Academic Programs

The Palumbo Donahue School of Business grants the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree requires a minimum of 120 earned credits.

The Palumbo Donahue School of Business offers a total of 9 majors:  

  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Information Systems & Technology
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Business Analytics (co-major only)

Additionally, the following minors are available: Accounting, Digital Marketing and Analysis, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems & Technology, Legal Studies, Management, Professional Selling and Marketing, Sports Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

Students entering the School of Business are expected to inform their Student Success Coach about their career objectives and their desired major(s) and minor(s), and to consult with them when planning their program of study. Proposed curriculum choices must include the University requirements and Business School Core requirements as indicated in this Catalog. 

Student program of studies should be based upon career objectives and constitute a broad and flexible educational process. Students are encouraged to tailor cross-disciplinary educational programs to meet their individual needs. Career advice should be sought from many and varied sources in the University, including faculty, Success Coaches, and the Center for Career Development. Course suggestions and degree requirements for all major  can be obtained from a Student Success Coach.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the business program, students will demonstrate proficiency in the following key areas of business:

Business Knowledge

  1. Identify and describe theories, frameworks, and tools foundational to business disciplines for idea generation, opportunity recognition, problem solving, and decision making.
  2. Select and implement appropriate foundational theories, frameworks, and tools to evaluate and recommend courses of action.

Critical Business Thinking

  1. Identify and describe theories, frameworks, and tools for idea generation, opportunity recognition, problem solving, and decision making.
  2. Select appropriate theories, frameworks, and tools for idea generation, opportunity recognition, problem solving, and decision making, and implementing them to support claims, develop business plans, evaluate courses of action, and make recommendations.

Cultural Intelligence

  1. Describe and explain how culture shapes business practices in particular countries and regions.
  2. Describe how an understanding of culture can help employees to interact more effectively in cross-national business contexts.

Ethical and Moral Compass

  1. Describe and reflect on the ethical principles of responsibility, fairness, rights, honesty, benefiting others, diversity and inclusion.
  2. Apply ethical theory and moral reasoning in business issues.
  3. Incorporate social, environment, and economic principles (i.e., triple bottom line) when evaluating and recommending courses of actions.

Influence and Collaboration

  1. Demonstrate effective communication and persuasion.
  2. Demonstrate team member effectiveness.

Majors and Minors within the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts


Students may, at their discretion, declare a major or minor within the College of Arts. Refer to the College Departmental listing for specific major or minor requirements. You must complete an on-line declaration form with the College of Arts.

Dual Degrees and Second Degrees

Second Bachelor's Degree

Students who have received a Bachelor's Degree from an approved college or university may be eligible to enter the program for a second Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. A student's first degree must not be in Business. A second-degree candidate must meet all requirements of the School's degree program. A minimum of 30 credits must be completed in residency.

Bachelor's/J.D.

Students who have completed 96 credits in the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business Administration with an overall average of 3.5 or better and who have satisfied all undergraduate curricular requirements at Â鶹ֱ²¥ may apply for early enrollment in the Â鶹ֱ²¥ School of Law. Students meeting the criteria would complete three years of business classes and then enroll in the School of Law at the start of their fourth year. In doing so, students would earn both the BSBA and JD degrees in six years. All coursework must be completed at Â鶹ֱ²¥. Students interested in this program should consult their Student Success Coach in their sophomore year to plan their program of studies. Because of the restrictive nature of this program, it is not open to transfer students.

Dual Degree Program with McAnulty College

The School of Business and the College of Liberal Arts have developed a dual degree (BSBA/BA) option. Students interested in this program should consult the Student Success Coaches in the School of Business or in the College of Liberal Arts.

Certificates


Certificate programs allow students to complete a concentrated area of study in addition to their major. Certificates typically require 15-18 credits, are noted on students’transcripts upon graduation, and can be used to fulfill the related area requirement.

Certificate Options

Certificate in Actuarial Science

The Certificate in Actuarial Science is an 18-credit program composed of courses from two schools: the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts and the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business.  Earning this certificate is equivalent to obtaining a minor from the College of Liberal Arts. The certificate is available to any Â鶹ֱ²¥ student, and can be fully accessed only through fourteen (14) additional credits of prerequisite coursework.

ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics 3 credits
ECON 202  Principles of Macroeconomics 3 credits
MATH 301 Introduction to Probability and Statistics I 3 credits
MATH 302W Introduction to Probability and Statistics II 3 credits
FINC 313 Business Finance  3 credits
FINC 338 Derivatives 3 credits
Total credits   18 credits

Certificate in Business Management

The Certificate in Business Management is available to students outside of the Business School who might wish to pursue a business-related career within their discipline.

MGMT 261 Management and Organizational Behavior 3 credits
MKTG 271  Marketing and Business Development 3 credits
ISYS 184  Business Information Systems 3 credits
MGMT 364W  Critical Managerial Decision Making 3 credits
MKTG 373  Sales  3 credits
ENTR 375 Entrepreneurship 3 credits
Total credits    18 credits 

Certificate in Entrepreneurship

The Certificate in Entrepreneurship is available to students outside of the School of Business who wish to acquire entrepreneurship and business skills that will make them more marketable to employers or help them launch companies of their own.

