General Business

The general business major provides an overview and fundamental working knowledge of the varied aspects of business.

Students receive a broad and generalized understanding of the function of business and how the various sub-disciplines of business interact to contribute to the success of an organization. Students select courses across all business sub-disciplines, obtaining an understanding of the field of business. Courses are selected within a particular sub-discipline to develop specialized knowledge of a particular area of business. Positions available to graduates with a general business major are those that require a broad, overarching understanding of the business function, rather than a specialized knowledge within a particular business sub-discipline. Examples are in retailing, sales, and other service industries.

General Business Curriculum

Complete with a grade of C (2.0) or better:

  • ACCTG 201: Financial Accounting
  • ACCTG 202: Managerial Accounting
  • ECON 101: Principles of Economics (Macro)
  • ECON 102: Principles of Economics (Micro)
  • FIN 240: Legal Environment of Business
  • MIS 180: Principles of Information Systems
  • RWS 290: Business Communications (formerly BA 290)
  • MATH 120 or MATH 150: Calculus for Business Analysis
  • STAT 119 or ECON 201: Elementary Statistics for Business or Statistical Methods

You must have a 2.0 average or better in the courses listed below in order to graduate. Other requirements for the degree can be found in the SDSU Catalog and in your degree evaluation. Official requirements are based upon catalog copy and issued by the Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.sdsu.edu/

  • BA 300: Ethical Decision Making in Business (1-unit)
  • BA 310: Foundations of Business in a Global Environment (1-unit)
  • BA 323: Fundamentals of Finance
  • BA 350: Management & Organizational Behavior
  • BA 360: Introduction to Operations & Supply Chain
    Prereq. STAT 119 or ECON 201; recommended: MATH 120;
  • BA 370: Marketing
  • BA 404: Small Business Consulting OR
    MGT 405: International Business Strategy & Integration OR
    BA 458: Management Decision Games
    Prereq. BA 310, 350, 370

3 units selected from the following:

  • ACCTG 325: Intermediate Managerial Accounting
    Prereq. ACCTG 202
  • ACCTG 326: Intermediate Financial Accounting
    Prereq. ACCTG 202

3 units selected from the following:

  • FIN 321: Managerial Economics
  • FIN 326: Financial Institutions Management
    Prereq. BA 323
  • FIN 327: Investments
    Prereq. BA 323
  • FIN 328: Entrepreneurial Finance
    Prereq. BA 323
  • FIN 329: International Business Finance
    Prereq. BA 323
  • FIN 331: Real Estate Principles
  • FIN 334: Principles of Risk Management and Insurance
  • FIN 336: Principles of Residential Property Management
  • FIN 522: Individual Insurance Management

3 units selected from the following:

  • MGT 352: Human Resource Management
  • MGT 357: Multinational Business & Comparative Mgt.
    Prereq. BA 350
  • MGT 358: Fundamental of Entrepreneurship

3 units selected from the following:

  • MIS 306: Information Systems Analysis
    Prereq. MIS 180
  • MIS 315: Business Application Programming
    Prereq. MIS 180
  • MIS 380: Data Management Systems
    Prereq. MIS 180

4 units selected from the following:

  • MKTG 371: Consumer Behavior (4-units)
    Prereq. Minimum Grade of C in BA 370
  • MKTG 372: Retail Marketing Methods (4-units)
    Prereq. Minimum Grade of C in BA 370
  • MKTG 373: Integrated Marketing Communication (4-units)
    Prereq. Minimum Grade of C in BA 370
  • MKTG 376: Global Marketing Strategy (4-units)
    Prereq. Minimum Grade of C in BA 370
  • MKTG 377: Selling Strategy and Practices (4-units)
    Prereq. Minimum Grade of C in BA 370

6-7 units of 400-level and 500-level courses in the Fowler College of Business (not including BA 401)

Current Students: Requirements may vary based upon catalog year. For year-specific information, please visit:

Requirements by Catalog Year

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SDSU Fowler College of Business
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8230

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