Business Administration (BA in Professional Studies)

The Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with a major in Business Administration from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) builds knowledge and skills for application in corporate and nonprofit settings, especially within administrative, managerial and supervisory positions. In this program, students examine their prior and current work experience in light of theory and principles. This program intentionally helps students to integrate liberal arts learning, with an emphasis on agile and critical thinking, with a professional specialization.

This major advances students' foundational business knowledge in a range of areas critical to business administration, especially project management, human resources, risk management, leadership, workplace law, globalization, ethical conduct, data analytics, and professional communications. With a range of courses in the major offered as electives, students may choose courses and specialize in areas of particular interest to them.

Graduates of this program will be particularly well positioned to make optimal decisions in the workplace and become promotable leaders. This major is designed for working adult students who seek the following:

• Flexible scheduling including online options available
• Financial Aid, flexible payment options, and special adult student tuition pricing available
• Acceleration and affordability through transfer credit and prior learning assessment (PLA) credit
• Opportunities to combine bachelor's and master’s programs and apply graduate courses to both programs
• Individualized program planning, course selection and advising assistance provided
• Enhanced career opportunities through professional portfolio development, and career placement services instruction from industry practitioners, and wide-ranging Career Services support
• Degree granted by DePaul University, with its excellent academic reputation and the opportunity to join its prestigious and extensive alumni network

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Analyze and apply knowledge and theories of management.
• Analyze issues in organizational contexts.
• Apply skills for effective decision-making in organizations.
• Investigate problems using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Apply ethical principles in context.
• Apply various methods of communication in multiple settings.
• Analyze and apply different liberal arts perspectives.

College Core (78 credits, 20 credits in residence):

Lifelong Learning Requirements (32 credits, 16 credits in residence):

 Liberal Learning Requirements (46 credits, 4 credits in residence):

• Liberal Arts in Action Requirement: CCA 281, CCH 281, CCS 281 or courses with LA1 designation, 6 credits
• CORE CURRICULUM ARTS & IDEAS, courses with the CCA, AL, PI, or RD requirement designations, or any Arts & Ideas competencies, 12 credits
• CORE CURRICULUM HUMAN COMMUNITY, courses with the CCH, SSMW, or UP requirement designations, or any Human Community competencies, 12 credits
• CORE CURRICULUM SCIENTIFIC WORLD, courses with the CCSW, SI, SILB, or SISK requirement designations, or any Scientific Word competencies, 12 credits
• IN 307 INTEGRATIVE LEARNING, 4 credits ¹

Major Requirements (70 credits) 

40 credit hours must be completed in residence in the major, including FA 199 and LL 303.

Professional Studies Core (20 credits, 8 credits in residence)

Business Administration Core (40 credits)

Business Administration Electives (10 credits)

Open Electives (44 credits)

Open Electives can be fulfilled through courses taken in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and other DePaul colleges, transfer courses, assessment of prior learning (PLA), and independent studies.​​​​​

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