Business (First-Year and Transfer)

• Information for Transfer Students

Business  
Academic Bulletin

Area of Study: Social and Behavioral Science
Program: Major
Major/Minor Exclusion: A student majoring in Business may not Double Major or Minor in Economics 

The Business major consists of a core of seven required courses (Introductory Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, either Microeconomic or Macroeconomic Theory, Statistics, Accounting, and Introductory and Advanced Business Economics), two elective courses (one at the 200 level and one and the 400 level), two interdisciplinary courses (one in Business Communications and one in Business Ethics/Reasoning), a seminar (taken 2nd semester junior or first semester senior year) and the senior project (taken the semester after the seminar). 

The recommended schedule for most students is to take Introductory Microeconomics (ECON 100) and Introductory Macroeconomics (ECON 101) during their first year, followed by Economic Theory (ECON 200 or 201), Statistics (ECON 202), Accounting (ECON 285), and Introductory Business Economics (ECON 240) beginning their sophomore year. 

When advising a student interested in Business, please note:

• The order in which ECON 100 and 101 are taken does not matter. The same is true for ECON 200 and 201.
• MATH 140 or 151 is a prerequisite to ECON 200, 201, and 202 and should be taken First year.
• Courses numbered 011 or 010 do not count towards the major or minor. 
• ECON 190 and 226-286 are sophomore-level electives and can be taken without ECON 200-203. 
• FSECO201 can substitute for a 200-level elective.
• All Business majors take an ECON 570-580 level seminar in their first semester senior year or second semester junior year. They complete their senior projects following next semester. Most students do their senior projects under the supervision of their seminar instructor.
• There is no minor in Business.
• Students cannot double major in Business and Economics.
• Major Advisor: Students can approach faculty directly about being their advisor. Students in search of advisors often approach the B&E dempartment chair, who is happy to direct students to faculty who are most appropriate.
• Junior Seminar (students register for an open section) and Senior Comp: Students should plan to take their seminar either spring of junior year or fall of senior year. They should plan to complete their senior project the following semester. Since the junior seminar leads into the senior project, it is NOT recommended that students take the seminar and senior project at the same time. Students planning on graduating in January should take the seminar the previous spring and the senior project in the fall semester.
• When choosing between the Economics and Business majors, students should consider the following:
  • There is a lot of overlap between the two majors, so for most students, there is no bad choice. Generations of Allegheny alumni have gone into every field of business after majoring in Economics, English, Philosophy, Political Science, etc.
  • The Economics major requires more of the core Economics courses. The Business major requires fewer core Economics courses, but more courses overall. 
    • The Economics major requires 12 courses plus the math prerequisite. The Business major requires 13 courses plus the math prerequisite.
    • Business majors are only required to take one of the theory courses (ECON 200 or 201) and only the first Statistics course (ECON 202 but not ECON 203). Students who are interested in developing stronger quantitative skills, for example students who want to go into the fields of economics, finance, or data analytics, should consider majoring in economics.
    • The Business major requires more Business classes, such as Accounting, Introductory and Advanced Business Economics, Business Ethics, and Business Communication. Business majors are introduced to concepts in business-related fields, such as Human Resource Management, Accounting, and Marketing. Students who are interested in studying a broad set of business-related topics should consider majoring in business.  

Sample Schedule for a Business Major placing into MATH 151:

Sample Schedule for a Business Major placing into MATH 151 and studying abroad:
 

Sample Schedule for a Business Major starting late and placing into Math 140:

Information for Transfer Students

Suggested pathway of a Business Major for a transfer student planning to finish in 3 years. Students are expected to be transferring MATH 140 or 141, ECON 100, 101, and 285. See sample above for Business Major starting late and placing into MATH 140 for another sample schedule.

Suggested pathway of a Business Major for a transfer student planning to finish in 2 years. Students are expected to be transferring MATH 140 or 141, ECON 100, 101, 200 or 201, and 285 and one or more electives in Business or Economics.