Business Administration

Overview 

The world of business is an exciting, ever-changing industry filled with a variety of career options. The Ivy College of Business is proud to offer Business Administration, a degree-completer distance program that is offered entirely online, to students who have earned at least 45 prior credits. Upon graduation, students will earn the credential Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.).  

Business Administration is an excellent fit if you are a working professional who has risen through the ranks and would like to advance your career in positions that typically require a four-year college degree. The program is highly flexible and allows you to balance full time employment, or other personal commitments, and the completion of a four-year degree in business.  

For the program, you will complete the general education requirements (including business foundation courses), business core requirements, and 21 additional credits in the major. Through required and elective upper-level coursework, you will build out specialized knowledge in specific areas of business to align with your personal and professional interests, while also emphasizing and strengthening critical managerial and leadership skills. 

Pace to completion of the program is contingent upon the transfer of degree-applicable credits. While all Ivy College of Business courses required for the program can be completed online, some general education and supplemental courses required for the degree may have limited online availability. Once enrolled, you will work with an academic advisor to determine how best to complete these classes. 

Student Learning Outcomes 

Upon graduation, undergraduate students majoring in Business Administration will: 

1. Be effective communicators. 
2. Be effective collaborators 
3. Be problem solvers. 
4. Understand business concepts. 
5. Recognize ethical and legal responsibilities to organizations. 

Goals

The instructional objective of the Business Administration program is to provide a well-rounded professional education in business. Such an education should provide students with: 

1. A strong foundation in all areas of business. 
2. Specialized knowledge in specific areas of business that align with the students personal and professional interests 
3. An understanding of, and emphasis on, critical management and leadership skills. 

Accreditation 

The Ivy College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), in both business and accounting. Only two percent of the world’s business schools receive accreditation in both business and accounting. AACSB International is an association of educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations devoted to the advancement of higher education in management education. It is also the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs worldwide. 

Iowa State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. 

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Department Website

Curriculum:

The department of Management and Entrepreneurship offers a fully online degree-completer program leading to a general business degree. This degree-completer program consists of 21 credits of coursework in the business administration major, including 9 credit hours of required courses, and 12 credit hours of major electives.

The General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree is different from all other Business majors. There are specific changes in the following areas (including global & international perspectives, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences) that must also be completed in order to receive a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Foundation: (17)

BUSAD 1030	Orientation	1
BUSAD 2030	Professional Development in Business	1
COMS 1130	Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases	3
MATH 1500	Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences	3
ECON 1010	Principles of Microeconomics	3
or ECON 1020	Principles of Macroeconomics
STAT 2026	Introduction to Business Statistics *	3
ACCT 2840	Financial Accounting	3

Supporting Courses: (3)

ACCT 2150

Legal Environment of Business

3

Electives: (24-30) 

Take additional "free" electives to fulfill the minimum graduation requirement of 120 credits.

Business Core: (27)

ACCT 2850	Managerial Accounting	3
ENTSP 3100	Entrepreneurship and Innovation	3
FIN 3010	Principles of Finance	3
MGMT 3710	Organizational Behavior	3
MGMT 3720	Ethical and Responsible Management	3
MIS 3010	Management Information Systems	3
MKT 3400	Principles of Marketing	3
SCM 3010	Supply Chain Management	3
MGMT 4780	Strategic Management ^	3

 BBA Major Courses: (21)

Required Courses (9 credits):
MIS 3400	Project Management	3
MGMT 4220	Negotiation and Conflict Resolution	3
MGMT 4710	Introduction to Human Resource Management	3

Elective Courses (12 credits):
Choose ONE from each pairing
SCM 4240	Process Management, Analysis, and Improvement	3
or SCM 4610	Principles of Transportation
------------------------------
ACCT 3830	Intermediate Managerial Accounting	3
or FIN 3300	Financial Markets and Institutions
or FIN 3710	Real Estate Principles
--------------------------------
MGMT 4140	International Management	3
or MGMT 3700	Managing Organizations
or MGMT 4700	Leadership and Change Management
---------------------------------
MKT 3420	Foundation Of Personal Selling	3
or MKT 4470	Consumer Behavior

*

Transfer coursework may be a substitute for STAT 2026 Introduction to Business Statistics, if approved.

^

Must have credit or enrollment in all core courses listed above, except for MGMT 3720, plus senior standing, in order to enroll in MGMT 4780.

BBA students cannot double major or earn a double degree in a business area. However, they may work towards a double degree in another college at Iowa State. Online minors or online certificates outside the Ivy College of Business could be added to the BBA if desired. Consult with an advisor in the Undergraduate Student Services Office for assistance in identifying online minor options.

