- Here you will:
- Learn about the different business majors
- Find out how to earn major standing and full admission into the business program
- Get details about how to register using SAIL
- Learn about the campus resources available to business student
- Work with an adviser to analyze your transfer credits
- Determine how many and what classes you need to complete your degree
- Register for courses under the guidance of academic advisers
Professional Advisers
Contact our knowledgeable professional advising staff to get answers to questions about classes, transfer courses, major selection, OU involvement and more.
Debbie Lengyel
Director of Advising Services
[email protected]
Katrina Adrian
Academic Adviser
[email protected]
Amy M Dubiel-DeSantis
Academic Adviser
[email protected]
Karen Person
Assistant Director of Experiential Programs
[email protected]
(248) 370-3216
Sheryl Catsburg
Office Assistant
[email protected]
Faculty Advisers
Donna Free
Accounting major
[email protected]Kathryn Schaefer
Accounting minor
[email protected]Donna Free
Accounting minor
[email protected]Ron Tracy
Actuarial Science major
[email protected]Jennifer Cordon Thor
Business minor for non-majors
[email protected]Timothy Hodge
Economics major and minor
[email protected]Jae Hyeung Kang
Entrepreneurship minor
[email protected]Hong Qian
Finance major
[email protected]Robert Uptegraff
Finance minor
[email protected]Yan Ling
General Management major
[email protected]Caitlin A. Demsky
Human Resource Management major
[email protected]Kenneth M. York
Human Resource Management minor
[email protected]Joy Jiang
International Management minor
[email protected]Vijay Sugumaran
Management Information Systems with No Specialization major and minor
[email protected]Mark Isken
MIS with Business Analytics Specialization
[email protected]Xiaodong Deng
MIS Information Security Management Specialization and minor
[email protected]John Kim
Marketing major
[email protected]Brandon Gustafson
Marketing minor
[email protected]T.J. Wharton
Operations Management major with No Specialization
Operations Management - Lean and Quality Management Specialization
[email protected]Henry Aigbedo
Operations Management - Supply Chain Management Specialization
Coordinator Operations Management Minor
[email protected]Eugene Fliedner
Degree Plan of Study
Operations Management - Project Management Specialization
[email protected]The Degree Plan of Study outlines the course requirements for the different majors offered by the School of Business Administration.
Bachelor of Science for the following business majors:
- Accounting
- Business Actuarial Science
- Business Economics
- Economics
- Finance
- General Management
- Human Resource Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Operations Management
Check tabs on the Google Sheet for specific majors
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2024-2025
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2023-2024
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2022-2023
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2021-2022
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2020-2021
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2019-2020
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2018-2019
- Degree Plan of Study for BS BA 2017-2018
The Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science and Bachelor of Arts in Economics are degrees offered through the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS). Additional information is available on the CAS webpage.
Get additional information about the majors and minors available on the School of Business Administration's Undergraduate Majors & Minors page.
Sample ScheduleBachelor of Science for all business majors - Check tabs on bottom of Google Sheet for specific majors
- Accounting
- Business Actuarial Science
- Business Economics
- Economics
- Finance
- General Management
- Human Resource Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- PC-Laptop Guidelines for SBA Students
- Peer-to-Peer Tutoring Assistance
- SBA Prospective Students
- Learn about Freshmen orientation
- See what courses transfer
- Transfer Student Videos
- Audit my degree and graduation requirements
- Apply for Graduation
- Check SBA prerequisites 2024-25
- SBA Undergraduate catalog
See PC-Laptop Guidelines for SBA Students for the minimum and recommended computer specifications.
Do I need permission to take a course at another school?Pre-business students may complete lower level courses at other institutions while attending OU. New OU students should familiarize themselves with SBA transfer policies by meeting with an academic adviser and/or carefully reading the appropriate section of the Undergraduate Catalog before taking courses at another school. Do not make scheduling decisions based upon assumptions. Transfer guides for Michigan community colleges are posted on the Registrar’s website. However, once admitted to the SBA, business majors must complete all remaining core, major and business minor course requirements for their degree at OU.
