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Looking to succeed in the business world? Transform into a versatile, take-charge professional by earning an online bachelor of science in business administration through the University of Missouri-St. Louis. We help prepare you for an in-demand career with a holistic curriculum developed with input from industry leaders. You can customize your degree to your goals: select one of five specializations, or explore all areas as a general business major.
Business principles influence all areas of the economy and operations. Reflecting this, the workforce expects all professionals to have an understanding of accounting, finance, supply chain operations, marketing and management. We’ve taken these factors into account when structuring the BS in business administration. The College of Business Administration strives to shape each student’s future with research- and practice-based programs that meet the needs of business employers and help you access global opportunities.
Our college’s eight advisory boards help engineer an up-to-date undergraduate business curriculum incorporating the latest subject matters and instructional technology. Our faculty come from all over the world to engage and mentor students, impart their real-world knowledge and take part in definitive research. We seek to form the next generation of leaders ready to inspire and make an impact across a spectrum of roles and stress the importance of entrepreneurship in the process.
Collectively, these aspects position us and the affordable education we provide as one of the nation’s top-rated online bachelor’s programs. Whether you’re just starting your journey or have already earned some credits toward a bachelor’s degree, become a part of our empowering, inclusive community of problem-solvers by enrolling in the fully online BS in business administration program.
Quick facts
Official name
Bachelor of science in business administrationCampus
Program type
Bachelor's degreeAcademic home
College of Business AdministrationDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning Commission, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)Credit hours
120Estimated cost
$60,889.20Transfer credit hours
60Transfer estimated cost
$32,344.20*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
While business needs continue to evolve, companies always need strong employees ready to use the latest technologies, properly allocate resources, manage financial assets, devise new solutions and increase revenue through the latest products and services.
This online bachelor’s in business administration degree equips you to enter the business sector, no matter the role or industry:
- Acquire a versatile foundation based in core business disciplines that can be applied in corporate environments, as an entrepreneur and across a range of fields and positions.
- Gain the competencies to identify both business problems and opportunities and recommend solutions through qualitative and quantitative approaches.
- Look beyond to business on a global scale, including determining opportunities and realizing risks for expansion.
- Understand business from legal and ethical perspectives, and use your knowledge to anticipate potential impact and formulate a responsible course of action.
- Be able to communicate your findings orally and in written forms to not only participate in but enrich discussions and brainstorming out in the real world.
- Couple your theoretical and practical skill set with technical and quantitative abilities, including when and how to utilize statistics, data visualization and analysis, project management and social media.
- Become someone who directs and convinces by cultivating strong interpersonal skills—essential for communicating with stakeholders, teams and departments.
Along with course work, the bachelor’s in business administration opens up multiple opportunities for experiential learning. Access internships and seek out mentorship through the College of Business Administration’s relationships with St. Louis–area employers. Or, practice your skills abroad in our Missouri/London Internship program. The connections you build now form the foundation for your career to grow following graduation.
Potential job titles for graduates
Between 2019 and 2029, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 5% greater demand for business and finance occupations. Positions include:
- budget analysts;
- compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists;
- cost estimators;
- financial analysts;
- financial examiners;
- human resource specialists;
- logisticians;
- management analysts;
- purchasing managers, buyers and purchasing agents; and
- training and development specialists.
Program structure
The online bachelor’s in business administration is a 48 credit–hour program divided between core courses (30 credit hours) and electives (18 credit credits). Core courses deliver a comprehensive, multifaceted introduction. Get to know general accounting, statistics, analysis, finance, management and marketing concepts that prove to be an asset no matter where you end up working.
Electives present a prime opportunity for developing a specialization. Select from finance, international business, management, marketing and supply chain and analytics areas, or develop a broad yet advanced business perspective by taking courses across all disciplines.
UMSL acknowledges that guidance gets you closer to achieving your dreams. From the time you enroll, our team’s interactive advising process gives you the direction you need. We’ll assist you in choosing the right classes, assessing your progress and accessing internships and other hands-on opportunities to complement your course work.
This fully online bachelor’s in business administration degree requires no campus visits and uses a semester-based structure. The typical online student takes one to two classes per semester to finish the program in two to three years.
Course work includes
The online BS in business administration degree:
- begins with introductory courses in micro and macroeconomics and math-based concepts, including probability, statistics and basic calculus;
- goes over financial and managerial accounting principles and the influence these areas have on financial transactions, management planning and decision making;
- introduces business-specific legal concepts integral to taxation, regulation, contracts, labor relations, mergers and acquisitions and antitrust legislation;
- exposes you to the workings and applications of information systems, from design, programming and database management to analysis, security and decision making;
- takes a comprehensive look at all stages of supply chain management, from procurement and manufacturing to warehousing and network design;
- examines the role of statistics in business management, particularly modeling, data analysis and interpreting results;
- illuminates the management and organizational behavior theories behind motivating and leading teams;
- lets you see all angles of the marketing process, from functions and activities to policies;
- touches on financial management, including raising and effectively investing funds; and
- requires a capstone project, during which you’ll demonstrate your knowledge of corporate, business and functional strategies to achieve organizational objectives.
Review the degree program’s structure and all course descriptions.
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
SemesterTypical program length
3 yearsTypical course load
1-2 classes per semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri-St. Louis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
The College of Business is accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).
Faculty spotlight
Dr. Michael T. Elliott has directed the College of Business Administration's undergraduate program since 2008. Dr. Elliott joined the marketing faculty in 1990 and has published several articles in academic journals such as Journal of Advertising, Journal of Advertising Research and Journal of Consumer Psychology and is a member of the editorial board of Psychology and Marketing and Advancements in Marketing Education. Dr. Elliott's current research interests include consumer information search and consumer responses to retail web sites. In addition, Dr. Elliott is involved in consulting activities with the electrical contracting industry and conducts employee and customer surveys for local firms. Lastly, he is a board member of the non-profit organization, St. Louis Transitional Hope House.