Graduate Programs

The Ivy College of Business offers two professional graduate degree programs in business administration, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA), which are described below. The college also has ten specialized master's degree programs: the Master of Accounting (MAcc), the Master of Accounting Analytics (MAA), the Master of Business Analytics (MBAN), the Master of Entrepreneurship (MEP), the Master of Finance (MFIN), the Master of Financial Technology (MFT), the Master's in Healthcare Analytics and Operations (MHAO), the Master of Real Estate Development (MRED), the Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS), and the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MS SCM). The college also offers a PhD in Business and Technology, with specializations in Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Finally, the Ivy College of Business is a participating member of the following interdepartmental programs: Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Master of Engineering Management, Master of Science and PhD in Human Computer Interaction, and Master of Science in Seed Technology and Business.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The Ivy College of Business offers a 48-credit program leading to a non-thesis Master of Business Administration degree with a specialization in accounting, accounting analytics, business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare analytics and operations, information systems, leadership, marketing, real estate, or supply chain management. The coursework is designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities for managerial success and leadership in organizations. The MBA is the professional management education program for those pursuing careers in business.

Students working toward the MBA are required to complete a series of core courses in the basic functional areas of business (accounting, economics, quantitative analysis, finance, supply chain management, organizational behavior, management information systems, marketing, professional responsibilities, and strategic management), as well as advanced elective coursework. Two courses on professional skills development are also required for full-time MBA students.

Courses for the MBA are provided by the departments of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Information Systems and Business Analytics. Courses from other departments may also be chosen to meet specific student interests.

A concurrent B.S./MBA is available to eligible engineering undergraduate students majoring in aerospace, agricultural, biological systems, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, construction, cybersecurity, electrical, industrial, materials science, mechanical, or software engineering. A concurrent B.S./MBA is available to eligible undergraduate students majoring in agricultural systems technology, agronomy, animal science, animal enterprise and innovation, chemistry, computer science, food science, geology, industrial design, industrial technology, and meteorology.

For more information on the MBA program, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ivy-mba/.

Graduate Certificates

The Ivy College of Business currently has six graduate certificate programs, including:

• Business Analytics
• Digital Marketplace Analytics
• Enterprise Cybersecurity Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Finance
• Healthcare Analytics
• Leadership in Business
• Quantitative Principles in Business
• Supply Chain Management

Most certificates require 12 credits (digital marketplace analytics requires 15 credits) --with approval of the director of certificates (DOC), all 12-15 credits may apply towards a future Ivy graduate program. Certificates may be earned before, after, or concurrently with a master's or doctoral degree. Credit from a previously earned master's or doctoral degree from Iowa State University cannot be applied toward a future Ivy certificate.

For more information on any of the graduate certificates offered, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/graduate-programs/graduate-certificates/.

Double master’s degree programs are offered with accounting (MBA/MAcc), architecture (MBA/MArch), business analytics (MBA/MBAN), community and regional planning (MBA/MCRP), entrepreneurship (MBA/MEP), finance (MBA/MFIN), healthcare analytics and operations (MBA/MHAO), information systems (MBA/MSIS), and real estate development (MBA/MRED). A double degree program (DVM/MBA) is also available to eligible Veterinary Medicine students.

The MBA program is open to all individuals with a baccalaureate degree. Undergraduates from arts and humanities, science, and technical programs are especially encouraged to apply. Academic potential and promise for a productive career in business and for managerial success and leadership in organizations are important criteria for admission. Applicants must submit official transcripts of previous academic work, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, personal essays, a resume, and two letters of reference. Students whose native language is not English and who did not graduate from a U.S. college or university are required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores.

Applicants are considered for fall semester entry only into the full-time MBA. Although applications will be considered after this date, candidates are encouraged to submit their application materials by June 15. Part-time MBA applications are considered for fall, spring, or summer entry.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, MBA students will:

1. Demonstrate effective communication skills.
2. Effectively lead and work in diverse teams.
3. Critically solve business problems.
4. Integrate ethical and global perspectives in decision making.

For more information about the MBA program in any of the areas of specialization listed above, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ivy-mba/. 

Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA)

The Ivy College of Business offers a 42-credit program leading to a non-thesis professional Master of Business Administration degree with a specialization in accounting, accounting analytics, business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare analytics and operations, information systems, leadership, marketing, real estate, or supply chain management. PMBA students should note that courses required for the specializations may be delivered online, hybrid or in-person in Ames. The coursework is designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities for managerial success and leadership in organizations. The PMBA is the professional management education program for those pursuing careers in business.