Students can fill out a Michigan Undergraduate Guest Application for another school if wishing to take courses for just one semester.
What is Major Standing and how do I apply?In order to become eligible to earn a degree in the SBA a student must apply and be approved for admission to one of the currently offered business majors. Once admitted to any SBA major, a student has “major standing” status in the School.
Requirements for admission to “major standing” are:
- Successful completion of the writing requirement, WRT 1060, the ACHIEVE courses, SBC 1990, SBC 2990, and the business pre-core courses (a minimum grade of 2.0 in each course and its prerequisite if any)
- A cumulative OU grade point average of 2.6 or higher for six credits or more
- Apply for Major Standing by completing the application form which is available on the SBA Student Portal. Students should apply for admission to a business major prior to the last day of finals for the term in which all requirements will be completed. An application submitted in a subsequent semester will be accepted and processed for the term in which it was received.
Use the Degree Program Checklist to aid in knowing when you will be eligible to apply for a major.
My class is “closed” on SAIL, what should I do now?See the Registrar waitlist webpage for more information.
How can I tell if I am on track to graduate?Look at the SBA Degree Checklists and select the checklist that applies to the year you entered the SBA program. You can also run a degree evaluation through SAIL.
What is an Independent Study? How do I apply for one?An independent study is not a physical course, but rather allows highly motivated students the opportunity to construct a unique educational experience that goes beyond the courses contained in the existing course catalog. They usually involve in-depth research on some issue, are supervised by a SBA faculty member and are listed in the schedule of classes as a 4996 (ACC 4996, for example).
Do I have to take math for a business degree?Yes. Math is a required part of the business program at OU. All business administration majors must take MTH 1221 "Linear Programming" (or MTH 1441) and MTH 1222 "Calculus for the Social Sciences" (or 1554); MTH 0661 and/or MTH 0662 may also be required, depending on a student's individual placement. Business students must also take QMM 2400 “Statistical Methods for Business I” and QMM 2410 “Statistical Methods for Business II”.
How do I know my math placement?Placement is done in a few different ways. If you are an incoming freshman and have taken the ACT, placement is determined by your ACT Math sub score. If you are a transfer student who has taken math recently, you are placed based on your prior math courses. If neither of these applies to you, or if you are unsure of the placement you received, you should take a math placement test given by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Why is my major listed as "Pre-Business" or "Undecided Business" when I know what business major I want?
All students who seek admission as a business major begin the program with the major “pre-business” or “undecided business” (dependent upon certain course and grade point status) until they have met the requirements and have been admitted to major standing.
Should I get my Gen Ed courses out of the way first?No. Freshmen who plan a business major should begin the business pre-core courses right away. General education courses can be taken until graduation and are not required for admission to a major.
Are there any classes I can test out of?Students can take CLEP tests for ECN 2000 and 2010 and some General Education courses; please contact the Office of Academic Records about procedures and restrictions regarding CLEP tests.
Will OU accept all my transfer courses?I have academic credit earned from a Michigan Community College – Oakland University’s baccalaureate programs are designed to accommodate students from Michigan community colleges. For most local community colleges, the University has prepared a course equivalency guide which indicates courses that fulfill specific Oakland University requirements. Whether or not you have earned an Associate’s Degree from a Michigan college, OU will evaluate your transfer courses individually. Credit for most courses will be accepted if you earned at least a C- grade in the course. Students must complete at least 45 credits at Oakland University in order to graduate. Those planning to transfer at least 60 credits from a community college should consult with an adviser to determine how to best complete their remaining degree requirements and maximize their transferable credits. OU participates in the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officer (M.A.C.R.A.O.) Articulation Agreement. Students who have satisfied M.A.C.R.A.O. should meet with an academic adviser their first semester at the University to discuss the effect of this status on their program requirements and course schedule plan.
