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Updated February 3, 2015

Business Administration Minor Programs

 

 

• Undergraduate Programs in Business Administration
• Graduate Programs in Business Administration

 

The Minor in Business Administration is a general minor whose purpose is to introduce non-business majors to the foundation areas of business. Specialized business minors allow the student to explore one area of business in more depth.

 

Except in cases of credit by examination, no more than 6 units of the business minor may be offered on a CR/NC basis. To meet residency requirements, at least fifty percent of any minor program must be taken in residence.

 

Minor in Business Administration

The Minor in Business Administration draws on business core courses to give a broad, non-specialized exposure to business. It is designed to provide entry-level employment skills for a wide range of jobs and help provide a bridge to the business world for non-business majors. Students who earn a minor in business administration and decide to pursue an MBA or MSBA at SF State may use the courses marked with an asterisk (*) to meet graduate-level foundation courses, provided they earn a B- or better in the class and have taken the undergraduate course within five years of entry into the graduate business program. Several of the courses listed below have prerequisites.

 

Business Administration, Minor — 24 units

 

Note: The ISYS 263 course requirement may be met by passing the ISYS 263 CLEP Exam. Students who pass the waiver exam do not need to take ISYS 263 but must take an additional course (upon advisement) to make up the 3 units.

 

Specialized Business Minors

These programs are designed to provide undergraduates with a focused exposure to a particular area of business practice rather than the broad exposure of the General Business Minor. As such, they can provide professional and technical skills needed for entry into specialized business employment for non-business majors or serve as an alternative to a double major for business majors wishing expertise in a second field.

 

Minor in Accounting

Accounting, Minor — 24 units

Note: All courses with an ACCT prefix must be taken for a letter grade, except for ACCT 300.

 

Minor in Decision Sciences

Decision Sciences, Minor — 18 units

 

Minor in Finance

The Minor in Finance has been temporarily suspended for 2015 - 2016. Students who have already declared the minor may continue their planned course of student, but no new minors will be accepted at this time.

 

Finance, Minor — 24 units

 

Minor in Information Systems

Information Systems, Minor — 24 units

 

Minor in International Business

International Business, Minor — 24 units

 

Minor in Management

Management, Minor — 21 units

 

Minor in Marketing

Marketing, Minor — 24 units

 

Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance

The Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance is a unique program that fulfills management and business needs for Ethics and Compliance professionals in growth industries such as healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, information technology services and products, finance and accounting, manufacturing and hospitality.

 

The Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance provides access to post-undergraduate level students and professionals seeking very specific academic training. These individuals may already have either a graduate degree, or are seeking graduate-level certificate course preparation for their further professional development.

 

Ethics and compliance (E&C) specialists work to prevent their organizations from committing errors that violate ethical standards of best practice or regulatory compliance. E&C specialists assess a company’s potential adverse or ethical impacts on their stakeholders. These specialists may also use analytical tools, such as Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), to proactively measure the effectiveness of ethical practices and assess compliance with U.S. and global regulations by identifying specific situations of risk to an organization’s stakeholders (i.e., employees, customers, suppliers, regulators and communities). Two key areas of need for E&C specialists are leadership in instantiating internal control and strategic planning in various functional areas of a company. Their role is to reduce the risk of unethical or illegal activities by individuals working in organizations through the development of policies and procedures to prevent these ethical failures. E&C specialists must be able navigate within an organization to instantiate best practices using ethical negotiation skills. Examples of tools developed by E&C specialists include developing and supporting corporate codes of conduct, employee training, regulatory compliance processes, analytical assessment and forecasting, negotiation strategies, as well as advisement to top management and senior organizational leaders towards ethical corporate cultures.

 

A student in the Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance program may apply the academic credit for the three courses to the SF State College of Business MBA program after applying for and being accepted to the MBA program (matriculate), but the student must complete the MBA program within seven years from the completion of each Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance class for each class to receive credit towards the MBA. MBA students who satisfy the Emphasis in Ethics and Compliance will be eligible for the Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance. (Please see the following guidelines on the certificate program application and enrollment into the MBA program.)

