Post-Baccalaureate/Second Undergrad Degree Students
To earn a second degree in business, students must meet both the School of Business (SBA) and the University requirements listed below:
University Requirements
- Completion of 45 post-baccalaureate hours (36 if the first degree was from PSU)
- At least 25 of these credits must be taken for a grade.
- Completion of BA or BS requirements if different from 1st degree.
- WR 323 is required for students whose 1st degree is from an institution where English is not the language of instruction.
School of Business Requirements
- Admission into the School of Business (requirements listed below)
- Completion of the Pre-business courses and required business core classes (listed below)
- Completion of the requirements for one or more option(s)
- Completion of 82 credits in business coursework, 41 at Portland State University.
Please note: Courses taken during the student's first degree may count towards these requirements. Please see department for details.
SBA Admission Criteria
- Be admitted to PSU with post-baccalaureate standing;
- Have completed all of the Conceptual Tools courses with a C- or higher;
- Have an undergraduate cumulative GPA, PSU cumulative, and PSU business GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Admission to the SBA is non-competitive; if you meet all of the application requirements you will be admitted.
- Required Pre-Business courses:
- BA 101 - Introduction to Business and World Affairs (4) (prior degree in business waives this requirement)
- BA 205 - Business Communications Using Technology (4)
- BA 211 - Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (4) (was BA 222)
- BA 213 - Decision Making with Financial Accounting (4) (was BA 223)
- CS 106 - Computing Fundamentals II (4) (effective 2002-2003 Bulletin Year)
- STAT 243, STAT 244 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics 1 & 11 (4, 4)
- EC 201(micro), EC 202 (macro) - Principles of Economics (4, 4)
- SP 220 - Public Speaking (4)
- WR 121 - English Composition (4) (a bachelor's degree from any US institution waives this requirement)
Business Core Requirements (35 credits)
Required for all business majors:
- BA 301 - Research and Analysis of Business Problems (4) (effective 2002-2003 Bulletin Year)
- BA 302 - Organizational Behavior (4)
- BA 303 - Business Finance (4)
- BA 311 - Marketing Management (4)
- BA 325 - Competing with Information Technology (4)
- BA 339 - Operations and Quality Management (4)
- BA 385 - Business Environment (4)
- BA 495 - Business Strategy (4) (restricted to graduating seniors admitted to the SBA)
Major Requirements (20-36 credits)
Restricted Core Courses
Beginning Fall 2001, all 400-level Business courses will be restricted to students who are admitted the School of Business . Also, all 300-level required Business Core courses will be restricted to students who are admitted to the School of Business, but only during priority registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I get started on a second degree in The School of Business?
A. Mail, fax, or drop off a copy of your undergraduate transcripts to the SBA, Student Services office (SBA 240) and let us know which option you are interested in. An administrator in the School of Business will evaluate the transcripts, and create an unofficial checklist for you. This process will take 2-4 weeks to complete. The checklist will outline the program coursework and will show you whether you have completed the prerequisites for admission to the SBA.
Q. Approximately how long does it take to earn a second degree at PSU?
A. The length of time depends on numerous factors. First, it will depend on whether or not you have completed the prerequisites for SBA admission and whether you already have a degree in business. It will also depend on whether you are attending full time, part time, through summer, etc. It is estimated that the second degree takes 1-4 years to complete.
Q. How does a Post-Baccalaureate second degree differ from the Post -Baccalaureate Accounting Certificate (PBAC)?
A. PBAC is a certificate specific to accounting while a 2nd degree is a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and can be in any option area the SBA offers.
The second degree requires additional business administration classes and provides more of a foundation in the functional areas of business than the certificate.
The length of time to finish these programs varies; a second degree takes longer to earn than the certificate. The second degree requires significant course work including, completion of the Pre-Business courses, the Business Core courses (with a minimum 82 credit hours in the SBA), while the PBAC requires fulfillment of the Pre-Business courses and the 45 credit hours required of the certificate.
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