I have academic credit earned from a four year institution – OU will accept an unlimited number of transfer credits from regionally accredited four-year institutions. Some exceptions to this policy include certain physical education courses and religion courses offered by religiously affiliated post-secondary institutions. Your transfer transcript will be evaluated on a course by course basis for equivalent credit for any OU and/or SBA program requirement/s. Credit for specific SBA courses is authorized for courses of similar content taken prior to attending Oakland University at other institutions. Once admitted to the business program, students must complete all remaining core, major and business minor coursework for the degree at OU. Students may be required to submit course descriptions or course syllabi to aid in course evaluation.
Why would I need a syllabus for a course I took at another school? When a student with prior college experience is admitted to OU, each transferred course will be evaluated for possible equivalent credit to an OU/SBA course requirement by a faculty evaluator. If the school was not AACSB accredited students may be asked to provide a course syllabus to aid in the determination of equivalent content.
What is an "I" grade?A grade of "I" in a course indicates "Incomplete" status. This grade is temporary and may be given only by student request and faculty consent. It is used in cases of hardship beyond the control of the student that prevents completion of course requirements. Work to remove an "I" grade must be completed during the first eight weeks of the next fall or winter semester. Students who wish to receive an Incomplete must present a Student Request for Incomplete Grade form to the instructor by the day of the final exam. These are available in departmental offices.
Students can request an extension of "I" grades. This extension must be student-initiated and requires approval by the instructor and the dean of the school or college or other appropriate administrator. If course requirements are not completed within one year and no semester has been registered for, the "I" grade will be changed to "0.0."
What is a Petition of Exception?A Petition of Exception is a request for a waiver or deviation from University or School policy. Students must fill out a form, attach a rationale, and submit it to the Undergraduate Advising Office who will submit it to SBA's Committee on Instruction when they are seeking an exception to any of the SBA's rules or policies. Regarding some issues, the petition is submitted to either the General Education Committee or the University Committee on Instruction. Students seeking an exception to a policy should meet with an adviser to get information on the appeal procedure and proper submission.
Can I take as many courses as I want in a semester?No. Students are limited to a maximum of 18 credits per semester. However, students who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher are allowed by adviser permission to take additional credits. The “Permission to Exceed Maximum Credits” form is available upon request in the advising center. Approved permission forms must accompany any request to the Registrar for 19 or more credits per semester.
Will I be required to meet with an academic adviser?No. After orientation, students are not required to meet with an academic adviser unless you are a first semester transfer student or undecided business student. However, students who have questions about schedule planning, degree requirements, admission to the SBA, major standing, transfer credit, petitions of exception or graduation audits should meet with one of the School’s professional advisers. Also, faculty members are available to provide advising, mentoring, support, curricular guidance and career information.
FAQ for 24-25 Curriculum ChangesCurriculum Changes for the 2024-25 Catalog
What is a Catalog?
- Students follow the catalog in place for the year that they enter OU/SBA. The catalog contains the degree requirements that you are required to complete in order to graduate. Catalogs are valid for 6 years. e x: Students admitted to OU/SBA during the 2023-24 academic year will follow the requirements in the 2023-24 catalog.
Changes for the 2024-25 Catalog:
- MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I, are no longer required for students on a 2024-25 catalog for the following majors:
- Accounting
- Finance (including Wealth Management Specialization)
- General Management
- Human Resource Management
- Management Information Systems (including Business Analytics and Information Security Management Specializations)
- Marketing
- Operations Management (including Supply Chain Management, Lean and Quality Management and Project Management Specializations).
- Business Economics
- Bachelor of Science in Economics
- Business Actuarial Science
- The total number of credits required to graduate has been reduced from a minimum of 124 credits to a minimum of 120 credits for all SBA majors on a 2024-25 catalog.
These changes will not impact all students as many students are already on track to graduate with their credit hours (will have 124 or more credits) or have completed calculus and won’t need to update their catalog.
