American Public University System Catalog
2026 - 2027 Catalog
Bachelor of Arts in Management
Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts in Management helps to prepare you to transition from the technical aspects of a profession to leading and managing individuals in their respective fields. You will explore management theories, concepts, and practices necessary to organize, motivate, and lead human capital. Successful completion of the online degree program provides practical skills often required for managerial positions and responsibilities in business, as well as nonprofit, government, and military organizations.
This program has been designed in consultation with industry business leaders and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP®).
ACBSP® is a registered trademark of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Evaluate the functions and applications of various management processes in the areas of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, leading, and controlling.
- Develop strategies for organizational challenges using management theories, principles, and practices.
- Analyze the impact of international, legal, social, political, economic, technological, and environmental issues as they relate to organizational behavior in terms of the individual, group/team, and overall organizational performance.
- Examine the importance of ethical conduct, digital innovation, communication, social responsibility, and corporate responsibility in the global environment.
- Demonstrate skills in critical thinking, data interpretation, emergent technologies, and decision making necessary for developing systematic processes and approaches in the management of human capital and achievement of organizational effectiveness.
Degree at a Glance
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General Education Requirements
30
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Major Required
54
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Select one of the following concentrations:
9
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Final Program Requirement
3
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Elective Requirements
24
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Total Semester Hours
120
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Degree Program Requirements
General Education (30 semester hours)
| Arts & Humanities (6 semester hours) 1 |
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Arabic I
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Arabic II
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Art Appreciation
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Survey of Photography
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Film and Literature
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Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop®
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Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion
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From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement
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Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature
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British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland
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Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period
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Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt
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Music Appreciation
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Jazz and Rock
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World Music and Cultures
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Introduction to Philosophy
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Critical Thinking
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Introduction to Ethics
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Philosophy of Science
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Thinking & Acting Ethically
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Introduction to the Study of Religion
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Introduction to World Religions
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Spanish I
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Spanish II
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| Civics, Political & Social Sciences (6 semester hours) |
| Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Emerging Technology for College Success
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Public Speaking
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Interpersonal Communications
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Proficiency in Writing
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Argumentation and Rhetoric
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Introduction to Literature
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Technical Writing
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Scientific Writing
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Effective Business Communication
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Human Relations Communication
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Information Literacy and Global Citizenship
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Introduction to Information Technology Writing
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Human Relations
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| History (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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American History to 1877
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American History since 1877
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World Civilization before 1650
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World Civilization since 1650
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Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
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Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
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African-American History before 1877
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African-American History since 1877
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History of the American Indian
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History of Science
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| Mathematics and Applied Reasoning (3 semester hours) |
| Natural Sciences (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Introduction to Biology
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Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology
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Introduction to Chemistry
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Introduction to Meteorology
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Introduction to Geology
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Introduction to Environmental Science
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Introduction to Physics
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Introduction to Astronomy
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Total Semester Hours 30 |
Major Required (54 semester hours)
Total Semester Hours 54 |
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from a General Concentration, Concentration in Business Project Management, Concentration in Entrepreneurship, Concentration in Human Resource Management, or Concentration in Management.
General Concentration (9 semester hours)
The General Concentration provides students with the opportunity to customize their educational journey by selecting courses that are in accordance with their specific career aspirations and interests. By completing 9 semester hours from a wide array of courses, students can attain a comprehensive understanding pertinent to their professional goals and personal interests.
Students must select 9 semester hours from undergraduate courses that have the following prefixes and have not already been used to fulfill their degree requirements: ACCT, ANLY, BUSN, DEFM, ECON, ENTR, FINC, HOSP, HRMT, MGMT, MKTG, RLMT, RTMG, SCMG and TLMT.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines to address complex challenges and make well-informed decisions in their professional environments.
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)
Total Semester Hours 9 |
Concentration in Business Project Management (9 semester hours)
The concentration in Business Project Management enhances the student’s understanding of how businesses depend on project management to move the organization toward its strategic goals. Through this concentration, the student will be introduced to the theories, concepts, and practices that align with project management.
Students will come to understand how projects begin during the sales cycle and continue to be assessed after the project is delivered. Students will be exposed to skill sets to track and monitor projects, develop a schedule and integrate it with costs and risks, prepare presentations for leadership and stakeholders, and create status reports. Companies depend on project management to stay competitive in developing new offerings, determining the technology needed within the enterprise, updating processes and procedures, and implementing projects for customers.
The concentration is designed for business professionals and military personnel interested in project management within the business environment.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Analyze the fundamentals of project management.
- Demonstrate varying problems from a risk management standpoint.
- Define the role of projects and project management.
- Create a project charter, a scope statement, a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Risk Management Plan, Quality Management Plan, and Stakeholder Management Plan.
- Explain the need for ethical project management.
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)
Total Semester Hours 9 |
Concentration in Entrepreneurship (9 semester hours)
Focuses on key concepts and principles of being a successful entrepreneur or small business owner. You will examine leadership practices, feasibility of ideas, funding, and customer service specific to a small business.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Establish entrepreneurial factors affecting product and services in the reverse logistic environment.
- Apply customer service skills to entrepreneurial projects, programs or organizations.
- Analyze entrepreneurial ventures to understand sources of funding and other legal requirements
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Leadership in Small Business Ventures
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Marketing the Successful Small Business
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Operating a Small Business
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Total Semester Hours 9 |
Concentration in Human Resource Management (9 semester hours)
Delves into the laws, rules, regulations, policies, trends, and issues affecting both human capital in the workplace and the field of human resource management. Compares compensation packages and incentives used to recruit and retain employees. Includes the selection, training, and development of employees, as well as performance appraisal and reward systems.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Examine various laws, rules, regulations, and policies affecting human capital in today’s workplace.
- Compare and contrast compensation packages and incentives used to recruit and retain employees for various positions in an organization
- Assess leading trends and issues in the field of Human Resource Management
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)
Total Semester Hours 9 |
Concentration in Management (9 semester hours)
The Management concentration focuses on building advanced management skills in areas such as strategic management, project management, and organizational behavior. Students explore the complexities of managing change, conflict resolution, and leading people across diverse business environments. Emphasis is placed on practical applications, allowing students to connect theory with workplace problem-solving. This concentration also prepares students for roles in management consulting, human resource management, or leadership in their own business ventures.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Differentiate the essential elements within the organization where change is either needed or already occurring.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of strategic management and planning processes within organizations.
- Integrate project management and technical systems into overall management practice.
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)
Total Semester Hours 9 |
Final Program Requirement (3 semester hours)
Total Semester Hours 3 |
Elective Requirements (24 semester hours)
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Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill requirements listed above. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major. 24 |
Total Semester Hours 24 |
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All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.
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Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment.