IU Columbus Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Division of Business
The IU Columbus Undergraduate Program in Business provides opportunities for breadth of education and specializations. The program subscribes to the principle that a significant portion of a student’s academic program consists of rigorous higher education, electives, and business-specific courses. This assures a balanced program of study while enabling an interested student to specialize in one or more of the professional fields of business. Throughout the program, courses and assignments provide opportunities to foster fundamental business principles, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, increase appreciation and effectiveness of respectful collaboration, build communication skills, and engage students in ethical decision-making. The experiential learning requirement engages students with real-world business practices and better prepares them for full-time roles after graduation. Our ongoing focus on ethics and professional development ensures that our students come to understand the value of inclusive teams and relationships and the superior outcomes they create.
Bachelor of Science in Business – General Requirements
To be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Business degree, students must meet the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours of college-level work, including at least 65 credit hours in business courses. College-level work is determined by academic advisors and IU Columbus Division of Business leadership on a case-by-case basis.
- Fulfill the specific degree requirements for the IU Columbus Bachelor of Science in Business.
- Only grades of C- or higher will count towards the degree, except for general electives, where a grade of D or higher is accepted.
- Complete at least half of the business requirements at the IU Columbus campus center. At least 33 of the 47 Business Core credits must be completed at IU Columbus or IU Indianapolis.
- Complete the final 30 credit hours of the degree at the IU Columbus campus center.
- Achieve a final cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C average) or better, in accordance with the IU Columbus Division of Business General Requirements and Degree Requirements.
- Students are responsible for understanding and meeting the degree requirements.
- Students must request approval in writing for any exceptions to the general or degree requirements. Approval may be granted only by the Head of the IU Columbus Division of Business.
Students receive assistance with planning academic concentrations and clarifying degree requirements from their assigned academic advisor by using the online Student Appointment Scheduler in One.IU to schedule an appointment. Students are strongly urged to meet with a business programs academic advisor at least once each semester.
The undergraduate curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Business degree comprises four parts: (1) general education courses, (2) general elective courses, (3) business core courses, and (4) business concentration courses.
General Education Requirements (30 credits)
Core Communication (6 cr)
ENG-W131 Reading, Writing, & Inquiry
COMM-R110 Fundamentals of Speech Comm
Analytical Reasoning (6 cr)
MATH-M118 or M119 or MATH 15300 or higher
ECON-E270 Intro to Stat Theory for Business & Economics
Social Sciences (6 cr)
ECON-E201 Intro to Microeconomics
ECON-E202 Intro to Macroeconomics
Cultural Understanding (3 cr)
BUS-D101 Introduction to International Relations
Arts and Humanities (3 cr) – choose from all available courses
Life and Physical Sciences (6 cr) – choose from all available courses
General Electives (25 credits)
General electives are courses that apply toward the degree but not toward any of the other requirements listed, to bring total hours to 120 credits or more. At least six (6) elective credit hours must be non-BUS courses.
Business Core Requirements (47 credits)
(all are 3 cr unless noted)
BUS-X100 Intro to Business Administration
BUS-X103 Learning Communities (1 cr)
BUS-X204 Business Communications (P: ENG-W131)
BUS-J211 Integrated Bus Decision Making (P: BUS-X100)
BUS-X220 Professional Perspectives (2 cr) (P: BUS-X204 or ENG-W 231)
BUS-K201 The Computer in Business
BUS-A201 Intro to Financial Accounting (P: BUS-X100)
BUS-A202 Intro to Managerial Accounting (P: BUS-A201)
BUS-D301 International Business Environment (P: BUS-D101, ECON-E201, ECON-E202)
BUS-F301 Financial Mgmt (P: BUS-A202, BUS-J211)
BUS-M301 Marketing Mgmt (P: BUS-J211, BUS-X204)
BUS-P301 Operations Mgmt (P: BUS-J211, ECON-E270)
BUS-X390 Integrative Experience (P: BUS-F301, BUS-M301, BUS-P301)
BUS-Z302 Managing and Behavior in Organizations (P: BUS-J211)
BUS-J401 Administrative Policy (P: BUS-X390, P: or C: Experiential Learning) Permission required.
BUS-J404 Business and Society (P: BUS-Z302, senior standing)
BUS-X405 or X483 or X497 (2 cr) Experiential Learning: Virtual Exchange Study, Internship, or Research Project (advance proposal/application and permission required)
Business Concentration Areas (18 credits each)
Accounting
The accounting curriculum prepares students for careers in corporate accounting, auditing, management consulting, taxation, and accounting for governmental and nonprofit organizations. In addition, it equips the future business executive with tools for intelligent analysis, planning, control, and decision-making. Students study the methodology required to create and maintain accurate financial records of business transactions and the economic and managerial perspectives on the relationships between business activity, economic outcomes, and positive and negative evaluations of performance by preparing financial statements and reporting information such as business assets, liabilities, and operating expenses. Key credentials: The Accounting curriculum helps students prepare to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exams and provides an excellent foundation for students who want to pursue graduate work in business, public administration, or law.
Accounting Courses (18 cr)
Required courses (12 cr)
BUS-A311 Intermediate Accounting I (P: A202)
BUS-A312 Intermediate Accounting II (P: A311)
BUS-A325 Cost Accounting (P: A202)
BUS-A328 Introduction to Taxation (P: A202)
Choice courses offered at IU Columbus (6 cr)
BUS-A335 Acctg for Gov and Not-For-Profits (P: A311)
BUS-A424 Auditing and Assurance Services (P: A312)
(other choice courses may be taken with exception approval)
Students working towards the CPA or CMA credential should see their Academic Advisor early in their college career. Elective courses can and should be designed in a way that is consistent with the requirements set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Institute of Management Accountants, respectively.
Finance
For centuries, human beings have leveraged the power of trading to enhance quality of life, to innovate new solutions to old problems, and to create value for businesses, families, and individuals. Finance as an academic concentration explains the connections between investment activity, risk, decision-making, valuation, and the capital markets. Every day, business managers, investment managers, bankers, and individuals around the globe make choices about buying and selling assets and liabilities. The field of finance comprises the study of how business resources are allocated and managed, and how to create value. Knowledge learned in Finance allows students to measure the value of resources, to understand risk, and to manage debt. Financial analysis and study will involve other areas such as strategy, marketing, forecasting, risk assessment, and psychology. Key credentials: The financial curriculum helps students prepare to pass the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exams. Many other credentials exist within the field of Finance.
Finance Courses (18 cr)
Required courses (12 cr)
BUS-F303 Intermediate Investments (P: F301)
BUS-F305 Intermediate Corporate Finance (P: F301)
BUS-F420 Equity and Fixed Income Investments (P: F301, ECON-E270)
BUS-F421 Deriv Securities/Corp Risk Management (P: F301, ECON-E270)
Choice courses offered at IU Columbus (6 cr)
BUS-F446 Bank and Financial Intermediation (P: F301)
Any other BUS course at the 300-400 level offered at IU Columbus
Students desiring the CFA credential should see their Academic Advisor to design elective courses which optimize learning that is consistent with requirements set forth by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts.
Innovation Management
Effective leadership in an advanced manufacturing setting emphasizes innovative thinking. The Innovation Management concentration infuses rigorous scientific methodology with design thinking in business, focusing on value creation in organizations where engineered systems are paramount to success. Students in the innovation management concentration take 21 more credits in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) compared with other business concentrations, providing specialized capabilities for solving complex business and operations problems. Students explore core business areas and topics required to help businesses reach their strategic goals and effectively manage resources. Potential career opportunities include positions such as supervisor or manager of production, project manager, operations manager, or quality manager.
Innovation Management Courses (18 cr):
Required courses (18 cr)
BUS-P330 Project Management (P: P301)
BUS-P356 Lean Six Sigma (P: P301)
BUS-P421 Supply Chain Management (P: P301)
BUS-W430 Organizations and Org Design (P: Z302)
Any BUS-F (Finance) 300/400 level course offered at IU Columbus
Any BUS-M (Marketing) 300/400 level course offered at IU Columbus
NOTE: Some General Education courses and all General Elective courses are limited for this concentration.
