BSBA Major in Business Law

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Drexel University

Program Overview

The BSBA Major in Business Law at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business combines a strong business foundation with the legal knowledge needed to understand contracts, regulations, corporate decisions, employment relationships and business risk. It is well suited to students who enjoy critical thinking and problem-solving and want to pursue careers in compliance, consulting, human resources, risk management, real estate or business, while also providing a strong foundation for students considering law school.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by building their academic, business and communication foundations through courses such as Dragon Awakening: Principles of Business, Composition and Rhetoric I and Principles of Microeconomics. The introductory curriculum also includes experiential learning and core competency courses that develop collaboration, analysis and practical application skills.

Year 2: Students move further into business decision-making and organizational knowledge with subjects such as Organizational Behavior and Business Statistics I, while beginning more specialized legal study. Courses such as Information Privacy, Data and the Law, Business Risks: Torts, Negligence and Consumer Protection and Employment Law allow students to examine how legal requirements influence everyday business operations.

Year 3: Students can deepen their specialization through advanced Business Law electives such as International Business Law, Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship, Real Estate Law, White Collar Crime and Intellectual Property and Cyber Law. This stage connects legal analysis with contemporary business issues such as entrepreneurship, technology, property, international commerce and corporate risk.

Year 4: In the final stage, students complete additional major electives, a cross-disciplinary LeBow course and their remaining university and free-elective requirements, while strengthening their ability to apply legal reasoning to complex business situations. Depending on their chosen study plan, students can also use Drexel's co-op pathway to gain professional experience before graduation.

Focus Areas

Business law, contracts, business organizations, torts and negligence, employment law, international business law, real estate law, entrepreneurship law, white-collar crime, intellectual property, cyber law, data privacy, consumer protection, regulatory compliance, corporate governance

Learning Outcomes

Students develop core business and quantitative knowledge, legal reasoning and problem-solving skills, the ability to evaluate business risks and alternatives, professional communication and collaboration skills, ethical judgment, and the ability to apply legal and business concepts to real-world organizational challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through LeBow College of Business, whose bachelor's, master's and doctoral business programs are accredited by AACSB International. Drexel states that LeBow's AACSB accreditation was extended in 2025 for another six years, reflecting continued external review and commitment to continuous improvement in business education.

Reputation (Employability & Official Outcomes)

Drexel LeBow reports a $60,000 median starting salary for Business Law majors in the Class of 2025. The college also reports that 93.1% of Business Law major co-ops were paid positions during the 2024–25 academic year, with a $21 median co-op hourly pay; recent graduates have joined organizations including Comcast, FS Investments, Grant Thornton, KPMG, Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Morgan & Morgan.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Drexel's Business Law major is designed to take legal concepts beyond textbooks and into practical business situations. Students work with case-based analysis, applied problem-solving, simulations, mock negotiations, compliance exercises and projects that require them to identify legal risks, evaluate contracts and propose practical solutions.

The strongest professional experience comes through Drexel's Co-op program, where students alternate academic study with full-time employment. Business Law students can choose a plan with up to three co-ops and graduate with as much as 18 months of workplace experience; past placements have included Duane Morris LLP, Morgan Lewis LLP, PECO, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP and the University of Pennsylvania.

Students can further connect classroom learning with industry through LeBow's Dana and David Dornsife Office for Experiential Learning, which supports consulting projects, competitions, simulations, research projects and international experiences. Business Law students can also engage with the Biddle Law Society, which provides extracurricular and networking opportunities related to legal careers.

Key practical opportunities include:

Drexel Co-op: Up to three co-op experiences, potentially providing as much as 18 months of full-time professional experience.
Legal simulations: Students can work through simulations and mock negotiations that mirror practical legal and business situations.
Compliance exercises: Students practice assessing regulatory and compliance issues relevant to organizations.
Case-based analysis: Business Law courses use realistic business and legal problems to develop legal reasoning and decision-making.
Employer-engaged projects: LeBow's experiential-learning model connects students with real and simulated projects involving industry, nonprofit and government organizations.
Consulting projects: Students can participate in business consulting experiences through the Dornsife Office for Experiential Learning.
Biddle Law Society: Provides networking and extracurricular opportunities for students interested in legal careers.
Career preparation: LeBow's Center for Career Readiness provides résumé reviews, interview preparation, career guidance and networking support.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Business Law major gives graduates a combination of business knowledge and legal understanding that can be applied across compliance, human resources, consulting, risk management, real estate, government and other business environments. Drexel's Class of 2025 Business Law graduates reported a $60,000 median salary one year after graduation, while the program's co-op structure provides an opportunity to build substantial professional experience before completing the degree.

Typical career paths include Compliance Officer, Human Resource Representative, Legal Assistant and Paralegal. Other opportunities identified by Drexel include Law Enforcement Officer, Legislative Assistant, Mediator and Real Estate Agent, as well as careers in business consulting, government affairs and financial management.

Students can strengthen their transition from university to employment through:

Career support: LeBow's Center for Career Readiness provides résumé reviews, interview preparation, career guidance and networking opportunities.
Professional experience: Drexel Co-op allows eligible students to gain up to 18 months of full-time workplace experience; Business Law majors recorded 93.1% paid co-ops in the Class of 2025, with a $21 median hourly co-op pay during 2024–25.
Employer connections: Business Law co-op placements have included Duane Morris LLP, Morgan Lewis LLP, PECO, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP and the University of Pennsylvania.
Graduate outcomes: The median salary reported one year after graduation for Business Law graduates in the Class of 2025 was $60,000.
Industry exposure: Recent graduates have joined organizations including Comcast, FS Investments, Grant Thornton, KPMG, Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Morgan & Morgan.
Professional networking: The Biddle Law Society provides networking and extracurricular opportunities for students interested in legal and law-related careers.
Long-term accreditation value: LeBow's business programs maintain AACSB accreditation, with Drexel reporting that the accreditation was extended in 2025 for another six years.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into professional or graduate education depending on their career goals. Drexel specifically notes that many Business Law students pursue a Juris Doctor (JD) or MBA, while the degree also provides preparation for graduate study in business, public policy and related fields.