Advising FAQ
School of Management
Many of your questions can be answered by consulting with any School of Management faculty member and by looking in the catalog. You can also pick up our yellow handout “Suggested BSBA Course Schedule” in Taylor 313, the School of Management Office.
How am I admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree program?
You are either admitted as a BSBA student when you apply to Bucknell, or you can apply for the remaining seats by September 10th of your sophomore year.
What criteria are used in accepting students to the BSBA degree program during their sophomore year?
The number of students admitted to the BSBA degree program at Bucknell is limited. When the number of applications exceeds the threshold established by the School of Management and the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s office, criteria for acceptance will emphasize academic achievement at Bucknell.
Can AP credits earned in high school replace course requirements?
Yes, AP credits earned in high school and accepted by Bucknell replace a course requirement. For example, earning AP credit for MATH 201 gives you one credit toward graduation in addition to fulfilling the BSBA calculus requirement.
Can a non-BSBA student take a MGMT course?
Yes, we welcome non-majors in our classes! Due to enrollment pressures, however, some of our MGMT classes are "BSBA preferred," which means that non‑majors need to get on the wait list when they register for classes. After BSBA students have registered, students on the wait list will be added automatically to these classes, if space is available.
What is an academic adviser? How do I obtain one?
The College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office assigns all BSBA students an academic adviser, who is a faculty member from the School of Management. Your adviser will be your initial contact for questions you may have regarding course selection and other academic and non‑academic issues. At a minimum, he/she will meet with you during the Fall and Spring registration periods to discuss your academic progress and discuss course options with you.
What majors are available in the BSBA degree?
There are two specific majors available: accounting and management.
Am I able to complete a minor in accounting or management?
Currently, a minor in accounting or management is not available.
What specific courses should be taken early in my BSBA program?
It is best to take the following courses during your first three semesters: ECON 103, Calculus (either MATH 201 or MATH 192), MGMT 160. Please note that MATH 192 is typically offered only in the spring semester. We also suggest that students complete MGMT 101 and a “Technology Elective” (see next question) by the end of the sophomore year, though the technology elective may be completed at any time.
What specific courses are available to satisfy the “Technology Elective” requirement?
There are currently nine courses that satisfy the “Technology Elective” requirement. Students may choose from: MGMT 240 Introduction to Information Systems, CLAS 247 Ancient Technology, CSCI 180 Introduction to a Microcomputer Environment, CSCI 203 Introduction to Computer Science I, ENGR 100 Exploring Engineering, ENGR 270 Technical Perspectives: Life, the Universe, and Engineering, ENST 211 Environmental Pollution and Control, HIST 170 Introduction to the History of Science and Technology, HIST 270 Science and Technology in the U.S.
I am interested in taking an Engineering course. What types of courses would you recommend?
ENGR 100 (Exploring Engineering) and ENGR 270 (Technical Perspectives: Life, the Universe, and Engineering) both satisfy the “Technology Elective” requirement. CENG 490 (Engineering Planning and Project Management) offers a suitable connection with your BSBA degree program. There are other courses that you might find interesting; please seek advice from your adviser or an engineering professor.
What is the difference between MATH 192 and MATH 201?
Each of these courses satisfies the BSBA calculus requirement. You are encouraged to take calculus no later than the spring semester of your first year. In any event, calculus must be taken no later than the sophomore year. You should note, however, that MATH 192 is only offered in the spring semester. MATH 192 offers a greater focus on applications as opposed to theory. Consequently, BSBA students tend to take this particular course. Nonetheless, we do not want to dissuade students from taking MATH 201, which is a stepping stone for further math study.
If I have credit for MATH 216 or PSYC 215, do I need to take MGMT 242?
No. In fact, it is impossible to get credit for more than one of these courses at Bucknell. Please note, however, that even though both MATH 216 and PSYC 215 fulfill the MGMT 242 requirement, we vastly prefer that students take MGMT 242, if at all possible.
How can I concentrate in Marketing or Finance at Bucknell?
Although we do not offer specific “concentrations,” it is possible to take a number of elective courses (when offered) within various subdisciplines, such as Marketing and Finance. For example, students may take these advanced Marketing courses:
MGMT 382 Marketing Research
MGMT 384 Consumer Behavior
MGMT 386 Special Topics in Marketing
MGMT 389 Marketing Management
Students may take these advanced Finance courses:
MGMT 372 Cases in Corporate Finance
MGMT 374 International Finance
MGMT 375 Student Managed Investment Fund (continues as MGMT 476)
MGMT 377 Investments
MGMT 378 Investment Banking
Can I take required MGMT courses in a non-Bucknell program?
A maximum of two required MGMT courses may be taken in a non-Bucknell program. Please contact Professor Steve Willits for off-campus course permissions.
Are there any required courses only offered in specific semesters?
MATH 192 is typically offered in the Spring semester of each academic year.
Should Accounting majors take MGMT 250 and MGMT 251 in successive semesters?