 

Certificate learning outcomes include developing key skills for students in:

• ethical issues identification and solutions-based mindsets, (MGMT 850)
• ethical analysis and data-analytics decision-making models for strategic planning, (MGMT 850)
• understanding the demands of transparency and Sunshine Laws, (MGMT 850)
• effectively understanding, negotiating and managing business risks and safety for stakeholders, (BUS 859/IBUS 859, MGMT 857)
• understanding the compliance and regulatory challenges of global business practices,
  • examples include: FCPA, Sunshine Laws, HIPAA, Affordable Care Act, ADA,
    EEOC, Sarbanes Oxley, Dodd-Frank, EPA, etc. (MGMT 850)
• compliance aptitude as a strategic partner for organizational integrity, (MGMT 850)
• measuring and auditing the effectiveness of compliance programs, (MGMT 850)
• integrating ethics and aligning compliance management and risk management with analytics, (MGMT 850)
• understanding the complexities of technology and protections for stakeholder privacy, (MGMT 850)
• developing organizational operations, training and structures under Chief Ethics and Compliance Officers, (BUS 859/IBUS 859)
• operating as change agents in the negotiation to effect organizational change, (BUS 859/IBUS 859)
• developing best practices in leadership of organizational processes and managing stakeholder impacts. (MGMT 857)

 

Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance — 9 units

Admissions Requirements

Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA demonstrated on submitted sealed or electronic university or college transcripts and an English writing sample will be required to be admitted as a post-baccalaureate unclassified student to the Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance program. San Francisco State University accepts applications for admission for the Fall and Spring semesters only, but some courses in the certificate program may be offered during the summer months. Admissions decisions for student acceptance/decline for the program will be 4 – 6 weeks after all transcripts are received.

 

Application – Two Steps

Apply to the College of Business and the University online via: http://cob.sfsu.edu/graduate-programs/application-checklist. You will be able to apply directly to the Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance program and San Francisco State University on this page. Please note that there will be two online applications, one for the university application and one for the certificate program application. At the CSU Mentor website at http://www.csumentor.edu, pay the required application fee and submit your official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended to the Division of Graduate Studies. Applicants with multiple transcripts should remember that it may take the college or university issuing the transcripts several weeks to send the documents to SF State. To ensure more rapid processing, applicants should gather official University-sealed transcripts from each institution previously attended, place them together in the same large envelope and submit them by mail or in person to Graduate Admissions, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue (ADM 250), San Francisco, CA 94132-4013. eTranscripts will be accepted from participating universities and should be sent to gradstdy@sfsu.edu.

 

Transfer Credit from Other Institutions, including graduate courses taken at another university, are not transferable to the College of Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance program.

 

Be mindful of the University and College of Business certificate program deadlines: University deadlines are found at: http://grad.sfsu.edu/program-deadline-dom and the Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance application deadlines are July 15 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission. Evaluation of a student application will not be initiated until all University application materials have been received. Admissions decisions for student acceptance/decline for the program will be 4 – 6 weeks after all transcripts are received.

 

Notice of Admission or Denial

After review of all application materials, the College of Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance admission committee will notify the SF State Graduate Admissions office of their admission recommendations. Applicants will be formally notified of their admission status in 4 – 6 weeks after all transcripts and records are received with receipt of the official SF State Graduate Admission Notification Letter, issued by the SF State Division of Graduate Studies. Letters of admission from the Business Certificate program received prior to the official SF State Admission Notification Letter are not binding. Applicants who are denied by either the University or the College of Business Certificate program will receive notification of denial from the Division of Graduate Studies. Applicants can monitor their admission status online on the SF State Gateway, which can be accessed 24/7 from the Graduate Studies or University main web pages.

 

Admission status as Post-baccalaureate Unclassified: Students admitted to the graduate Business Certificate in Ethics & Compliance program will register for classes as Post-baccalaureate Unclassified students and should contact the College of Business Graduate Studies office for scheduling an advisor meeting prior to registering for the certificate courses.

 

Certificate in Commercial Real Estate for Finance Majors

The Building Owners and Managers Association, San Francisco Foundation (BOMA SF Foundation) has partnered with San Francisco State University, providing support for several courses in commercial real estate. Students earn a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in finance, and a certificate in commercial real estate.