The General Education, Life and Physical Sciences (6 cr) subjects are limited to BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS only.
General Electives (25 cr):
BUS-A325 Cost Accounting (P: BUS-A202), 3 cr
BUS-W411 Innovation and Design Thinking (P: junior or senior standing), 3 cr
Choose an Art or Design course (consult academic advisor), 3 cr
Choose at least 12 credits of science courses, subjects limited to AST, BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, GEOL, MATH, PHYS, PSY, or STAT, 12 cr
Choose any other general elective courses, 4 cr
Management
Society recognizes the importance of understanding both management itself and the complex nature of the organizations—in business, government, hospitals, and universities—in which managers operate. Management requires skill in coordinating people, processes, systems, and technology to generate desired outcomes for organizations. Effective business managers are proficient in supporting and enabling organizations to meet and exceed strategic priorities, goals, and objectives.
The management curriculum includes study of strategic management, organizational theory, human resource development, leadership, teamwork and diversity, and skills needed to address challenges in the global business environment. Through elective offerings students are able to pursue specialized areas such as project management, supply chain management, corporate or international finance, marketing research and more.
Management Courses
Required courses (9 cr)
BUS-K353 Business Analytics & Modeling (P: ECON-E270)
BUS-W430 Organizations and Org Design (P: Z302)
BUS-Z440 Personnel-HR Management (P: Z302)
Choice courses (9 cr)
Choose any three business (BUS) courses at the 300-400 level (9 cr) offered at IU Columbus
Specialty Tracks in Management
Data Analytics - curriculum in progress; please see academic advisor for details
Sports Management - curriculum in progress; please see academic advisor for details
Marketing
The study of marketing concerns all activities related to the marketing and distribution of goods and services from producers to consumers. Areas of study include customer behavior, the development of product offerings to meet consumer needs, pricing policies, institutions, and channels of distribution (including retailers and wholesalers), advertising, digital marketing, selling, sales promotion, research, and the management of marketing to provide for profitable and expanding businesses.
Students majoring in marketing will be qualified for careers such as advertising, public relations, marketing communications, sales and sales management, marketing research, product management and distribution and retail management.
Marketing Courses
Required courses (12 cr)
BUS-M303 Marketing Research (P: M301)
BUS-M401 International Marketing (P: M301)
BUS-M405 Consumer Behavior (P: M301)
BUS-M450 Marketing Strategy (P: M405, P or C: M303)
Choice courses offered at IU Columbus (6 cr)
BUS-M330 Consultative Selling (P: M301)
BUS-M432 Digital Marketing (P: M301)
Any other BUS course at the 300-400 level offered at IU Columbus
Business Minor
Developing a generalist perspective on today’s global business environment can be a great complement to your specialized study in another discipline. With just three required courses, a minor in business from IU Columbus is flexible, allowing you to select two other elective courses to complete the 15-credit minor based on your personal interests and professional goals.
Regardless of whether you major in liberal arts, psychology, education, general studies, nursing, or other fields, there are many career benefits to adding a minor in business to your resume.
Required courses (9 cr)
- BUS-X100, Introduction to Business Administration
- BUS-J211, Integrated Business Decision Making (P: BUS-X100)
- BUS-A201, Introduction to Financial Accounting
Choice courses (6 cr)
- BUS-A202, Introduction to Managerial Accounting (P: BUS-A201)
- BUS-F301, Financial Management (P: BUS-A202, BUS-J211)
- BUS-M301, Marketing Management (P: BUS-J211, BUS-X204)
- BUS-P301, Operations Management (P: BUS-J211, ECON-E270)
- BUS-Z302, Managing and Behavior in Organizations (P: BUS-J211)
- ECON-E201, Introduction to Microeconomics
- ECON-E202, Introduction to Macroeconomics
- Any other BUS course at the 300-400 level offered at IU Columbus for which prerequisites are met
