics, statistics, and communication. ACCT 101 – Introduction to Managerial Accounting, ECON 102 – Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis, and DS/ECON 212 – Business Statistics help students interpret business performance, understand economic conditions, and use quantitative information in decision-making.

Year 3 – Developing Management and Professional Skills

Students move into upper-division subjects covering finance, marketing, information systems, and organizational behavior. FIN 350 – Business Finance, MKTG 431 – Principles of Marketing, and MGMT 405 – Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior prepare students to understand financial choices, customer needs, and the management of people and organizations.

Year 4 – Applying Business Knowledge and Strategic Thinking

In the final stage, students integrate their knowledge through strategic, ethical, and specialized business study. BUS 682 – Seminar on Business and Society and BUS 690 – Seminar in Business Policy and Strategic Management encourage students to examine organizational responsibilities and long-term business decisions, while concentration electives such as BUS 350 – Introduction to Entrepreneurship or DS 314 – Project Management Tools allow them to tailor their learning to their interests.

Focus Areas

General business management, accounting, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, small business management, family business, business communication, business analytics, information systems, operations management, international business, organizational behavior, business ethics, sustainability, strategic management.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop the ability to integrate knowledge across business disciplines, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, analyze complex business situations, apply quantitative and technological methods to business decisions, collaborate in diverse teams, demonstrate leadership, and evaluate business decisions through ethical, sustainable, and global perspectives.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Lam Family College of Business is associated with AACSB business education accreditation. This provides an external quality-assurance framework for its business programs and supports the school's commitment to ongoing academic standards and improvement.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The university's General Business program emphasizes a flexible business foundation and preparation for careers in small, medium, and family businesses. The official program bulletin does not publish a concentration-specific employability ranking, graduate employment rate, or salary figure, so these outcomes are not presented as verified program statistics.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students can shape their learning around different business interests by selecting seven concentration courses from at least four subject prefixes. The curriculum includes applied areas such as entrepreneurship, data analysis, project management, professional communication, and business strategy, helping students connect foundational business knowledge with practical organizational challenges. The program also includes the SF State and Braven Career Accelerator as an available concentration course.

Program-related learning opportunities include:

Flexible Concentration Electives: Select seven courses across at least four subject prefixes, allowing students to explore multiple business functions.
Entrepreneurship: BUS 350 – Introduction to Entrepreneurship and BUS 354 – Starting a Small Business introduce venture creation and small business development.
Business Strategy: BUS 690 – Seminar in Business Policy and Strategic Management develops understanding of strategic organizational decisions.
Project Management: DS 314 – Project Management Tools provides focused study of project management methods and tools.
Data Analysis: DS 310 – Critical Data Analysis for Business, DS 311 – Technologies in Data Analytics, and DS 312 – Data Analysis for Business offer options for developing analytical skills.
Professional Communication: BUS 400 – Professional Communication for the Global Workplace supports communication skills for professional settings.
Career Development: A U 220 – SF State and Braven Career Accelerator is listed among the available concentration courses.
Business and Society: BUS 682 – Seminar on Business and Society explores the relationship between business decisions and broader social responsibilities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The General Business concentration prepares students for a broad range of business-related career paths, particularly in small, medium-sized, and family-owned organizations. Its flexible curriculum allows students to develop knowledge across management, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and business operations, supporting entry into different organizational functions.

Potential career paths include:

Business Operations Coordinator
Business Analyst
Management Trainee
Small Business Manager

Students can build their professional readiness through the following areas:

Career Development: A U 220 – SF State and Braven Career Accelerator is an available concentration course focused on career preparation.
Professional Communication: BUS 400 – Professional Communication for the Global Workplace helps students develop communication skills relevant to professional environments.
Business and Industry Knowledge: Courses in entrepreneurship, project management, finance, marketing, and strategic management provide foundations relevant to different business functions.
Employment Statistics and Salaries: The official General Business program page does not publish concentration-specific graduate employment rates or salary figures. These figures are therefore marked as unavailable rather than estimated.
Accreditation Value: Business-school accreditation provides an external quality-assurance framework for business education; students should confirm the current accreditation status and applicable scope with the university.
Graduation Requirements: Students must complete at least 120 total units for the bachelor's degree, including the required major, general education, and other university requirements. The General Business major itself requires a minimum of 69 units, with a minimum 2.0 GPA in core business and concentration coursework.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BSBA, graduates may consider postgraduate study in business administration, management, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, business analytics, or related disciplines. Students interested in an MBA or specialized master's degree should review the chosen university's admission requirements, which may include academic records, relevant experience, or additional prerequisites.