 

Career Opportunities

According to BOMA SF Foundation, “One of the most demanding issues facing the commercial real estate industry today is how to replace a large aging workforce soon to retire.” Jobs with great compensation and opportunities for career advancement are available in the commercial real estate industry, including property management, facilities management, asset and portfolio managers, real estate leasing and brokerage, and building engineering.

 

Commercial Real Estate, Certificate — 12 units

Commercial Real Estate Certificate Specifics

Finance majors must complete the requirements of their BS degree in business administration with a concentration in finance, plus a minimum of two additional courses.

• Five required finance concentration courses: ACCT 303, FIN 351, FIN 353, FIN 355, and FIN 536.
• Two required finance elective courses from: FIN 365, FIN 370, FIN 371, or FIN 372.
• Two required real estate emphasis courses from: FIN 365, FIN 370, FIN 371, or FIN 372.

FIN 370, FIN 371, and FIN 372 are 100% funded by the Building Owners & Managers Association San Francisco Foundation (BOMA SF Foundation). The certificate will be branded with BOMA SF Foundation’s sponsorship.

 

Certificate in Information Technology Auditing

General Information

The Certificate in Information Technology Auditing, offered by the Department of Information Systems, is designed to meet the needs of professionals with academic preparation and work experience in related fields by teaching concepts and applications in the area of information technology auditing. The certificate is focused on networking security issues from both the theoretical and practical perspectives. It is a coherent set of academic courses that does not lead to a degree in information technology auditing. The award of a completion certificate means the holder has completed the required courses that will help prepare them to sit for professional examinations.

 

The program serves the needs of non-matriculated students who have an appropriate academic background as well as full-time work experience in related fields and who wish to gain knowledge in the area of information technology auditing. It is designed to service the business community by helping fulfill the growing demand for specialists in this area.

 

Admission to the program is limited and is based on the appropriateness of the students' academic background and work experience. In order to be admitted to the certificate program, a candidate must have completed at least 60 units of undergraduate courses with a GPA of at least 2.7 in all courses.

 

The courses are graded on an A-F basis. A minimum grade of C- must be maintained in all course work as well as an overall B average. Before completing the program, all candidates must demonstrate the appropriate level of writing competency as prescribed by the program.

 

Information Technology Auditing, Certificate — 36 units

Depending on the candidate's formal education and business experience, additional courses could be required as prerequisites to the above curriculum. Because of the possible prerequisite requirements, a determination of the total curriculum by the certificate advisor must be made before a candidate is accepted into the program.

 

Certificate in International Business

Purpose

The Certificate in International Business is designed to offer international students and non-matriculated U.S. residents the opportunity to acquire competencies in international business in two semesters. The program consists of eight specified courses that focus on conceptual, theoretical, and practical skills as well as overall knowledge of international business. Although the program does not lead to a degree in international business, it prepares students to seek a career or advancement in international business. The award of a certificate means the holder has completed the required courses at an acceptable level of academic accomplishment. The certificate indicates to a prospective employer that the University validates the certificate program in international business.

 

Admission Requirements

Selection for admission to the program will be based on student objectives, academic background, and recommendations as appropriate. In order to be admitted to the program, a candidate should have completed the equivalent of 56 units or more of undergraduate courses through course work and/or appropriate professional or other preparation. Grades in course work completed should be of an average level equivalent to a GPA of 2.3 or higher on a 4.0 U.S. scale, or an equivalent combination of educational and professional preparation, in her/his home country. English language ability must be demonstrated by adequate scores on the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a Foreign Language), TOEIC examination (Test of English for International Communication), or certification by appropriate academic personnel.

 

Admission Procedures

All candidates must complete the application forms for the Certificate in International Business, which are available from the Department of International Business and the College of Extended Learning. Students will be notified of their admittance status by the program coordinator. The coordinator will arrange for student registration through Open University on a space-available basis.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

English proficiency at the conclusion of the program will be determined through evaluation of written papers in IBUS 590. Satisfactory performance in writing is required for both passing the IBUS 590 course and for completing the program.