Start Up Track     
BLAW 251 Business Law 3 credits
ENTR 301 New Venture Enterprise I 3 credits
ENTR 302  New Venture Enterprise II 3 credits
ENTR 375 Entrepreneurship 3 credits
ENTR 480 or ENTR 481  Entrepreneurial Finance or Guerilla Marketing  3 credits
Total credits   15 credits
Corporate Venturing Track     
BLAW 251 Business Law 3 credits
MGMT 261  Management and Organizational Behavior 3 credits
ENTR 375  Entrepreneurship 3 credits
ENTR 481W Guerilla Marketing 3 credits
ENTR 459 Small Business Management 3 credits
Total credits   15 credits

Certificate in International Business

The Certificate in International Business is a credential for globally-focused Duquesne students who wish to complement their major with practical, value-added competencies in IB.  The International Business certificate is available students both outside and within the School of Business.

Required Courses    
MGMT 262 Global Insights 3 credits
IBUS 345  International Negotiation 3 credits
Two Elective Courses    
ECON 345 International Economics 3 credits
FINC 437 International Financial Management 3 credits
MGMT 365 Global Business, Govt and Society 3 credits
MKTG 443  International Marketing 3 credits
SCMG 472  Global Transportation and Logistics 3 credits
Capstone Experience    
IBUS 491 International Business Capstone 3 credits
Total credits   15 credits

Certificate in Professional Selling

The Certificate in Professional Selling is available to students outside of the School of Business who wish to pursue a sales-related career within their discipline. Examples include careers in health care sales, entertainment industry sales, pharmaceutical sales, technical sales or even recruiting.

MKTG 271  Marketing and Business Development 3 credits
MKTG 373 Sales Fundamentals 3 credits
MKTG 379 Buyer Behavior 3 credits
IBUS 345  International Negotiation 3 credits
MKTG 442 Digital Sales and Marketing Tools 3 credits
Total credits   15 credits

Certificate in Quantitative Finance

The Certificate in Quantitative Finance allows students to develop a skill set and deep knowledge in mathematics, computer science, probability, statistics, and the applications of these disciplines to finance. It is available to students both outside and within the School of Business.

The certificate requires 32 credits of coursework in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, and Finance. For individual students, requirements vary depending on the student's major:

  • Students in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, and Physics can earn the certificate with their major by completing an additional 15 credits in Finance.
  • Students in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biomedical Engineering can earn the certificate with their major by completing an additional 15 credits in Finance plus 3 credits in Computer Science.
  • Students in Finance can earn the certificate with their major by completing additional 17 credits in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. Seven of these credits can be counted toward university and business core requirements.

Four Year Sample Plan

Requirements for the B.S.B.A. (120 CREDITS)

First Year

Bridge Courses (subject to change) 

BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis 3 credits
BRDG 102 Writing & Literature 3 credits
MATH 101 College Algebra 3 credits
MATH 111 Calculus for Non-Science Students 3 credits

BRDG 105H/P/T EQ101-XXX

Intro to Ethical Reasoning Essential Questions Seminar

3 credits
COMM 202W Business and Professional Communications 3 credits
BRDG 100 Research and Info Skills 1 credit
Total credits   19 credits

Business Core

ISYS 184 Business Information Systems 3 credits
BUAD 103 First Year Innovation Experience 3 credits
BUAD 110 Internship Prep Practicum 0 credits
BLAW 251 Business Law 3 credits
MKTG 271 Marketing and Business Development  3 credits
Total credits   12 credits 
Total First Year credits 31 credits

Sophomore Year

Bridges Courses

Philosophy Requirement 3 credits
Theology Requirement | Cultural Fluency & Responsivity Requirement 3 credits
Total credits 6 credits

Business Core

ISYS 284 Data for Decision Making 3 credits
STAT 285 Business Statistics 3 credits
ACCT 214 Financial Accounting 3 credits
ACCT 215 Managerial Accounting 3 credits
BUAD 210 Career Prep Practicum 0 credits
ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics 3 credits
ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 credits
MGMT 261 Management & Organizational Behavior 3 credits
SCMG 267 Supply Chain Operations 3 credits
Total credits   24 credits
Total Sophomore Year credits 30 credits

Junior Year

Business Core

FINC 313 Business Finance 3 credits
MGMT 262 Global Insights 3 credits
Total credits   6 credits

Major Area of Concentration

Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Total credits 12 credits

Electives and Bridges Courses

BRDG 105H/P/T EQ101-XXX

Intro to Ethical Reasoning Essential Questions Seminar

3 credits
  Business or Non-Business Elective 3 credits
  Business or Non-Business Elective 3 credits
  Business or Non-Business Elective 3 credits
Total credits   12 credits
Total Junior Year Credits 30 credits

Senior Year

Business Core

MGMT 368W Business Ethics 3 credits
MGMT 499W Strategic Management 3 credits
Total credits   6 credits

Major Area of Concentration

Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Major Area of Concentration 3 credits
Total credits 12 credits

Electives and Bridges Courses

Business or Non-Business Elective 2 credits
Business or Non-Business Elective 3 credits
Business or Non-Business Elective 3 credits
Business or Non-Business Elective 3 credits
Total credits 11 credits
Total Senior Year credits 29 credits

Students are responsible for knowing and adhering to the prerequisites for those courses in which they are registered.

The sample plan has a degree of flexibility and is subject to change. The Bridges and Communication/Culture requirements may be taken at any time during the student's four years. Students should consult their Student Success Coach for further information.