Small Business Administration (APB)

This degree prepares students for the real-world challenges of starting and managing a business. With a focus on entrepreneurship, the three-year program in Small Business Administration targets students (including non-traditional students) who are goal-oriented and highly motivated to pursue ownership or a career in a small business.

The PSU School of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a global standard of excellence; and the 96-credit three-year option will meet the same exacting standards as our four-year 120-credit bachelor’s and MBA programs. Our business school debuts a $38 million total modernization in 2025. featuring an innovation hub, state-of-the-art finance lab, and sales institute.

Course Title Credits
BUS 1100Introduction to Marketing and Sales4
BUS 1200Business Law and Ethics (DICO)4
BUS 1300Digital Information Technologies (TECO)4
BUS 1400Principles of Economics (GACO)4
BUS 2000Financial & Managerial Accounting4
BUS 2200Management and Decision Making4
BUS 2300Business Writing and Presenting (WRCO)4
BUS 2400Financial Management4
Major Requirements
ENT 3060BUSINESS STARTUP PLANNING4
ENT 3380Business Innovation4
Tier 1 (choose two courses):8
ACC 3XXXX ACCOUNTING WITH QUICKBOOKS
Fundamentals of Business Operations
Digital Marketing
Tier 2 (choose two courses):8
Cost Accounting
Business Internship
Social Entrepreneurship
Executing for Growth and Sustainability
Workplace Law
FIN 3@,4@ elective
Managing Human Resources
Professional Selling Skills I
Hotel Operations Management
Mathematics Foundations
MA 2210Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO)4
General Education
EN 1400Composition4
IS 1115Tackling a Wicked Problem4
CTDICreative Thought Direction3-4
PPDIPast and Present Direction3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction3-4
Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 14-8
WECOWellness Connection3-4
INCPIntegrated Capstone3-4
Electives8-10
Total Credits98-110
1

Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction).

Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning course schedule. Course sequence is suggested but not required.

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredits
EN 1400 Composition 4
IS 1115 Tackling a Wicked Problem 4
MA 2210 Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO) 4
BUS 1100 Introduction to Marketing and Sales 4
BUS 1200 Business Law and Ethics (DICO) 4
BUS 1300 Digital Information Technologies (TECO) 4
BUS 1400 Principles of Economics (GACO) 4
CTDICreative Thought Direction 3-4
 Credits31-32
Year Two
BUS 2000 Financial & Managerial Accounting 4
BUS 2400 Financial Management 4
BUS 2200 Management and Decision Making 4
BUS 2300 Business Writing and Presenting (WRCO) 4
MGM 3150 Fundamentals of Business Operations 2
INCPIntegrated Capstone 4
SSDISelf and Society Direction 3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction 3-4
PPDIPast and Present Direction 3-4
 Credits31-34
Year Three
ENT 3060 BUSINESS STARTUP PLANNING 4
ENT 3380 Business Innovation 4
TIER 1 8
TIER 2 8
Electives 8-10
 Credits32-34
 Total Credits94-100
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and concepts.
  2. Understand the process of small business start-up and the role of innovation.
  3. Build and manage a business using “lean start-up” techniques.
  4. Apply fundamentals of business operations, small business accounting, or digital marketing to improve entrepreneurial outcomes.
  5. Gain specialized knowledge for entrepreneurial growth in areas such as finance, human resources, legal activities, sales, or advanced entrepreneurship concepts.

Starting or expanding an entrepreneurial venture, managing a small business or family business proprietorship, joining a start-up, pursuing corporate or social entrepreneurship, or preparing for management or supervisory positions in business or the non-profit sector.