The part-time MBA is designed for employed professionals. Part-time MBA core classes are fully-online. MBA electives may be delivered online, hybrid or in-person in Ames.

Students working toward the PMBA are required to complete a series of core courses in the basic functional areas of business (accounting, economics, quantitative analysis, finance, supply chain management, organizational behavior, management information systems, marketing, professional responsibilities, and strategic management), as well as advanced elective coursework.

Courses for the PMBA are provided by the departments of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Information Systems and Business Analytics. Courses from other departments may also be chosen to meet specific student interests.

Double master’s degree programs are offered with accounting (PMBA/MAcc), business analytics (PMBA/MBAN), entrepreneurship (PMBA/MEP), healthcare analytics and operations (PMBA/MHAO), and real estate development (PMBA/MRED). PMBA students should note that courses required in the double degree programs may be delivered online, hybrid or in-person in Ames.

The PMBA program is open to all individuals with a baccalaureate degree. Undergraduates from arts and humanities, science, and technical programs are especially encouraged to apply. Academic potential and promise for a productive career in business and for managerial success and leadership in organizations are important criteria for admission. Applicants must submit official transcripts of previous academic work, personal essays, and a resume. Students whose native language is not English and who did not graduate from a U.S. college or university are required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores.

Professional MBA applications are considered for fall, spring, or summer entry.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, PMBA students will:

1.   Demonstrate effective communication skills.
2.   Effectively lead and work in diverse teams.
3.   Critically solve business problems.
4.   Integrate ethical and global perspectives in decision making.

For more information about the PMBA program in any of the areas of specialization listed above, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/graduate-programs/.

Executive Master's in Business Administration (EMBA)

The Ivy College of Business Executive MBA (EMBA) program is designed for experienced professionals working in the food, agriculture, and biosystems industries and the adjacent industries of financial services and insurance. This industry-focused, cohort-based program consists of 48 credit hours of MBA foundational coursework, enriched with customized content and case studies. Students earn a non-thesis Master of Business Administration degree.

The program begins with a one-week residency on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa, which includes orientation and initial coursework. After residency week, classes meet in person every three weeks on Fridays and Saturdays in Ames. Online interactions between sessions enhance the learning experience.

EMBA students are required to complete a series of courses and participate in two study trips during the second year of the program. In the fall, students travel to Washington, D.C., for a three-day immersion focused on corporate public affairs, trade, immigration, regulation, lobbying, associations, fiscal policy, and related topics. The program concludes with a 10-day international business experience at a global destination.

Applicants must submit official transcripts of previous academic work, a statement of purpose, a resume, and one letter of recommendation. Applications are accepted for fall entry only.  

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, executive MBA (EMBA) students will:

1. Demonstrate effective leadership skills.
2. Collaborate successfully in team environments.
3. Apply critical thinking to challenges in food, agriculture, and biosystems and the adjacent industries of financial services and insurance.
4. Recognize ethical and global responsibilities around food, agriculture, and biosystems.

For more information on the EMBA program, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ivy-mba/executive-mba/. 

PhD in Business and Technology

The doctoral program at the Ivy College of Business is a full-time, residential program that prepares individuals to conduct and publish scholarly research in top journals. The standard length of this 74-credit program is five years. Graduates compete for academic positions at leading research universities in the United States and abroad. There are six specializations: entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and business analytics, management, marketing, and supply chain management.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, PhD students will be able to:

1. Understand and advance knowledge.
2. Create knowledge through original research.
3. Teach effectively in an institution of higher education.

For more information about the PhD program, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/phd-program/. 

Graduate Minor in Business Administration

The Ivy College of Business also offers a business administration minor to students with majors outside the college. In order to obtain a graduate minor in business administration at Iowa State University, a student must complete eighteen credit hours of the required core courses. A student who wishes to minor in business administration must have full admission status in his/her respective graduate program and must be in good academic standing (graduate transcript required). Courses are online.

Required Courses (9 credits):
ACCT 5010	Financial Accounting	3
MGMT 5020	Organizational Behavior	3
MGMT 5030	Professional Responsibility in Business and Society	3

Choose THREE additional courses from the list below (9 credits):
FIN 5010	Financial Valuation and Corporate Financial Decisions	3
MKT 5010	Marketing	3
SCM 5010	Supply Chain Management	3
MIS 5010	Management Information Systems	3

Applications for the graduate minor in business administration are accepted for fall, spring or summer semester entry.

For more information on the graduate minor in business administration, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/graduate-programs/graduate-minor/.