 

Curriculum

Students must complete two semesters of course work from international business core and specialized courses. Students who have specific educational or career needs may be allowed to vary selection of courses in the program after consulting with and obtaining written approval from the program coordinator.

 

International Business, Certificate — 24 units

Award of the Certificate

The certificate will be awarded by the dean of the College of Extended Learning, and will also be signed by the coordinator of the certificate program. Notice of issuance of the certificate will be entered on the student’s official academic record.

 

Certificate in the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing

General Information

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and its enhanced requirement that all publicly held companies maintain adequate internal control structures has benefitted the profession of internal auditing. The internal auditor is the in-house consultant in strengthening a company's internal controls. Internal auditors, through their international organization, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), sought to strengthen their professionalism. One of the manners in which this was done was to establish a certification program and require continuing education to maintain the certification.

 

The Certificate in the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing program targets those individuals who work or have an interest in the field of internal auditing. Students in this program will find that it will assist them in becoming a Certified Internal Auditor, a professional designation given by the Institute of Internal Auditors. The program is offered through Open University in conjunction with the Department of Accounting and reflects what the Institute of Internal Auditors regards as the common body of knowledge for internal auditors. (To learn more about Open University and how it is offered in the College of Extended Learning, please go to http://www.cel.sfsu.edu/auditing)

 

This certificate program has been officially endorsed by the San Francisco Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

 

Program Description

In order to be accepted to the Certificate in the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, a candidate must have completed at least 56 units of undergraduate course work with a minimum 2.0 (C) grade point average. Exceptions may be permitted upon presentation of special justification to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

 

The courses are graded on an A-F basis. A minimum grade of C– must be maintained in all course work as well as an overall C average. Before completing the program, all candidates must demonstrate the appropriate level of writing competency as prescribed by the program.

 

The Certificate in the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing includes 15 units of undergraduate, upper division course work as follows.

 

Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, Certificate — 15 units

Because of the possible prerequisite requirements as described above, a determination of the total curriculum by the certificate advisor must be made before a candidate is accepted into the program.

 

Certificate in the Study of Public Accountancy

General Information

The Certificate in the Study of Public Accountancy program targets SF State matriculated business students as well as students pursuing or possessing an undergraduate degree in business related disciplines from other accredited institutions who are interested in the field of public accounting. Students in this program will find that it will assist them in preparation to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Completion of this certificate itself does not represent CPA certification. The certificate program is offered through Open University in conjunction with the Department of Accounting and reflects what the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants regards as the common body of knowledge for CPAs. The content of the program also enhances accounting students' formal business education.

 

SF State matriculated undergraduate business students must pass the ACCT 301 pretest and have completed 56 units of college credits with a minimum 2.0 grade point average to be eligible for the program. Non-SF State matriculated business students, if not already holding an undergraduate business degree, must have completed 56 units of college credits with a minimum 2.0 grade point average to be considered for admission.

 

The Study of Public Accountancy, Certificate — 30 units

A maximum of five equivalent courses taken from other accredited institutions can be used to waive the above required courses. Depending on the candidate's formal education, additional courses could be required as prerequisites to, or used as substitution for, the above curriculum. A determination of the total curriculum by the certificate director must be made before a candidate is accepted into the program. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the certificate course work to earn the certificate.

 

English Proficiency Requirement

Before completing the certificate program, all candidates must have (prior to spring 2014) passed ENG 414, or spring 2014 and thereafter, a GWAR courses with a grade of C or better. Candidates who have taken and passed an upper division expository writing course at another institution may apply for a waiver of the English proficiency requirement.

 

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Footnotes

1. MATH 324 is an equivalent to DS 212 for the purpose of fulfilling this requirement. Prerequisite mathematics capability for MATH 324 may be satisfied by MATH 227. Prerequisite mathematics capability for DS 212 may be satisfied by DS 110, MATH 110, or MATH 226.
   back to business minor prerequisites list
2. ACCT 100 and ACCT 101 may be substituted for ACCT 300, on advisement.
3. ECON 101 and ECON 102 (formerly ECON 100) may be substituted for ECON 305, on advisement.