Get Started on Your BBA Online Today!

The online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program delivers classes that parallel those offered on-campus—leading to the same respected degree and major in Business Administration. Accredited by AACSB, the most elite accreditation awarded to business schools, a BBA degree from MSU’s College of Business will prepare you to think, communicate, and collaborate ethically in today’s diverse, technology-driven, global business environment. Through courses taught by dedicated College of Business faculty, you will gain general knowledge of various aspects of the business world and will learn the universal functions of business, such as planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, and budgeting —as well as how to organize these resources efficiently.

AACSB logo

After learning each of these disciplines, you will then complete more advanced coursework from a variety of specialized areas including marketing, branding, business law, leadership, human resources, finance, and insurance.

Tailored to the unique needs of working adults, our online classes offer the flexibility to complete your degree while continuing to work full-time. You are also allowed to transfer up to 61 credit hours of applicable courses from accredited community colleges (or accredited four-year institutions) toward the 123 overall credit hours required for the program.*

*All junior/senior level business courses can be completed online at MSU

For a no-obligation evaluation, please send an unofficial transcript of all your college course work to our Online BBA Program Advisor

Program Structure

General Education Requirements

Course Number Course Title Hours
EN 1103 English Composition I 3
EN 1113 English Composition II 3
MA 1313 College Algebra 3
MA 1613 Calculus for Business & Life Sciences I 3
PS 1113 American Government 3
CO 1013 Introduction to Communication 3
Total Hours: 18

All courses listed below are recommended courses offered online at MSU, but do not represent all available options.

Social/Behavioral Sciences (Choose one) Hours
CO 1223 Intro Comm Theory 3
CO 1403 Intro Mass Media 3
SO 1003 Intro To Sociology 3
Total Hours: 3
Fine Arts (Choose one) Hours
ART 1113 Art Appreciation 3
MU 1113 History & Appreciation Of Music 3
MU 1123 American Music Appreciation 3
MU 1133 The History of Rock and Roll 3
Total Hours: 3
Humanities (Choose two) Hours
HI 1063 Early US History 3
HI 1073 Modern US History 3
PHI 1113 Intro To Logic 3
PHI 1123 Intro To Ethics 3
Total Hours: 6
Lab Science Hours
GG 1113 & GG 1111 Survey Earth Sci I & Earth Science I Lab 4
PH 1023 & PH 1021 Physical Sci Survey 2 & Physical Science Lab 2 4
Total Hours: 8
International Electives (Choose one) Hours
GR 1123 Intro World Geography 3
AN 1143 Cultural Anthropology 3
Total Hours: 3
Other Hours
TECH 1273 Computer Applications 3
Total Hours: 3
Course Number Course Title Hours
ACC 2013 Principles of Financial Accounting 3
ACC 2023 Principles of Managerial Accounting 3
EC 2113 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
EC 2123 Principles of Microeconomics 3
BL 2413 Legal Environment of Business 3
BQA 2113 Business Statistical Methods I 3
BQA 3123 Business Statistical Methods II 3
MKT 3013 Principles of Marketing 3
MGT 3213 Organizational Communications 3
MGT 3113 Principles of Management 3
BIS 3233 Management Information Systems 3
MKT 3323 International Logistics 3
FIN 3123 Financial Management 3
BUS 4853 Strategic Management 3
Total Hours: 42

Business Administration Major Requirements (Choose eight)

Course Number Course Title Hours
MGT 3513 Intro to Human Resources 3
MGT 3823 Responsible Leadership 3
MKT 3213 Retailing 3
MKT 4113 Personal Selling 3
MKT 4413 Consumer Behavior 3
MKT 4423 Strategic Brand Management 3
BL 4333 Real Estate Law 3
FIN 3113 Finance Systems 3
INS 3103 Principles of Insurance 3
INS 3303 Life Insurance 3
INS 3503 Employee Benefits 3
Total Hours: 24

Total Hours for Online BBA Degree Breakdown

Total General Education Required Hours: 18
Total General Education Elective Hours: 26
Total College of Business Required Hours: 42
Total Business Administration Major Required Hours: 24
Total Free Elective Hours: 13
Total Hours for Online BBA Degree: 123

Transfer Credit

  • Students may transfer up to 61 hours from an accredited community college.
  • Transfer students must have an average GPA of 2.00 to be admitted.
  • Upon admission to the university, the Registrar's Office will evaluate prior coursework to determine how it transfers to Mississippi State University.

Degree Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C or better in the following pre-business courses:

  • ACC 2013 Principles of Financial Accounting
  • ACC 2023 Principles of Managerial Accounting
  • BL 2413 The Legal Environment of Business
  • BQA 2113 Business Statistical Methods
  • EC 2113 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC 2123 Principles of Microeconomics
  • TECH 1273 Computer Applications

Additional College of Business Graduation Requirements:

  • Minimum 2.5 GPA in Major Courses Attempted
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA in 3000/4000 Business Courses
  • Minimum 32 Hours of 3000/4000 Business Courses Completed through MSU
  • Maximum of 2 D’s in 3000/4000 Business and Major Courses

Admissions Process

New Admissions

All students must apply and be admitted to Mississippi State University. In addition, students must meet the program requirements to be admitted to the Online Bachelor of Business Administration program.

