Pennsylvania State University

What you'll study

The undergraduate business curriculum at Penn State combines a common business core with opportunities to specialise in functional areas such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, information systems and supply chain/logistics. Early years focus on foundational subjects: microeconomics and macroeconomics, financial and managerial accounting, statistics for business, business calculus, introductory finance and principles of marketing. As you progress you take intermediate and advanced courses in your chosen major—examples include corporate finance, investments and portfolio management (finance); auditing and tax (accounting); consumer behaviour and digital marketing (marketing); operations management and logistics (supply chain); and database systems and analytics (information systems).

• Core modules: financial accounting, managerial accounting, business statistics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, business law and ethics, organisational behaviour.
• Major-specific modules: examples include corporate finance, cost accounting, marketing strategy, supply chain analytics, management information systems.
• Capstone experience: many streams include a strategic management or business policy capstone that integrates functional knowledge through case analysis or team projects.
• Experiential learning: opportunities for internships, co‑op placements, consulting projects with real clients, and study‑abroad options.
• Electives and minors: students can broaden studies with electives in entrepreneurship, data analytics, international business and languages, or take minors across the university.

Entry requirements

Entry is based on a competitive secondary-school academic record and completion of recommended preparatory subjects. Typical expectations include a strong overall GPA, solid performance in mathematics (algebra, pre‑calculus or calculus) and coursework in English and social sciences. Penn State considers standardised test scores where submitted, but test requirements may vary by campus and year; applicants should consult Penn State admissions for current testing policy. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests or accepted alternative evidence. Transfer applicants should have completed transferable college‑level coursework and meet the minimum credit and GPA criteria for admission to the business college.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a wide range of roles across industry, government and non‑profit sectors. Common entry roles include financial analyst, staff accountant, marketing coordinator, sales representative, operations analyst, business analyst and supply chain planner. The programme also prepares students for professional certification routes—such as the CPA for accounting graduates and the CFA for finance graduates—as well as postgraduate study in business (MBA) or specialised masters degrees. Strong ties to employers and a large alumni network support recruiting for internships and graduate roles in major metropolitan areas and multinational companies.

Why study at Pennsylvania State University

Penn State’s business programmes are delivered through a well‑established college with industry connections and a large alumni community, providing access to employer recruiting, mentorship and networking. The university emphasises experiential learning, offering internships, consulting projects, student clubs and case competitions that let students apply classroom theory to practical problems. Students benefit from a broad research university environment—cross‑disciplinary opportunities in analytics, engineering, communications and international programmes—alongside career services that support placement and professional development.