Questions you may be asking yourself…
Even though I entered OU/SBA prior to 2024-2025, can I switch to the 2024-2025 catalog?
- The SBA Advising Office and First Year Advising Center will identify students that will benefit from the above changes and will reach out to students to update to the 2024-25 catalog if appropriate. These changes will not impact all students as many students are already on track to graduate with their credit hours (will have 124 or more credits) or have completed calculus and won’t need to update their catalog.
Review Frequently Asked Questions Specific to your Major (click major below)
Students Majoring in Accounting, Finance (including Wealth Management Specialization), General Management, Human Resource Management, Management Information Systems (including Business Analytics and Information Security Management Specializations), Marketing, and Operations Management (including Lean and Quality Management, Project Management, and Supply Chain Management Specializations)
What are my options if I don't have MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I, completed?
- It will be in your best interest to update to the 2024-25 catalog if you do not wish to complete MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I. Your adviser will reach out to you to update to the 2024-25 catalog.
What are my options if I am currently enrolled in MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I?
- Students who complete MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science or MTH 1554, Calculus I, may be able to count the course toward the Formal Reasoning General Education requirement. These courses can also count toward the total credits required to graduate. If you’re doing well in the course, the letter grade received may also positively impact your GPA.
- If you are struggling in the course, you can choose to withdraw from it. The deadline to do so is March 13, 2024. You will receive a “W” on your transcript, and will still be financially responsible for the course, but no impact will be made to your overall GPA.
- If you are receiving financial aid or have an OU scholarship/grant, you will want to talk with Student Financial Services before deciding to withdraw. You can reach them at 248-370-2550 or [email protected] .
- Student athletes should contact their athletic adviser to discuss the ramifications of withdrawing from this class. You can reach them at 248-835-3548 or [email protected] .
- International Students should contact the International Students and Scholars Office to discuss the ramifications of withdrawing from the class. You can reach them at 248-370-2889 or [email protected] .
What are my options if I have completed MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I with a C grade or higher?
- You may still be able to benefit from moving to the 2024-25 catalog for the 120-credit hour graduation requirement. If this is something that will benefit you, your adviser will reach out to you to update to the 2024-25 catalog..
What are my options if I have completed MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I, but earned a grade lower than a C?
- A grade of a “C” or higher is the minimum grade required to satisfy a School of Business course. If you completed MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I, with a grade lower than a “C”, the grade will continue to impact your GPA and will appear on your transcript as a part of your academic history.
- You may be able to benefit from moving to the 2024-25 catalog so you no longer have to complete MTH1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH1554, Calculus I, with a grade of a C or higher, however you do have the option to repeat the course in an attempt to boost your GPA. Your adviser will reach out to help you determine the best option and if you should retake the course to try to improve your GPA or move to the 2024-25 catalog.
What are my options if I previously attempted MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I, but withdrew from the course?
- It will be in your best interest to update to the 2024-25 catalog if you do not wish to complete MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I. Your adviser will reach out to you to update to the 2024-25 catalog.
- The “W” from the withdrawal in the course will remain on your transcript as part of your academic record.
Do you have a Declared Major (you have completed the major standing application process)?
- All students with a declared major in the SBA will have completed MTH1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH1554, Calculus I as a requirement for applying for your major. For all students with a declared major, we will review your situation to determine if the 120-credit hour requirement will be beneficial for you. If it is, your adviser will reach out to you to update to the 2024-25 catalog.
Students Majoring in Business Economics, Bachelor of Science in Economics, and Business Actuarial Science
Are you a Business Economics, Bachelor of Science in Economics, or Business Actuarial Science Major?
- Even though MTH 1222, Calculus for Social Science, or MTH 1554, Calculus I, are still a required course for these majors, you may be impacted by the change to the 120-credit hour graduation requirement. If you are impacted, your adviser will reach out to you to update to the 2024-25 catalog.
School of Business Administration