These steps must be taken in order to apply:

  1. If you are interested in the Online Bachelor of Business Administration program and wish to have your transcripts evaluated (prior to applying to the program), send transcript copies to the Online BBA Program Coordinator. Include with these transcripts a valid phone number and email address. Please be aware that you will be required to submit official transcripts from all previous institutions to the Office of Admissions & Scholarships once you apply for admission.
  2. After transcripts are reviewed, you will receive tentative information, concerning transfer courses and needed courses. This information will provide a map for graduation.
  3. After your transcripts are reviewed, you will need to gain admission to MSU. You will choose Business Administration (BUAD) as your major and Distance Education as your campus.
  4. Request transcripts from all previous institutions and have them sent to Mississippi State University. (Required for Admission) Transcripts and other documentation sent via U.S. Postal Service should be submitted to: Office of Admissions & Scholarships
    P.O. Box 6334
    Mississippi State, MS 39762
  5. Request official ACT or SAT scores be sent to MSU.
  6. In addition to university admission requirements, students must also meet the following GPA requirements to be admitted into the BBA program:
    Minimum GPA Requirements for Current MSU Students Minimum GPA Requirements for Transfer Students
    Freshmen - 2.0 Freshmen - 2.0
    Sophomores - 2.25 Sophomores - 2.25
    Juniors and Seniors - 2.5 Juniors and Seniors - 2.5

    Those students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement, may still be granted university admission, as an undeclared admit.

  7. Wait for admissions confirmation from the Center for Distance Education.

College of Business Required Courses

ACC 2013 Principles of Financial Accounting
Three hours lecture. Financial accounting fundamentals including accounting cycle, accounting systems, cash flow, assets, liabilities, equity, and forms of business organizations.


ACC 2023 Principles of Managerial Accounting
(Prerequisite: ACC 2013) Three hours lecture. Managerial accounting fundamentals including interpretation and use of management reports, cost behavior, cost accumulation, budgeting, financial statement analysis, responsibility organizations.


EC 2113 Principles of Macroeconomics
(Prerequisite: Sophomore standing) Three hours lecture. Introduction to macroeconomics: free enterprise principles, policies, institutions; national income, employment, output, inflation, money, credit, business cycles, and government finances.


EC 2123 Principles of Microeconomics
(Prerequisite: Sophomore standing) Three hours lecture. Introduction to microeconomics: emphasizes American industrial structure, demand and supply, pricing and output, income distribution, factor pricing, international trade.


BL 2413 Legal Environment of Business
Three hours lecture. Environmental study of legal influences, concepts, institutions, emphasizing social forces shaping business law. Introduces business students to interrelationships of law and society, jurisprudence and business.


BQA 2113 Business Statistical Methods I
(Prerequisite: MA 1613 or MA 1713 and BIS 1012 or equivalent) Three hours lecture. Methods of describing numerical data; probability in business decisions; random variables; sampling distributions; introduction to estimation and hypothesis testing; computer statistical


BQA 3123 Business Statistical Methods II
(Prerequisite: BQA 2113 or equivalent) Three hours lecture. Reviewing estimation and hypothesis testing; correlation and regression; chi-square tests; analysis of variance; non-parametric concepts; index numbers; time series analysis; computer statistical packages applied.


MKT 3013 Principles of Marketing
(Prerequisite: Junior standing) Three hours lecture. A general survey of the functions, processes, institutions and costs in distribution of goods and services from producers to users.


MGT 3213 Organizational Communications
(Prerequisites: EN 1113 and junior standing) Three hours lecture. Application of communication principles through preparation of effective documents and presentations. Includes study and application of team communication, multicultural communication, technology usage, and ethical considerations.


MGT 3113 Principles of Management
(Prerequisites: junior standing) Three hours lecture. Management principles for all organizations including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.


BIS 3233 Management Information Systems
Three hours lecture. A survey of the components, functions, and processes of Information Systems as they relate to managing modern organization for increased efficiency and competitiveness.


MKT 3323 International Logistics
Three hours lecture. Understanding and applying logistics concepts in a global context. Includes analysis of logistics tradeoffs and integration with other business functions. Must be of junior standing or higher.


FIN 3123 Financial Management
(Prerequisites: EC 2123, ACC 2013, and BQA 2113) Three hours lecture. Study of objectives, tools, methods, and problems of financial management; financial analysis, planning, control, sources/uses of funds, capital budgeting decisions and working capital.


