School of Business Assurance of Learning Goals

The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Business (Pitt Business) is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), which signals our commitment to quality, rigor, and relevance in business management education for undergraduate students.

AACSB International is the premier accreditation institution for programs offering degrees in business and accounting, and it was founded in 1916 by 17 founding members that include the University of Pittsburgh.  Less than 5 percent of global business schools have earned AACSB accreditation, which is considered one of the most prestigious accreditation credentials for both undergraduate and graduate schools of business.

The Pitt Business strategy for student success is focused on the successful academic and career development of degree-seeking business students.  In order to state with confidence or assure that our graduates have achieved the learning goals of the BSBA program, the Pitt Business faculty has identified seven (7) goals within its ongoing assurance of learning efforts.

Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Business should demonstrate the following (order does not imply priority):

1. Expertise in One Career Focus.  Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills in at least one academic/career focus through completion of majors, certificates, minors, and electives.
2. Business Management Literacy. Demonstrate what every BSBA graduate is expected to know about business and management at graduation.  This literacy is developed in core and major courses taught in Pitt Business, and in particular courses required of all business students and offered in the University of Pittsburgh’s Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.
3. Competency in Analysis and Decision Making.  Demonstrate competency in the fundamentals of analyzing problems and making decisions with standard business data and data sources using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
4. Competency in Professional Communication and Leadership.  Demonstrate competency in interpersonal skills, including concise and persuasive written and presentation communication.
5. Competency in Application.  Demonstrate competency in applying acquired knowledge and skills in real-world situations.
6. Exposure to Diverse Global Perspectives.  Acquire a basic knowledge of at least one nation, region, or culture in areas such as language, history, political systems, literature, and artistic expression.
7. Exposure to the Natural and Social Sciences.  Acquire an exposure to the knowledge and methodologies used to explore natural, individual, social, and cultural phenomena.

The Assurance of Learning goals and assessment fulfills both University of Pittsburgh assessment of student learning requirements described on the Provost’s Assessing Student Learning website and AACSB Accreditation Standards for Assurance of Learning.

Pitt Business is also included in the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the source of the University of Pittsburgh’s accreditation.