Yes, it is recommended that these courses be taken in successive semesters, if possible, beginning with Spring sophomore, Fall junior, or Spring junior semesters. Please consult your accounting adviser.
Can I study abroad and still complete my BSBA requirements?
Yes. The Office of International Education (Taylor 105) has information on various study-abroad programs. You should work with your adviser as soon as possible to plan.
How do I plan my courses to make the most of my travel abroad experience?
Since travel abroad usually takes place in your Junior year, there are a few things you can do when choosing courses for your first two years to make travel abroad easier to fit into your schedule and still meet all of your graduation requirements.
It is best to have fulfilled all your CLA distribution requirements by the end of the sophomore year. (Note, as a BSBA major your social science distribution requirement is fulfilled by taking the required ECON and MGMT courses, and your third science or math is fulfilled by taking a calculus course.) You also should plan ahead to be sure you fulfill writing requirements and other CLA requirements.
What courses can I take while I am studying abroad that will count as BSBA required courses?
Please note that a maximum of 2 required MGMT courses can be taken off campus and transfer back for credit as BSBA required courses.
A sampling of required courses (depending on the abroad program) that accounting majors might be able to take while abroad:
MGMT 365 Cost Accounting
MGMT 380 Marketing
A sampling of required courses (depending on the abroad program) that management majors might be able to take while abroad:
MGMT 380 Marketing
MGMT 341 Operations Management
MGMT 330 Human Resource Management
MGMT 336 Organizational Behavior
MGMT 339 Organizational Theory
The following is a list of accounting courses that typically will NOT transfer back to Bucknell in place of the Bucknell offered required course:
Accounting Majors:
MGMT 220 Business Law I
MGMT 250 Intermediate Accounting and Financial Management I
MGMT 251 Intermediate Accounting and Financial Management II
MGMT 370 Corporate Finance
MGMT 319 Management Strategy and Policy
MGMT 359 Advanced Seminar in Accounting
MGMT 353 Advanced Accounting
MGMT 354 Tax Accounting
MGMT 357 Auditing
The following is a list of management courses that typically will NOT transfer back to Bucknell in place of the Bucknell offered required course:
Management Majors:
MGMT 220 Business Law I
MGMT 312 Business, Government & Society
MGMT 319 Management Strategy and Policy
MGMT 370 Corporate Finance
What courses are best suited for senior BSBA students?
Two course requirements all BSBA students fulfill senior year are the CLA capstone (any 400-level course, with or without a MGMT designation) and MGMT 319 (or MGMT 359, when offered, for accounting majors). MGMT 319 is specifically designed as a senior-level course, and must be taken after a student has completed MGMT 380 and MGMT 370.
Please note that occasionally there are MGMT courses that fulfill both a BSBA requirement and the CLA capstone requirement. For example, MGMT 419 fulfills both the CLA capstone and MGMT 319 requirements; and sometimes we offer a course in the Management 33x series that fulfills both the CLA capstone and the MGMT 33x requirements.
Other courses BSBA students take senior year include their remaining BSBA 300-level requirements, along with electives within the department and across campus.
What is SMIF? How do I enroll in it?
The Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) is a two-semester, two-credit permission course in which seniors manage a real dollar investment portfolio, part of Bucknell’s endowment. The course provides hands-on experience in portfolio management, including economic, industry, and company analysis, and decision making. Students also develop experience in security research and analysis, asset valuation, and asset allocation. Students take MGMT 375 during the Fall semester of their senior year, then MGMT 476 during the Spring semester. MGMT 476 also fulfills the university capstone course requirement. For further information, students can contact the SMIF coordinators, Professor David Jensen or Professor Robert Needham.
What is ILTM? How do I enroll in it?
The Institute for Leadership in Technology and Management (ILTM) offers Bucknell students a unique learning experience that bridges the disciplines of Engineering and Management/Accounting. It consists of a two-summer sequence of programs. In the first summer, approximately 20 rising juniors in Engineering and Management/Accounting engage in an extremely intensive, six-week, on‑campus program. Further, the students travel to selected industrial and business sites, and work with companies on significant and real-world management and technological projects. In the second summer as rising seniors, students participate in off-campus internships that involve work at the confluence of technology and management. For further information on this innovative experience, please contact the program coordinators, Professor Eric Santanen (Management) or Professor Mike Toole (Civil and Environmental Engineering).
Can I complete an Honors program within my BSBA course of studies?
Yes. BSBA students may undertake an Honors program. Interested students should contact a department faculty member regarding potential thesis topics.
What are the specific educational requirements for taking the CPA exam?
Students planning to take the CPA exam should consult with a member of the Accounting faculty (Professors Mark Bettner, David Jensen, Robert Needham or Steve Willits) regarding specific educational requirements, which vary by state.
In addition, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) has a website (http://www.nasba.org/) that can be used to obtain information related to the educational requirements for each state.