BUS 4853 Strategic Management
(Prerequisite: Graduating senior and BIS 3233 and FIN 3123 and MGT 3114 and MKT 3013) Three hours lecture. Administrative process under conditions of uncertainty. Emphasis in integrating knowledge acquired in the functional areas of business administration in formulating administrative policies.

Business Administration Major Required Courses (Choose Eight)

MGT 3513 Intro to Human Resources
(Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor) Three hours lecture. Development of efficient programs for managing human resources. Emphasizes equal employment opportunity, performance evaluation, selection, placement, education, training, safety and health.


MKT 4423 Strategic Brand Management
(Prerequisite: MKT 3013) Three hours lecture. This course explores the concepts of brands, brand equity, and strategic brand management, providing practical insights for building brands and enhancing profitability of existing brands.


BL 4243 Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship
(Prerequisite: BL 2413, MGT 3323, or consent of instructor) Three hours lecture. Business creation including legal aspects from permits and taxes to structure and sale with emphasis on Mississippi Law.


BL 4333 Real Estate Law
(Prerequisite: Graduating senior and BIS 3233 and FIN 3123 and MGT 3114 and MKT 3013) Three hours lecture. Administrative process under conditions of uncertainty. Emphasis in integrating knowledge acquired in the functional areas of business administration in formulating administrative policies


FIN 3113 Financial Systems
(Prerequisites: EC 2113, EC 2123, or AEC 2713 ). Three hours lecture. Study of interest rates, basic security valuation, money and capital markets.


INS 3103 Principles of Insurance
(Prerequisite: Junior standing) Three hours lecture. A study of the principles and concepts of insurance plus a survey of personal coverages such as Homeowners, Automobile, Life and Health insurance.


INS 3203 Property & Casualty Insurance
Three hours lecture. A study of the major issues in property and casualty insurance including property and liability coverages, company operations, rate making, and international concepts.


INS 3303 Life Insurance
Three hours lecture. The nature and function of life insurance; policy forms and provisions; reserves; company organization; legal aspects; taxation and practical application.


INS 3503 Employee Benefits
Three hours lecture. A comprehensive study of employee benefit plans available to employers, including the principles and concepts necessary to design and implement successful employee benefit programs.

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Academic Advising

After gaining admission to the university, you must contact your assigned advisor to determine the courses most appropriate to take. Before the upcoming semester, your advisor will send an email to your MSU email account, making course recommendations based on your program of study.

Mississippi State University uses email as its official means of communication with all MSU students. Please check your MSU email account (NetID@msstate.edu) daily. Information on setting up your MSU email can be found at the link for student services.

All programs of study are subject to review by the Registrar's Office for graduation, even from a signed program of study. Courses that do not equal MSU courses exactly may or may not apply to your program as core courses. You can see these course translations through the CAPP report found at my.msstate.edu. To access the report, log into your myState account and click on the "hamburger" icon in the top left corner in order to access the Banner tab; click or hover over the myBanner for Students tab in order to view the Academic Records column where you can click on the CAPP Compliances link.

Chris Pilgrim Headshot

Chris Pilgrim

College of Business

  • Assistant Director, Distance Learning

Business Administration Minor

NON-BUSINESS STUDENTS PURSUING A MINOR

Non-Business students may broaden their education as well as expand their competitiveness in the job market with a minor in Business Administration.

Non-Business students should follow these steps:

  • Twelve (12) hours must be taken at the MSU main campus in Starkville or via MSU’s online course delivery module.
  • You must meet the required 2.50 MSU AND Overall GPA.
    • Only one D is accepted in the minor courses.
  • Follow the course requirements and pre-requisites. No course substitutions are allowed.
  • COB enforces pre-requisites due to its prestigious AACSB accreditation. Consider pre-requisites when choosing a minor course.
  • In order to ensure recognition for a minor, include the minor on the application for your degree. The minor and major must be declared simultaneously.
  • The minor will be recorded on the transcript, but does not appear on the diploma.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – 21 Credit Hours

Prepare for entrance into the world of business and/or the MBA program. Students will become familiar with basic concepts and techniques necessary for analyzing business environments, making sound business decisions, and planning one’s career.

Choose any 7 of the following:

Course Code Course Name
BL 2413 Legal Environment of Business
*ACC 2013 Financial Accounting
ACC 2023 Managerial Accounting
EC 2113 Macroeconomics
EC 2123 Microeconomics
*FIN 3123 Financial Management
MKT 3013 Principles of Marketing
*MGT 3113 Principles of Management
BIS 3233 Management Information Systems
*BQA 2113 Business Statistical Methods I
*BQA 3123 Business Statistical Methods II

*Indicates Pre-requisites for the MBA program

If you are interested in pursuing the Business Administration minor online, please contact, Mr. Chris Pilgrim, clp23@business.msstate.edu.


Contact Information

Photo of Samantha Clardy

Samantha Clardy

Online Education

  • Coordinator
Chris Pilgrim Headshot

Chris Pilgrim

College of Business

  • Assistant Director, Distance Learning