Academic Catalog

2024-2025

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Accounting (BSBA)

Bruce Rubin, Ph.D., Interim Chair
To be named, Chief Academic Advisor

Accounting, as the world's oldest information system, provides information for most government, non-profit, and business decisions. Accounting graduates pursue successful careers in the public or private sectors.  The undergraduate program in accounting at Old Dominion University is one of a select group in the country with separate accreditation from AACSB-International. The program provides a broad-based education with a variety of career objectives. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in accounting provides students with technical accounting knowledge, the ability to analyze problems, communicate solutions, interact with colleagues, and successfully handle ethical issues appropriate for staff-level positions.  The program provides, at a minimum, 24 hours of accounting, which is sufficient for a graduate to sit for most accounting professional licensure and certification exams. 

A student who seeks a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in accounting from Old Dominion University must, in addition to meeting other requirements of the University, earn a minimum of 25 percent of the total number of credits required for the degree (for example, 30 credits in a 120-credit degree program) through on- or off-campus instruction. 

Strome College of Business (SCB) Center for Undergraduate Advising and Student Success

The mission of this office is to challenge and support students in self-exploration and, through advising, provide resources for them to develop an achievable plan for success. Our vision is for students to be aware of their academic, personal, and professional goals; empowered to pursue them; and confident in their ability to accomplish them.

Our professional advisors work with all freshmen, new transfer students, or students changing majors regarding admission, continuance, and graduation requirements and required curricula for the majors and minors offered by the College. Additionally, the office serves all Strome College of Business students as a satellite of the Center for Career & Leadership Development, assisting students with internships and job placement.

Additionally, the Center assists students with information and access to supplemental success programs and tools such as peer tutoring, mentoring, and the Tanner Business Fellows. 

Degree Requirements

Students in all of the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree programs must fulfill the University General Education requirements (including foreign language) as well as the Strome College of Business's  core, major, and elective requirements. Students must choose at least one major area to meet requirements towards the degree. The major areas are: accounting, business analytics, economics, enterprise cybersecurity, finance, human resource management, international business, information systems and technology, management, marketing, personal financial planning, real estate, and risk management and insurance.

To stay in compliance with AACSB accreditation standards, students receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University must complete at least half of their business course work in residence with a minimum of four courses in their declared major. This equates to 10 business classes, thus meeting the University's residency requirement as well.

Majors in the college may not take business and public administration courses for pass/fail credit except those courses in which pass/fail is the only grading option (i.e., internships and practica).

No more than four hours of activity credit (used as free electives) may be applied to degree requirements for students majoring within the college.

Eligibility to Enroll in Upper-Level (300/400-level) Business Courses

Only students who have officially completed Step 1 Admission to the BSBA program (see below) will be eligible to enroll in upper-level (300/400) business courses (refer to exceptions for non-business majors). However, students who have completed Step 1 Admission but not Step 2 Admission to the BSBA program (see below) are limited to completing a maximum of 18 credit hours of upper-level business courses. Note: These students will need a Program Restriction Waiver (PRW) to enroll in any 300/400 level business or economics course, with the exception of FIN 323, MGMT 325, MKTG 311, and OPMT 303. Intended Business majors do not need a PRW to enroll in those four courses. However, there may be class standing and/or prerequisite requirements. Forms to request a PRW to enable enrollment in other 300/400 level business courses before completion of Step 2 admission are available on the Strome College of Business website.

Students with extenuating circumstances may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Strome College of Business  in writing for a one-time, one-semester waiver of the 18 hour limitation on enrollment in 300/400-level business courses without Step 2 Admission to the BSBA degree program.

Enrollment in 300/400-level Business Courses by Non-Business Majors

Enrollment in 300/400-level business courses will be granted without Step 1 Admission or Step 2 Admission to the bachelor's degree program in business administration for the following exceptions:

  1. Students pursuing a declared minor in the Strome College of Business may enroll in 300/400-level business courses appropriate to the minor.
  2. Students pursuing Upper-Division General Education Requirement Option B: Interdisciplinary Minor or Option D: Six hours of elective upper-division courses outside the student's major discipline or college.
  3. Students wishing to satisfy the Impact of Technology requirement may enroll in IT 360T.
  4. Students pursuing a degree program other than the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) that requires or accepts specific 300/400-level business courses to complete the degree may enroll in the courses appropriate to the major.
  5. Non-degree-seeking students may enroll in 300/400-level business courses if they have satisfied the prerequisites for these courses.

Students in categories 1 - 5 above who do not have a declared major will need a Program Restriction Waiver (PRW) in order to enroll in any 300/400-level Strome College of Business course (including Economics courses). Forms to request a PRW are available at the Strome College of Business website.

Admission to the Undergraduate Program in Business Administration

General Requirements

Applicants for admission to the undergraduate degree program in business administration (the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration) should apply initially to the Office of Admissions of Old Dominion University. Students cannot be accepted into business administration without first being admitted to the University. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) program. Candidates for admission to the BSBA program should indicate on the application to the University their intention to enter the undergraduate business administration degree program.

Admission to the BSBA degree program is a two-step process. Students must first successfully complete Step 1 Admission requirements (described below), and be certified as having done so, before undertaking the requirements for Step 2 Admission to the BSBA degree program (described below).

All candidates for admission to the undergraduate business administration program should contact the Strome College of Business directly for an Application for Step 1 Admission or an Application for Step 2 Admission to the program. Applications are available on the Strome College of Business's website, in all of its department offices, and in the College's Undergraduate Advising office. Normally, students should apply for Step 1 Admission in their sophomore year. The Strome College of Business will notify students of the Step 1 Admission decision. Students should normally apply for Step 2 Admission in their junior year. The Strome College of Business will notify students of the Step 2 Admission decision. Students will remain "Intended" business majors until their Step 2 application has been approved.

Admission to the Bachelor's Degree Program in Business Administration: Step 1

Before Step 1 Admission to the bachelor's degree program in business administration can be granted, a student must have earned a grade of C or higher in each of the business Step 1 Admission courses:

BUSN 110Introduction to Contemporary Business1
ENGL 110CEnglish Composition3
MATH 162MPrecalculus I3
ACCT 201Principles of Financial Accounting3
ECON 202SPrinciples of Microeconomics3

BUSN 110 is not required for students pursuing an Information Systems and Technology major (excluding Business Analytics) or for any student with an associate's degree in business administration or with a prior bachelor's degree in business administration. Students may utilize the Grade Forgiveness Policy for the business Step 1 Admission courses.

Transfer students may complete business Step 1 Admission courses BUSN 110, ENGL 110C, MATH 162M, ACCT 201, and ECON 202S at another accredited college or university, but are responsible for having Transfer Evaluation Services determine that the courses are acceptable to the University. Transfer students with associate's degrees from Virginia community colleges that have articulated transfer agreements with ODU that do not require taking ENGL 110C must substitute ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C for ENGL 110C in the list of business Step 1 Admission courses. All transfer students must have a transfer student evaluation completed by Transfer Evaluation Services to be used as documentation that the transfer courses are acceptable.

Waiver of Eligibility Requirements to Enroll in Upper-Level Business Courses for Students Pursuing Step 1 Admission

Students with extenuating circumstances may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Strome College of Business (Room 2004 Constant Hall) in writing for a one-time, one-semester waiver of the restriction on enrollment in upper-level (300/400) business courses without Step 1 Admission to the bachelor's degree program in business administration. Waivers will be granted under the following conditions:

  1. The waiver has not been granted previously.
  2. The student must have successfully completed at least 42 credit hours applicable to the BSBA degree program.
  3. During the semester for which the waiver is granted, the student must enroll in all remaining business Step 1 Admission courses whose successful completion with a grade of C or better would allow normal Step 1 Admission to the bachelor's degree program in business administration.

Appealing a Denial of Step 1 Admission to the Undergraduate Business Administration Program

Students who do not achieve a grade of C or higher in the business Step 1 Admission courses BUSN 110, ENGL 110C,  MATH 162M, ACCT 201, and ECON 202S after utilizing the Grade Forgiveness Policy may appeal in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Strome College of Business documenting the reasons why the student should be granted Step 1 Admission to the bachelor's degree program in business administration. The Associate Dean will review the student's other coursework to determine if the student has maintained an overall 2.00 grade point average in at least 25 semester hours or 42 quarter hours from Old Dominion University or an accredited institution of higher education. In this case, the requirement for a grade of C or better in each of the Step 1 Admission courses may, at the discretion of the Associate Dean, be waived.

Admission to the Bachelor's Degree Program in Business Administration: Step 2

Students must first successfully complete Step 1 before undertaking the requirements for Step 2 Admission to the bachelor's degree program in business administration. Students must apply for Step 2 Admission to the program no later than the end of the semester in which they complete the following requirements:

  1. Earn an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all courses taken through Old Dominion University.
  2. Complete at least 12 hours of upper-level (300/400) courses through Old Dominion University, which must include at least six hours of upper-level courses from the Strome College of Business's BSBA Core coursework.  Note: students pursuing Step 2 admission will need a Program Restriction Waiver (PRW) to enroll in any 300/400 level business course with the exception of FIN 323, MGMT 325, MKTG 311, and OPMT 303. Forms to request a PRW are available on the College's website.
  3. Earn a 2.00 cumulative grade point average or higher in all upper-level courses taken through Old Dominion University.
  4. Earn a 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all BSBA Core courses taken through Old Dominion University.

Students not meeting these requirements may refer to the appeal procedures below.

Appealing a Denial of Step 2 Admission to the Bachelor's Degree Program in Business Administration

Students who do not fulfill the requirements for Step 2 Admission, but who have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average in all of the business courses taken in the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University, may appeal in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Strome College of Business. The appeal must document the reasons why the student should be granted Step 2 Admission to the bachelor's degree program in business administration. In this case, the regular Step 2 Admission requirements may, at the discretion of the Associate Dean, be waived.

Fast Track Admission to the Bachelor's Degree Program in Business Administration

Students who complete the five courses required for Step 1 of the BSBA admission process (see above) with a grade of B or higher in all five and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible for Fast Track Admission. Fast Track Admission allows the student to become fully admitted to the BSBA degree program and move from an Intended to a Declared major at the time their Step 1 application is processed. Students transferring in any of the Step 1 courses are eligible for Fast Track Admission after completing at least 12 credits of course work at ODU if they present an unofficial transcript showing earned grades of B or higher in the Step 1 courses transferred to ODU, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at all prior institutions and at ODU.

Regulations for Continuance in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

In addition to the Old Dominion University continuance policies, the following policies are specific to all declared Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) students. The Strome College of Business makes a reasonable effort to notify undergraduate students who are not in good academic standing in the BSBA program of their academic status. Each undergraduate student who is placed on BSBA Academic Alarm or BSBA Termination (explained below) will be sent an e-mail message to that effect at the student's Old Dominion University e-mail address, in accordance with the Electronic Communication Policy for Official University Business. Non-receipt of the e-mail messages by a student will not be considered grounds for granting exceptions or delays in enforcement of the BSBA continuance regulations.

BSBA Continuance Regulations

At the end of each semester—fall, spring, and summer—the Strome College of Business reviews the records of all students who do not maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in the BSBA Core coursework and acts according to the following policies:

  1. BSBA Academic Alarm. A student will be placed on BSBA Academic Alarm when the student's cumulative GPA in the BSBA Core falls below 2.00 at the end of a semester, including summer terms. Consistent with the University continuance policy, a student on BSBA Academic Alarm may not enroll in more than 14 credit hours in fall and spring semesters, no more than six credits in the summer terms, and no more than one course in any single summer term. The enrollment limit may be waived under extenuating circumstances and with the permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Strome College of Business.
    A student on Academic Alarm must achieve a cumulative GPA in the BSBA Core of at least 2.00 at the end of the next semester of attendance to return to good BSBA academic standing. The student will continue on Academic Alarm each semester if the cumulative GPA in the BSBA Core remains below 2.00, but the semester GPA in the BSBA Core is 2.00 or above. Failure to achieve a semester GPA in the BSBA Core of at least 2.00 will result in termination from the BSBA program.
    While on BSBA Academic Alarm, it is the student's responsibility to contact the College's Undergraduate Advising Office by email (businessadvising@odu.edu) in the first month of each semester to discuss the student's plan to return to good BSBA academic standing. Should a student decide not to enroll at the University for a semester or other period of time, his or her status will remain the same upon returning.
  2. BSBA Termination. A student on BSBA Academic Alarm who fails to achieve a semester GPA in the BSBA Core of at least 2.00 at the end of a fall or spring semester is terminated from the BSBA program. Upon BSBA termination, the student's major in the Strome College of Business will be removed. (This does not affect a declared second major outside of the BSBA.) These students are advised to work with an advisor in the SCB Center for Undergraduate Advising to explore other major options, and for referrals to other advising departments for a new major declaration.
    A student on BSBA Academic Alarm who fails to achieve a semester GPA in the BSBA Core of at least 2.00 in a summer term will not be terminated but will continue in BSBA Academic Alarm status.

Guidelines for Filing a BSBA Termination Appeal

  1. All students have the right to appeal their BSBA termination if they believe that extraordinary circumstances were the main reason for their poor academic performance. Notifications of pending BSBA termination are sent to the student's ODU email address and include information on the appeal process and deadlines. All BSBA termination appeals must be submitted electronically using the link provided in the email and will be reviewed by the SCB Termination Appeal Committee. Students are responsible for submitting their appeal by the stated deadline; late appeals will not be reviewed. Decisions of the Termination Appeal Committee may be appealed to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Strome College of Business whose decision is final.
  2. Appeals must be based on circumstances pertinent to the semesters in which the academic difficulty occurred that were beyond the control of the student and for which official withdrawal from the course(s) was not an option. Appeal letters must be legible and authored by the terminated student.
    The appeal letter must provide sufficient detail and explanation regarding the following points because there is no face-to-face meeting with the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Strome College of Business. The decision of the Associate Dean is final. Students without documentation will not be allowed to appeal their termination. In order to be reviewed, an appeal letter must:
    1. Document the extraordinary circumstances such as a death in the family, medical complications or chronic conditions, personal or family emergency, overwhelming work schedules, dorm-mate conflict, or a personal relationship conflict that have adversely affected performance: i.e., a statement or letter from a physician, employer, family members, faculty, academic advisor, Counseling Services, or Educational Accessibility.
    2. Explain how the extraordinary circumstances caused each semester of poor academic performance.
    3. State the reasons why an official withdrawal was not requested.
    4. Explain how the extraordinary circumstance(s) has been resolved.
    5. Provide a plan of action to return to good BSBA academic standing.
  3. Students who do not file a BSBA termination appeal or whose appeals are denied, are no longer eligible to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Upon BSBA termination, the student's major in the Strome College of Business will be removed. (This does not affect a declared second major outside of the BSBA.) These students are advised to work with an advisor in the SCB Center for Undergraduate Advising to explore other major options, and for referrals to other advising departments for a new major declaration.
  4. BSBA-terminated students who had pre-registered for a subsequent semester lose eligibility for continued enrollment in upper-level business courses.

Applying for Readmission to the BSBA Program

After a minimum of five years has passed since a student was terminated from the BSBA program, the student may apply for readmission to the program. There must be a high probability the student will successfully complete the degree program, and approval will be at the discretion of the Strome College of Business Associate Dean.

The decision will be based on an evaluation of the student's transcript and on a written statement from the student explaining how circumstances that previously prevented the student from succeeding have changed in the intervening time period.

If readmitted, a student will be required to take all BSBA Core courses, and their prerequisites, that have not been completed with a grade of C or better, and any other courses required for the student's degree program under the most recent Undergraduate Catalog.

If a student is readmitted, BSBA Core course grades of C- or lower earned before termination will not be included in future BSBA Core GPA calculations (though they will remain on the transcript).