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    Nov 26, 2024  
American University Catalog 2017-2018 
    
American University Catalog 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Business, Language & Culture Studies (BS)


Offered by the Kogod School of Business , the BS in Business, Language & Culture Studies is designed for students with a passion for business and a complementary enthusiasm for a foreign language. Students choose a language track (Arabic, French, German, Russian, or Spanish) when entering the program, complete the business core, and spend one semester abroad taking courses in their language track. Upon completion of this interdisciplinary program, students will be prepared to take the American Council on the Teaching of a Foreign Language (ACTFL) oral proficiency interview and qualify for a regional fluency certificate (i.e. French Chamber of Commerce Certificate). Students with a solid academic foundation in business and a strong proficiency in a foreign language will be highly competitive in the global marketplace.

Admission to the Program


Freshman applicants should have demonstrated above average performance in their college preparatory courses in secondary school. Scores on the SAT or ACT should indicate that the applicant has the potential for success in a rigorous university degree program. Due to the quantitative emphasis of the business administration curriculum, it is strongly recommended that applicants take the SAT II Math test for placement purposes.

In addition to university requirements for transfer admission, transfer applicants (including non-degree and degree seeking from other academic units) to KSB should have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.00 scale). All transfer students are required to take MGMT-458  and at least 18 upper-level credit hours toward their major requirements in residence. Transfer credits for 300-level and above business courses are subject to validation by the appropriate department chair and may be conditional on successful completion of a more advanced course at American University.

Due to language proficiency expectations, it is strongly recommended that students enter the program at the intermediate level of language study.

University Requirements


  • 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better
  • Completion of college writing requirement
  • Completion of university mathematics requirement

General Education Requirements


  • A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
  • At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
  • No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline

Note: Foundational Area 1 should be fulfilled by ANTH-225 Language and Human Experience FA1 (3)  with grades of C or better (pass/fail grades are not permitted) and an appropriately corresponding course.

Note: Foundational Area 4 should be fulfilled by ECON-100 Macroeconomics FA4 (3)  and ECON-200 Microeconomics FA4 (3)  with grades of C or better (pass/fail grades are not permitted).

Major Requirements


  • A total of 120 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher.
    • Students must ensure that no more than 66 of the 120 credit hour graduation requirement are taken within the Kogod School of Business.
    • IBUS-200  and FIN-200  are considered business courses and may not count toward the non-business course requirement even if they are taken for General Education credit.
    • Students must complete 45 of the last 60 credit hours on campus, with a minimum of 15 credit hours of upper-level courses.
  • A total of 79-86 credit hours with grades of C or better for the major requirements.
  • Business core courses: 38 credit hours with grades of C or better (pass/fail grades are not permitted).
  • Language track: Arabic, French, German, Russian, or Spanish
    Students declare a language track upon entering the program:
    • 24 credit hours in French, German, Spanish or Russian at or above the 300-level with grades of C or better (pass/fail grades are not permitted);
    • 30 credit hours in Arabic at or above the 300-level with grades of C or better (pass/fail grades are not permitted);
    • At least 12 credits must be taken abroad in the foreign language;
    • At least 6 credits taken at AU or abroad must be business topics in the foreign language, all business courses in a language must be taken at an AACSB institution or Kogod approved institution.
  • Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to be eligible to enroll in business or language courses
  • At least 50 percent of the business credit hours required for the BS in Business, Language & Culture Studies must be earned at American University
  • Study Abroad Requirement: every Business, Language & Culture Studies student must study abroad and take a minimum of 12 credits in their language track. Students should consult the AU Abroad website and work closely with an advisor to identify suitable options and timelines for their abroad experience.
  • A student may count no more than three internship credits in total towards the 120 credit graduation requirement for an undergraduate business degree.

Course Requirements


Students are responsible for fulfilling university and school requirements following a prescribed sequence. Students work closely with an academic advisor in Kogod and their faculty advisor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Arts and Sciences to ensure appropriate course sequencing. However, it is the student’s responsibility to consult course descriptions to identify course prerequisites and when courses are offered.

Non-Business (17-18 credit hours)


Complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:

Business Core (38 credit hours)


AT = analytical tool emphasis; provides a strong foundation in business analytical software

C = case analysis emphasis; provides growth opportunities for students to evaluate cases

O = oral communication emphasis; assists in the development of oral presentation skills

T = teamwork emphasis; focuses on teamwork and the importance of interpersonal relationships and communication

W = written communication emphasis; develops business writing skills, written assignments account for a significant part of the course grade

Language Track (24-30 credit hours)


French, German, Russian, or Spanish (24 credit hours)


  • 24 credit hours in the major language at or above the 300-level with grades of C or better (pass/fail grades are not permitted)
  • At least 12 credits must be taken abroad in the foreign language
  • At least 6 credits taken at AU or abroad must be business topics in the foreign language (all business courses in a language must be taken at an AACSB institution or Kogod approved institution)

Arabic (30 credit hours)


  • 30 credit hours in Arabic at or above the 300-level with grades of C or better (pass/fail grades are not permitted)
  • At least 12 credits must be taken abroad in the foreign language
  • At least 6 credits taken at AU or abroad must be business topics in the foreign language (all business courses in a language must be taken at an AACSB institution or Kogod approved institution)
  • Required international immersion program during summer between junior and senior year

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees


American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. Advanced undergraduates admitted to a combined degree program that includes a master’s degree from Kogod are eligible to take graduate-level courses and may apply up to 9 graduate credit hours earned as an undergraduate toward the requirements for both degrees. See Combined Bachelor’s and Kogod School of Business Master’s Programs  for more information.